The annual trek to the Andrew P. Stewart Center this year was a great experience for everyone who went.  Being that I am writing this little update, I will speak from my own point of view, which may be somewhat skewed.  Nevertheless, here goes...The trip started in normal fashion on the church van.  There were no accidents, no unforeseen issues, no problems at all getting to Atlanta, with the exception of the GPS navigator, TomTom.  He couldn't make up his mind which exit for us to take when we got to Atlanta, so we circled this one community several times, hoping for some direction.  After regaining I-20 East, we were soon unloading our gear for the week ahead. 

 

                As I stood in the door of the Stewart Center, I was humbled.  I felt that God was about to use 12 people to make a difference in the lives of several young, impressionable children during the coming week.  This is a feeling that still remains in my heart.  

 

                The youth group was awesome in their work.  Everyone loved on the kids, giving their daily Bible story and telling them of the Good News that Jesus brought to us.  I heard very little complaining from our team about anything the whole time we were there.  It was never too hot, too cold, or too wet.  The week seemed just right.  Although the kids were maybe a little too rambunctious, the week, in my books was a success.  No one got hurt too badly, one person bled (just a little) and no one went to the hospital.

 

               I now sit behind my computer at work (of course on lunch) trying to sum up in a small blurb everything that happened, every feeling that was felt, every new decision that was made to follow God's will, and everyone who was influenced, and I find that I am humbled by the fact that I really can't.  The experience of this trip is not something that could be drafted into a letter.  The feelings, the love, the hard work, the sleepless nights, the prayers and everything that went into this trip could not be summed up in this blurb.  But it can be summed up into this one statement.  Although we felt like we gave just a few hours of our lives, our time, our money, our love, nothing was wasted that we gave up.  God used every last bead of sweat, every tear shed, every prayer said, every ounce of work that went into this week and blessed me, blessed many of those around me, and helped show these kids in Atlanta that there is really someone out there who loves them no matter what.

 

               Again, sitting behind my desk at work, in the waning moments of my lunch, I can't help but grasp for something to keep this feeling alive in me until next year's Atlanta trip; something to keep the fire kindled in my chest so I don't burn out so easily.  So, I reach to the only One who knows me and can sustain that feeling and keep that hunger alive in me until next year.  And I pray that this hunger becomes alive in all of us, a hunger that we can reach the world with what we have, with who we are, knowing that God uses us to love those who don't know His love like we do.

 

               Thanks to everyone who had a part in sending us to Atlanta, whether you gave money, time, love, prayer, whatever.  Your gift was well received.  I count it a blessing and honor to be at Agape and cannot wait to see what our Savior does in the coming years.

 

Love Always Wins,

 
John King

Youth Pastor