Summer Kickoff Testimony

Introduction

Restoring the Blackstone

Power Of Stories: Kids Camp Vending Machine, Tylers Kids, Total Shift of Perspective.

Summer Emphasis: This summer we want to empower you to “Share Your Story” for the impact it can have!

1. Child Like Faith

My story starts on the outskirts of Houston where cow fields and Krogers were just starting to meet.

Growing up there were few weeks were I wasn't at the church multiple times a week. From bible studies, to Sunday mornings, and pushing chairs to face each other to build a make shift mattress to nap on.

Yet proximity ≠ Intimity

There was a clear difference between be knowing the gospel and receiving the gospel. It’s the difference between knowing “Christ Jesus died for sinners” and 1 Timothy 1:15 “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.”

I was young when this conviction came upon me that the son of God was murdered for my sin.

I wasn’t ready to debate, or outline theological differences but I knew when Jesus died for sinners that he died for me.

This was my story of child like faith…

2. Growing Pains

1 Peter 2:2–3 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”

I continued growing in the church and began to get more involved, lead, and get personally discipled.

While I grew up, and my faith did, so did the world around me, my friends, and temptations.

I was a freshman in high school and it seemed like everyone was pairing off for HOCOs and introduction of snapchat streaks. And I found myself wishing I had what others had.

James 1:14–15 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

My desires to date although my parents didn’t support that lured me to establishing a relationship in private.

From there it was a quick and slippery slope where lustful desires led to sexual temptation which led to sexual sin in the times we would meet, in the things we would share and in my own heart and mind.

Furthermore it was isolating. A relationship that was once hidden from my parents was now being disguised from my friends. And by the time I realized how far I had gone from what I once said and believed I had no one to turn to.

3. Restoring my soul

It was the first week of August and I had kept up the lies for the past 10 months. Deleted messages, lied about locations, avoided conversations alone with them. Now at 9:00pm on a Tuesday I was called into their room. Something I previously would have taken joy in my stomach churned and sank over. They preceded to ask routine questions and hear my answers even asking how my friendship with this girl was going. I lied again.

There was a moment of silence that was broken as if by a whip when my dad asked, “what if I told you I’ve seen your message history?”

There wasn’t an ounce of condescension in his voice only concern. And that night was not a night of punishments though boundaries were established… that was a night of restoration of a son to his parents.

In the same way restoration of my heart to God… I had lied and lied yet mostly to myself and my mom directed me to 2 verses

Psalm 32:3–4 “For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah”

Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”

God used my parents to remind me I was never too far to confess my sin… That Jesus had come to SAVE SINNERS… WHICH I WAS.

4. Pastoral Care

Mark Julian

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

You are not too far gone… God restores your soul and calls you to himself… We are hear to encourage you.