Living to please God

Student leaders from schools in St. George’s were invited to be a part of this training session in preparation for the new academic year. There were 11 students and 1 sponsor from 3 different schools – Boca Secondary, Beacon High School and Happy Hill Secondary. 

Getting to know you

After some Getting to Know you activities, the students were led in a devotional which focused on living their entire lives for Christ. Students were challenged not to separate their spiritual life from their every day living, but to allow the decisions that they make on a daily basis to reflect biblical principles. The scripture focus was Daniel 1, and we examined how the Hebrew boys refused to compromise their faith by eating the king’s food. Students were encouraged to make a stand for Christ, even when others around were doing wrong things.

Searching the scripture

The next session was led by Arlene and focused about how we could live to please God. Following a brief presentation which introduced the points of living according to the Word, practicing obedience, being holy and living righteously, the students were put into groups where they were able to discuss practically what this would look like in their lives. It was very enlightening to see what the examples that the students came up with in terms of what living to please God looks like.

What does it mean to be holy?

Students planning their presentations

After the lunch break, Cheryl shared on the value of Scripture Engagement, using material obtained at World Assembly. The students were asked basic questions about the bible – who was the author, number of books, longest book in the Bible – and hardly anyone knew the answers.  Cheryl sought to encourage students to develop a love for the Bible, and to recognise the importance of engaging with it on a regular basis. She took them through an exercise where they had to pull out commands found in Colossians 3, and the students were very eager to share what they found.

Importance of scripture engagement

Finally, the students spent some time brainstorming ideas for topics for the upcoming term, and planned out two of the topics in detail. We spent time praying for the students throughout the session, and are trusting that they would implement all that they have learnt.

Guiding students' planning

Here are some of the things that impacted them at the end of the session:

• ·         I learnt the difference between righteousness and unrighteousness
• ·         I also learnt that the longest verse in the Bible comes from Esther and 40 men wrote the book in the Bible
• ·         Two things that made an impact on my life today are teamwork and being open minded
• ·         I learnt that being holy and being obedient are things God wants us to do
• ·         I learnt to obey the elders in my community and that we must forgive people
• ·         Two things that I learnt today are that I need to be different from the non Christians and that I need to forgive more
• ·         I learnt that you must obey your mother and father, and when someone does you something, you should forgive them.
• ·         I learnt that being holy means to be separated and consecrated unto God, and that even though it’s not easy to forgive people, still forgive them because it’s for your own good.

Love is...

When they wait until you come to go on a family vacation

When you don't get to spend much
time together, but when you do, you
leave being encouraged.
Every. Single. Time.

When they drive for more than an hour just
so they can spend time with you

When she has not seen you for 8 years, but after spending 2 hours
with you she wishes you didn't have to go

When you finally get to hold him in your arms
after holding him in your heart for one year

When you can make him smile

When your brother-in-law makes dinner for you

When you've been friends with the same person for 30 years

When she takes you out to dinner in a fancy restaurant

When she cries the first day she meets you, and falls asleep
in your bed the very next day

When they host a family barbecue in your honor

When you fit so naturally into the family

When they pause in the middle of playing and say,
"I love you Aunty Debbie"

When she is exhausted but she drags herself
out of bed just to spend time with you

When she refuses to let you come to NYC
without meeting up to lime

When she makes you feel like there is no
such thing as spending enough time with your sister

More Nuggets

On Scripture Engagement. This is more than just the religious discipline of Bible Study. It is a lifestyle which involves loving, living and sharing God's Word. It should be cultivated out of a desire to develop our relationship with God, but meeting Him through His Word.

On Engaging the University. This involves more than our regular activities of worship, prayer, Bible Study and evangelism. It involves examining what the Bible teaches about current issues;reaching out to persons on campus other than students; finding out how your faith relates to your course of study.

On Unity in diversity. We are each created in God's image, and we reflect Him in our diversity.

On the importance of Graduates' Fellowship.  There is always a new generation of students coming in to be impacted. Graduates need to be involved in supporting the work so it can continue.

On financial crisis in Greece. The world doesn't know what to do about the financial crisis in Greece, but they were warmly welcomed into the IFES family as a new member country.

On witnessing. Witness comes from the root word used for 'martyr'. Our experience in Christ is so profound, it is worth dying for.

