Comfort Zone

For anyone who does not know what it’s like moving across the country to live in South Carolina for eight weeks to be fully immersed in learning about the Lord and working at Walmart, the only word I can possibly use to describe it is impactful. One of the things leaders said the first week here was that while we were going to be doing a lot, we also have to say goodbye to our comfort zone. A lot of students, including myself felt this arriving in South Carolina. However, I would be as bold to say that the Lord does his best work when we push ourselves and fully submit to him. In the Bible it talks about not being afraid and being confident in the Lord a lot, it’s something we’ve even covered in a few talks these first few weeks of being here. The main verse that comes to mind for me is

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

— Joshua 1:9

I love this verse because wherever we travel, live or work, we can have assurance that God has not left us to be on our own, this includes South Carolina! As a first-time student coming to Summer Training Project, it is very evident that the Lord is doing good work here and that gives me peace in the midst of being involved into new experiences.

This first week has been a lot of stimulus with meeting people from several different schools, being on your feet all day walking around and listening and diving deep into the Word of God daily. It is physically, emotionally and spiritually stimulating. However, I am confident that all the students and leaders here are being pushed out of their comfort zone by learning a lot and really developing skills that we can use for the rest of our lives! Each day here ends with a grateful spirit, tired feet and a strengthened heart for the Lord as we get to know each other better and are becoming more unified brothers and sisters in Christ. What better environment to test our growth than in a safe community of Christians that cheer you on and celebrate with you!

I asked some students what are some spontaneous or bold things they that have done that expanded their comfort zone so far here and this is a list of what they said:

-          Sang karaoke in front of a crowd that you just met

-          Learned to skim board

-          Learned to stand up on a surfboard

-          Started conversations with co-workers talking about Jesus

-          Went night swimming in the ocean

-          Randomly been thrown in the pool

-          Threw a plunger in a toilet (we had a FUN low country boil)

-          Had conversations with people about difficult topics such as gender, race, sexuality, etc.

-          Faked a proposal and breakup in public (We had a blast as we did a scavenger hunt!)

-          Walked up to strangers at Broadway at the Beach and asking them if they’re from Minnesota.

-          Went on a helicopter ride

-          Prayed for a customer in a Walmart parking lot

-          Worked 8 hour shifts at Walmart/Chick-fil-a

Not to mention that moving across the country not knowing who you will be living with or anything about the area isn’t a big enough deal, that alone is removing us from our ‘safe place’ at home! We have done so much in two weeks I cannot wait to see what the rest of the summer has in store for us.

If you are reading this, continue to pray for everyone here and that we will continue to really live/grow in the uncomfortable moments here on project that are meant for us to build our faith.

We Made It!

Like the start of many high school commencement speeches I would like to start this post with a “well, we made it.” This statement feels like a long time coming, a lot longer than a 27 hour road trip or a week of packing or even a winter of looking forward to the beach can anticipate. The relief of finally being able to say “we made it” has been a joy a year in the making as we finally take STP back to Garden City South Carolina.

For a few staff and students the hotel that we call home for the next two months is familiar and full of memories of past summers filled with socials, early morning Bible studies, friends and spontaneous trips out to get ice cream. However, for a large portion of students and staff the hotel, STP, and South Carolina are completely new to them. With the COVID-19 pandemic canceling our plans for Project at thebeach the summer of 2020, there is a large majority of students who have not been able to experience STP in its fullest form. With many fresh faces and ideas for what this summer could look like this summer's Project with even more excitement than normal. As many Project-goers are exploring what a summer in South Carolina has to offer, students and staff both are also discovering new ways to “gain God” as we dig into the book of Phillipians. Our theme, “Gain” comes from Philippians 3: 7-8 which says:

But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.

As we welcome this summer and whatever new experiences it has in store, we look forward and pray that the idea of seeing our losses as gains in light of the gospel is an ever apparent theme in our day to day lives.

Below is a photo of our home away from home where we will be growing all summer long!

GAIN

This year on Summer Training Project we arrived and met up to welcome each other to our home for the summer and to discuss our verse and theme for the year. Gain. This theme is surrounding Philippians 3:7-8 which says

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ”

— Philippians 3:7-8

This is the main verse that the leaders chose to have us reflect on throughout our time here as well as dive into the book of Philippians. This is a sentimental verse and there is a lot to unpack in those 2 verses. Paul the Apostle wrote Philippians as a letter to the church of Philippi about 62 AD. That all sounds normal, but he actually wrote this during his time in prison. That fact gives a whole new perspective on this verse and letter overall. When he was put in prison for his faith, it would have been easy for him to have a negative outlook and question God for why he was in this situation. I think that is what most of us would do in a natural response. However, Paul sets a good example in verse 7 of no matter what accomplishments, or whatever you have ‘gained’ in life, nothing is more valuable than the knowledge of the Lord and having a relationship with Christ. Paul goes on to make a bold statement and say that everything else he has been given in life is a loss and meaningless compared Christ. This reflects how important knowing Christ is.

In verse 8, Paul continues to talk about gaining Christ. There is a shift from worldly gains to gaining Christ. Paul is saying that he has gained all worldly possessions and suffered the loss all of them, but nevertheless he gained Christ which is far more fulfilling and substantial than anything else. There is something comforting about God being so consistent in our lives that we always have the opportunity to know and love him.

What an encouraging verse to hear and base our summer on as we learn to prioritize God in our lives! Our goal as students throughout the summer is to really focus on what our own individual gains are, whether they are birth given rights, accomplishments, leadership titles, etc. and really think about the impact they play in our life and to work towards focusing on how we can use those to glorify God. Also, our primary focus is to understand that it is one think to see the goodness of God in others lives and read the words on a page, but it is another thing to individually gain a relationship with him and give in him wholeheartedly. This summer, I am looking forward to all of us gaining a deeper and meaning full connection with not only one another but Christ as well.

