Category Archives: Mission Poland
Poland in the Courier
We made the news. In the August 28th edition of the Baptist Courier, they published an article about our recent Youth Mission Trip to Poland. Here is an image of the article that can be found at there website in the news section. The Courier’s website is www.baptistcourier.com. The actual article that was printed in their newspaper, included the group picture we took on the steps with the whole camp at the Seminary in Warsaw. It’s great to see fellow believers around our state hearing about all the things God did in the lives of our students at Morningside and in the lives of the young people in Poland. Maybe it will encourage other churches to send youth mission teams on their first international mission trip.
Image the kind of impact we could have on the Kingdom if every Baptist church youth group in South Carolina sent a mission team out this summer (whether here in the USA or abroad). That would be awesome. You might assume that all church youth groups send out mission teams – that’s just not the case. I can remember last summer sitting among a group of about 600 students (representing about 100 or more churches) at Centrifuge and being one of only about 10 churches who were going on a mission trip that summer. During one of the services the camp pastor had these churches who were going on mission to stand and they prayed for us. Though I was grateful for the prayers, I was broken hearted over how few people stood up. May we be not only be on mission at Morningside, but also encourage other churches to do so as well. We still have a Great Commission. It doesn’t end until Christ returns. May we always be “going.” Or as my friend Tracy Turner always says about Sunago at the Spartanburg BCM – “we gather to go”! That’s what it’s about.
Character in Training
* For all of our new Polish friends and everyone else – this is our devotional for our eighth lesson from the Ignite Summer Camp.
It’s here again – football season. All over the US, high school students and college students are getting their bodies back in shape and preparing for the fall football season. Win or loose I’ll be cheering on the Carolina Gamecocks. One of my friends, CJ Holcombe, (who is a Tiger’s fan) went with us to Poland on our mission trip a few weeks ago. These days he’s preparing his body to play football for the Spartanburg High School Vikings this season. Every morning he heads up to the school to workout. This Saturday I have the privilege to bring the devotional for the football team at one of their two-a-day practices. Sounds like fun, working out, playing football in the hot South Carolina sun until you throw up. That’s football for you.
Throughout our Bible study at camp and our follow up studies we’ve been talking about the basics to being a disciple of Christ. Our final topic is: character. Your character is the set of traits that defines who you are. It’s the things you do when people are watching and when their not. It’s integrity. The apostle Paul had a lot to say about this when he was writing to encourage young Timothy. In 1 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul says, “Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”
Working out, eating right, learning plays, developing your skills and practicing as a team are all important if your going to be an athlete, but how much more important is it to prepare yourselves to be disciples. This is Paul’s point – holiness matters most. Being godly doesn’t just happen – it’s a daily decision to do what’s right, live like Jesus, and put him first in everything. If we’re going to be Christ’s disciples we need to make sure our lives reflect it (our character).
God bless all of you Polish friends and Morningside teenagers. It was a wonderful summer camp! As Paul said, “Continue in what you’ve learned…” make an impact in the Kingdom for God’s glory!
The Status of Our Youth
Tonight was our Poland Mission Trip report at the church. The team shared about our amazing experience by sharing testimonies, songs and seeing the trip video. During our trip I told the 18 students that we took to Poland that I wanted to write down one thing about each one of them that either impressed me or I noticed about their time on the mission trip. Most of our students are on Facebook and always update their, “status” – so I thought what better way to write about them than to give their status from my perspective. This is the list that I read to the congregation tonight:
1. Brittany Eberhart is an amazing self-motivated young leader for the Lord.
2. Lee Lancaster is exploding in her faith and not afraid to tell others.
3. Aimee Godfrey is a dynamic and driven young leader in worship.
4. Anna Grace Hall is now connected to so many Polish and mside friends.
5. Katie Roberts is all grown up and fully devoted to following Christ.
6. Rebekah Dodds is seeking out those who need a friend and reaching beyond the surface.
7. Cathy Dodds is a steady anchor of leadership among the mside youth.
8. Jordan Merck is always able to make us laugh, but is also serious about her Savor.
9. Samantha McSwain is a new addition to the group, but a great asset to the Kingdom.
10. Elise Welch is ready to face college after being such a great example of Christ in Poland.
11. Molly Inclan is a young woman with depth to her faith.
12. Paul Inclan is allowing God to take his passion and energy to communicate the Gospel.
13. Jeff Brisoe is a different guy than before and a great recreation leader.
14. Caleb Hoover is young in age, but maturing greatly as a disciple of Christ.
15. CJ Holcombe is no longer the quiet guy in the back of the Youth Room, but an energetic young man with leadership potential.
16. Chase Robinson isn’t just a guest anymore…he’s an important part of the mside youth.
17. Nic Moore is using his technical mind to bring glory to God through media in worship.
18. Katie Inclan is the girl Nathan saw with her hands raised high, tears flowing down and pouring her heart out to God in worship.
