And two were added on that day!!

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. Luke 15:7

This past weekend I had the wonderful opportunity to go on a youth retreat. Every Wednesday night I along with Lindsey, Steve and Juan Carlos volunteer with the youth at a church called Crossroads. We each lead a small group. I have the blessing of leading an amazing group of grade 8 girls. The youth ministry is called Crossfire, and I have loved being a part of it since September. It goes from grade 6 to grade 12. It's such a cool experience because Crossroads is a bilingual church with sermons done in English but people who speak Spanish have the opportunity to listen to the sermon in Spanish by radio while in the sanctuary. Crossfire also operates in the same way and during our praise and worship time we sing worship songs in both Spanish and English. If you want to learn more about this unique church in Panama you can visit the following website:

http://www.cbcpanama.org/

The retreat we went on was called "God's Will." During the weekend the youth pastor Mark Warder talked about how God has a sovereign will that everyone both Christians and non Christians are under. He also explained how God has a moral will, which is the Bible and pertains only to believers. He explained that God gives us free will and that just because we make mistakes doesn't mean that we have messed up our whole lives or that God can't still work in our circumstances.

For me the highlight of the weekend was Saturday night when Mark went through 6 different wills that God has for our lives. The first one was that "everyone would be saved." He went on to show a video of Jesus on the cross, did a gospel presentation and said a prayer for students who wanted to accept Christ into their lives. Before his message that night each student received a piece of play dough. After he said the prayer Mark asked those students who had just prayed to receive Jesus into their hearts for the first time to come up to the front and press their piece of play dough onto a large play dough cross that had been made. Two of my girls went up! I was filled with so much pride and joy to know that they had received Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. I gave them big hugs and told them that they had made the best decision of their lives.

Diana gave her testimony at Crossfire last night during large group and then expanded during our time in small group. Something that impacted me was when she said that she had experience more change in the last 3 days than during her fourteen years of life. My heart is full! I am rejoicing in the fact that two young girls have been added to the kingdom. Diana and Estefanny have begun the best relationship they will ever have...a relationship with Jesus! I made sure to convey to them that following Jesus isn't easy, but it's an amazing adventure and the best thing choice they could ever make. Praise God for my two new sisters in Christ! Please lift up Diana and Estefanny in your prayers. Pray that they will continue to read their Bibles as they have begun to do so in the last couple of days and that every day they will fall more and more in love with Jesus.

Here I am with my small group. Estefanny is in the yellow shirt next to me and right above her is Diana.

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Evangelism.

Every Friday morning our team meets at the girls apartment to receive ministry training from Canada. It's called Ministry Prep 101 (Campus for Christ). We have been going through the section of Evangelism during the past few weeks and today as a team we had to discuss some of the struggles that we face when it comes to keeping evangelism a priority. As many of you know evangelism plays a huge role in what we do here in Panama. We are here as missionaries working at the national university in Panama City and the majority of our time on campus is spent telling students about Jesus. It was encouraging to know that all six of us have struggles when it comes to sharing our faith. A few of us talked about how it's hard to continually have passion for it when we seem to be doing it day in and day out or how discouraging it can be when we don't see fruit. It was good to discuss what our motivation should be for telling others about Christ. I love what 2 Corinthians 5:14 says "for Christ's love compels us..." Our love for Jesus should naturally draw us to want to tell others about God's love for them. We looked at some Scripture passages on evangelism as a team. I was really encouraged by them. Here are a few of the passages:

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." Matthew 9:35-38

Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! 1 Corinthians 9:16

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:18-20

All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth. Colossians 1:6

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15

A key point that a team member of mine reminded us of is how vital it is to be Spirit filled when we go out sharing. He mentioned how he needs to be right with God before he can tell others about Jesus. Often when there is garbage or something blocking his relationship with the Lord, he will go and spend time with Him before he goes out to evangelize. It's so true; we as Christians need to be continually abiding in Christ (John 15:5) so we won't be able to help but speak of God's great love for them (Acts 4:20).