Relax. Breathe. You're almost there. Spring Break is just around the corner. No classes, homework, or pulling all-nighters. But what will you do with your extra time? Here are a few ideas with purpose: Prepare. Let's be honest. Once you're back home, you'll put off studying until the last second, which equals stress. So, if you've got midterms after the break, try to study for them before you go away. Invest. Spend quality time with close friends and family from home. If you're not going home, mission trips or community … [Read more...]
Sun, Sand, Syrup and Spring Break Options
While most college students can't wait to toss their cares aside and dive into a week of relaxation, some will instead give their time off to minister to their peers at BeachReach in Panama City Beach, Fla. WHAT IS BEACH REACH? In one word, BeachReach is about Jesus. It’s about showing His love and sharing His gospel with thousands of college Spring Breakers who arrive at the beach with one purpose: to party. BeachReachers get to minister to Spring Breakers in a non-threatening yet urgent manner. Here are six reasons to … [Read more...]
Break the Ice: Three Thoughts on Sharing Faith
Frozen. It’s not just the name of a new movie about sisterly love…it’s also that word which describes how we often respond to uncomfortable situations. I’m going to put myself out there (hoping I’m not the only one) but one of the spaces where I most often experience frozenness (is that even a word) is in sharing my faith. You know, in a line at the grocery store and the person behind you points over to the magazine rack and comments on some headline related to Christianity or you have a neighbor or classmate ask about how you … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Stop Traffick
by Heather Ebert More than 20 million men, women, and children around the world currently suffer the brutality of forced labor and sexual exploitation — the violent injustice of human trafficking. God commands His people to seek justice for the oppressed, and thousands of young adults are answering that call. So if you’re wondering, Can I help?, the answer is yes. Several organizations are leading in the charge against human trafficking. To learn how you can play a greater part, here are five places to start. 1. END IT … [Read more...]
BeachReach: Sun, Sand, and … Syrup?
While most college students can't wait to toss their cares aside and dive into a week of Spring Break relaxation, several students across the nation give their time off to the cause of ministering to their peers at Beach Reach in Panama City Beach, Fla. If you've never been, you're probably wondering what it's all about. So here's a brief explanation of what you'll experience as a Beach Reacher. WHAT IS BEACH REACH? In one word, Beach Reach is about Jesus. It's about showing His love and sharing His gospel to thousands of college … [Read more...]
One Slum at a Time
In Mumbai, India, Vidya Verma* edges in closer as the American students share a Bible story. "I am hearing every word," Verma says. Verma and her husband Ankur,* who live in the slums of Mumbai, are immigrants from another state in India. Like all of their neighbors, they are Hindu. Millions of South Asians live in slums. And, unlike the lucky lead in the film Slumdog Millionaire, most of Mumbai's slum population never get a ticket out of the mud, mire, and moneyless life. Students from Tennessee Tech University recently went to … [Read more...]
No Ordinary Life: Katie Davis’ Story of Serving Children in Uganda
by Ande Fanning The alarm clock rings. You roll out of bed and head to class. It's likely your biggest decision so far has been what size latte to order, and your main concern has been finding a parking spot on campus. For 22-year-old Katie Davis, there's no alarm clock. Instead, she wakes up to several pairs of little hands on her face and several pairs of feet bouncing on the bed. Her biggest decision will be choosing to live another day in Uganda, and her main concern is caring for her children - 14 daughters and 147 million … [Read more...]
Leading when Natural Disasters Strike
Editor’s Note: During the first weekend of May 2010, Nashville, Tennessee, and surrounding areas experienced record-breaking flooding that killed several and displaced thousands. Here, worship pastor Nathan Loxley describes how 24church in Pleasant View, Teneessee, came to the immediate aid of their community. Loxley’s story reminds us of the critical role of the church in responding to local and global disaster relief. As an official grown-up, the word “birthday” does little more for me than highlight a date … [Read more...]
What Does “Missional” Mean?
It doesn’t take you long to encounter the word “missional” as you examine the current landscape of Christian ministry and thought. It seems everywhere you turn, someone is talking about missional living, missional churches, or missional strategies. It seems the wave of missional activity is flooding our churches, seminaries, bookstores, and more. And while many affirm this term, others remain unclear as to exactly what “missional” means. Intentionally or unintentionally, the word has been confused, … [Read more...]
Supporting the Last Well Project
I was reading this morning in Isaiah 1, and verse 23 literally jumped off the page at me. “Your rulers are rebels, friends of thieves. They all love graft and chase after bribes. They do not defend the rights of the fatherless and the widow’s case never comes before them.” It’s amazing about how relevant the Bible is at all times. I don’t know about you, but I have had about all the news I can take about Wall Street, bailouts and corruption of all kinds. But rather than focus on the negative, how about … [Read more...]
