Love. Pray. Live.

Heading Home!!!!

2011-03-18T05:44:00.000-07:00

This trip has been amazing! The opportunity to work along side the Common Ground Staff has been truly inspirational and a great life experience. Now the exciting part is we get to go home and take all that we have learned from the adults and kids from Common Ground and apply it to our lives back home. It will be a challenge, but as a church we will support and encourage one another through the difficulties and problems we face in the future. See you guys soon, we love you Common Ground!!!

Hannah Wilson

Hello Fellow Readers!

2011-03-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

This is Lauren Bruno, I just wanted to give a little update about the pictures. The Flikr Widget we have for our blog isn't working I don't think. I've taken over 400 pictures so far but the flikr wouldn't let us put very many of the pictures up! SOOOO I'm going to work on that and get it fixed ASAP so we can see all the pictures from the blog! I do have pictures up on my facebook if you are able to see them from there, but I know not everyone has facebook. So again, sorry about the trouble. I'll get it fixed ASAP. In the mean time, thanks for all your prayers! God is working through all of our students. (:

-Lauren Bruno

My Mission

2011-03-17T05:44:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Wow we have been sooo busy. When we got here we were returning to the open arms of the kids and adults of Common Ground. They were so inviting just wanting to hang out, especially the middle schoolers, they are some of the most amazing kids i have ever met. They just have soo much life and energy and passion for the community. They take so much pride in what Common Ground is doing for their neighborhood and their lives. My new friend Toby said "We have the cooliest community, the only one in the world with a garden, you got one?". They are so crazy and the things they say and do just make me realize how much God is doing in their lives and ours. On this trip God has helped me to realize how much of a heart I have for these missions, that it shouldn't stop here. We are blinded in Edmond by the big houses and the iPhones that we don't see the people that are in need. We need a Youth Group to share our faith with those who are not filled up with the word of Christ, that is my mission when i get home. :) -Kayla

A Little Picture of Day 3

2011-03-16T16:49:00.000-07:00

Today we had the kids tye-dye shirts as a "camp shirt". Here is Maci demonstrating our folding technique.

Wednesday

2011-03-16T15:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our first day of VBS at Common Ground and it was definitely a test of patience. Even though there was constantly fights being broken up, kids being separated, little boys using the High School boys as human jungle gyms, and feelings being hurt over little things, it was so worth it at the end of the day! Every person was laughing and smiling while we were talking about our experiences with the kids. It amazes me how much spirit and excitement these kids have for everything they do. They never fail to make us laugh. I love it here I already miss it! Thank you for all of the prayers and please continue to pray!

Good Morning!

2011-03-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

So yesterday was the first day of VBS here at Common Ground and it was just incredible. Seeing all the kids just come together and celebrate the Lord was awesome. All these kids have incredible personalities and it just makes you want to love them more and more. I got to talk to Josh yesterday about the internship and he told me if I applied ASAP then he would take a look at it and go over it with Kevin and he would let me know before I leave this week if I get accepted. I am praying so hard for this. I would love to be here this Summer, I feel like there is something here for me and I just don't want to go back home. I am drawn to this place and I can't get enough of it. So I filled out my application last night and e-mailed it to Josh so now it's all in God's hands. I love all that God is revealing to me this week and I see Him in all our students and all the community here. Isaiah 58:9-12 says:
"Then when you call, the Lord will answer. 'Yes I am here', he will quickly reply. Remove the heavy yolk of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading your vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be bright as noon. The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring. Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities. Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls and a restorer of homes."

Love your neighbor for it is a form of God. If you mistreat a neighbor, a friend, a complete stranger, you are mistreating God. Love EVERYONE. That is all I yearn for. I want everyone to just love one another, I don't see how people can't. Not trying to say I don't struggle with loving people but it's my main priority. Us humans were made with nothing but love, so why can't we return that favor and just show everyone love? God smiles at us and blesses us when we show His love to others. I am so happy to be here to love on and bond with this community. I'm so grateful and I give total thanks to my God.