On community. Rather than expecting people to behave before they are included into our community, we accept unbelievers so they belong. In time they will believe, and then behaviour will follow.

On pressure. When pressured by society we have three options:
1. Isolation - separate ourselves; do not engage with society
2. Assimilation - compromise our standards, thereby losing our identity
3. Challenge - made a bold stand for what is right; choosing to submit to God rather than man

On suffering. God doesn't plan to inflict suffering on us, but He uses it to accomplish His purposes. We can become more effective Christians when we endure suffering. As members of Christ's body, we share in the suffering of others, even if we are not persecuted.

The call to discipleship in a broken world involves suffering. The gospel continues to persevere in the face of suffering. Suffering is the price you pay for progress in the Christian life. It enables us to mature and grow in holiness and purity.

On growing disciples. Transformation takes more than just hearing the Word. Doing is what transforms lives. Reflection and prayer are also key aspects to transformation.

On running the race. There are traps which are designed to keep us from achieving the prize. We should not just look the part, but be prepared to live the Christian life.

On formacion. Student leaders need to be encouraged to be open and honest about their problems, so they can see themselves as redeemed sinners instead of frustrated saints. We need to develop in them a desire for holiness. It is a life-long process that seeks to form the character of Jesus in the lives of the students.

Tell me your story

One of the tremendous opportunities afforded by attending World Assembly was the chance to hear stories from members of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) family worldwide. Some of these were shared in the form of testimonies at the main sessions, and some were told informally over a meal. Regardless of the format, they all served to give a glimpse into how God is working through the lives of men and women who are committed to knowing Him, and making Him known in their local contexts. Here are some of the stories which stood out to me:

From a sensitive country:
After attending an evangelistic camp for the first time, a student was asked what he had learnt.
His response: "To love. To love those who are against me."
He went on to  state, "I don't want to live by the standards of the world anymore. I want to live for Jesus!"

From a sensitive country:
The staffworker shared how one evening there was a knock on his door and when he opened it, there was a student who was a devout member of another religion, who wanted to surrender his life to Jesus Christ. After becoming a Christian, this student brought three other friends to the staffworker, and he was privileged to lead them all to Christ.

In their country, corruption is widespread, even at the university level. Everyone knows that it is impossible to complete your studies without bribing the lecturers. These four young believers chose to make a stand for righteousness, and refused to pay the bribes. As a result, they were awarded C's while everyone else in their classes got A's. This was a powerful witness to the entire university.

After graduation, two of these students became pastors, and two are now serving as staffworkers, all working for the glory of God. They are changing their churches, their society, their country.

From survivors of the terrorist attacks at the Garissa University in Kenya:
Where was God? God was on the throne, and He allowed this for the glory of the students who were martyred for their faith, and for the glory of His Name.

From IFES pioneer in a sensitive country:
When asked how he became a Christian in a country where Christians amounts to 0.01% of the population, his response was, by reading the Bible. When pressed about which book in particular led to his conversion, he did not give the expected books like John, Acts or Romans. It was the book of Proverbs!

He had obtained a French Bible from a family member, who was given it by an international student who had been studying in his country. His religion taught him that the Bible was a book of lies and could not be trusted, however, out of curiousity he looked at the table of contents. The only word he understood was 'Proverbs' so he turned to this book and began reading. He was amazed at the wisdom contained in those chapters, and recognised that this wisdom could only come from God, so he surrendered his life to Christ, and started looking for a church to attend.

But how do you find a church that meets in secret? His response, "Holy Spirit G.P.S." He took a taxi to a remote village, then followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit to "Turn left, now turn right..." until he found himself on someone's private property. The voice inside told him to ask the person he met for the church, but he was hesitant, since he had no clue how the person would respond. Eventually he found the courage to ask, and the man laughed and told him that he had found the church, and took him inside to introduce him to the others.

From war-torn country:

There was a time in the schedule for regional exhibits, where each region was given a chance to showcase how the student ministry looks in their region. It was a wonderful cultural display, with some countries taking the opportunity to provide samples of their food, art, music and cultural wear. One incident which stood out to me was my encounter with a delegate from a war-torn country who was selling bookmarks. She said that many of the women who are in refugee camps want to earn a living to support their families, but are unable to do so because of the unrest and war they experience. The student movement there has found a way for these women to earn an income, by providing them with crotchet thread, which the women use to make bookmarks that can be sold. I was thankful for the opportunity to directly support such a venture.