Signing Off

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

Sin is Gross

When I think back to Old Testament times and how believers had to make sacrifices every time they sinned all I can think is, “Whew! Thank God I don’t have to do that!”. I mean imagine with me for a moment: 

You’re on the highway driving to meet your friend then all of a sudden someone who is driving like a maniac cuts you off. You slam on your breaks, get angry, say some choice words, and continue driving. Once you become aware of the sin you had committed you immediately take the next exit, pull over and begin your search for a perfect and spotless lamb to be purified from your sins and made right before God.

Man… I feel like I’d be taking exits pretty often… Imagine how many times you’d have to cancel your plans in order to make an atonement for your sins. Good thing that’s not the case any more right?! We have Jesus who came to be our perfect and spotless lamb who died once and for all to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Now we don’t have to take the exit, we can just toss up a prayer to God and move on with our day!

Oh wait. Is that really what God hoped would happen once He sent Jesus to die for our sins? Do you think He wants us to continue with our everyday plans as if nothing has happened? My guess is no...

Just because Jesus died for our sins doesn’t mean we should forget the seriousness of our sins.

I do still believe that the people of the Old Testament had it rough, but they experienced first hand just how serious their sins were. The experience of searching for the perfect sacrifice and offering it on the altar. The reality of a crying animal, blood being spilled, and the smell of burning flesh and bones. Imagine the impact that kind of experience would have on your life when you know that it was your sin that made this action necessary. The frustration you would feel knowing that you would have to do it again, and again, and again, every time you missed the mark. I imagine after doing such a sacrifice these people desired to sin no more. They saw just how gross their sin was, and desired to walk in it no longer. 

Do I have something like the people of the Old Testament to make me aware of how gross my sin is? What causes me to no longer desire to walk in sin? Maybe I don’t have something in the sense of smelling burning flesh, but I do have something they didn’t have access to. I have access to the Spirit. The Spirit that convicts me of my sins and leads me to repentance. The Spirit that allows me to experience the presence of God without going into the temple. I get to experience first hand just how holy our God is, which causes me to realize just how sinful I am. Compared to Jesus I am gross because of my sin. As people who desire to be near to God, we should run from our sin. We should pursue being holy as He is holy, and the only way to do this is by continually confessing our sins to God and admitting that His way is better.

Although I do not have the physical reminder of how gross my sin is to lead me to repentance, I have the Spirit who leads me and guides me. The truth is the sacrifices of the Old Testament were only temporary coverings of sin. Everything that the people of the Old Testament could do would still fall short of pleasing a holy and perfect God. Something better was necessary. Romans 8:3-4 does a wonderful job of telling us why. It states, “For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Jesus on the cross saying “It is finished.” fulfilled what sacrifices couldn’t do for us. Because of Him, we will be passed over and seen as righteous before God, not because of what we have done but because of what Jesus has done for us. In response we can walk in the Spirit with thankful hearts knowing that God knew what He was doing when He sent Jesus to be the better sacrifice for us.

Ginnie Sannes, Senior

Bethel University

2020 VLP Communications Intern

SUMMER THEME ANNOUNCED!

For years I have been wanting to go to South Carolina to take part in STP, and this year was finally the year that worked for me. I had heard of all the fun stories of socials, group dates, and adventures with friends. I had heard the stories of my friends' lives being changed by Jesus, and the ways that He moved every single summer at project. When I got the news that we wouldn’t be going to South Carolina for the summer, you could say I was bummed - like very bummed. I dreamed of the mornings spent reading the Bible with the girls in my room or watching the sunrise over the ocean. I even dreamed of Walmart. Asking myself questions like, “What department would I have worked in? What kind of relationships would I have formed with my coworkers?” I had many dreams and ideas of what it would look like to live in South Carolina for the summer with a bunch of other college students, but I knew that wasn’t going to be the reality anymore. It’s okay to still think of the “what ifs” of what the summer could have looked like. It is also okay to be sad over cancelled plans. However, it is just as important to continue moving forward. Although this summer is not the typical STP, I remain confident that God is still going to transform us this summer and help us to see Him in new ways. Without knowing what anything was going to look like this summer, we all chose to participate in this entirely new type of project called Virtual Leadership Project.

Virtual Leadership Project kicked off last week on June 10th. All of the students, Team Leaders, and staff logged onto Zoom to hear more of what this unique summer has in store. We all sat in front of our computer screens, some excited, some sad and wishing to be in South Carolina, some truly not even understanding what this whole thing really even is still. And, after months of planning, and replanning, and keeping it a secret, the theme of the summer was finally revealed! VLP 2020’s theme is…

FULFILLED

This theme word was chosen out of the book of Acts and comes from 3:18:

“But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled.”

The night of our first theme talk, Reid Jilek, who is one of Campus Outreach’s North Area Directors, spoke on this word Fulfilled. He began the talk by bringing up the point that Jesus is the fulfillment of all scripture. He showed a video that spoke of how the Bible is a single narrative in which every story and character points beyond itself to the person of Jesus. It talked of how Jesus is true and better than any character of the Bible. For example, Jesus is a true and better Abraham, a true and better Job, a true and better Esther. The Bible is not a series of disconnected stories, rather it is a single story that points to one person: Jesus. 

