michigan campus missions

A Thankful Thanksgiving

2008-12-10T10:44:00.000-08:00

I have kind of a cool testimony about my Thanksgiving. Just over eighteen weeks ago, my dad was in a life-threatening car accident. The girl that hit him was killed, and my dad barely made it out with bones completely crushed all over his body. He was airlifted to U of M, and arriving at the accident scene left a huge and overwhelming impact on me. Well, the doctors said it would be a long time until the bones started growing back; it took three weeks. They said he would come permanately home around Christmas; he came home around my birthday in September. They said he wouldn't be walking until next year; he's been walking for about two weeks now. Our family has pulled together so much, and I truly had something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving. My dad is the one who pretty much makes the entire Thanksgiving dinner, and having him home to do that when he wasn't supposed to be is such a HUGE blessing! I am so thankful for the miracles that have taken place over and over throughout the whole situation, from the little things like being able to eat dinner together to the huge things like sparing his life. God has been truly faithful in this situation, and I thought it might be encouraging to share, and a cool Thanksgiving story.

-Jessica

See You At The Pole Stories

2008-10-07T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hey, here are a couple stories from our some of our Campus Missionaries.

This is their take on See You At The Pole:

"One of my biggest problems is praying out loud, in front of people. I dont get nervous or scared, but I usually forget what to say...

BUT today, at our pole we were praying like, anyone who wanted to pray would just start praying (one at a time) and we prayed for separate issues, and for every issue, I prayed out loud. there were only like 5 out of the 25 people who prayed out loud, and I was one of them. It felt good to tell everyone exactly what I wanted to pray for at that moment, without screwing up or stuttering. Im glad God has FINALLY helped me to overcome that. =]"

"I got to my school at about 10 till 7 this morning, and there were like 5 other people there. By the time we started we had around 10 people. By the time we were done we had around 30-40 people. It was really cool. We prayed and sang some songs, and then went inside for donuts that our club provided. It was really interesting though, because some kids came, who I never thought would show up because they really truly act like they just want to do what everyone else in the world is doing. Some people just came to chat with people that they saw over at the pole, not to pray or sing, but it was better than not coming over at all I guess. Overall it was really cool. "

Here is the last one: This one is different. I want you to take this as a challenge. I challenge you to do this on your Campus!

"I go to Clio High and we have 'see you at the pole' everyday (except we call it prayer circle). We kneel on the floor in a hallway, hold hands, and two people (volunteers) start the prayer and end it. Maybe it is a cool idea that thousands of teachers, students etc prayed today, but i think it would definitely be cooler if they did it everyday. As it says in 1 Corinthians 9:24 "...Run in such a way that you win [the race]".

Also another school, Flushing High School do the same prayer circle thing. I know this because we all go to youth group together. :-)"

Faithfulness of a Father

2008-09-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

So I started the book of Matthew today. Now when I was starting I was excited to learn more about Christ, considering the gospels are the story of Christ's life. BUT I felt like God wanted me to recognize the character of Joseph.

Joe had plans to marry a beautiful young woman, and found out she was pregnant!

Joe was excited to get married and start a family and grow his heritage but found out their first child was not his own!

Joe's plans were flipped upside down, so he thought he needed to back out of this relationship.

BUT Joe was also sensitive to the Spiritual things around him. He knew the voice of God.

"Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

Joe trusted in God, he knew God's voice, he knew that God was king and worthy to be followed, and honored. Later God told Joe about leaving their home town to escape to Egypt, in order to save his son's life. Not even his own birth, first-born son, but God's.

"Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him."

Joe heard God's voice again and decided to obey, he chose to take care of his wife, and God's child as he was his own. Yes Joe's dream and plans were quite shook up. He did not plan Mary's pregnancy. He did not plan to have a child that was not his own. He did not plan to move to Egypt.

BUT He was sensitive to the voice of God, and obedient to Him.

What if Joe would have gotten mad when he found out Mary was pregnant? What if he would have left her? What if Herod would have gotten a hold of baby Jesus? I know that my God is bigger than that, and He would make His plan for a Savior work.

BUT I want to honor the character of Joe: sensitivity and obedience!

Through those characteristics, our Savior, made it here safety in a Christian household with a supportive mom and dad! More than that (the average) Joe played a significant role in Christ's mission in bringing the gift of salvation to everyone!

What has God been trying to tell you lately?

from the journal...

2008-08-07T06:12:00.000-07:00

Not every day is going to run as smooth as the next.

Not every day is going to be as eventful as the day before.

But knowing that I serve an eternal God; changes things.

Not every day is going to have great weather.

Not every day is going to be cloudy and rainy.

But knowing that my God changes eternity; changes things.

Not every day is going to be a walk in the park.

Not every day is going to be down in the dumps.

But knowing that I will spend eternity with my God; changes things.

Not every day is going to seem significant.

Not every day is going to seem to be disastrous.

