elevation snapshots

wanted to pass along a couple of the ways in which the students who are elevation are living into God's kingcom...

-marlee's mom stopped into my office a couple of days ago to share some exciting news. marlee is a junior in high school, and she's taking on God's heart for africa in some incredible ways. she's going to south africa this spring break with our team, and has also started an organization at her school to raise money for the darfur crisis. "i don't want to be one of those christians who see people on the news who need help and need jesus and don't do anything about it." marlee's mom stopped in to inform me that the zeeland newspaper has found out about marlee, and wants to do a story on her, and on our africa trip! and marlee heard the same week from the grand rapids press- they've asked marlee to write for them on a regular basis about what she's doing, the africa trip, and the plight she's responding to!

-this past evening was our monthly "elevation"- our corporate large-group gathering for all of our missional communities (we just call it "a massive God-party"). we gathered at the park theatre in downtown holland, packing in a standing-room only crowd, and i watched in humble gratitude as students brought friends, and newcomers were welcomed by peers and caring adults. there was a great energy in the room as we worshipped, told stories of God's movement in students' lives, and shared communion togther. elevation continued long after our official program was over, too- students simply moved the party down the street to jp's.

-while at elevation, i got the chance to see God on the move in keith's life. keith and a few friends have responded in compassion at the recent death of their friend's mom. he told me of how they went over to shovel her driveway, and have worked together to raise several hundred dollars to give to them, simply to help with whatever they need. what was their fund-raising tactic, you ask? on tuesday (when it was 7 degrees outside), keith and a few others convinced some friends to pay them to strip down to only a pair of shorts and run a lap around their block in the middle of the arctic blast!

here are few things as beautiful as students living out the vision of Jesus for the kingdom of his Father in fresh, imaginitive, and daring ways. so take a minute and thank God for shaping dreams and visions in the hearts of our student community for the world around them!

jared ayers
student ministries