Later Reid talked of how Jesus is the only thing that can and ever will fulfill us. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The enemy will do everything in his power to make us believe that we won’t find fulfillment in Christ. He will try to convince us that friendships, romantic relationships, success, or even certain wellness practices will cause us to be satisfied. When in reality people are people so they will disappoint us, success will eventually dissipate or lose its excitement, and getting enough sleep, eating the right foods, and having the perfect schedule will still leave us feeling empty. The only thing that can ever truly satisfy us is Jesus. He desires to give us life, a life that is overflowing. He desires us be filled spiritually, mentally, emotionally, socially, and physically. And one day when Jesus returns He will restore all things! We will live with Him in His kingdom forever without sin or temptation to draw us away from Him. We will live in the new heaven and new earth where all illness, division, injustice, brokenness, pain, and tears will be no more. And that is great news.

Reid set a great foundation for the rest of the summer, and I am confident that we will continue growing in even greater understanding of how Jesus is the ultimate fulfiller. I pray that every time we open our Bibles we will see how much each page is soaked with who Jesus is. I cannot wait to continue to unpack this theme as we progresses throughout our time in VLP!

Ginnie Sannes, Senior

Bethel University

2020 VLP Communications Intern

A Metaphor for Growth

I’ve always been told that the Christian life is not a sprint, but a marathon. It’s not about rushing through as fast as you can and getting to a specific destination. It’s about endurance and perseverance. I personally am a sprinter… figuratively that is, and especially when it comes to the idea of sanctification. One thing that I’ve been learning this last year is to be okay with the process of growth in my life. I’d like to think that I’ll reach perfection someday if I weed out all the bad and do all the good, but that’s not the Gospel, and I’ll be glorified and perfected only after my time on this earth is done. I don’t always make the kind of progress I’d like to… sometimes its two steps forward and one step back. Sometimes I have to relearn lessons that I thought I already knew. Life is a little more messy than my black and white mind likes to admit.

The idea that life is a marathon is a very good one in many regards. I think it has helped me and it gets its point across. However, recently I’ve been thinking about another running metaphor that might work too. As much as I joke about not being an athlete, I did run cross country and track in high school. I remember my coach making us do interval training. It was by far my least favorite day. Interval training is an intense workout where you run a set amount of time alternating between sprinting and jogging. For ten minutes you’ll be running at your top speed and then the next ten minutes you’ll be at a slower pace, and then you’ll start sprinting again.

I’ve felt like my life has reflected this the last few weeks here at Project. The month of June was intense for me. There was a lot of struggle and tears and processing and growth. And then all of a sudden everything started to click and make sense and a revelation was made. And now here I am in July, and nothing nearly as exciting as the level of growth I experienced in June has happened. As I was brainstorming about what to write about for this post, I got frustrated because I feel so uninspired by my lull in growth.

I’ve heard that if you aren’t growing, you’re dying, or going backwards in your faith. That always stressed me out and made me feel this pressure to constantly be growing at an intense pace where I am making leaps and bounds of growth every day. And when that’s not the case, it made me feel like I wasn’t doing enough or that something was wrong with me.

I think one thing I’ve seen in both my life and in those around me is that growth is not always a consistent process, and that is okay. That’s why the idea of an interval run seems to fit so well. Sometimes you are sprinting in this life. God is bringing you through an intense period of growth and learning. Sometimes you are jogging. You are still moving forward, but it is at a slower pace. Maybe God is allowing you time to process or is teaching you how to rest in Him or is preparing you for a season to come. And that is a gift! I certainly wouldn’t have the endurance to frantically sprint spiritually through my entire life, even when I am extremely grateful for the results. It is a blessing when he gives us a slower and more relaxing season, and I do think it is rare. My encouragement is to not take it for granted… learn how to humbly accept where God has you. You’re there for a reason.  

Discipleship

Coming back to Project for a second time, I have been asked the question, “How does this summer compare to last summer?”, multiple times. My answer is that I can’t even compare them because they are so different. The people, the culture, the focus, is all so different each summer and I think anyone who has come back to Project multiple times would say the same thing. Summer Training Project is special because it is a place that people can come back to multiple summers, but have a new role and experience a new area of growth. These different roles are disciple, room leader, team leader, and project director. It is designed in such a way that each role is being discipled and discipling another.

Something I believe Campus Outreach does really well is discipleship. Two weeks ago, team leader, Mary Hitt gave a message on the importance of discipleship. One aspect of her talk touched on the phases of discipleship in reference to how Paul discipled Timothy in the New Testament.

            Phase One: Parent

Paul became a “parent” to Timothy because he mentored him (1 Timothy 1:2).

            Phase Two: Pacesetter

Once Timothy understood the Gospel well enough, Paul invited him along to keep up with himself and the pace he was moving at in his Faith (2 Timothy 3:10-11).

            Phase Three: Partner

Paul eventually no longer saw Timothy as someone who needed guidance in their faith, but he saw him as someone that he could do ministry with. He trusted Timothy with leading his own disciples, while still maintaining a relationship (Romans 16:21).

This is what discipleship looks like on project and back at on campus! The staff disciple students and as students grow they are encouraged to start to pour into the lives of other students or people in their lives. Project is the perfect grounds for practicing discipleship because it is such an intentional environment that helps participants learn and understand the value that is in being disciple and beginning to disciple others. One of the biggest lessons I have learned this summer, being a room leader, in a role where I am encouraged and expected to do life on life discipleship with the girls in my room is simply: it is not about me. All of the discipleship we do on this earth is not about if we are “good” at it, if we are doing enough for the person we are hanging out with, or even if the person we are hanging out with thinks we are cool! It is all about learning more about Jesus together and falling deeper in love with Him alongside one another!  Life on life discipleship is so exciting because it allows us to see the intimate ways Jesus is working in the lives of those around us. Therefore, we are able to see and experience more of Him! I think this is truly what discipleship is all about: that we would know Jesus and make Him known together!

