H7 Story: "I Need Jesus"
Night of Worship
Every year FCC 180 Student Ministry holds a night of worship. This special evening is designed with a purposeful emphasis on scripture reading, prayer, singing, and scripture-based self-reflection stations. The different stations available to the students include:
- Surrender
- Confession and repentance
- Identity
- Remember (Communion)
- Knowing God's Character
- Prayer for persecuted churches and unreached people
This night is always special for the students as they are given a place to confess sin and make amends with others, while simultaneously learning to surrender to God's will. This year was extra special for everyone as one of our students made a profession of faith in Christ!
Catherine McCoy serves as a co-leader for the eighth grade girls. She explains that while her role at 180 is small, being a leader is a way that God can remind her weekly of His good character. “The joys of serving Christ are abundant. He is a living God who is active in the hearts of His children,” she said. “God continually shows me that He does not slumber in the hearts of young people. Their age doesn’t dismiss their potential as Kingdom workers.”
Catherine writes that on the night of worship, Leah approached her and asked if they could talk. She told Catherine, “I might cry … I need Jesus.” Catherine detailed the experience by saying, “Her words lingered in my ears. I instantly thought of God’s kindness in letting me experience an insight into what He was doing in this student’s heart. He didn’t have to give me the gift of hearing her words, [and] seeing her humble tears.”
Catherine was halted in her tracks and she said she didn’t realize until later how “deeply her words would become etched in my head and heart. Little did I know at that moment that my friend Leah’s words would mightily increase my own faith. I prayed with her as Christ did His planned work.”
While Leah was making her own profession of faith, her new commitment to Christ that evening helped renew Catherine’s faith as well. “She ministered to me, reminding me that His plan for salvation is a plan that provides rest from the unnecessary work we put on ourselves. It is a simple plan of trusting and acting in faith on the work that He brought to completion.
“Serving as a student leader with a team of adults who want to promote Christ as THE ONE true need, is a gift that keeps giving. I have no doubt that I will forever remember Leah’s words and tears as she invited The Holy Spirit to live within her heart. God is faithful to give joy.”
Catherine writes that on the night of worship, Leah approached her and asked if they could talk. She told Catherine, “I might cry … I need Jesus.” Catherine detailed the experience by saying, “Her words lingered in my ears. I instantly thought of God’s kindness in letting me experience an insight into what He was doing in this student’s heart. He didn’t have to give me the gift of hearing her words, [and] seeing her humble tears.”
Catherine was halted in her tracks and she said she didn’t realize until later how “deeply her words would become etched in my head and heart. Little did I know at that moment that my friend Leah’s words would mightily increase my own faith. I prayed with her as Christ did His planned work.”
While Leah was making her own profession of faith, her new commitment to Christ that evening helped renew Catherine’s faith as well. “She ministered to me, reminding me that His plan for salvation is a plan that provides rest from the unnecessary work we put on ourselves. It is a simple plan of trusting and acting in faith on the work that He brought to completion.
“Serving as a student leader with a team of adults who want to promote Christ as THE ONE true need, is a gift that keeps giving. I have no doubt that I will forever remember Leah’s words and tears as she invited The Holy Spirit to live within her heart. God is faithful to give joy.”