It was only a week ago when Dan and Glo waved goodbye for the last time this summer and left the zoom meeting room. And there I sat, alone in my bedroom looking at a blank screen. “Huh, it’s already over.” I thought to myself. That moment was different for many of the students and staff. Some were with family, some were with friends, and some were together in South Carolina. But despite where we all physically were I think we can all say we are thankful for the experience we were able to share in this summer. Although it may not have looked anything like we pictured it to be, this summer still held many sweet memories, new friendships, and transformation.
If most of us are honest with ourselves, I’m willing to bet that those of us who experienced some form of transformation would say that it wasn’t very comfortable. As Reid talked about in the final talk, the pruning process can be pretty painful. What is it that might need to be removed from your life? Is it an addiction? A friendship? A busy schedule? It can be extremely difficult to let go of those things. However, we can trust that God is preparing us for something better, and in the end will bring fruit out of our lives if we allow Him to.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” -John 15:4
My prayer is that we continue to step into what we’ve learned this summer. May we open our Bibles expecting to see more of who God is on each page. Let us take the time to observe, ask questions, and apply the Word to our lives. Let us continue to abide in the vine, trust in the Lord’s process, and produce fruit so others can see just how sweet our Jesus is. And may we never forget the ways in which God has and always will be the ultimate fulfiller in our lives.
Here are a few quotes taken from students about how Virtual Leadership Project has impacted them this summer:
“This summer through VLP, I was reminded that God chooses to dwell with us, He sent His son to be the perfect sacrifice to atone for our sins, and that He is our Living Hope. VLP was an incredible opportunity to connect deeply with other believers, dive into scripture together, engage in meaningful conversations, and have fun in fellowship together! One of my biggest takeaways was from studying John 15. I was reminded of trusting the Lord’s process because He is worth everything.”
-Alicia Siira, Bethel University
“If our desire for God is a fire in our hearts, then VLP was the gasoline that makes it explode. VLP was an awesome experience because it gave me the opportunity to sit in a Christian community that showed me so much of what that community should look like. From all the other students I felt loved, cared for, listened to, and I felt like everybody around me wanted to see my faith grow as much as I did. VLP is an experience I would recommend to anybody who feels like their faith has been sputtering and even to people who feel rock solid, as you’ll walk away just feeling overflowed with God's presence and love.”
-Ethan Panchyshyn, University of Northwestern - St. Paul
“VLP impacted my life more than I ever would have expected. I grew in community with other believers, I got to experience project in a way nobody ever has before, and most importantly learned how I’m fulfilled in Christ!”
-Riley Johnson, St. Cloud State University
Ginnie Sannes, Senior
Bethel University
2020 VLP Communications Intern