SBP Update

Our staff team could not be more encouraged by the beginning of SBP 2006!  Not that everything has been easy; but we can see God working powerfully both in the students and in ourselves.

 

The students leaders arrived last Wednesday and the other students showed up on Friday, except for 4 who were traveling long distances and had commitments-- but even they showed up on Sunday.  We have one more student on her way tomorrow. 

 

Saturday morning we started orientation for the students, introducing them to the beach project schedules and each of the training packages.  Saturday evening we also held a testimony clarifying time.  I was able to give a talk-- about 30 minutes just looking at the biblical characteristics of Christians (mostly in 1 John) and challenging the students to consider when their lives began to move more toward these characteristics.  Each room then broke up to discuss their testimonies and begin getting to know each other a little more deeply.  Two students seem to have first really understood the Gospel that night, so we're extremely happy to see them begin a walk with God.

 

After two days of looking (the first day was Memorial Day), all the students have jobs and have at least begun their training.  Myrtle Beach/Garden City offers a lot more options that Clearwater did in the past, simply because here they have a peak season in the summer.  We did have the extra factor of coordinating with 4 other beach projects from different regions, but that also turned out to be helpful in the end.  So, praise God that the students have already found work for the summer and their regular weekly schedules can begin, hopefully maximizing the effectiveness of these early weeks.

 

Monday night we held our first "theme" meeting.  Our project director spoke on Psalm 86:11-13-- our theme verses for the summer-- and we had a time to privately examine where our hearts might be divided and to ask God, along with David's prayer, to give us undivided hearts that we may fear His name.  Each day has been special in its own way, and there are many students-- and all of the staff-- who are growing in our understanding of our need for the Gospel.

 

Thank you for praying for us!  We've heard from a few of you, and appreciate your updates.  Please let us know how you are.  We'll try to send brief updates each week or so.

 

Trusting Him,

michael