Ridgeway Student Ministry

Much of what we do as a family is done with our awesome students at Ridgeway Baptist Church. God has given us the responsibility to shepherd these students! I am always amazed each week of their faithfulness, their goofiness, and their desire for Christ!
The great thing about working with students is that they keep me thinking and on my toes. Although it can be challenging, there are far greater rewards. My desire for our students is that they become true Christ-followers--that they look at the true biblical example of what this looks like rather than the world.
My motto is that we are building up and training missionaries. They may not necessarily go on the home or foreign mission field, but whatever their occupation, our desire is that they live for Christ in that environment.
Sarah and I will write more about our students throughout our blog! I've included a photo of some of our students. It's one of my favorite pictures. The picture is taken at the end of our Annual Yuck Night which is a great night of Yucky games! Our students have a blast! This is after the all out shaving cream war! We had Yuck Night at the Hall's house--they are sooo cool!

An Awesome Baptism Service

Last night, I had the opportunity to take my children to Tulsa Bible Church. There was no choir, so my kiddos, Hannah and Noah, and I got to witness an incredible baptism service. In the span of an hour, we witnessed the baptism of eleven new believers!
Not only did they get baptized, but before each baptism each person, including the young ones, shared how they came to know Christ! It was a powerful witness to Christ of his saving power! I was simply reminded of the powerful message of the Gospel. These people did not come to Christ because of an exciting event, speaker, or band. They came to Christ because they saw their sin and they knew that they needed Christ. On each of their parts there was an admittance of the sin in their lives and even more important was the confession of Christ as Savior and Lord.
I don't know why I was so moved by these baptisms because I witness them on an occasional basis. Maybe I had just forgot the simplicity of the Gospel.
I jotted down some of the Scriptures and phrases that were shared during the testimonies:
"Getting baptized is claiming that God own's me!" Pastor John Barnett
"I've encountered churches that love Jesus yet do not fear Him."
"I had more in common with a Satan worshipper, not in my beliefs, but in my attitudes and actions." (before I was saved)
1 Peter 1:3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

God has of late been using the simplest of things to bring my attention back to him. The other day I read in Numbers 18:20, "The the Lord said to Aaron, " YOu shall have no inheritance in their land nor own any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the sons of Israel."
I love that phrase, "I AM YOUR PORTION AND YOUR INHERITANCE...!" What an incredible reminder that God is all we need!