-Lauren Bruno

Here's a Little of What We Did Today

2011-03-15T19:26:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, MOGO

2011-03-15T16:29:00.000-07:00

This morning we woke up to a little rain and a cloudy sky, however, that didn't keep us from working hard! We spent our morning working and weeding in the soon to be community garden which will be run by the kids at common ground. It was a gift to be apart of helping establish something that will continuously benefit CG and the neighborhood. Today was the first day of VBS! I helped lead a group of two beautiful 8 year old girls. We did a craft, listened to a bible story, and played great games! The girls in my group were so precious, and so hungry for Gods word. It is so refreshing to see a glimpse into young ladies with such pure hearts and spirits filled with joy. For the short time I have known them, they have already touched my heart. Two kids got into a fight earlier, and my group and I helped to calm down one of the kids. They used God's word, and lovely words to bring comfort to him. It was great to see. I think we all can learn so much from these kids. Even though things in life don't always run smoothly or perfectly, with God's joy in our hearts, and child-like faith, great things will take place. I am so thankful to be surrounded by such a beautiful group of people, and I can't wait what else God will reveal to us this week.

Kelsey Belden

Tuesday March 15

2011-03-15T15:49:00.000-07:00

Ok so, playing spick-peg volley ball not the best idea Trae Heitt. In other news I really feel the holly spirt moving in these kids we're helping here. So please keep praying for us.

2011-03-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

Today was what everyone was anticipating and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. I was so thankful that we were able to work in the sustainable community garden that is being planted throughout the week. The middle school students worked on it all day, but we had the pleasure to spend time with them early in the morning to weed the planters. They have such a sweet and goofy spirit within their group and I loved being a part of it. Middle school kids are so fun and I see so much maturity and Christ like hearts in the Common Ground kids. Even though they get a little crazy with each other, they are respectful and know about each other's lives and interact like wonderful young men and women. The kids today during VBS were also fantastic and our time with them went really fast. I am so glad that we have this opportunity to spend time with these kids at CGM, and God has taught me a lot about myself and everyone around me already this week and I cannot wait to see what else he has in store for us this week!

-Arielle Hummel

VBS day 1

2011-03-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

Today was our first day of vacation bible school and it was a success! God is doing some amazing things here! To start it off we had a dance off! It was hilarious! It was a little bit chaotic but turned out great. Even though some kids fought and seriously tested our patience, at the end of the day, it was all worth it. I am so happy we came back here this year. VBS is a great way for us to spread the word of God to these kids. Thanks for all the prayers!

-Maci Majors

2011-03-15T10:11:00.000-07:00

Had so much fun working in the garden and playing with the kids, they are so much fun. And these kids can teach you a lot of cool things. i will also have so much fun with Kaleb and the kids at vacation bible school

Gonna Be a Full Day

2011-03-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

Good morning! It's Tuesday, and really, our first day full of activity. Right now some of our students are preparing for our afternoon VBS we'll be hosting, while others are working in a garden we are helping to start here at Common Ground this week. VBS starts today and while it's cold and a bit rainy, we're still hoping for a good turnout. Yesterday, we spent all afternoon playing with neighborhood kids here at the facility. This was a lot of fun and a good time to start meeting some of the kids we will be working with this week. Thank you all for your continued prayers.

Day 2

2011-03-14T16:53:00.000-07:00

Today was an interesting day of planning and setting up everything for our vacation bible school and I thought I would share how we are doing so far. I'm so happy to tell you that the kids we met today welcomed us with open arms and were open to all of us. I am sure that I speak for the whole group in saying that excitement is everywhere. I think that the children we are about to serve through our teaching will be very willing to hear the word of God and accepting of our love for them. The presence of God is definitely prominent in this place and I hope that we can have a lasting impact on the lives of the children. Thanks for following us and keep us in your prayers!

-Eric Gifford

Day 2

2011-03-14T12:29:00.000-07:00

I hope I'm not going to be the only person blogging on here. So far, today has been SO wonderful. I found a quote from C.S. Lewis I thought I would share.

“Continue seeking God with seriousness. Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him” -C.S. Lewis.

Well, I'm off. Just wanted to write that short note. I'm sure I will be on here again tonight to blog. Thank you for all your prayers! (:

-Lauren Bruno

Montgomery 2011!

