10:31 Student Ministries

In just 2 days, the TCS seniors, sponsors, and parents will be off to Guatemala from March 17-25! We appreciate everyone's prayers as we leave and look forward to how God will use His Word and team as His instruments. As the team goes forth to serve, we must do so with His Word on their lips. Here are the verses of Scripture that we have meditating on as a team in preparation for this trip:

2 Corinthians 4:5-7
For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.


Philippians 2:1-8
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!

Acts 20:35 (our theme verse for the trip)

In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

Our lives are all about Christ! These passages point us to to the One who we are preaching, the One we are serving, the One whose example we are following, and the One who gives us the strength and power to serve!  Our theme verse focuses us on loving and serving Christ as we love and serve others.  Looking at Christ’s example, we are truly blessed when we give.  Not that we are not blessed in receiving, but the thrust of our theme verse is to put an emphasis on giving that is intentional with initiative.  In Luke 6, we see this in action – giving extravagantly to others, expecting nothing in return – and your reward will be great!

We will be specifically working with the Zacapa Orphanage and assisting in various types of ministry in surrounding villages such as leading evangelistic Bible clubs for children, providing food for impoverished families in a village, ministering to the elderly who have been abandoned, and leading church services.   And, as we go, we will have the privilege of serving Christ by serving others, sharingChrist with others, worshipping Christ with the greater body of Christ, andbeing united as a team around the Word of Christ!   

As the team prepares to leave, here are some prayer requests to keep in mind...

1. Pray for the team as we spend consistent time in Scripture and prayer as they continue to prepare their hearts and attitudes in service to the Lord.

2. Pray that the team would become more unified and close before and during the trip, not allowing anything to come between them as they serve together.

3. Pray that God would be glorified in all that we do.

4. Pray for a burden for the lost and boldness to share the gospel without fear in the surrounding villages.

5. Pray that we would have lives that are willing to “deny self” and show a servant’s heart like Jesus did by being others-minded.

6. Pray that the team would be a genuine blessing and encouragement to the body of Christ in Guatemala.

7. Pray that the team would show the love and compassion of Christ to the children in the orphanages and hospitals.

8. Pray that the team will still be living out what God teaches us on this trip upon our return.

Thank you for your prayers! See you on the blog soon!

Proclaiming His Name,

Pastor Stephen