From the blog I just found belonging to a childhood friend of mine. I always knew he would end up a pastor. This is an entry from one of the youth he led a trip to Utah:
When I first got there, I knew that I would not return to Iowa the same. Over 90% of the population in Manti is Mormon, and the other 10% percentage is Protestant. When we visited Ephraim Church of the Bible, there were very few youth, so immediately we were an encouragement because those teens live there, and every day they are persecuted in different ways. However, they still hold strong and true to God’s Word, and share it like there’s no tomorrow.
Once I had started my training, all I wanted to do was just get out there on the streets and witness. With all the Scriptures and what good conversation starters, I just couldn’t wait to plant my feet and let the Lord lead me. There were many different methods to go about in talking to the Mormons on the streets, and picking the one you wanted to use and sticking to it became a bit confusing, but the Lord took charge and gave all of us opportunities.
The greatest change in my life that has come from the trip to Ephraim and Manti, Utah has I was immediately humbled knowing that I was the minority, and there was no way that “I” could talk to these lost people and lead them to the real Jesus on my own. I had to put my full trust in the Lord, praying night and day that He would just point out who He wanted me to address. I talked to a few, tried to do it on my own, and was a complete “smack down” because I was relying on myself and not the Lord to work through me.
Throughout the week I found myself singing and praising God, getting together and putting my arms around my brothers in Christ, praying for those who were in conversations, praying for individuals who had just been witnessed to, asking God to bring the rain, water the seeds, and cause the growth… it all was totally transforming. Also, I must agree with Pastor Dave’s report that the actual pageant play was very troubling and kind of boring.
I would encourage anyone who has just a slight thought about going to Nauvoo, Illinois with the Youth TEAM on July 24-26th to pray about it. If you can come, do it!!! It will give you the feeling of being a missionary. Actually, you are a missionary! There is no greater joy or feeling to know that you have just impacted an individuals life by just questioning whether their God or prophet is legitimate, and you have archaeological facts to back your God and His Word. You will dramatically change in your mindset, you will want to serve anywhere and everywhere you go from that point on. But most importantly you will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Along with you will be your friends and get some quality “TEAM” time!
Once I had started my training, all I wanted to do was just get out there on the streets and witness. With all the Scriptures and what good conversation starters, I just couldn’t wait to plant my feet and let the Lord lead me. There were many different methods to go about in talking to the Mormons on the streets, and picking the one you wanted to use and sticking to it became a bit confusing, but the Lord took charge and gave all of us opportunities.
The greatest change in my life that has come from the trip to Ephraim and Manti, Utah has I was immediately humbled knowing that I was the minority, and there was no way that “I” could talk to these lost people and lead them to the real Jesus on my own. I had to put my full trust in the Lord, praying night and day that He would just point out who He wanted me to address. I talked to a few, tried to do it on my own, and was a complete “smack down” because I was relying on myself and not the Lord to work through me.
Throughout the week I found myself singing and praising God, getting together and putting my arms around my brothers in Christ, praying for those who were in conversations, praying for individuals who had just been witnessed to, asking God to bring the rain, water the seeds, and cause the growth… it all was totally transforming. Also, I must agree with Pastor Dave’s report that the actual pageant play was very troubling and kind of boring.
I would encourage anyone who has just a slight thought about going to Nauvoo, Illinois with the Youth TEAM on July 24-26th to pray about it. If you can come, do it!!! It will give you the feeling of being a missionary. Actually, you are a missionary! There is no greater joy or feeling to know that you have just impacted an individuals life by just questioning whether their God or prophet is legitimate, and you have archaeological facts to back your God and His Word. You will dramatically change in your mindset, you will want to serve anywhere and everywhere you go from that point on. But most importantly you will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. Along with you will be your friends and get some quality “TEAM” time!
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