2011-03-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Montgomery today and I am so so so thrilled to be here! As soon as we got out of the vans I ran into Common Ground and saw Josh and Ava! It filled my heart with total joy. I was SO happy to see the both of them, they are such a blessing. Things looked a little differently inside of the community center and it made me so happy to see that they are growing so much. They even built an amazing gym right next to the center and it is so amazing! After we unloaded the girls things, we headed over to the "mansion", which was the intern house this past summer. We got to go in there and look around and it really made me want to just stay here ALL the time. I really am going to have a hard time going back to Edmond, but I am going to apply for the Summer internship here. I was talking with Josh and he was telling me that a lot of girls have applied already so it's going to be harder but if it's God's will, then it will be done.
Around 5:30 Brian lead a church service here at the community center and it was really great. Brian is such an amazing leader and every time he speaks, I am just drawn in to what he has to say. We read some in Mark chapter 11, and verse 22-25 really stuck out to me. It reads, "Have faith in God. I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea', and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours. But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in Heaven will forgive your sins, too."
I am SO SO SO SO SO pumped to see what God has in store. I feel such GREAT feeling and connection with God. He has put incredible joy in my heart and my life and I am SO thankful to be here with all these amazing people. Thank you all for who are praying for us and following us on the blog. God is SO great!!

-Lauren Bruno (:

Spring Break Mission 2011

2011-03-09T11:27:00.000-08:00

We're three days out from leaving for our Student Ministry's annual Spring Break Mission. We are returning to last year's destination - Montgomery, AL and the incredible ministry of Common Ground. This year our main ministry focus will be to lead a Spring Break Vacation Bible School for elementary kids in their neighborhood (we will also be doing some physical labor-type-work there at Common Ground and around the neighborhood). We are so thankful that God would allow us the privilege in joining these folks for a week in ministry by invading their space (thank you Common Ground). Our focus scripture this year Philippians 2:5-8. Read it and pray along with us that we could join Christ in His attitude of service. Keep Loving. Keep Praying. Keep Living. -Trae.

Woken up in the middle of the night...

2010-03-20T03:56:00.000-07:00

Before going on my senior mission trip i had numerous expectations. Going along with that was the fear that it would not be as amazing as my other mission trip experiences. Looking back on our mission to Montgomery, Alabama it was one that was different than any other and i loved it! The last night we were at Common Ground i was woken up in the middle of the night with a thought......We had been taring out the walls of a house which most all of us in particular me felt like it should have been torn down all together and built all new. I had commented to a couple people that i thought in the long run it would have been better if we would have just torn the whole thing down instead of delaying the inevitable decaying of it. My thought when i woke up that night was that i was like this house. Knowing my sins and screw ups i should have been torn down with no hope of a promising future, but with christ he goes through our lives and 'takes out the bad boards' allowing 'new good boards' to fill our life. Through this our life, which should have been hopeless, can be built with a strong foundation. Christ does not allow us to be destroyed no matter how far we have strayed or what sins we have committed. This week i re-gave my life to christ. I am filled with excitement about the changes that i am going to make in my life. I pray that Christ will make me strong to follow through with these changes. God is amazing and i am truly blessed. Ill see everyone back in E-town!

Kelley Raines

Paul Blog #1

2010-03-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

I am amazed by the children here. They seem happy, healthy, innocent, and able to interact normally. It is hard to imagine them coming from difficult homes. They hold no prejudices based on appearances. They are totally trusting, and they play freely with the youth group. I see many normal, lovable children. The fact that they are in position to be hurt and hardened is absolutely saddening. Perhaps this generation will bring a difference to this place, ending generations of fear and mistrust between the races.

2010-03-17T21:37:00.000-07:00

we just had one of those moments when we were all singing, then all of a sudden GOD broke all of our hearts. and the majority of us started to tear up. it is a spine tingling moment, you start to get chills, and it is like we are one. and we are we are the body of Christ and i feel like i have found him once more he has revived me. and i praise him for it.

lovingly,
elizabeth S.F. (peaches)

2010-03-17T18:17:00.000-07:00

to my friends and family i have had second look at life. through a fresh pair of eyes. and i love it it is nothing like home yet feel so welcome. for being out of the state where my mom or dad cant just come get me because i am home sick. ( witch happened every year in girl scouts). the first night that we stayed in Memphis it was hard because i could not sleep.i had all these questions like what if something were to happen to my family. but then the second day some one told me to take a leap of faith and i did i have met a few people i look up to like Alfonzo he is awesome i think he has made this mission trip incredible. i am so lad i came! and the look on the little kids faces is price less.