A God Who Changes Lives

We have a little over two weeks left at Summer Training Project, and the thing I can’t get over is how much God works in the two short months that we are down in South Carolina. For some people, Project is an experience filled with life changing revelations every day. Sometimes it’s an experience that continues to push people along the trajectory they were already graced to be on. Here is a glimpse into what God has been doing in some of the students’ lives the last few weeks:

“God has really been showing me that nothing I can do will change or affect people, but I need to rely on him to do the work in people. That’s also been super humbling. I’m really excited to keep building deeper relationships with other people as the summer goes on – both with old friends and new friends that I’ve met this summer.”

Sam Reid, Room Leader

Junior, University of Northwestern

“God has been teaching me a lot since being at Project. The most important thing I’ve learned is to trust in God. I’m a very independent person, so relying on God has been a struggle. He’s always so faithful to me though. When I do turn away from my own path and follow God’s it ends up being a hundred times more rewarding. My favorite part of being down here is D-group time. I love learning new things with Taylor and Tori. I also enjoy their openness and guidance. And the snacks. And us just laughing all night long. I’m looking forward to building more friendships this summer and also going skydiving!”

Hope Burnham, Disciple

Sophomore, Saint Cloud State University

“One thing God has taught me since coming to Project is the value of surrounding myself with fellow believers. I love the community and the intentionality of Project. Having the accountability of studying the Bible with other students before work, being in a discipleship group with my roommates, and discussing the talks with other students have been very helpful in growing my relationship with God. I have really enjoyed the Thursday night socials, Friday night encouragements, and spending time with friends, whether that is swing dancing or singing hymns together after work on Saturdays. It is sweet to have something to look forward to after work and participate in activities with other students who I may or may not otherwise see during the day. I look forward to continuing forming deeper friendships with people at Project. With only one other student coming to Project from St. Thomas, I did not know many people prior to the summer. It has been encouraging to talk to people one-on-one and to hear their stories. I am grateful for the friendships I have developed here.”

Maria Bell, Disciple

Sophmore, University of Saint Thomas

“If I had to point to one thing that God has been teaching me during my time here, it’s that I need to put my trust in him and in him alone. Before I left for Project, I had been living a life in which my happiness was derived entirely from earthly desires. Time after time I put my faith in relationships, sports, partying, and other things. Each time I was left broken. That’s where Project comes in. I signed up out of desperation, hoping to build relationships that would last. Yet I am leaving with the only relationship that could ever truly fulfill me – a relationship with Jesus Christ. My favorite part of Project has been the environment that it creates. This is the first time in which I have experienced a community that is so comfortable with who they are as individuals. The love they have for Jesus and for each other has been evident from day one. At this point in the summer, I’m really looking forward to going back home. In a conversation with Reid early on this summer, he related Project to a fire hydrant, with a steady, powerful stream of information blasting from it. I’m interested in the transition back into life in MN and how God uses that information to transform me and my life.”

Bailey Fey, Disciple

Junior, University of Minnesota

The Transformation of Hearts

Project is one of the most unique communities I have ever had the opportunity to be part of. Our little hotel on the coast of South Carolina has become a sacred space made up of vulnerability, growth, and life-changing transformation. Through early morning bible studies before work, talks given by staff and student leaders, discipleship groups with rooms, and deep conversations that free people up to be fully known by those around them, the power of the Gospel transforms lives right before our eyes. God has been showing up in mighty ways here and showing us that He is the only one who can change the hearts of those here at Project who do not yet know Him.

A question that might be coming to your mind right now is, “Isn’t everyone who decides to give two months of their summer to a discipleship program already a Christian?” The answer to that is, no! Not everyone who comes to Project is walking with Jesus and this is the purpose of STP; that students would grow in their love for Jesus and that He would become the ultimate treasure of their hearts. While we learn in Ministry Training on Wednesday afternoons how to share the Gospel with those around us, a lot of our talks are focused on helping students become self-feeding followers of Jesus through reading the Word and practicing other spiritual disciplines, as well as getting to the heart level, uncovering sin, and asking hard questions like, “What is holding you back from accepting this free gift of your Salvation?”.

The Lord has graciously given students at Project the absolute privilege of watching His Gospel transform the hearts of people we love here. I personally think that it is the sweetest thing I have ever seen and I am in awe of how much God wants each of our hearts. Students have met Jesus in this space, students are currently meeting Jesus in this space, and students will continue to meet Jesus in this space. Praise God for the souls He has saved already this summer and for those He is fiercely pursuing!

What a Week at Project Looks Like

A lot of people don’t exactly understand how Project works. They wonder how we spend our time, what we are learning, and what the schedule looks like. When they hear that we work forty hours a week at Walmart, they wonder how we have time for rest, fun, or any spiritual growth and processing. They question why we need to raise support if we have a full-time job and if it is actually a good experience to monetarily support. These are all very valid questions. These were things I asked before coming down here for my first summer.

One thing that really stood out to me when I first started getting involved in Campus Outreach is that almost everything within the ministry is very intentional. I couldn’t help but respect and appreciate how purposeful CO was. That means that the way Project is set up is very intentional and purposeful too.

Yes, we do work at Walmart for forty hours a week. Yes, that is a lot of our time down here. But it’s almost surprising how much good comes from it. It isn’t just a job and source of income for us for the summer. Walmart is a key part of building community here at Project. I’ve always heard that suffering bonds people. Walmart isn’t exactly suffering (we’re actually all very grateful that they give us jobs!!), but work is work. We are all experiencing life together as coworkers, which is a different kind of bond than just living in the same place. You truly become so close with the people you experience Walmart with.

Walmart is also the perfect ground for evangelism. All summer long we are learning about relational evangelism, and our Walmart coworkers give us the perfect opportunity to put our newfound knowledge into practice. We work so much with these people, become friends with them, and come to genuinely care about them.  Conversations about life and faith can’t help but naturally come up every so often. Many students have been able to share the Gospel with their coworkers before the summer ends.

