Mission Sunday- Youth Trip Lessons
We want to show you a few pictures just quick to talk about what we did during the week. So this is sort of our, our normal group photo that we took when we all wore our shirts and you can see Yeah, there we are, that's enough to say, we on Monday, we painted a mobile home and we installed skirting on a mobile home. So this is the skirting installation crew at Beth's house and just a little picture of the work of installing skirting, the other crew painted a mobile home. So here is that crew and some painting shots. Then on Tuesday, we skirted two more home. So we painted one mobile home and we will install the skirting at three of them. So that's some work. But the hardest part of the work is getting a nice level, straight bottom Channel laid out. So I just want you to admire how How nicely excavated and has straight. That is then there's some don't mind a little ass down there at the end. There's nothing to see here moving along. Okay and then on Wednesday we and Thursday on Wednesday, we help set up for food pantry that City Impact Church calls the grocery garage. We help set up for that. It's a big job to get ready for it. And then on Thursday we provided volunteer help at the event itself.
And then, on Wednesday afternoon, we had some fun. So we drove to Michigan's Adventure and we went to the water park and we stayed overnight there. And this is this is a picture of us in relax mode at the end of that at the time at Michigan's Adventure and then on Friday, we went to Howard City and we worked with a couple there. I think we're going to see her Jason and Jen, rixie are their names and their beginning, a youth center in Howard City and they've bought a really cool old Urban building and some of us did drywall, some of us did landscaping. Some of us did preparing of Christmas in July giveaway. So, here's some drywall, don't be fooled by the fact that Noah and John. From Rise Up, are standing there watching. It's because this was a job for the pros to climb up there and walk along that ledge and make sure the sheets got to fly here is Emma and Jackson before shot of landscaping, there's an after shot that was a big transformation. And here is, let's see. There's Gracie, I can't, I can't name all the people in that picture, but that's Jen rixey
And then at the end, we got an ice cream. And this gentleman sitting next to me Brayden, he smiles a lot as a general practice but That was a moment right there. I've two scoops of Blue Moon. Ice cream. The The boy braids in that, still lives inside came alive, and there was this big smile on his face.
Julie and I talked to students and we came up with this idea of a day. Camp style, we go home at night, sleep in our own beds, local mission trip. We call it it, we started out calling it. A do-it-yourself mission trip. But we ask for help from Brayden and the ministry at City, a call disciple, builders that repairs people's houses with the locations that we would work, and we were surprised by the fact that Brayden embraced it the way he did. And he, he had an itinerary all worked out for us. And he spent the entire week working with us, guiding Us in arranging things for us, and keeping us in line and out of trouble. So we appreciate that very much. one of the things that we did was Brayden just told us about about himself, so bright, and I'm wondering if you could share Some of what you told us about being a kid who didn't like going to church all that much. And now you bought a mobile home in the 18, Mile trailer park so that you could live there and build relationships with people and some people in the name of Jesus. So that's a that's a transformation. So I like you said, my name is Brayden I I I I graduated 2019 from Cedar Springs. I've grown up in Cedar Springs. My entire life has building brings back, a lot of good memories looking at the student of the month board and rim around my neck. My, my picture was never up on those bars with me and my friends, we always like in this area for lunch. I think it was under the blue tile here. After the table, we are always trying to figure out what that thing was. I have no idea to this day. We were just talking about that. So, how long is that been there? So yeah. I grew up in church, and I didn't really know Jesus until I was in 2016. When I was 16 years old, a guy kind of took me under his wing and guide me along of what it means to be a follower, and a disciple of Jesus. And the Bible says anyone that's in Christ, is a new creation in the old has passed away in the new has come in 2016, parade and died and I the Bible also says I've been crucified with Christ so I can no longer live but Christ lives in me. And I man, God just really, really changed my heart in 2016. And you know what? You getting into his word and you start studying, put Holy Spirit put stuff on our heart and Mission fields that we are called to go after and growing up in Cedar Springs. My entire life, I've always known about Cedar Springs Mobile. Estates in the north end of town, 18 Mile trailer park is, it's called. I mean, we all we all know where that's at, you know? If I were to ask you to give me some words, you've heard about that place, they probably wouldn't be very