From believers in Switzerland:

Religious persecution does not necessarily involve physical violence. In Switzerland, evangelicals are accused of being manipulated, so the government has stopped granting funding to evangelical organisations. These funds are now being directed towards the LGBT community. The children of God continue to make a stand as they seek to be salt and light in their country.

From a country where Christians are persecuted:

They shared that the local church is stronger because of persecution due to the presence of the Holy Spirit, the blood of the martyrs and the global intercessory prayer of the church worldwide. They count it an honor to be identified with Christ in His suffering. After escaping a church raid because she had left to run an errand, when this young lady realised that her fellow Christians had been taken to prison while she was left behind, she wept because she wondered if she too was not worthy to suffer for Christ.

In this country, they have to be discreet about where they meet for training and conferences. At one event which was being held outdoors under tents, a typhoon came but the participants were not discouraged. They simply put up their umbrellas and continued with the session, being confident that they would not be caught since the police would not disturb them in the middle of a typhoon.

From a Nigerian student: 

After graduation, he pledged a large financial amount to the student ministry, despite the fact that he was not employed, and he had no idea where the funds would come from. Shortly afterwards, the company where he had done part-time work as a student previously called him in to work on a project. His payment was the exact amount that he had pledged, and he was also the only one on the project team who was paid.

Golden Nuggets

Another benefit from being a part of IFES World Assembly 2015 was the privilege of hearing fresh perspectives on God's Word. The way that the Bible sessions were presented made the scripture come alive. It would be difficult to share all that we heard, but here are some truths which stood out to me:

Light shaft in the middle of a cave

Luke 5:1-11
Jesus used His power to create fullness where there was emptiness, though His Word

Matthew 8:23-26
Our lives are not free of difficulties, but Jesus is always with us in the midst of them. Difficulties come to teach us a lesson, and we should not hesitate to call on Jesus when we feel overwhelmed.

Ancient pyramid

Philippians 1:1-26
Paul's prayers are full of joy and thankfulness instead of anxiety, despite the Philippians' suffering, and his own imprisonment. He saw God's good work in their lives in the past, and trusted that it would continue to the future.

Paul didn't pray for circumstances to change, but that fruit would grow

The gospel of Christ gives us a reason to live, despite the circumstances we may find ourselves facing.

With Jesus at the center, both life and death have reason. We can live more freely because we have no fear of death.

At the Botanical Gardens

Daniel 1
In the midst of difficult situations, we may be tempted to think that God has abandoned us, but in reality, He is not missing in action. He is in the midst of our crisis, and is able to move the hearts of even pagan kings to accomplish His purposes.

We should be prepared to engage with our culture in order to demonstrate the wisdom of God, instead of choosing the ease and comfort of blending in.

Orchids of every shape and color

Acts 4:29
They did not pray that the threats would stop, but that they would be bold enough to witness in spite of them. The One we pray to is worth living, and dying for.

Daniel 3
God did not just deliver Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego - He stood with them in the midst of their most difficult experience.

The faithful do not always escape the fire.

God may not always deliver in the way we expect, but He will always be with us.

Japanese garden

Philippians 1:27 - 2:18
A radically transformed attitude is what enables us to live as citizens of the Kingdom. We must cultivate and practise humility of the mind.The meaning of your life is determined by the thinking to which we belonged. A radically transformed attitude is what enables us to live as citizens of the kingdom.

Philippians 4:10 – 21 

The ‘all things’ that Paul referred to which are possible through Christ was being content in every situation. We must learn how to live in difficult or joyful circumstances. In his time of need, Paul did not think about himself, but the needs of others. We must be generous in our relationships, demonstrating our care and concern in tangible ways. It is not about the size of the gift to those in need, but the attitude of the heart.

Paul realised that he had to rely on God, rather than people, to meet his needs; his joy was not dependant on their gift. He had to learn to have a lifestyle based on contentment – it did not come naturally. In a society that excludes God, contentment is very difficult, as there is always a desire for more.

