“I know that Jesus wants me to forgive, but I hate that. I don’t want to forgive!” said Bree (name was changed). Bree had just left a discussion group crying while at the winter conference for high school students held in CA in January. Hannah, who went after Bree, asked why she was crying. “I was molested at age 12 and have been carrying so much anger ever since.” Hannah shared about the parable of the prodigal son and how the father ran out to receive him and forgive him. Bree was amazed that God comes to us with open arms despite what we have done or what has been done to us. Hannah told her there is a difference between beginning a relationship with Christ and then actually following Him. Bree said she was choosing to follow Him. Just a day or two later, Bree noticed 2 other girls crying. She walked right over to them and began sharing with them what she had just learned from Hannah! And she led both girls to put their faith in Christ! When students choose to follow Christ, the ripple effects are great and the spread of the Gospel is limitless!
I heard this story from Erik and Wendy Morey, two new staff with Cru High School ministry from California! They were one of the 5 new staff I had the privilege of coaching at the recent Faith and Finances Conference held in Daytona Beach in January. It is a joy for me to get to hear the journey of faith these new missionaries are on. God led Erik and Wendy to leave a good job in the family business of making and fixing violins to join with Cru full-time to reach high school students in Long Beach, CA with the Gospel. They have 4 children, ages 8 to 1, so they are very busy parents as well. Yet God has given them a passion and vision to change the lives of high schoolers by sharing God’s love, forgiveness, and hope with them. As shared above, they know that God will bless, change, and empower these young people to change their world for Christ!