Tell the Story: 180 Worship Night - Nov 17, 2021

Last week, 180 students sang praises and took communion as an act of worship to God. Several of the Students Leaders gave testimony of the work of God in their lives. It was such an encouragement to hear teens encouraging each other to stay faithful, to remember that Jesus is their hope and to be thankful. Read below a little of what each of them had to say. 

Alden Wakefield shared, "Even if we face persecution, we can't let it change our beliefs. When others see the light of Christ in our work and actions, it can make a huge positive difference in their lives. Your persecution is proof of a real personal relationship with Christ and shines for people to see." If you ever feel like you don't fit in because of your faith in Jesus Christ, do not be discouraged. Jesus wants us to show his light to everyone around us. He also wants us to stand firm in our faith. Pursuing a real personal relationship with Jesus Christ is more important than fitting in."
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

Faith Schubert encouraged her peers to be Joyful.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23
"Joy has to be rooted in God, who won't change, who is not going to fail, because he is not going to bend and not going to break. You have to root your joy in something that is going to last. We have to put our joy in the firm foundation of Jesus. Joy rooted in Jesus is lasting, no matter what you go through. So, rooting your Joy in Jesus and finding contentment in who He is and who He says you are, that will bring lasting comfort and lasting joy. He says you are loved. He says you are beautiful. He created you for a purpose. He says he made you to glorify Him. He says you are imperfect and broken but he loved you despite it. He says he sent his son to die, so we can be free. He says we are free. So, root your joy in Jesus. He gives joy, not the world."

Madison Metcalf gave thanks:
"Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever." Psalm 106:1
"When I think of thankfulness, I think of praising God. You can praise God through the good, but you can also praise God through the bad in your life, when thankfulness is present in your heart. I'm thankful for my salvation, because I deserved to die, and so do you. But Jesus made his salvation possible through his gift of dying on the cross. Jesus is the reason I am who I am today. Let me tell you about my Jesus. He is a personal God and in order to have a relationship with him, you must spend time with Him. I'm thankful for my Jesus and I hope you all are too."

Rance Tipton shares his salvation testimony:
"I decided to give my life to Christ. I thought after then, it was just going to be smooth sailing. All my sin was gonna just disappear and I was just gonna be this amazing person. That's what I thought Christians were, and nothing could be farther from the truth. Here I am almost 3 years later, standing on this stage and I still having some of the same struggles. I still fall into sin. But they key is that even when we do mess up that Christ paid it all."

Benji Morgan recognized the need to Tell our Story. 
"And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17
"We need to be thankful for opportunities and use them for God's glory. Everything that we've been given and everything that we are able to do is a gift from God."