Italian gardens

Philippians 2:25-20

Christian ministry must be done in love. The stewardship of affection transcends cultures. It makes the gospel attractive to outsiders, as we reach out to them.

When God is on your side...

If there is one truth that stood out to me as I look back over the experiences of the preparations leading up to and actually being a part of World Assembly it is this: when God is on your side, there is NOTHING that can stand in His way.

When we were first encouraged by one of our Board Directors, Sister Joan Purcell, to submit six names as possible attendees to World Assembly 2015, it was a huge step of faith. Even after receiving two partial scholarships from IFES, we had no clue how we were going to raise the funds needed. Each delegate was responsible for raising support to cover their airfare, but even with this, ISCF Grenada still needed to source $12,000EC to cover the outstanding expenses. And we only had six months to do it.

Through the hard work and dedication of our Fundraising Committee, the support of our many volunteers and the generosity of a few donors locally and abroad, we were not only able to meet our target, but were able to assist a delegate from another movement in our region who was in need!

Philippians 4:19 - But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus

ISCF Grenada representing in Mexico!

In an effort to minimize our expenses, we booked a flight that would take us through Venezuela and Panama before we got to Mexico. This too was a step of faith, since none of us had ever been to Venezuela before, and our fluency in Spanish was very limited. However, with the backing of our prayer supporters, we bravely set out, depending on God to be with us every step of the way.

My biggest concern was our connection in Venezuela. We planned to fly in with Caribbean Airlines, and depart using Copa Airlines. In an industry where delays and lost luggage are daily realities, this was a risky venture - if we missed our connection in Venezuela, neither airline would have compensated us. But God did not disappoint, as we all arrived safely in Mexico, with our luggage intact, despite a two hour delay in Panama! Gloria a Dios!

Philippians 4:6 - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Setting foot in Venezuela for the first time!

Hope and I arrived two days before the start of the main conference, so she could be a part of the Student Gathering. She was the youngest student there, as the majority of the other participants were university students. It was also the first time she had been away from home for so long, and she was starting to feel homesick.

By the third day however, the students from the Caribbean region had welcomed her as part of the family. Despite her young age, they included her on all their wild limes... sorry I mean exuberant social activities ;) In addition, the openness and camaraderie afforded by the small groups helped her to apply the bible teachings in a real and personal way. We thank God for the fellowship afforded by being a part of the body of Christ!

Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God every time I remember you.

Can you feel the love from the family of God?!

When packing for Mexico, I treated it like I was going on a mission trip. I walked with my basic cold medication, even though I had not gotten sick in a long while, just in case I couldn't identify the brand of tablets in a Mexican Pharmacy. Well, God knew I would need it, because I got hit hard a few days after arriving in Mexico. Thank God my roommate didn't mind sleeping with the AC off otherwise I would not have been able to breathe at nights. I was coughing a lot, and I was a bit concerned since I was responsible for chairing the session on Prayer for the Global University. Once more I got my prayer supporters on board and, although I was not fully recovered by the time we had the prayer session, I was able to speak without coughing into the people's microphones :)

Hope doing a flute solo at the session on
Prayer for the Global University

Apart from being a Healer, God was also our Protector. After the prayer session we broke up into groups to go on various tours to experience life in Mexico outside of the hotel compound. Hope signed up for a tour at the very last minute, so she didn't know anyone else who chose that tour. They stopped for lunch at a park, and she lay down on a bench and fell asleep. When she woke up, she realised that everyone else had left her and gone into town except for one man. We thank God that He was looking out for her, even when we were not around.

Philippians 4:14 - Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.

In booking our return flight from Mexico, it was cheaper to overnight in Panama en route to Trinidad. We had planned to spend the night in the airport, since we didn't have any contacts in Panama and felt that staying at a hotel would be beyond our means.

However, upon arrival at Immigration in Panama, one officer seemed take issue with our plans to sleep on their airport floor. She was not willing to let us through, since we could not prove that we had any place to stay. It was very unexpected, because I have personally slept in the airport in Panama on numerous occasions and it was never an issue before. By this time, we were the only passengers left in immigration, and all the other officers tried to intervene on our behalf. Finally, in exasperation, the officer said, "Ok if you want to sleep on the floor and spend the whole day on the airport (our flight was leaving the following night) - go ahead!"

