The Son and the Sand July and August 2005 (double issue)
Summer Missions Testimonies
Here are a few of the testimonies that The Son and the Sand readers have sent me in the past few weeks… I have a summer missions memory that I’d like to share. In the summer of 1986, I served in Zanesville, Ohio. Pastor Sam used to live and work in Texas for a brewery. But the Lord saved him and called him into the ministry to preach. He was a powerful, wise preacher who taught me a lot about evangelism and walking with God. My summer missions partner and I went door-to-door with Pastor Sam in the neighborhood surrounding the small church. Watching him minister to people and witness to people stirred my own soul so that before long, I was the one ministering and witnessing to people at the mall and at the playgrounds and in the neighborhood. I remember one Wednesday night before prayer meeting, Pastor Sam called my partner and me over. He told us that he had a personal prayer request that he wanted to bring before the Lord, and he wanted us to silently pray with him as he prayed aloud. I immediately became concerned for Pastor Sam’s health, but then I heard him say the most sincere, heart-warming prayer – not for health or life – but for a pair of shoes because his had a hole in the bottom due to all the door-to-door ministering he’d been doing. He begged God not to take him off the street due to such a simple thing that he knew God could solve. I was amazed because I had never heard a prayer for something so trivial before. Yet, at the same time, I was filled with awe at the relationship Pastor Sam had with God – that he would turn to God (not Wal-Mart) for a pair of shoes! Prayer meeting was especially moving that night; the Holy Spirit was almost tangible in the church. Then, after most people had gone home, and Pastor Sam and my partner and I were closing up the church, a man came in the door and walked directly toward us. He told Pastor Sam that he was very sorry that he didn’t make it to prayer meeting that night, but that he had been praying in his car on the way home from work, and God very clearly told him to give Pastor Sam a pair of his shoes. So, he had been at home during prayer meeting going through all of his shoes trying to decide which pair he should give to Pastor Sam. Then, he handed Pastor Sam a brown paper bag. In it was a pair of shoes that were obviously not new, but that fit Pastor Sam perfectly. The four of us went to the altar of the church and praised God for being so loving. It was a night that taught me many lessons about God, about prayer, and about doing what God tells me to do. – Rhonda Courson I remember the first mission trip I ever went on. It is the story of my life, aside from this trip, but the details were planned in 2 weeks and I was halfway around the world away from everything and anyone that was familiar. I’ll never forget thinking after I had been there 2 months, here I am, halfway around the world, I’m not barely 19, and all because I said “here I am God, use me.” And what an incredible life changing experience. I was young and fearless, and my faith in God’s protection and provision was immeasurable. I wish everyone could experience what I experience in such a real way. That is what I love about missions. You say ‘here I am God, use me’ and then you hang on for the ride as you become as flexible as taffy. Anyone who has done missions has to just laugh at the phrase “be flexible” because you have no idea how flexible you can be until you do a mission trip that God is in control of. – Angela Parrish HERE ARE SOME MORE WONDERFUL MISSIONS TESTIMONIES FROM SOME OF THE STUDENTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY SERVIING AS SUMMER MISSIONARIES WITH US HERE IN GULF SHORES AND ORANGE BEACH, AL… Many very exiting things have happened in this first month of summer missions. I have made so many good friends and good memories. For the past two weeks I have worked at Orange Beach First Baptist Church in their O.B. Outfitters. I helped in the pre- kindergarten class with about 20 five- year- olds. It was an extremely interesting experience. Throughout the week I had kids who called each other names, karate chopped each other, wet themselves during nap time, and (one of my favorites) pulled each other’s hair out. Not to mention the one who pulled his pants down in front of all the girls! On one particular day, I had about had it. The kids were doing everything I told them not to do. We were getting ready for our lesson and I told the kids to sit down around the campfire that we had made in the floor. One little girl stood up and walked over to me. About this time I was thinking, “Since when does sit down mean get up?” Before I could tell her to sit down she looked up at me with the most precious smile on her face and said, “I want to be just like you when I grow up!” My heart melted right then. That one small comment from that one little girl completely turned my day around. I realized that what I did mattered to each and every one of those kids. They didn’t mean to disobey me, they just had not been to school yet to learn how to stand in line or sit in a circle. The