So today was our first outreach day. I led worship with Weston (he on the guitar, I on a piano), in a chapel at Silver Dollar City, a theme park (think Six Flags or Great America). The chapel was built long before the City was, but the people who built the park wanted a church in it. So the chapel (then unused) was bought, torn down, and rebuilt. The chapel floor and seats are the same from when it was built (http://www.bransonsilverdollarcity.com/rides-attractions/ride_detail.aspx?AttractionID=911).
We led worship, and Kurt gave a message. We got to talk to this old guy named Dr. Wolf (or Wolfe?) who used to work with Bill Bright (the guy who started Campus Crusade). He told us about his story and his call to ministry (when he was, idk, 4? or something) and how he evangelized to people. He showed how it wasn’t anything he did, but rather God who worked in people. He just called his father once a week - “Is today the day you’re gonna get saved?” And prayed for him.
And that’s all we here on project “have” to do. We share our lives, present the gospel as the truth that can set people free. And then ask - do you want to know Jesus?
We talked to the Parson there, and I am completely amazed at his heart to make his little Wilderness Church a center for Christ. We had a sing-a-long with some hymn books (they do them multiple times a day) and had a lot of fun with that. We were told that the pianist used to work in the saloon (part of the park) and that “when the show was over, the showgirls and the musicians would just talk to the people there about this guy named Jesus.” It’s amazing to see so much love for God in the most unexpected places.
It’s amazing to think that I’m so afraid of sharing God sometimes. But if I know Him personally, shouldn’t I introduce my friends to Him? Come and meet Him. The Bible is full of this kind of command. Come to God. Taste and see. Drink from the well. God must change someone before they can come to Him. How do people become followers of God? Well, they must meet Him first.
For my friends, both if you do or don’t know God, I invite you to dive ever deeper into Him. He is wonderful and amazing and He will satisfy you more completely than anything you could every imagine. It’s like falling in love, except infinitely more beautiful and complete and breathtaking.
Prayer requests:
For our McDonalds workers - we have too many locations to go to and too few cars. Pray that we’d be able to work out the transportation issue.
For Weston’s leg - that it would be able to heal (he hurt it somehow and is kinda limping/using a crutch)
For our babysitting team - for me, Samantha, and Leighann, that we’d be able to use the time with the kids to disciple them and let them have fun and draw them ever closer to Christ.
In Christ,
Joshua Yip
It’s about 10:30 pm right now and I finally got internet from a restaurant across the street. I pray this lasts.
The first few days has been hectic. Meeting new people, and trying to memorize names and connect them to faces, and being thrust into everything so quickly. It’s good though. We’re being trained to serve the people both with our jobs and with our faith.
I’m excited to be part of the team that is in charge of MNL - Monday Night Live - which is basically a seeker-friendly youth group/large group/worship service. We have a great team of people, and I think God will do wonders.
God’s preparing us to work. Tomorrow I will be leading worship at a church-thing in Silver Dollar City (a theme park). We don’t really have an idea (what kind of people or) who’s gonna show up and so have no idea how to prepare, but all the better. We’re gonna have to rely on God more.
I’ll post things whenever I get the chance. It’s really busy and I’m gonna get to work soon taking care of the kiddies and working at McD’s (which is really really cool, btw, and the managers are awesome).
If you want to send me wonderful lovely letters from home, you can send it to:
Joshua Yip
Campus Crusade for Christ
The Honeysuckle Inn and Conference Center
3598 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway
Branson, MO 65616
Now I’m off to plan the worship set. God bless!
Joshua Yip
[I’ll try to post a few pics later.]
I personally believe that being open with your problems shows more character than hiding it. I’ve seen so many post on tumblr saying it’s better to hide your problems, true strength is to not let anyone know, etc. That’s not true. Do you find an alcoholic who hides this problem from his wife and children having more strength and will-power than the other alcoholic who admits he has a problem and seeks help? The first step of removing pain is to admit you have pain. Be open with your problems and tell them that you have a God who is bigger than all of them combined. To be honest, it takes a lot of guts to be transparent with your life than being ambiguous about it.