Love you all ,
elizabeth S.F.(peaches for the people at new cov youth)

Stickin out like a sore thumb

2010-03-16T21:27:00.000-07:00

Being here is probably the best choice i've made for a spring break trip. it's spiritually, physically, and emotionally fulfilling. Every morning we wake up to Geoffrey's wonderful voice telling us to breakfast is almost ready. Food gets me up faster than watching Shrek. The food is then served by one of our servant team who have to wake up at an aching hour which is about 30 minutes before everyone else just to prepare and cook our wonderful breakfast. After breakfast, Bryan, who owns Common Ground, comes up for worship for about an hour. His style is incredibly unique and is like a breathe of fresh air where he applies how each verse applies to him, to us, and to everyone in the world. We are then sent of to do mission work: find bricks to sale, set up fences around the property, clean up the property, or go to a some place off the property to work for God. The work is my favorite part of the day despite the fact i had surgery for a broken collarbone just two weeks ago and doctor said i'm not supposed to be doing at all. It's funny when everyone keeps asking me if i need help or try to take over what i'm doing. Even today, one of the guys took over while i was shoveling dirt. It's also fun because i'm the only ethnic person....i stick out like a sore thumb. ;]

Crowbars and Power Tools

2010-03-16T21:09:00.000-07:00

Today was probably the most intense day of work I have experienced in a VERY long time. I mean, I work at walmart- I fold clothes to pay off my car. But today I experienced a whole new level of work. I helped pry a roof off with a crow bar! It was hard work and someone dropped a crowbar across the backs of my ankles. But I am so happy to be here and this cause is beautiful and I want to help so I kept working and it totally paid off. I say this because if I hadn't kept working I wouldn't have had the opportunity to use the power saw!!! It was amazing and I am so excited that i got to do something that made an impact on our project so directly. I'm starting to see a difference through the hard work of this group.
This evening we had men from the community come and share their testimony about how they came to know christ and it truly touched me. I mean, I know that there are places like this all over the world and even in our own backyard. But I never took the time to actually see the world these people live in. I wish I had come into this kind of place sooner so that I could be helping more people. There are places within half an hour and even less than 10 minutes from me that I could make a difference in. I want t take all the amazing insight that I have received and my experiences from this week and show the people in my community that we can make a difference too.

I am exhausted and my pillow is calling my name. Can't wait for tomorrow and its blessings. Love you dad and Tiffy, I miss you both and Maddie too. Btw tell Jack hi next time you talk to him.

Emily<3

So Amazing

2010-03-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

Hey New Cov Family!! Well we are here at Common Grounds Ministry in Alabama and what a day and night it has been. I have truly seen and heard about God's grace this evening. We had some amazing neighborhood people come and share their stories with us tonight. The stories that we heard tonight were so telling of God's forgiveness and his mercy and I am reminded just how much I have been blessed with in my own life. This is such a life changing experience and I am so thankful to have the opportunity to be here. I am 28 and tonight I met a young woman tonight that is a year younger...that's right, I said YOUNGER, than I am and reality sank in for me. She has been through so much and I am so privileged that God allowed me to hear about some of the things that have happened in her life. Thanks so much for all of your prayers for us while we are here and keep praying!! Your prayers are making difference.

In Him,
Kristie

I LEARNED HOW TO JERK!

2010-03-16T09:12:00.000-07:00

As I am sitting here I asked the girls what the title of this blog should be. Hints the title... The "jerk" is a dance move and the students taught me how to do it last night. It took me a while but I was so excited to finally learn it.

Speaking of the students, they are all doing great! I think everyone of them absolutely love being here. Even though we really have no idea what we will be doing everyday, they are so willing to jump at every opportunity to serve. I feel as if each one of them are growing in their relationship with the Lord. One of my favorite things is seeing them do their quiet times and praying that the Lord is speaking to them through His word. I love waking up in the mornings and seeing the students that sit down and take their bibles out just to soak up what God has to speak to them for the day.

