We’ve had a great start with another wonderful group of youth in Hilton Head this week! They’ve jumped right into ministry and have served alongside some of our local ministries. While short-term missions are about serving in the community, they are also about so much more- something many of these youth have only begun to scratch the surface of. They’ve been learning about their identity in Christ, what that means and that they can and do hear the Lord’s voice. They have stepped up and stepped out in boldness and confidence. From praying with old ladies wandering around parking lots to sharing the love of God with other kids while playing games on the beach, they are hearing from God and obeying His call.
During our weekly listening prayer teaching, the youth learned to be still and to ATL (ask the Lord) what it is He wants to speak to them. The Lord definitely showed up big time…which was a surprise to many of them!
Meet Hannah. She’s the one with the awesome pink shoelaces. She is a 12 year old from Illinois who had the faith to ask the Lord to speak to her… and He did!! Here’s what happened in her words:
“Heyyyy, my name is Hannah! I’m on a mission trip to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Yesterday my crew and I did something called A-T-L (ask The Lord) and frankly I got some pretty big news. We were listening to the leaders teach about listening prayer and were encouraged to ask God what he wanted to say to us. All I got was ‘China.’ I didn’t really understand what that meant or why God was saying “China.” A few minutes later, we were instructed to again Ask The Lord what He wanted to speak to someone else in the group. We all wrote what we heard the Lord say on a piece of paper, crumbled it up and threw it in the middle of the room. We then each randomly drew a card someone else wrote. Mine said ‘God needs you to go to a foreign country’… NO JOKE, GOD WANTS ME TO GO TO CHINA!! Am I crazy or is God talking to me? I had never felt the Lord like that in my life; it was like he was in the room with me! Later on, I called my mom and she was just amazed. And now I’m praying like crazy!”
Not only does the Lord speak to people of all ages and walks of life, but He is calling out and raising up a generation of world changers- a generation who will seek justice, love mercy and walk humbly with the Lord.
Hannah, we’re also praying like crazy for you and are excited to see where the Lord leads you!