rest of camp was a wonderful experience, and I would never trade the memories I made for anything. – Stephanie Robertson For the past two weeks I have been working with First Baptist Orange Beach with their day camp VBS. One funny memory I have from my time here is at a Mexican Restaurant. One night all the college VBS workers and summer missionaries went and ate Mexican. We were done eating and were just hanging out and talking when all of the sudden the booth that I and another summer missionary were sitting on broke and we were both suddenly sitting on the floor. We also have butter in our fridge that is taped up due to an injury it sustained by being dropped. Laughter has helped us make it through a variety of situations this summer. On a more serious note it has been wonderful being able to meet so many new people from various backgrounds and places. Starting conversations with random strangers is not something that I was used to but my comfort zone has been stretched and now it is fun to talk to random strangers and learn more about them. It is really awesome when we are allowed to move the conversation to a spiritual topic. Through the ministry here we are able to sow many seeds and it has given us encouragement to keep going even when we are tired. I thank you for your prayer support; the prayers can definitely be felt. There have been days when it seems impossible to keep going due to the heat or fatigue or a combination of both but by your prayers and claiming Phil. 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” God gives us the energy needed to serve Him. – Amy Yopp While serving in Gulf Shores, I have had the privilege of meeting many people. The neat thing about this experience is that I am closely associated with the other summer missionaries. When I arrived in Gulf Shores, I met my partners. I knew two of my five partners prior to my arrival. That night I got the opportunity to talk with my other three partners and in some way we all seemed to have a connection through different people and our lifestyle. It was really neat how we all seemed to have the same family background and experience. When I arrived at my new home, I got to meet our other roommates. It was so weird. I knew a lot of the same people that the other girls knew. We instantly had the opportunity to talk about high school friends that are now in college. It gave us all the opportunity to catch up with old friends while making new friends. It made us feel that we already in a way knew each other. It was really neat the way this whole summer has started. When I got here, in many ways, I felt like I was still at home. This unusual phenomenon has made this summer a blast. – Stephanie Wallace I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for all of the prayers and financial support. God truly has blessed me this first four weeks of the summer. In addition to working at the RV parks and the beach, I have had the honor of co-teaching a kindergarten class at O.B. Outfitters – the two week day camp at First Baptist Orange Beach. One of the most difficult challenges has been in talking with a child about “asking Jesus to come in their heart.” On the last day of camp as he was leaving, he reminded me to make sure that the pastor called his parents. He wanted to go to church. I am so excited to see how this camp will continue to have an eternal impact on the children, the church, and the community. – Rebekah Loggins Summer of 2005 Partners in Ministry We’ve had the privilege of working with over 200 volunteers from the following teams in May and June: May 28-June 3 Lakeside Baptist Church / Birmingham, AL June 2-5 Willowbrook Baptist Church / Madison, AL June 11-17 First Baptist Church of Decatur / Decatur, AL June 13-17 First Baptist Church of Frisco / Frisco, TX June 18-24 Church at the Crossing / Indianapolis, IN June 20-24 Imagine Ministries Drama Team / Montgomery AL In July, our staff will partner in ministry with these teams: June 25-July 1 2nd Baptist Church of Fort Payne / Fort Payne, AL July 2-5 Metamorphosis Ministries / Tuscaloosa AL July 2-5 Capstone Church / Tuscaloosa AL July 2-5 River’s Edge Baptist Church / Iowa Falls, IA July 2-5 New Hope Baptist Church / Pell City, AL July 2-5 Wilton Baptist Church / Wilton, AL July 2-8 Woodland Baptist Church / Louisville, KY July 2-8 First Baptist Church of Sandersville / Sandersville, GA July 2-8 The Baldwin Baptist’s “Summer Missionaries for a Week” July 9-15 Leatherwood Baptist Church / Alexandria, AL July 9-15 New Cannan Baptist Church / Union Hill, AL July 16-22 Robinson Creek Baptist Church / Campbellsville, KY July 25-29 Parkview Baptist Church / Tuscumbia, AL July 25-29 First Baptist Church of Tuscumbia / Tuscumbia, AL July 25-29 First Baptist Church of Lexington / Lexington , AL July 25-29 North Highland Baptist Church / Littleville, AL Your church may want to consider an August 2005 or Summer 2006 partnership. Let us know how we can assist you. One Last Thing In Isaiah 41:10 you can find this encouragement… Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you. (The Message) Have a great rest-of-the-summer. Let us know how we can pray for you, too.