But knowing I can choose to live for my God everyday and altar eternity; changes everything!

-Emily

my testimony

2008-07-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hey guys this is a testimony of another Campus Missionary, she wrote it in a poem... It is awesome, I pray you are encouraged by it!

Crying all alone
So sad, so scared, so cold
Fantasizing about ways to die
Wondering how to take my life
I cursed the ones who put me here
I hated myself for having fear
Those are the walls that I've built up
The reason why I cannot trust
In myself, I know it's true
No one knows it like I do
Tomorrow will be just as bad
or maybe the worst I ever had
Loving not where I come from
Much less knowing why I'd come
So Jesus, tell me, is it true?
Do you know just what I feel?
Do you know, or do you try
To let me go, bring me high?
With you I am no longer alone
No longer scared, no longer cold
I no longer want to die
Lord, I have you in my life
I thank the ones who put me here
I can't remember my last fear
Where are the walls that I've built up?
You knocked them down, Lord, now I trust.
You know exactly what I've been through
No one knows it like me and you
Tomorrow, for which I'll be glad,
Will be better than it ever has
Loving now who I come from
Thank you, Jesus, for what you've done.

From Michael

2008-07-07T07:03:00.000-07:00

"God is with us (Duet 31:6) always and he wants us to be encouraged (1 Thessalonians 5:3) not discouraged, (Psalm 5:11) He wants us to be joyful, he cares for those who trust Him.

Michael

God Bless"

Dueteronomy 31:6

6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."

1Thessalonians 5:3

3While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Psalm 5:11

11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
       let them ever sing for joy.
       Spread your protection over them,
       that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

This is a post from Michael, another MI CM! If you would like to post something as a Campus Missionary, email ekgriffore@gmail.com with subject "CM blog." Have a blessed day!

Illuminating

2008-07-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

In the summer, have you ever slept under the stars? Have you ever just looked into the massive sky in the coolness of the night? Have you ever noticed the moon on a clear night? How it is so very bright and illuminates the night. But it does not have a source of light within it.

The moon illuminates because it is in the path of the sun's rays. It is actually reflecting the morning light. It can be something we overlook, we think the moon just produces light, but it does not. When there is a solar eclipse and the moon is blocking the sun's rays the earth is darkened. Not only that but the moon is black.

Think of this as an word picture in your relationship with God! We ourselves are not God, we do not shine as He does. BUT if we choose to be in His path, His light WILL shine on us, and His glory will be reflected from our lives. When we shine His glory, it helps illuminate how real our God is. It proves to others He exists. If we choose not to be in His path, there isn't light or glory to reflect, and life is void and dark. For you and those around you.

So I ask you:

Where do you choose to stand?

What do you choose to reflect?

Are you illuminating?

From another Campus Missionary.

2008-06-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

Hey!

So, in Youth Alive we have hundreds of students sign up to be Campus Missionaries and choose to Pray. Live. Serve. Tell. and Give. On and at their Campuses to shine Christ at their schools. Every month we encourage you to send in a report. Here is one from Erick:

“Please tell the other CM's that they are not alone and to remember that though we maybe ridiculed and laughed at that in the end we have done the right thing to share our faith. (which I need to do more). I hope to see you at convention this year. Oh and one more thing and this is urgent. Please have everyone you know pray for my generation. It is having to deal with such pain and suffering it isn't believable. Pray that they won't seek suicide as the answer. Pray that they find the hope of Jesus. Pray that God will relieve their pain. and please pray for me as I am one of those who almost did and am still hurting.

To God be the glory,

Erick”

Thanks Erick! You are such an encouragement!

I want to let you know, through Youth Alive over four hundred students all across MI are working together to show their Campus' REAL hope in Christ! I love you guys! You are doing awesome! You are changing eternity!

all because of You.

2008-06-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

So this past week I had an interview at the Michigan District in Farmington Hills to finish up the steps in becoming a pastor. It went well, I left with lots of extra time because (one) I am horrible with directions and (two) I needed to fill up on gasoline.

Just a side note: while doing so, I came back around to get onto I-96 eastbound, and found out there was a detour! I was literally within 10 miles of Farmington Hills! So that ended up slowing me down.

The interview went great, the interviewers were amazing, very encouraging. There was one that I knew, Pastor Nate, I went to his church for Master's Commission. Two others were involved with the process. One read me like a book, and kept mentioning how nervous I looked (which honestly made me more nervous). The last pastor was from Lansing, they all prayed for me just before I left. I have their recommendation, and now have to wait for approval at the national level.

All that to say, "all because of You."

You created the world around us

the sun, the stars, the moon, the waves.

You breathed life into us

at the perfect moment in time.

You chose to pursue after us

from the beginning of life.

You continue to draw us in close

and guide and protect us.

You have ordained my steps

and I accomplishing what seems impossible.

You designed the passions, and the dreams inside of me.

Because of You I have fulfilled this day, thank You!