The Portal

NO CT 11-28-09

By Elli Morscher

Word, the Xenos high school Bible study, took a weekend away to study God’s word and to fellowship.

The weekend started with prayer followed by Rich Hunter sharing the importance of love and unity. Hunter emphasized points such as how important we are to God and how much He loves us. He also said when others see God’s love in someone they are drawn to it. Ephesians 4:1-3 says to keep the unity of the Spirit. The point is that unity in the church leads to being able to save others. The unity of the Spirit is already with the Body of Christ and we must preserve it.

Next Adam Esterle taught his peers what the Bible says about evangelism (Matt. 28:18-20, Matt. 16:15.) Esterle broke down the process of winning others starting with friendship, then sharing the gospel. He also explained different types of people to reach out to, giving students strategies and confidence to reach out to their friends. He ended by reminding the group they are “always representing” God and can reach out to people or just show God’s love anywhere.

Neil Brooks stepped up after Esterle to give students a few tips before testing what they learned. Brooks pumped up the high schoolers with Acts 1:8 saying how we have power from God to reach Stow High with the Holy Spirit! He also warned students not to get defensive and to give the gospel as early and often as possible. Brooks also had students practice their testimonies; everyone can use their story when reaching a person.

Then, Brooks pulled out his props to impersonate a stoner, a jock, and a nerd while students tried to invite him to a Bible study. When this exercise was over, Keith and his shock troops held an evangelism-off, calling on students to use the tips they just learned. Jordan and Adam faced Kate as an ambivalent girl who gave little more than a shrug to all of their efforts. Elli and Catie faced Jeff playing a pervert, scooting his chair closer as they insisted on giving him the gospel. Catie finally stumped Jeff for a moment by “keeping it real.” Keith’s character hit on Ryan and Nick, before Tom scared Brooke and Brandi—and everyone else—as a hater of religious institution. The conversation was eye-opening and motivating to most students.

In addition to practicing evangelism, Word made serious decisions during the retreat. At the students’ suggestion, and after much prayer, they decided to have home church every week. This requires the students to take a more active role in their meetings. They got a jump start on such participation as Ryan Yoerger, Mike Bogs, and Catie Hicken each shared moving testimonies about God’s work in their lives.

Since the retreat, the knowledge gained proved useful, with attendance soaring as high as 48 students at one meeting.  The freshmen comprise the largest class of Word, so the home church decided to split, freshmen vs. the rest. The two home churches meet on the same day but at different locations. Students are extremely excited to take responsibility for their church and to be growing so much. The Holy Spirit is working and the wordies seek to follow His lead.

NEW Podcast! : Ephesians 2b http://neoxenos.org/podcasts/561/

Basecamp is now UP and BACK IN OPERATION.

Basecamp is temporarily down, if you didn’t already know that.

Adam explains 'Split Theory'

Dear High School and College Students:

You are the true heroes of this fellowship, there is no doubt.

It’s been amazing to watch how flexible, joyful, willing, and dependent upon the Holy Spirit your faith is. Most (or all) adults in your situation would surely flee from the many trials, persecutions and hardships you people endure with such joy!

And it’s more than your youthfulness producing so much fruit, because people in your age group are typically the most-selfish and uninterested in Jesus. Yet clearly, the majority in your churches break all the trends of your age group, and it’s because of your radical, “take-no-prisoners-alive” faith in Jesus Christ and his Word.

This week you’re all splitting your home churches, and it may seem weird, frightening, uncertain or maybe even difficult, but you’ve already shown the world who’s your “daddy” — and it’s our Savior and King, Jesus Christ. Following that kind of leadership, there’s no way to loose.

Toward that end, we dedicated this video to your most-excellent leadership: see Growth Through Disestablishment.

Keep it up. We’re following right behind you!

Sincerely,

An Old Man Faithfully Representing His Generation’s Sentiments

WILLIAMS HALL WAS SWEET LAST NIGHT! Take the poll at the Basecamp Talk Line and give your opinion!

CT IS AT WILLIAMS HALL TONIGHT 11-14-09

For Identity Project, find out what’s going on a http://identityproject.info

For WORD: find out what’s going on at http://neoxenos.org/word