When we got to the baggage claim, one of the officers who was involved in the discussion suggested to us a cheap hotel which was nearby, saying that it would be really uncomfortable for us to stay in the airport, even with our sleeping bags. We took the information, and were able to get a hotel that offered us free transportation from the airport, and accommodation with a complimentary breakfast buffet for only $22US per person!

Hope had become upset because of the attitude of the Immigration Officer, but I was able to show her that, if she had not behaved so aggressively, we would have spent the night and entire day in the airport, instead of sleeping in cozy beds in air-conditioned comfort, with a couple hours to experience Panama City!

Philippians 1:12 - Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel

View from the rooftop pool deck of our hotel!

When I reflect and consider how God has worked on our behalf, I am truly in awe of His faithfulness. GREAT IS OUR GOD!!!!

How was Mexico?

This is a question that has been asked over and over again since I returned from IFES World Assembly 2015, which was held in Mexico.

There is no simple answer to this question. There is no way I could summarize the experience in one word, or sentence, or paragraph, or Power Point presentation, or blog post. But, for the sake of those who don't have the opportunity to sit with me for half an hour to hear how I was impacted, I will try to answer the question...

It was WARM and WELCOMING

Welcome Room with traditional Mexican decorations

Our hosts COMPA did an exceptional job of making us feel at home in Mexico. Even before we arrived, they promptly answered our emails and assured us that we would be well taken care of. When our flight was delayed for two hours, causing us to arrive at the airport at 1am, they were right there waiting to welcome us to our new home for the next few days.

The Welcome team at the airport

Even the staff at the hotel where we stayed were so hospitable. Although it could be said they were just 'doing their job', they did it so well! There was one day when the sun was blazing hot one minute, and then suddenly the sky turned dark and there was a heavy downpour, complete with lightning and thunder. We were having dinner at the time, and after being entertained by our COMPA hosts with singing and dancing, it was time to go to the hall for our evening session. The hotel staff secured large umbrellas to escort us to the hall so we were able to get there in time despite the inclement weather.

Having fun while waiting for the rain to stop falling

It was WELL ORGANISED

I must commend the planning committee for pulling off a global event of this magnitude with such excellence. As someone who organises camps on a small scale, I cannot begin to imagine the immensity of the logistics involved in facilitating a conference for 1000+ delegates from more than 100 different countries. Yet our COMPA family was able to ensure that all necessary details were in place so that all we needed to do was to show up and participate! From the airport shuttles to registration to the main sessions to the seminars to the excursion, they ensured that everything ran smoothly.

Volunteers manning the registration table

It was WORLDWIDE

World Assembly brings together representatives from most of the countries where there is an established International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) presence. As a result of this, there were delegates there from literally all over the world, even countries where Christians are 0.01% of the entire population. At almost every meal time, I was able to sit with someone from a different country and engage with them. Some of the stories shared were truly eye-opening. In my small group, there were persons from countries I had only ever read about in my geography books. In spite of the differences in cultures, there was a real sense of unity among all the delegates that was manifest in our times of corporate worship, which gave a glimpse of what heaven would be like - people from every nation, tribe and tongue all giving praise to Almighty God!

Breakfast with new friends from Mozambique, Peru, Ecuador
and Germany, and this was just the first day!!!

It was WORTHWHILE

The Bible expositions on Daniel 1 and 3 and the book of Philippians... the small group discussions where participants shared openly and honestly about their experiences in their own contexts... the numerous testimonies which were shared where God showed up in the midst of difficult circumstances... the privilege of worshiping God together with believers from different denominations in different languages but in sweet unity... the seminars which allowed us to make practical applications on various topics... the new friendships which were initiated and can be easily sustained thanks to technology... it was more than worth all the efforts and resources which were invested to be a part of World Assembly 2015.

See if you can find me LOL

To get a visual feel of what the experience was like, you can click here

What was most impacting to me personally was the importance of being in consistent prayer for the persecuted church. I have heard firsthand of the ways that God is moving in some countries, despite the barriers which exist. As a member of the body of Christ, we have a responsibility to intercede for our brothers and sisters who do not enjoy the same religious freedom as we do.

1 Corinthians 12:26 - If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

World Assembly reminded me that we are indeed Together. In Christ. In Mission. In the University.