Right now the song from Lion King is going through my head. You know the one: “The Circle of Life”.
I am super excited to be working with Connie again. Back in 2007 when we first came to Adventures, I was thrilled to working with high school students and discipling them while on mission. The Ambassador program was my first role at Adventures. And as life would have it, we have circled back around.
I remember back in high school going on my first mission trip to the Dominican Republic. On that trip I experienced the Lord in a whole new way. As I think back on the many mission experiences since, the thing that has been consistent from the first one to my most recent is they take me out of my comfort zone.
The DR trip in high school was a step in my discipleship process, when all the things that were familiar to me and the things that filled my life with noise were removed so I could hear and see the Lord at work. Encountering God on mission changed the direction of my life forever. It is because of my experience as a student and then as a student pastor that I believe in how significant and formative a mission experience can be for a high school student. This is why I am excited about working with the Ambassador program.
One of my favorite verses in the past couple of years is found in Colossians 3. Paul is speaking to the church but I feel the words are written to me (and they also sound like something every high school student needs to hear):
“1-2 So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.”
Helping students discover and and live out their identities in Christ is one of the great things that we get to do along with the mission trip leaders, helping them to look up and pursue the things over which Christ presides. Connie and I want to see this program grow. We want as many students as possible to be able to have the opportunity to encounter God while on mission.
As we have circled back around and have a second chance at working with this program again, would you pray with us that God would grow it for His glory? Besides praying, you can help us by sharing the Ambassador opportunity with the high school students in your life. We believe that God can use this and future generations to bring his kingdom.
Also please pray for Connie while she is in Cambodia and Thailand right now. I am sure a blog is sure to follow on her return.