How do we have time for much else when Walmart is forty hours of our week? Project is an intensive discipleship program. Every Monday after work we have a theme talk. Every Tuesday we have time with our individual campuses and a discipleship group with our room that involves Bible Study, reflection questions, and testimony sharing. On Wednesdays we have a ministry training talk and a workshop that sometimes includes going on the beach and striking up conversations with strangers about Jesus. Thursdays are dedicated to a fun social event. Fridays are for personal worship training where we learn about different spiritual disciplines and how to to apply them practically to our lives. Everyday there is a devotional on 1 Peter that we can go through on our own or with other people.

The thing I’ve noticed is that often the most spiritual growth happens when you are living and doing every day normal life activities with others, like working or grocery shopping or running to the post office to mail letters back home. We are all doing life together here and creating relationships built on the foundation of being brothers and sisters in Christ. Project is a unique environment where we can be authentic and vulnerable with others about the hard things and the good things we’ve gone through in life. It is an environment of support and encouragement, a safe place to ask tough questions and be open about sin. This is a place to forgive and ask for forgiveness, a place to process and heal and grow. Students truly meet Jesus here. That’s why it is so life changing, even when we spend so much time at Walmart.

What does God think of me?

During our second Monday night theme talk of the summer, Project Director, Emma Button gave a talk titled, “An Imperishable Smile”. At the beginning of the talk, Emma asked all of us the question, “If Jesus were to walk into this room right now, walk up to you and stand right in front of you; what would His face be when He was looking at you?” I think that this is a question that people like to avoid because it automatically begs other questions like; would his face be one of disappointment? Shame? Anger? Sadness? Regret? Joy? Satisfaction?  I am confident a different word rang in everyone’s ear for different reasons; everyone’s reason led them to their answer of the question, “What does God think of me?”

I know that when I hear this question, immediately all the mistakes I have made, the ways I have fallen short, and the ways I have loved the world more than I have loved the Father flood my mind. I am convicted of my sin that tells me I (and everyone else) am a guilty criminal that needs to be punished. Emma gave us a definition of Justification which is: a legal declaration in which God pardons the sinner of all his sin and counts the sinner as righteous in His sight. Thinking about this truth almost makes me uncomfortable because this love is unlike any love we will experience on this side of Heaven. In the midst of justification, the Lord sees all of our sin and knows our deceitful hearts fully, yet STILL chooses to forgive us of our sin, and count us righteous in His sight.

During the talk, we took a look at Luke 15:11-32, The Parable of the Prodigal Son.

In this story, the younger son squanders away the inheritance his father has gifted him, and full of shame comes back home to his father for help. When the son reaches his father he says (15:21), “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am not longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants”. The Father, however, responds with grace saying (15: 22-24), “’Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, for this my son was dead, and is alive again: he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate”.

The older son, upon hearing of his brothers return, responds with pride and envy. He says (15: 28- 29), “but he answered his Father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!”

It is clear the both sons missed the main point: the heart of their father.

I left this talk understanding on a deeper level that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is simultaneously not about me at all, yet completely about me. There is not and never will be anything I can do to earn this type of justification. There is not and never will be anything I can to do deserve this type of love. Jesus in His immense love for me and all of humanity chose to love us this way. Jesus chose to stand up in the court room, right as the judge was about the charge us as criminals guilty of the sin we have committed, and He said, “Don’t punish her/him. I’ll take the punishment for their sin”.

It doesn’t matter where you have been, how far your heart has wandered, what shame or pride from your past you carry around with you; our Father will always, with open arms, joyfully welcome you back to Him.

So…  this brings us back to the original question; what does God think of us?

1. God is satisfied

Because of the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, the wrath of God has been satisfied. The only thing that is left for us to do is receive God’s tender love.

2. God is generous

 He transforms us and makes us into a new creation in Him. He did not need to leave heaven- in fact, God does not need us at all. But He wants us and so He died on the cross for us.

A desire that is innate in all human beings is the desire to be fully known and fully loved. This desire is perfectly satisfied in Jesus.

3. God is happy with you

God is glad that He saved us. He doesn’t hold anything against us and keeps no record of our wrongs. God freely chose to bring us in as an ingredient to divine happiness.

---

Reflection Questions:

-       Are you like the younger or older brother?

-       What is keeping you from accepting God’s grace for you in this moment?

Taylor Wolf, Senior

Bethel University

2019 STP Communications Intern

A Perspective on Brokenness

Do you want to know the truth? The truth of this life is that we are broken. That fact is really hard to hear and impossible to ignore. There is something deep inside of us that is lacking – a hole in our hearts. And we try so hard to compensate for it. We think that somehow we can conjure up what we need to fix ourselves. Some of us find out faster than others that it’s impossible. No matter how hard we try and strive, we can’t get rid of that brokenness.

And so, we turn instead to trying to cover it up and bury it. We wear masks and present false selves to the world. These are just shadows of the real us, twisted and carefully manipulated versions. By whatever means possible, we hide the ugliness of our hearts. Sometimes we become such experts at this that we don’t even see the ugly in our hearts anymore, and we get puffed up with pride, believing that we aren’t like our struggling, broken neighbors. We say, “You know, I’m doing pretty good over here, not like so and so over there,” as we pat ourselves on the back, completely forgetting our former broken, desperate self that is sick and in need of a Savior.

But something happened 2,000 years ago to change this. The hole in our hearts can be filled. Our sickness can be healed. Our ugliness can be redeemed into something absolutely beautiful when it is covered with the blood of our sweet Jesus. That’s the Gospel. That’s what this summer is all about.