I am learning a lot through the students and what God is doing in them. One thing that He has been teaching me through them is forgiveness. Yesterday as we were working with the bricks, I was hauling bricks back and forth and I accidentally dropped a brick on Hannah Wilson's shin. I felt awful and before I could even start apologizing she started reassuring me that she was fine and it wasn't a big deal. What a perfect picture of Christ. Also, the night before last I got a little annoyed with the girls as we were going to bed. All night I kept warning them to be quiet and respect others and I felt as if they were mad at me for ruining the fun that they were having. The next day when we woke up I was expecting them to be mad at me but as soon as I got up and around things were just they way they were before and we were all best friends again. It's like they had forgotten how they felt last night. I really had a "God moment" after I realized that they weren't mad at me anymore. This is when I could truly see God in them and who He really is. His forgiveness and grace surpasses all understanding and He was and is moving in their lives.

Brian brings us the word every morning and it is so encouraging. I hope and pray that the Lord is speaking to the kids through what he is saying. It is always rough in the mornings so the kids have a hard time staying awake and focused, so please pray that Christ's message gets through to them during these times, because what Brian says is really motivating and applicable to these kids.

Parents- just a warning: Your kids may come home wanting to spend their time with the poor. But don't worry because God will protect them. I encourage you to pray for your kids and support them in their urgency to serve those who are poor and suffering in our own community.

Thanks for praying! We can feel the prayers. Please keep them coming!

Love, Ava

2010-03-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

Today, March Fifteenth, Two-Thousand and Ten we started this glorious day off at promptly seven a.m. with the amazing Jeff Bull as a wake up call. For breakfast we were fed egg burritos, shortly after we left to walk around downtown Montgomery and visited the Rosa Parks Museum. Then the youth group split into two, and one half of us (me included) went to help clean up trash at a lot that Common Ground owns, as well as cleaning up Bryan Kelly's (Director of Common Ground) backyard. Bryan Kelly lets anyone who needs meal at any time of the day to come get a free meal and he lets people hang out as his house whenever they want or need to. The other half stayed at Common Ground to dig up bricks that were buried around the campus, and for every brick in good condition, Common Ground received thirty cents and we dug up around 1500ish bricks! We finally were able to take showers this afternoon at YMCA :) We are just about to start worship and have some free time. This trip is soo amazing!! :D I thank the Lord for being able to come on this trip, along with the support of my New Covenant family for making this trip possible.
-Griffin Radford (Senior)

Loving God and Loving People

2010-03-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Today has been a very eventful day! The girls woke up FROZEN in the gym. Luckily we are going to be sleeping in a heated room tonight. I am really thankful for that, but at the same time I can;t help but think about the people and children living in this community who live day to day without any utilities. We have been immersed into a community of 100% African Americans and are probably some of the only white people in town. I feel like some students and leaders feel a little out of place being the minority for maybe the first time in their lives. They are all doing a great job accepting the folks here at Common Grounds. As for me, I haven't felt uncomfortable once and almost feel at home in a community like this. It is going to be really awesome seeing how God uses the kids this week and experiencing them serving, praying and loving the poor community. I have already seen them do amazing things!

Last night Paul Bruns rocked a crying baby and calmed him down by talking sweet to him.

Kathryn Hook made a new best friend; a little girl who clinged to her side as soon as they met.

Griffin Radford changed his first diaper!

Jamie Jekel played jump rope for hours with some cute little girls in the gym.

There are many more things I could write about, but these are just a few from the day. Our kids are growing in Christ and radically loving Christ through loving the kids and people of this community.

I sat with some ladies who work for Common Ground last night after their bible study. I felt so blessed and inspired by just sitting and talking with them. I really look up to those ladies who can raise their kids and deal with all the stress of running this ministry (with Christ's help of course). They are true women of God and their lives prove it.

We have met tons of great people already and we are all so excited for God to continue teaching us about His love for this community.

Love, Ava

Good Morning Monday

2010-03-15T05:27:00.000-07:00

So far our time has been amazing! Yesterday after we got here we just played in the gym with all these little kids. We colored and played basketball and did other games with them. They were all very very happy that we are here. Today we are going to visit two museums and then we will be doing some work in the afternoon. We found out last night that we will be renovating some houses, cleaning up the property, and playing some more with the kids every day. The experience so far has been kind of eye opening and it makes us realize that we should not take the simplest things that we have back home for granted.

~Alex Wileman~

Dear Diary...