positive. And I grew up in school, going going to school with kids that were from that Park and saying just the knee that they had and just the look on their face. So why in 2019 me and my buddy Jay we partnered up with two other guys and we went down on a missions trip to the country of Brazil and I we saw Mighty miracles of god. I mean that's that's a story for another time. But long story short we were, we almost got thrown in jail because of Jay don't bring ammunition in your carry-on bag in an airport. That's just, that's just the lesson. We learned the hard way. Anyways. Yeah. Or marijuana products. No, no, we, we went into a drive down there and the missionary that we partnered up with. He's been down there for about 40 years. He's a good friend of Jay and up at the end of the week, one of the tribes, I think it was called Sheila or something like that. They had like these little bones in their ears and they actually met A handmade wool and basket and gave it to us at the end of the week as we were leaving. And we're like that kind of cool. Thanks a lot. You know, it wasn't until after we left at the missionary told us, you don't understand what that means down here. He said, if they were to give you that gift it it shows your sign of friendship like you won them over and we were just humbled by that you know that God used two ordinary guys for you guys. So for ordinary guys to fulfill his purpose in Brazil, And while I was doing in Brazil to God, gave me this vision of the trailer park and you just put the needs on my heart of my up, my own Hometown community. So I started praying on it and praying on it. Me and some, guys get together, we prayed on it and I started going into the park and looking at some houses to buy and then covid head and kind of shut down all down. But in June 2020, 20, I was going through a house. All right, I got to back up a little bit. I was calling to park asking. He's there any houses available. We all know what the housing market like right now. I mean, it's crazy and they would always say no, no, no. And then finally, we were doing a little project in there and one of the maintenance guys came up to me and said, hey, did did the management tell you about the park on 3rd Street? And I said, no. So I talk to management, he led me over there, keep broke the door open with a 3 foot pry. Bar inside this is as far as I'm coming in that dirty drug-infested. Disgusting house. I knew it was it. But this is this is this is where we we go to that thing, down to the studs, we we build it up. Beautiful, we did work almost as nice as quality as Mike Norman does. Maybe maybe not that good, but we, we got peanut, you know, and I actually opened up my house on Thursday nights to the community just kind of going out of Faith a little bit and I just saying that's what getting to work together. So why this last Thursday? I mean, there was 20 people in that house, you know, gather together, you know, praying and we're your, for starting the book of 1st Corinthians right now. And speaking of 1st Corinthians, 1st, Corinthians 131 tells us let no one owes to himself. But the one that both supposed in the name of the Lord Jesus. So, everything I say is not to bring glory to myself, it's bring glory to him but I cannot help but tell you the Wonders and the great things that God has done in my life just like Paul and up heater when they stood before the Sanhedrin. So Anyways, we bought this house and I will, I like to use my house as a reference for the people. Like Christ came to make all things new, it doesn't matter how drug-infested, how disgusting, how gross your life is, it doesn't matter how deep in bondage you are, the good news. Is that Johnny tells us. We must son sets free will be free, indeed. So Jesus came to set you free. So in the mean in the meantime to I was working at the hardware store and me and Jake kind of partnered up and we were going into Homes at night and just we heard about the news around the community heard about people falling through their their floor because of water damage her about pipes, broken sewer lines, broken electrical problems. Kids sleeping on floors. So we we went around to the community after work every night and we would help them with their needs. And that kind of crew way quicker than we ever expected it, would it would. So we started up a Ministry called City and pack disciple, Builders just focused around getting into people's homes and sharing the love of Jesus. With him while we're doing the home repairs, the repairs are only a ticket into the house. We have a little staying around city in packets relationships evangelism and expansion. We're going to form relationships with people, just like Jesus did. Then we're going to evangelize to them and then the expansion part has them going out and sharing what Christ did in their life. So we started up this huge man in his ministry, has gotten pretty big in the last year and God was starting to call me to quit my job at the hardware store and stuff. And I just I just feel like it's it's time it's time for you to move on and work full time at this ministry. So September 1st 2021 was my last day at the hardware store. I went out of faith and just Praying that God would