Tevis Austin

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The Journey

We have spent the past few weeks preparing for a journey that would lead us to Easter.  The journey started on Ash Wednesday where we set up several different stations that were designed to help people begin the Lent season.  The first station was titled "Prepare Your Heart" and was about recognizing and eliminating distractions in your life.

The second station was "Seek God" and involved taking time to talk to God. 

The third station, "Focus on the Cross," invited everyone to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and come to the place where we are all on equal ground because of our need for forgiveness.

With the cross still in view, the next station was called "Be Clean and Transformed."  This station focused on how we can receive forgiveness and be made clean through Jesus.  It encouraged each person to focus on how God wants to shape and transform our lives.  

The final area encouraged people to "Draw Close to God" by committing to seek Jesus during Lent. 

To help people seek Jesus during Lent, we put together several different resources and activities.  These opportunities were designed for all ages.  They included opportunities for individuals and families to serve in our community.  We set up a website where everyone could go to get more information on these opportunities and to sign up.  You can click on the picture below to see it for yourself. 

 

Lost Voice While Students Do Something

I spent last weekend with 48 students and adults at a two day event called "Do Something."  The greatest challenge for me was speaking.  I actually lost my voice.  I felt fine, but my voice was gone.  I was was supposed to speak two different times.  I was able to use a sound system to attempt saying a few things when we kicked off the event, but that was about it.  I'm sure there were some who thought this was great.   I had to work with another leader to speak for me in the evening.

 

We served at Lower Lights, a compassionate ministry center, in Columbus. 

We worked on four different apartments that will be used for families needing housing.

 

Students painted, moved appliances, and did minor demolition. 

They even cleaned floors.  I should probably send some of these pictures to their parents.

It was a great weekend.  What was most frustrating to me were the conversations that I wasn't able to have with many of the thirty-eight students who signed up to go.  So many times I would stand and try to talk.  I would then get this strange look and the question, "What did you say?"  Eventually you just want to give up. 

We actually stayed a few miles away from Lower Lights at Fort Rapids where there was an indoor water park.  The water park was great, but we used the dichotomy between Fort Rapids and the needs that were just a few miles away, to point out how we often become numb to the needs that are around us everyday.

It wasn't about serving at Lower Lights.  It was about noticing the needs that are around us in our own community and schools.  The focus was on our theme "Do Something."  We intentionally challenged these students to become more aware of the needs of others and to do something about meeting those needs.