2010-03-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! It's Melanie Darter, but you may know me as simply Mel. We are in the process of getting our bedding set up for the evening....we have to go down to get our stuff that we need 5 at a time and Ava is guarding the door in true Ava fashion! ;) We have had a great, long, tiring, inspiring day on the road. Tomorrow we get to go to the Rosa Parks museum and take a tour or 2 of the neighborhood that Common Grounds is located in. I'm super excited to start hanging out with the local kiddos and forming relationships with them. I'm excited to see what God has in store for this place, and inspired to bring it back to Edmond to spread the LOVE. I love these kids, I love you all, I love our God...I'm sleepy! Good night!!

I Heart Alabama

2010-03-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

This is Katy typing! I am super excited about this mission trip!!!!!! We have finally reached our destination. We were almost immediately greeted by lots of kids that we were able to play with for a few hours. The neighborhood was not exactly what I expected. It seems pretty friendly; my hope is that we will feel that way by the end of the week! We were informed that "Tina's Lounge" located right across the street from the community center gets pretty entertaining late at night! I am extremely pumped about all of our adventures to come:)

Bedtime in Memphis

2010-03-13T21:46:00.001-08:00

Okay - we made it to Memphis (thank you Christ UMC for housing us). We had a first good day of driving and a wonderful evening worship experience. We all seem to be very excited to get to Montgomery tomorrow to start unpacking all that God has in store for us. Tonight we talked about Genesis 1:1-2 (our theme scripture) and how, just like God was hovering over the emptiness then, He is hovering over and with us as we begin this trip - and we just can't wait for Him to begin speaking. Thank you for your prayers and goodnight. Montgomery - here we come!

Here We Go!

2010-03-13T10:03:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

We are ON THE ROAD! As far as I can tell, everyone is so excited. Thank you all SO much for supporting us in prayer! One of our students, Kayla Alsobrook, is gonna share a little bit about how she's pumped!

Ok, hi guys soo like I have been waiting for this since like fourth grade!!!!!! You have no idea how excited I am!!!! Every year I see the High Schoolers leave and they are so happy and ready for what God has to do in their lives, and then they come back and share their stories of how much he truly does move us, and how blessed we are! I have wanted to go and now that I am a freshman I CAN!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!!!!!!!!! :)

-Kayla Alsobrook

Well there we go! Lots of first-timers on this trip with us. Let's pray that God will move and we can let Him. After all, the theme is "Fill in the Blank." So let's clear our slates and let God write His story.

In Love,

New Covenant Student Minstries

Spring Break Mission 2010

2010-03-10T08:01:00.000-08:00

This year our Student Ministry (High School) will be heading to Montgomery, AL for Spring Break to serve a local ministry there, Common Ground Montgomery, www.cgmal.org. We will be keeping a journal of our time away from Edmond right here on this blog - so you can join us in this experience. And so you can pray for us by name, our team members are:

Tracy Alberty, Katy Allen, Kayla Alsobrook, Lindsey Belcher, Claire Belden, Kelsey Belden, Kylie Brown, Lauren Bruno, Travis Bruno, Paul Bruns, Jeff Bull, Debbie Conrady, Jon Cunningham, Melanie Darter, Carly Dougherty, Summer Flores, Eric Gifford, Ava Heard, Trae Hiett, John Hollon, Kathryn Hook, Emily Jedlicka, Jamie Jekel, Maddy Junk, Justin Lyons, Maci Majors, Colin McCartney, Cari Miles, Megan Montgomery, Lee Nguyen, Micah Parsons, Zach Peterson, Brayden Prough, Kaleb Prough, Griffen Radford, Kelly Raines, Mandy Redinger, Kristie Rodriguez, Emily Smith, Sami Strong, Ryan Thomas, Alex Wileman, Haley Wilson, Hannah Wilson.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

2009-03-25T17:49:00.000-07:00

Comin' Home

2009-03-21T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! So sorry we haven't updated in a while. These last few days have been hectic! But I'm happy to say we are all on our way back now. Yesterday, we made our way to Memphis and spent the afternoon in the Memphis Zoo! So many great animals and fun. After dinner in the mall, we spent the night at Christ UMC. What a wonderful blessing they were to let us stay there. Anyways, we packed up and headed out this morning at 7:30. Now, we're on the road home! We hope to see you soon.