But this Gospel needs to be preached every day, again and again. This independent, “self-saving” nature has been ingrained in us, and we too often try to revert back to our old ways, even when we’ve accepted and known the truth before. “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it…” the old hymnist writes.

How does this problem get solved? We have to know our brokenness again. You see, it’s hard to accept a savior when you forget you need the saving. This brokenness is sweeter though. It is our false self that is shattering. It is a mercy that God allows us to see our brokenness again. And we are not left in hopeless despair. Although it is still painful, it is with relief and gratitude that we can receive it because it is a necessary reminder of the Gospel. We are reminded that we can’t do it on our own. We can’t save ourselves or fix our brokenness. Thank you Jesus that You can!

Summer Theme Announced

Everyone made it safely down to Project, and the first week was a whirlwind of transitioning into our new home for the next two months. We started working at Walmart, had the first Social of the summer, and were able to see what our schedule each week in this crazy place is like. And, after months of planning and keeping it a secret, the theme of the summer was finally revealed! STP 2019’s theme is…

Imperishable

This theme word was chosen out of the book of 1 Peter and comes from 1:3-5:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Staff and Team Leaders dedicated months of their time into brainstorming and preparing the theme, devotionals, and talk topics for the summer. So much prayer has gone into the process as well, and everyone is excited for what God is going to do in us and through us. One thing that I witnessed in others’ lives and can confidently say based on my own experience is that being down here in South Carolina and participating in this intensive two-month program changes people. God really is present here and is actively moving.

The night that all of the disciples arrived, Zach Simmons, who is on staff at the U of M and is one of the Project Directors this year, spoke at the first rally on this theme word of Imperishable. He brought up the point that all of us are fascinated with eternity, and this idea of something imperishable, but currently on this earth we don’t know of anything that actually is imperishable. An imperishable inheritance is, however, the climax of the Christian faith. The eternity that we will experience in heaven  is when all of our God-given longings will be satisfied forever.  

Zach set a great foundation for the rest of the summer, and I am confident that this one word will soon become something very real in our own lives and play a role in the story God is writing for each and every one of us. We can’t wait to see how this theme develops and progresses throughout our time here at Project!

Come With Open Hands

Team leaders, room leaders, and servant team all have had a great secret to bear. It comes with the job, I guess. At the end of April, these students from five different schools gathered together for the Leader’s Retreat where the theme, verse, and book of the Bible to be studied this summer were announced. This all has to be kept from the disciples until the very first rally of the summer. That’s too long when you’re excited about something! And all the preparation that they have been involved in has definitely caused a lot of anticipation and excitement for these returners to Project.       

As one of these returning students myself, I can completely relate to these feelings that we are experiencing in the final days leading up to Summer Training Project. Recently, however, I’ve been reflecting on why I am so excited. Though there are a lot of good reasons to feel this way, a large part of why I am excited is because of last summer. Last summer was my first year at Project, and I had one of the sweetest seasons of my life. It seems almost like the ideal Project experience – my room got along and became my closest friends, I worked at a wonderful Walmart with great coworkers, and I learned and grew so much over the two months. Not everyone who is returning has this same story, but it stands to reason that most people who go back do so in part because of how good their first summer was.

You wouldn’t think that this could be a problem, but it has become one for me recently. Whenever you experience something for a second or third or fourth time, you come in with expectations for what it will be like based on your previous experience with it. This has been the case for me, and I’m guessing many others. But coming in with too many expectations can be dangerous. Expectations have a tendency to rob your current experience of the joy that it brings because you are constantly comparing it to the past instead of embracing your present for what it is. This is unfair of you to do. Not only does this have a negative affect on you, but it could also land on those around you, especially as a leader.

During the Leader’s Retreat I had to mourn my last year’s summer. It sounds extreme, but that’s what it felt like. Last summer was a wonderful season that God brought into my life. It is so easy to want to hold on to that, but that’s not how life works.  Time moves on, and it’s best if we let go and move on with it. That season served its purpose. This summer is going to be different. It could be harder, or easier, or busier… Only God knows what it holds. He is bringing a new season into our life that will have its own unique challenges, blessings, laughs, and memories. It will be its own kind of sweet.

I had to let go of the expectations for this summer in order to embrace the good that God is going to do in this new summer. I hope and pray that we can extend our hands before God wide open to what He has in store for us this summer instead of trying to hold on to the past, because as the wise C.S. Lewis says, “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” And I don’t want to miss any of them.

“And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing and I will send down the showers in their seasons; they shall be showers of blessing.” Ezekiel 34:26

Jasmine Winter, senior

University of Northwestern

2019 STP Communications Intern

Not the End, but the Beginning.

Four days ago, we all jumped out of our vehicles and stood on Minnesota ground once again. Though many tears were shed in those moments, the bittersweet feeling that project was just a dream turned our minds back towards reality. With heads spinning and much processing to be done, we all knew that God gifted us the community we had found in Garden City, South Carolina, but He was now calling us back home to share, grow, and establish further roots into His Word, community, and sharing the Gospel with urgency we have never felt before. Some were excited to share, some not quite sure how they could go about doing that, while others felt the overwhelming weight of anticipation towards sharing with their fallen world, family, friends, and others God put on their minds. Since we all come from different backgrounds, not everyone felt the same way. Despite the emotions, students walked away sharing a memory of the most impactful, loving, and stretching summer of their lives. Though it felt like the end of a beautiful dream for most, the beginning of project's produce is yet to arrive. The end of project is not the end, but just the beginning of what God is about to do with it in our lives.

Here are a few quotes taken from students about how summer training project impacted them:

“Project was extremely impactful for me in many categories. However, if I had to pick one that impacted me more than others, it would be the community project has given me. I formed relationships with brothers and sisters in Christ that are long lasting and Gospel centered. Within a week of leaving project, I already had my community contacting me, informing me that they are praying for me, and showing excitement to hold each other accountable in Christ. I’m excited to grow, as well as evangelize alongside my community this school year.”
-Austin Pavelka, University of Northwestern-St. Paul.

