CCP comes to Project

I distinctly remember telling a student on Project about our CCP team and saying, “They’ll actually be coming to Project! But that’s a long way off.”

And now they’re here.

In fact, they’ve been here since last Wednesday. The Project all swarmed the parking lot to greet their friends on the team as the travelers shuffled their way out of the vans, completely jet-lagged but pumped with adrenaline and excitement.

I should pause here.

If you don’t know what the CCP team is, refer to the following blog:

http://www.cominneapolis.org/ccp/blog

Continuing on.

Since then, the team members have been spending most of their time with as many of the 125 students on Project as they possibly can. They are specifically sharing what God has done in their lives throughout their time in Sheffield. I have had the pleasure of talking to several members of the CCP team, and it’s amazing to hear about the different ways God has revealed more of himself to them, oftentimes in ways they never expected.

Tonight, during theme training, Steve Discher will give a talk on missions and the ways God has expanded and will continue to expand is kingdom to reach the lost world. The prayer is that eyes will be opened to the brokenness and urgency of the lost and unreached people, and that God will work in people’s hearts – maybe even to go to the unreached themselves.  

The CCP team will also share some stories from their time in the U.K., which will be expounded upon tomorrow night when the team splits up and visits each room on Project during D Group. The students will be able to ask more specific questions and hear more personal stories of how God used this summer in Sheffield to shape the lives of those on the CCP.

As the next two days unfold and the time with the CCP team wraps up, pray that the conversations students have with the team will help cast a vision to reach the lost world. 

CCP

Well, they’re gone.

No, not the staff – they left a while ago.

I’m talking about the CCP teams.

CCP stands for “Cross Cultural Project.” This summer, we had two CCP teams; one to India and one to Lebanon (for more specifics, feel free to ask a student!)

For the past week, our Project has been blessed to have had both CCP teams visiting us. The Lebanon team just arrived home from Beirut, and the India team will be flying out next week.

When the CCP team comes to visit, you cannot help but become more missions-minded.  It is such an encouragement to talk with these fellow college students and friends about what God is doing in their lives and the things they are excited about and fearful for when it comes to missions.

Last week, during the Theme Training talk, Andrew Knight spoke on missions. It was practically impossible to walk out of that room unchanged, or at least unchallenged. I have talked to several students who have said they will not be able to view missions – or their own lives – the same way again.

(If you want to listen to Andrew Knight’s talk, it will be posted on the website along with the other talks from this summer!)

At the end of the talk, we sang worship songs which were concluded by a recording of the ‘call to prayer’ that Muslims hear multiple times a day in places like Lebanon and India. For many, that was the moment in the evening that influenced them the most.

The Project has been buzzing since then. I have overheard conversations about missions countless times over the course of the week. It has been wonderful to be around the CCP teams and to remember that the gospel is needed all over the world and God is working his plan of redemption everywhere, even right now.

I ask you to join me in praying that this new heart for missions that many of the students have will not fade away. I pray that the missions-minded mentality is not superficial and fueled by the excitement of the CCP teams and a convicting talk, but rather fueled by a love for Jesus and a broken heart for the unengaged and unreached peoples of the world.

Prayer request: Pray for a faithful and fruitful trip for the India team!

Monday at the Beach

Disciples are going back into their routine week after the brief time with the CCP team. The pool, muddied by a type of fungus then doused with extreme amounts of cleaning chemicals, making it unsuitable for use over the last couple days, also looks ready for some action. This week's theme will be centered on discipleship. Make sure to check out some the kids at their jobs as well as clips from the CCP hosted scavanger hunt from last week in <this week's Highlights video> Pictures from the Social plus others will be uploaded soon so make sure to check and see when the gallery is updated sometime this week!

Sending the CCP off

Hi everyone. This morning the CCP group left project at 5:50 am. Some of the students sacrificed sleep  to say "good bye" and pray for them once again.

At Life training Reid Jilek spoke about "Holding Loosely to Your Schedule." Reid described the two extremes of being either over scheduled or laid back, and how there could be sin on both of these sides. Later on in the morning, students attended Church after life training.

Today, students at project are just relaxing with the goal to gain some energy before a new week starts. Enjoy the Highlights of the week.

friday talks about yesterday mostly

Disciples enjoyed looking for the CCP team members during the Broadway at the Beach Social Time on Thursday night. Teams left at 7:15 then came back at 10:00 after walking around and taking pictures of each other following the crazy directions of the scavenger hunt. Jeff Wiesner's team surfaced as the winners of a night full of entertainment to the disciples as well as the bystanders who got to watch or even take part in the antics of this week's social. Look forward to some great updates including pictures from the CCP Broadway at the Beach and another week's highlights video. We have also prepared the sessions from this week for your hearing pleasure: <Reid Jilek's Life Training> <Jack Thompson's Bible Study Training> <Elliot Stokes' Theme Training> <Adam Evers' Leadership Training> <James Gisler's Evangelism Training>

Christ and Faith

Today, Wednesday, the CCP group joined the Team Leaders and the Room Leaders for today's Seminar led by Adam Evers. Adam shared about Confrontation among the disciples."It made me realized how much I idolize relationships" said Michael Owczarek, one of the room leaders, "It was a helpful talk."

As for the afternoon, James Gisler shared "The Message, Part II" with us. James talked about the importance of having Jesus in our sharing time. "If we do not talk about Jesus, the message is pointless."

After evangelism time, the students had their campus time where the challenge was to think and pray for those who are back in Minnesota who do not know about Christ.

the "t" in tuesday is for theme

Elliot Stokes, CO staff for Northwestern College and the leader for the CCP team here, will be giving the theme training today. He will unpack more on what it means for a Christian to be an exile in this world. As mentioned, Garden City Baptist (GCB) has been burned down, so Theme Training will be meeting at the Garden City Chapel (GCC) tonight.For the time being, the people at GCC have graciously offered to let project use their facilities during the week.

During Bible Study Training, Jack Thompson shared that studying the Bible is worship, and that it is a process that takes time and discipline. Disciples also got a chance to walk through 1Peter 3:1-2 together.

Welcoming India Team

This morning around 1:30 am, the India Team arrived on project. Students are excited to spend about a week with this team by Elliot Stokes. Furthermore, this morning at Life Training, Reid Jilek spoke about "Holding Loosely to Family." He shared a little from his background and on how God has been working on his earthly family. His main focus was that "family is not the ultimate focus, God is." Reid reminded us of the importance of our eternal family.

Moreover, today we were informed with the sad news that Garden City Baptist Church, one of the churches that the students attend, was severely destroyed by a fire. It took about five hours to extinguish and much of the church has been burned down. Therefore, we would appreciate if you keep in your prayers our brothers and sister of Garden City Beach Baptist Church.

Another Special Weekend

This morning, students had their D-groups. However, the day at Project started much earlier, when students gathered at Student Director Mike Polley’s room at 12:15 AM to sing Happy Birthday! “I am very surprised,” Mike Polley said after being thrown into the pool by his roommates.

Although it is a very hot day in Garden City, the students went to work joyfully this afternoon. Moreover, tonight is a very special night. The CCP team going to India will be arriving at Project, and many of the students are excited to spend a few days with them.