bring around the resources to fulfill the needs one week later, I got a phone call, it's from the trailer park office, they just told me. Hey, just so you know, your lot rent was paid this month somebody called in and they're paying it for you. I said wonderful. Praise God, you know, a week later, another phone call. Hey, just so you know, Brayden somebody paid your October rent and I said, who is this person? That's not for you to know. It's not for you to know. And then ever since then, I look at my statement to rent paid. It's it's it's paid. It's, it's a miracle. Every time we go to do something for somebody. The money's always and we know where it comes from. So awesome. Now bringing in rise up church here. You know, we, we've been having this vision of bringing an admission to a help us out in our community. So John can invite he reached out to me and Jay and we had some McDonald's together and we sat down and we talked about, you know, what does this look like with that has partnering up? So I mean, I'm telling you that you that came this week were amazing. They were amazing the way how they worked. And loved on others was just truly a blessing. So we got to witness to a lady that lives directly behind me, was 82 years old and her walk with the Lord is unknown. And we got to pray with her. We got to pray for another lie. Things that you guys poured out, you know I need different Ministries was just awesome. So thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you very much. So we're going to now, we're just going to go down the line and we're going to. We had a practice of talking about God. Sightings at the end of every day, what we see God do. And so it's just the here, what kind of your favorite God, sighting of the week and then go down to Emma and then we'll do Julie. Oh, okay. I'll just start with Emma and go down to Abby and then we'll do do. An end in Britain for sorry.
radar God, sightings at City Impact, for one of the days but I think my God sighting was just Kind of an all of us and me because like, when you go into these homes and the trailer park like obviously it's not the best you're going to be dealing with houses that you're doing, skirting, where the insulation is falling out of the bottom of the house or the trailer. And it really just makes you realize how much you have been, what good of a situation you have and not to look down on those people. Not trailer park because they all every single person I met that lives. There is super nice, super grateful. Like they're happy to have someone there but it's just the situation there in maybe doesn't allow them to live somewhere else. And I think that just us being able to go in there is Really great. So we can just spread our love to the community that really needs it cuz I mean we live maybe 10 minutes away and we have a lot and it's just kind of overwhelming to go in there and just be like while I just like I want to give all my stuff away and just help other people now.
Thank you. My God. Siding was the relationships that I made and because we started basically as two different groups that impact and rise up and then do the week. We all got to know each other and we got to know other people and by the end of the week, we had strong relationships with a lot of new people that we had no clue who they were at the beginning of the week. So that was just, I was really great.
Oh my God. Sighting is just knowing how much work that we were able to get done and how many lives. So we impacted just in one week.
Oh my God, sighting, for sure was on Thursday, when are the grocery garage is open to the community and we usually serve about a hundred families. They can just come in and get groceries but watching the youth and how they worked with the community every time I I was on parking Duty, which is a disaster there. A city in fact, but every time I turn around, John's John's playing with somebody else, you know, and then these these, these youth are at are carrying groceries for people and just loving on people. So, I saw, I saw Jesus through them on that day and turn the whole week. So, Am I the gutting? I keep thinking about was one day, Maddie burger and I were cutting
Skirting. And so it's over here on this grassy spot and you walk over and you take measurement and come back and there was dog poo all over around us and so I'm just kind of putting up with it. But but there's a few times when I'm I'm got a tin snips and I'm cutting the skirting, it just stinks like the s-word and
I was kind of cranky about it and then I think God said it seems like. God said, so clean it up. And I'm like, not my dog. but I thought, yes, this whole crankiness would go away if I just there's a garbage can right there. So in every time I was waiting for Maddie to take him back with the measurement, I'd be walking around at the shovel and cleaned up a few pounds of dog poop. But when they were all in the garbage can and the lid was closed, he was very pleasant and it, it was a terrible. It's still a terrible. In my mind, I think we live in our Pooh. and then God says, once you change that and we say to ourselves,
I could do that or somebody else is living in poo. And why don't you change that? And we say I could do that.