What’s the benefits of hiding all of the pain and storing it inside of you? There’s none (that I can think of). The thing is pain needs to be released and exhaled. It’s like a toxin that will only kill you if you keep it inside. Pain will come, but it’s how you respond to it that matters. What’s even more heartbreaking is to see others think their pain is insignificant and not worth anyone’s time. That is a lie from hell! As Christians we are charged with being there for others especially for the one’s who are going through a hard time. Jesus Himself did such acts during His ministry. He picked up the heartbroken, loved the lost, and paid the ultimate price to atone for our sins.
To those who are feeling insignificant, in pain, troubled: I’m here for you if you need a talk, a friend, or even a person to vent to. Just drop a message with me. But I want you to know that there is a God who is there for you. He wants to give your life a purpose and peace. It is in His will for you to be joyful and triumphant over the problems you face. Through Him, you shall overcome. As David, the Psalmist, said,
“If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.”Wherever you may be in the ups-and-downs of your life, Jesus is walking with you through it all. You need only walk where He goes. There is a God who cares.
It’s about 11 on Monday night, and (almost) everything is ready to go. A few more things I forgot to pack.
My two bags are packed, support is at a comfortable level, and I’ve got that strange feeling in my chest that I usually do whenever leaving a place I call home - that sadness that comes from leaving friends you know who love you, and the excitement that comes with knowing that there’s an adventure in front of me.
I’m excited. One of my disciplers, Brett, has called me a few times already to make sure I’m ready to go, and he’s really nice, and I think I’m going to be changed so much during this trip.
So I’m going to try to update you guys on what I’ve been learning as the weeks go by, probably every week or two (but we’ll see how that goes).
What have I learned since I left Rice? A few things.
That there is a time for rest. Even though I don’t like it.
It’s funny, because I always like doing things. That’s my weakness - that I tend to overcommit to things that I love, and I end up burning out oh so quickly. But this entire month has been mostly rest. I’ve been bumming in front of the computer or tv, watching show upon show. I’ve been sitting in my room or lying on the floor. Very little work has been involved - just rest.
But also it’s been a wonderful opportunity to get some good practices back with God. Every morning when I get up, I begin the day by prayer (one of my objectives this year was to have a consistent prayer life) and then Bible reading. It’s been refreshing, and life-changing. When I fight to change myself, I tend to rely on myself way too much, which I think is why I see God change me the most when I am resting.
That I need to be slower to judge. I’ve realized that I judge too soon. That because I’ve been developing a better sense of people, I’ve also begun to make a quick, cursory judgement (especially about other Christians or churches) without actually getting to know the person or group. I’ve realized that I had done so even at Rice with friends and friends’ churches, based off non-critical topics which I didn’t agree with. It’s humbling. And I hope to seek forgiveness and think and understand others before I judge.
I think the best gift I’ve been given was given by a soon-to-be high schooler, Baelin. He gave me $10; a small part, to be sure. But he gave what he was able. And I think that’s the gift I appreciate the most.
When you give back to God and relinquish the things you think are yours, that’s when God can come in and change you. When you bless others, God will bless you as well. So give generously and freely, knowing that nothing you own is yours, and you will be blessed amazingly and wonderfully.
I thank you all for supporting me in prayer and I hope you will be blessed.
I hope that you can listen in on what God will be doing in Branson (and the rest of my life) and that He would use that to bless you many times over what you have given me.
In Christ,
Joshua Yip
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After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. - 1 Corinthinas 15:6
#gpoy
(Source: heychristiangirl)
There is no rock, there is no God like our God.
No other name worthy of all our praise
The Rock of Salvation that cannot be moved
He’s proven himself to be faithful and true
There is no rock, there is no God like ours
One full day. THEN MISERY HERE I COME!!!
*Missouri
