Living the Journey

We are excited to announce that Bob Norvell will be a guest speaker at both of the Living the Journey Conferences in August!

“The truths that I heard Mr. Gothard talk about last Saturday night were some of the most rich insights that I have ever heard him share! They answered important questions that most young people are struggling with. I am looking forward to the Living the Journey Conferences in August so that everyone who has been on a Journey can have the opportunity to hear and apply these Biblical truths!”

Visit www.livingthejourney.com/conferences to sign up!
Registration Deadline: June 27

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It was deathly silent—not a breeze, no vehicles passing, the birds spoke nothing. The short walk from the lodge to the trailer in the black night held utter silence. A thick cloud cover hovered in the air above and if you did not look toward the civilized buildings you would think that you were the only living thing on this earth.

This is how the Northwoods Conference Center greeted me my first night. The stillness now reminds me of the verse which the Lord kept prompting me with at the beginning of the week. (See Psalm 46:10.)

Trying to explain what God did for me while I was up in the Northwoods is hard to put into words. It was amazing to watch the boys on my team turn into men and the light radiate in their eyes. The passion of our team leader was challenging and encouraging. The exhortation to fellowship with God and to meditate on his word spoke a lot to me. The times of self-examination and then being able to walk with God and experience the peace that passes all understanding and to feel the presence of the Lord in a place that He was working in, is too much to put into words.

Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit and following His prompting and then receiving the grace to do so was to me reassuring and inspiring. Being able to praise the Lord and thank Him in song and in prayer, even thanking Him for the hard times in life was uplifting. God has been great during this week and I definitely have been encouraged in the Lord and look forward to see what God is going to do in my life here in the future.

~ Clayton

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When I first heard about the Challenge II, I was excited because I loved the first one! But when I learned we were supposed to witness I considered backing out, for that was very much out of my comfort zone! Talking to anyone I didn’t know, even a Christian, was a terrifying prospect. I would have my 11-year-old sister go up to the checkout counter at a store when I purchased something for myself so that I wouldn’t have to say “hi” to the cashier.

I had never shared the Gospel with anyone. I knew I was supposed to, but all sorts of fears and excuses would come to my mind.  ”I don’t know enough!” “What if they ask a question I don’t know an answer to?” “How do I start?” “I’m scared!” “What if I freeze in the middle of a sentence?” “What if they reject me?” “I’m not ready!” and on and on. I wanted to share my faith, but I kept putting it off.

I read Mark Cahill’s book ONE Heartbeat Away and Share Jesus Without Fear by William Fay in order to kind of prep myself on how to witness.

Then, after memorizing the verses for the Challenge II, I connected up with a Dallas church group which goes out every Wednesday evening to inner city sites to share the Gospel. For 45 minutes of sweaty hands and knocking knees I didn’t hand out a single tract. My mom and brother were buzzing everywhere finding people to talk to; some people were responsive, some not. Finally, I realized that Satan was using my fear to keep people from learning about Jesus. That thought made me mad. I passed tracts out to everyone in arms reach, smiling and saying “Jesus loves you!” I joined my brother as he witnessed and I prayed for them.

I am very excited about going and actually talking more with people next time. Reaching others for Christ is an exciting adventure!

~ Laura

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As the week of the challenge drew near, I began to pray every day and ask God for a love for the people around me, and a love so great for Him that it would overpower my fear of man. God heard my prayers and answered them in some amazing ways!

Several days before the challenge was to start, the Lord allowed me an opportunity to present Christ to two young children who attended church but had never before seen the Bible or even heard who God was. The next day, I was again able to share with two more children the exact same ages. However, this time God allowed me to share much more in detail with them about the love of God, and how He came to die for them! I was disappointed that none of these four children actually prayed to receive Christ as their Savior, but I was reminded that God had planted seeds within their hearts and that hopefully in time those seeds would grow and be nurtured to the glory of God.

The last day of the challenge drew near and I was disappointed that I had only been able to hand out tracts each time that I had gone out. However, as we ran out for one last errand of the day, I realized that there was still an opportunity left to be a light!

While we did our shopping quickly and went to check out, my sister and mom pointed out various individuals that looked friendly. In truth, they did seem to be in no hurry, but a battle was raging within over my love for their soul, and my fear of man. I couldn’t seem to force myself to walk over and speak the words to them. I knew then that there is no way to overcome fear in human strength! God was gracious, and as we left the store I was able to speak with a woman who was raising money for an organization.

I found out that she was Catholic and was able to ask her some questions about salvation. I left her with the World’s Greatest Question book and my promise to keep her in my prayers. When we got back in our van, I was was so excited! I was in awe at what God had done, because I had always told myself I would never be able to share the gospel with someone because of my fear. I am praising the Lord for His mercy and everlasting love! I feel as though I am now free to share the gospel with many more souls because I never had to do it alone, all along!

~ Sarah

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Late one Saturday evening Brandon, James, and I decided to go to McDonalds to witness as a part of The Challenge II. We spent some time discussing how to open a conversation, as none of us had ever before gone on a trip just to witness like that. We spent so much time talking that it got pretty late.

We arrived at McDonalds, and the only other patrons were teenagers. We immediately got nervous, but went ahead and bought our milkshakes. Finally James said to me, “I’m just going to do it!”

He turned around to a table of young people, and after a pleasant comment, to which the teens looked confused, he said, “I am on an assignment. I am supposed to witness to someone this week.” The three of us began taking turns explaining the Gospel.

When I got to the part about sin, the only girl in the group of five became agitated. “I might leave,” she said. “You know, I have a right to leave. You know what, I am going to use my right and leave!” The other guys had to get up to let her out, and we thought that they were all going to leave. But they didn’t.

Brandon and James continued talking to three of them, and that left me alone with Terry. As I explained Christ’s payment for our sin, I could see that he understood. He was impressed and awed that Jesus would actually go to hell for a few days that our sins would be paid for. He was very eager to know what to do to be able to accept that gift.

I didn’t lead him in “the sinner’s prayer.” In fact, he didn’t pray at all, as we might think of prayer. He just told me emphatically what he believed in his heart about his state and Christ’s payment for his sin. He kept repeating, “Jesus paid for my sins!” It was so exciting to see his wonder and joy at realizing that his debt, which he understood, was paid for in such a manner.

Terry was my first “fish” that I had caught as a Fisher of Men. Though no one else was saved that night, it gave Brandon, James, and me such a thrill to know that one more member was added to the brotherhood of saints. Keep praying for Terry that he would grow in the Lord, and for us that we would keep the excitement of serving God.

~ Allen

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