I think the gods fighting that will stick with me, the most from this week, was similar to Ellie's thing the relationships with students formed. So we have the Norman girls here who are sisters and the do, my family is all sibling. Those two families of grown up together and are very close. Then the other half of our group. For the most part didn't know anybody else. We had another family with three kids, but everyone was so nice and made new friends, new relationships, and just seeing how everyone was getting along. So, well, I was kind of Unforgettable especially like, within the first day some of the kids who didn't know each other before were talking something like serious topics. Even like spiritual topics. I was really cool to see those relationships formed so quickly. Next. Okay. Now we want to read Luke chapter 10 verses 1 through 12, our group, read this every day throughout the week and we would listen as it was being read for a word or phrase that jumped out at us. So we would like to do that with you. Someone's going to read, who's going to read.
Ellie, okay. Can you just turn around and read from the screen? Okay, I'll is going to read it. Our invitation to you, as what we were practicing, all this week. While while it's being red, you can look at the screen. If you want to follow along, or you could just close your eyes and listen what's your word or a phrase, or an idea that get your attention. Do you feel God nudging you about something, but it might not be a spiritual is that it might just be showing that kind of jumped out at me, more than other things. Just think about that as Ellie Reed. After this, the Lord appointed 72, others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town in place, where he was about to go. She told them the Harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the lord of the Harvest therefore to send out workers into his Harvest field. Go. I am sending you out like, Lambs Among Wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals, and do not greet. Anyone on the road when you enter house. First, a piece of his house. If if someone who promotes pieces, they're your peaceful rest on them. If not, I will return to you say they're eating and drinking whatever they give you for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house. when I, when you enter a town and are welcome to eat, was offered to you, Kill the secret there and tell them the kingdom of God has come near to you. But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into the streets and say even the dust of your town, we wait for my feet as the warning to you. Yet, be sure of this, the kingdom of God has come near. I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day for day, for Sodom, then for that town.
So, Yeah, those are the questions that I just shared. Let's just will give you a sampling of what the kind of. The main thing that jumped out at us were. There might have been something different every day, but we tried to listen to each other and we listen for seem. So we'll just give you a sampling of what gym. It does. So we can start this time. Ellie you're holding the Mike. How about if you start?
Yet the Sheep Among Wolves because why would God send the Sheep Among Wolves if he knows what's going to happen and what could happen?
Do you have an answer to that? As long as you're talking about it? You're not expect. We don't have the answer, but I wonder what you think. I think he would do that because he wants to Test our faith and see what we are able to do with what he's giving us.
So what stuck out to me was the two by two and I'm just wondering why he would some sends them to buy to. But then I realized that when we're by ourselves, like we don't have anyone to push us there to keep us motivated. But sometimes when we have someone else there to keep us going, then it's easier to get whatever we're doing done.
So what stuck out to me was actually the phrase that at least said too, but it's like the Sheep are like us Christians, and the wolves are like a challenge, I guess. So, when we spread the gospel, there's going to be challenges and sometimes it's going to be rejected and not wanted or something, so it's not always going to be easy. But yeah.
Mine was kind of the same as I had earlier this week. Just the fact that every time that something would happen, Jesus was there for them and they could just ask him if somebody was sick, he would just lay hands on him and maybe he'll but now he's telling them go and it's like you heal the sick, you cast out demons, you know, you go to these towns. So just suggest that idea of he's, he's sending us out. You know, you're going to be with us in spirit.