“My head and heart are bewildered, content and heavy all at once. I was challenged and stretched this summer in ways I didn’t know I needed. Jesus showed me more of who He is and His constant pursuit of me! Always chasing after me, relentless! He reminded me how very personal and near and intentional He really is. I couldn’t be more grateful for how Jesus worked and for the incredible people He put in my direction.”
- Natalie St. John, Bethel University

“We love because He first loved us. This summer I was reminded with the importance of LOVE again. Jesus died for everyone including me, you, and the non-believers. There’s nothing we can do to change hearts unless we show them the love of Christ and leave God to do the rest. I can’t wait to be back on campus to see how God can use me to love the unloved ones already!”
-Scarlett Swift, St. Cloud State University

“Being at project this summer opened the door for God to give me a whole new perspective on loving people and stewarding my heart. Through His gracious love, the Lord revealed to me my deepest and most internal sins and gave me a community of believers that challenged me in my walk with Jesus. Project was a great tool in establishing habits of a disciple that will last a lifetime.”
-Daniel Fenske, University of Northwestern--St. Paul

“I used to think that God was someone I needed to constantly impress and that I needed to work for His love and His salvation. I learned that there is nothing that I can do that could make Him love me more or less than He already does. I learned how important the gospel truly is and how imperative it is that we share it with everyone possible.”
-Jenn Olson, University of Saint Thomas

“Athletes in Training allowed me to see how selfish I really was. I believed my strength depended on myself and I had to be physically and mentally strong in order to carry my burdens. This summer broke me and made me realize how weak I really am. I held onto the promise for when I am weak, then I am strong—that I can and should be boasting in my failures and weaknesses to glorify God. God’s grace is sufficient and His power is perfected when I fail and have no strength to carry on. I should glorify Him even in my time spent building physical strength”
-Danielle Jibben, University of Northwestern—St. Paul

This summer I fully understood the pursuit God has for my heart. I watched as He uncovered my sin and broke down my walls leaving me fully dependent on Him in every aspect of my life while sweetly reminding me of the Gospel and the freedom I have because of Jesus. I was reminded that He is in every situation right by my side walking with me not just watching over me and I can have hope in His unfailing love no matter the circumstances (Lamentations 3:21-24). I also was shown the importance of Gospel centered community and how we can come alongside and encourage each other as we grow further established in our relationship with the Lord.
-Katelynn Mehrkens, University of Northwestern--St. Paul

Is Project Even Fun?

After hearing my schedule, my mom once asked me, "Is project even fun?" It took me a couple seconds to process my answer and realize that, to any project outsider, STP's schedule may seem like a roller coaster ride that never seems to slow down, but instead picks up speed. It may seem like all we do is work at Walmart and sit in talks, if we are not working out or evangelizing or eating and sleeping. Reality is, it feels just like that, but in a good way. The extensive structure and impossible alone time definitely increase the wear and tear on our bodies, but that does not mean there are not moments of total joy that come from it. The irony of it is that most of the time we do not know what to do with the free time we get. Often, you will find us under the tent playing Mafia, in the pool, driving to Cook Out or Steak n' Shake, processing information, or (it may be hard to believe) find us buying groceries at Walmart on our day off. Sleep and time off are our most valued commodities. STP may sound like we're always chasing time, but its not all work and sweat. In fact, most of our memories made during our craziest moments where we let fun slip into the picture.

Watch some of the beautiful, fun moments we made this summer in the videos below!

Ripples

Today, I created a ripple.

This is never the thought that goes through our head at night, is it? Often times, the question is did I change the world today?

We boast about all the huge accomplishments, jobs, activities, and medals we have won. It is easy to talk about the waves we started that impacted the world, or at least our world. 

But how often do we sit back and watch the ripples we make spread? How often do we find joy in seeing the stones we've been casting at the solid surface (someone's hard heart) bounce anywhere but the place we were aiming for?

Yeah, that's right, I'm talking to you.

Ripples. Oddly enough, it sounds so peaceful. 

Yet, we are always surfing out to try and find the biggest wave instead of finding joy in the simplicity of something small. We spend our lives chasing after the waves. Soon, it becomes an addiction to fame--trying to become somebody great. 

We don't realize ripples become waves and sometimes the ripples are more satisfying to watch accumulate than chasing a wave that may never hit us. 

Throughout His journey, Jesus was humble. He sought out the ripples, never the waves. Yes, He stood in front of crowds, but He also targeted the lost and hurting. There are times to dive deep into the crashing waves, but God also calls us to make ripples. That's all He wants from us. Jesus was the everlasting example of what making a ripple can do. He was one man and He had 12 disciples. He was King of the world, yet He didn't boast. Instead, He reached out to people who no other king would ever touch. 

Jesus made a ripple. That ripple grew through 12 other disciples, women close to Him, and any others close to Him. The ripple He made in those few lives led to the 2.2 Billion people who call themselves Christians. Though not all of them are saved, 2.2 Billion people on this earth associate themselves with something that Jesus started. 

A ripple was all it took.

I saw a quote a few years ago that says,

“How we walk with the broken speaks louder than how we sit with the great.
- Bill Bennot”

Jesus, in my mind, lived this quote. 

What about you? What are your intentions?

Are you chasing after the waves when you should be delighting in watching God use your ripples?

The earth has 7 billion people chasing waves, trying to change the world.

Are you willing to step aside from the rest of the world and allow God to create ripples through you as He did Jesus?