I also. Thought about to buy to sent them to my, to the places he was about to go. So, I was thinking about two churches and it's not, it's not so easy to combine, it's not it's not easy to do anything with with another person, but it's not necessarily easy for two churches to do stuff together. You have different ways, you have to share the credit, right? And there were these things that prevent churches from doing stuff together, but I think we have this heart, too. Work together and love each other. So, Jesus sends individuals, but also churches divided. So, lots of different things that to me this week, but I think in reflection of the week and this passage was really sticking out to me, is the idea of peace and bringing peace to those who want to receive it or maybe even don't want to receive it. And I think we had a pretty peaceful experience helping with City and pack and definitely brought good things to the people who were willing to let us help them when I can't help. But think I'm sure the impact hasn't always received have that greeting from everybody, but they haven't let that get them frustrated enough and they're determined enough to keep trying to go as fast as you can see them saying like peace will come back to you and just kind of move on to the next group. But I know they're staying in the same community, so it kind of gives them multiple chances to reach people who maybe aren't is receptive at first, which is really cool.
Let's just take a moment for one or two or three.
People who had something jump out at you while we are reading a moment ago, we don't have a mic for you so you'll have to talk loud but anybody want to share what jumped out at you.
We don't what?
Yeah. Okay. We hear that.
Like wow, this is you don't see this very often.
Oh, Mike said, this is what we should do. And you don't see this very often. Yep.
Yeah.
When you go to buy to the Lord will be there.
How about one more? Thank you.
Ben said, sent them to places. He was about to go and they question he has is where do we go next? And how do we not get stagnant?
Tell us. Then what's the answer to that? Terrific question.
If you knew the answer, what might it be?
That's what a good answer. I posture of curiosity and wonderment and asking the Holy Spirit first, All right.
How about a couple of these to speak to rise of churches heart in vision? Say peace to this house, it's the heart. They're there are a couple of words that are at the heart for Four Rise Upchurch. One of them is compassion because Isaiah 30 says that God is going to rise up and compassion and that's where the name. Rise up Church came from but another one is peace and that comes from this Luke 10 you know just a piece of this this house. So it's in the heart of rise up Church to bring peace in the name of Jesus to our community. And then another phrase heal the sick. And what I want to say to us as I encourage us to keep learning how to pray for people. I've, I've tried to pray for people in my life but but I don't really know. The reason why maybe there's a need or maybe I'm just growing in my life following Jesus. But I really want to to be prepared to pray for the physical needs of people that the health needs of people just to be Very quick to pray in faith for people in. I encourage us as a as a church Community to learn to keep learning how to pray with people in for people. Oh, that phrase. The kingdom of God has come near you is as powerful. Jesus is the king. If you're one of his followers, you're a representative of him. And Jesus is saying, when you, when you get near other people because Jesus is there, the kingdom has come near to you. So the kingdom came near where we were this week, because Jesus sent us in Jesus, promise to come with us. So, it's just a powerful thing to think that the kingdom of God is coming there and sell a last word for, for us. I don't know how you came to be here this morning, but it, it, you might think that you came here just as a coincidence, this happened in this happened and so it was a convenient day for you to be here, but God doesn't see it that way. God has been. Thinking about your presence here on this day, at this moment. And Jesus, the king is coming near to you. The kingdom of God is coming near to you. And I, I wonder what way of responding to the presence of the kingdom of God, you might be sensing, is your appropriate way to respond? This is a question for me, and for us as much as it is for you, but let me just put it in the short version. How, how does God want you to respond to his presence next to you today?
And let's in there. Would you buy your head with me? Lord. We thank you so much that first of all, when Julie and I thought maybe we could have seven students like we had last year that you brought 11 students. And we thank you that when we thought I wonder if Brayden would help us, pick a couple places that instead Brayden just became our arranger and guide for the week. We thank you for the fact that nobody got hurt that we all experienced you and we thank you for what you're teaching us at rise of church about who we are and about the the calling that you have for us and the contribution that you give us to make in our town in which we live. And now we pray for each other.
For that man over there, that woman over there, that young man, or that young woman over there. Whoever we might be thinking about
There's a person there who's near to the kingdom to your presents. And that we just pray for our brothers and sisters here, that each person would have some sense of how to respond to what we heard from you today. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
Let's all stand up together and we're going to receive a blessing and then we'll be done. Thank you for being here today.
May the Lord bless you and keep you may the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to. You may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace and everybody said, amen. You are dismissed have a great day.