The Woman by the Ocean

Last Wednesday, I sat down next to a middle age woman, who rocked my entire world. Up until this last week, I had never had a conversation gone wrong with anyone I reached out to on the beach. Up until her, I felt pretty confident in myself, I guess you could say I had it coming.

She was alone on a blanket looking at the ocean, so I felt pulled to reach out. After commenting on her situation, I sat down and asked to share about my summer. She quickly turned defensive and said, "if I take the time to listen to you you have to respect what I have to say too." 

Definitely took me off-guard.

She mentioned her belief that she thinks people should be good without having to "be good for someone or a reason." She hated the church and hypocrisy. I agreed. We all hate hypocrisy. She said her mother was partially Jewish, but she didn't desire to follow neither her heritage or Jesus.

She shared her story and I dug into mine, but somehow the words just wouldn't come out. She was defensive and her reaction made me feel as if she was a lost cause and nothing I said would change her mind. I shared the gospel, but it felt as if I was talking to a wall.

Soon, the tide swept in and she cut off the conversation and I walked away analyzing what happened. Her response made me feel inadequate. I walked away rethinking everything I believed in about sharing the gospel. I felt silenced and as if I couldn't say anything I thought I needed to. 

But then I realized nothing I could ever say would ever save anyone. Only Jesus can unveil someone's eyes to every lie they've believed in or lived out and nothing I will do will ever be able to compare. 

I walked away realizing I look at Jesus as a TOOL TO BE USED verses looking at myself as the TOOL. 

That woman may have become more ignorant towards Christ after that conversation or maybe God used sharing the bridge diagram and my story to allow her to see God for the first time. The saddest part is I will never know. 

Personally, the hardest part is knowing not everyone is going to Heaven. In fact, it scares me. How dreadfully scary is it to realize we know and carry the key to Heaven in our hearts. Often, we are so scared and/or selfish to take the time to share it. I let that fear of trying to save everyone hit me like a wall of bricks, but then Jesus sweeps in and reassures me that His plan is His plan alone to carry out. Yes, I should be living out the Gospel and sharing it, but I should not do it out of fear of trying to take everyone off Hell's hit list by my own strength. 

I cannot save anyone, you cannot save anybody. Only Jesus saves. He uses us, not the other way around.

Yes, preach the Word and share the Gospel as often as you feel led to, but never let fear become the reason for sharing. Do not walk away from what felt like a dead-end conversation and believe that because it "went wrong" in your eyes means it was a failed mission.

God does not fail missions, in fact He scoops them up and fulfills them in His perfect timing. Jesus completes the mission. He uses you whether or not you reap and/or see the benefits.

Five Minute Life Fix

Sorry to disappoint, but I don't actually know how to fix your life in five minutes. In fact, I think it is quite odd of you to think you could fix your life at such a rapid speed? Also, should I be concerned?

You may think it's fake news, but quick fixes actually do not fix anything. If fact, usually they end up hurting you in the long run. 

Have you ever thought about why we tend to click on the blog posts, articles, or Pinterest ideas on things that say something like:

• How to get rid of ... quick and easy
• The best solution for ...
• How to permanently stop ...
• How to ... the right way
• 5 Questions you should ask before ...
• How to ... in 5 minutes
• Tips for effortless ...
• 1 Simple rule to ...
• 10 simple things you can do to ...
• 2 most strategic ways to accelerate ...
• 7 Tricks to ...

I wonder how many books, articles, magazines, treatments, or technology we have invested in and spent our money on in order to achieve these "quick fixes."

How crazy is it that we doubtfully read and chase after things that we know will not satisfy our desire?

However, we continue to click on these ideas that give us momentary hope in the growth we want to see in our lives. Despite the endless lists of failed products, weight loss tips, or life hacks, we continue to pursue these "easy outs."

Why is that?

This summer, I have learned about how much we, as humans, tend to chase after any option that could lead us towards the destination we desire without asking for help, spending the extra money to consult a professional, or ask God--the ultimate professional who wrote every book on how to live a perfect life.

I have learned that we chase everything but the heart of God. Often, I feel like God is my "last resort." I tend to desire control and when I think I can fix something without having to "bother" God, then I usually try to. My bad, did I say usually? I meant all the time.

“God tends to feel too hard to reach or too busy because I do not take the time to realize I am the one too busy, not Him”

I measure my success by looking in a mirror, use self-talk to talk myself up, and let other's comments about me hit too hard.

You know what's funny? We are not who we see in the mirror because it only reflects what is on the outside and not the inside. Our self-talk, whether positive or negative, does not paint a accurate picture of who we really are. What others say about us cannot touch us because only God can judge, only He can define. Instead, God knows us better than anything or anyone ever could--He created us. 

Our true identity cannot be ESTABLISHED from anything else but God and His word. Our desires will never be met by the simplicity of what those 10 Steps to Receiving Fame promise us. 

Growing up, I felt like I was doing everything right, yet it felt all wrong. I knew God was God and about His love, but somehow the distance and what I knew to be true about Him felt like a distant fairy-tale that deep down I was hoping to be true.

I felt an obliviousness towards God, despite knowing the facts, that Jesus died for me, and how much He loved me.

Looking back on life, I think we can all agree that at some point in our walk with the Lord we were more concerned with appearing godly than with knowing God. We chased the quick fixes instead of chasing the only thing that can fix our problems--Jesus. Everyone judges our hearts by our behavior, instead of understanding that God cares more about our hearts. 

Can we honestly say we talk to God about what we are feeling instead of saying what we think He wants to hear?

Life has no quick fixes outside of Jesus and the powerful work He can do in our lives. Maybe it is time to start being honest with ourselves and "fix" how we interact with others, the Word, and ourselves with small, God-guided steps every single day.

Ask yourself:

1. For God to be pleased with you, what do you think you should be chasing?
2. What is your heart chasing the most?