Here is a testimony of the week from one of our seniors, Isaac Roman:

I’ve been shown many things about depending on God. Not just this last week, but over the last month. I was originally going to go to Mexico, not because I really knew that God wanted me to go, but because it had been a spiritually uplifting experience in the past and I expected it would be the same this time. When Trae decided that we weren’t going to go to Mexico I was furious. I saw it as our youth leader being forced to make a foolish decision because parents were making a big deal out of something that was in my mind inconsequential. I should have seen that God was bigger than any conflict we could have amongst ourselves, and that what we ended up doing would be the biggest push for God’s kingdom that we could possibly achieve.
My lesson in humility started about a month ago. The youth leaders passed out these little black booklets with five verses in them. I kind of ignored them for a week or two, but I pulled them out of my pocket one day and figured I might as well read them.

Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you.” Declares the Lord. “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Isaiah 40:31 Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives within me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave himself for me.

I didn’t realize when I first read these verses just how applicable they would be, or how soon I would see it. The first one I had always heard, but had never really planned on needing to remember. I figured I knew what God had planned for me, so I might as well do what I was planning on cause God and I were always on the same page. I came to realize that God’s plans give me better experiences, more joy, and better relationships with those I love. We got to Kentucky and it was at once evident that God had prepared this place for our arrival. The people there were so supportive of their churches, because the churches were so supportive of the community. Everybody we talked to spent time at the church even if they weren’t believers. They swam at one, ate lunch at the soup kitchen at another, or played in the basketball league at a third. The fact that God had done so much before we had even gotten there made it immediately obvious that God had wanted us here from the start.

The second verse became more and more loud in my understanding of it’s importance as the week went on. We were assigned prayer partners the day we left, and every day we would spend time with our prayer buddy talking about what we were struggling with, and what we felt good about. Not just stuff about this week but everything in our lives. I was lucky to I know that everything I shared with her, she prayed for throughout the day. The fact that there was someone I could talk to about my troubles made the whole week so easy. All of my burdens were shared with Michelle and the Lord, and with all of us carrying it the weight was as minimal as could be. Knowing that someone was lifting up my cares in prayer helped me to not worry, to not feel stress, and to focus on more positive things.

One of the things I was struggling with was patience, and this is where the third verse comes into play. The first day or two we were working fairly hard, but I would see people who weren’t as skilled at a certain job doing that job, and taking longer than needed to be taken. It bothered me that we weren’t working in the most efficient way possible because I assumed the point of the trip was to help as many people as possible. I came to realize that doing the work wasn’t as important as loving the people. The fact that my friends were having a great time doing the work was much more impacting than if we’d all sullenly done twice as much. Waiting on the Lord allowed me to be happier, and to enjoy the fellowship of my friends, and the people we befriended from the community.

The fourth verse is probably the most well known verse in the entire bible. It’s quoted more than any other verse in the world, and still people don’t understand it’s power. The love a father has for his son is one of the most powerful loves in the world. The fact that God would give his son for us is a testament to his love for each individual on this planet. The saying “he thinks the world of you” is so applicable in this situation because God made the world, and knows exactly how much that means. The fact that Jesus would die for us is incredible. The fact that he would take the punishment for each and every sin that we commit is a devotion that none of us will ever understand. The story of God’s love for us is the most incredible story in the world, and we tend to glance over it because we hear it so often. I pray that in the future you would think about what that verse really meant, and how much love God lavishes on you every day.

The fifth verse is definitely my favorite. It was the most challenging, the most difficult, the most frustrating of all the verses, but it also comes with the biggest boost in faith, in love for God, and in love for others. This week I saw every one of the kids in this youth group living by faith in the Son of God. I saw hundreds of people impacted by these strange kids from Oklahoma who spent money to come clean up their yards, I heard stories of how the people we were helping had impacted us, and I saw the group as a whole become closer than any other friends I’ve seen. We lived an incredible story and with the help of our Lord were able to bring joy to hundreds of people we never even saw. We gave them hope for the future, faith in the christians of the community, and love for the forgotten of their people. We shared our story with all those people, and they shared it with their friends and family across the nation.

The strength of Satan is beaten by the blood of the Lamb and the power of our testimony. This is me sharing my testimony with you, now go share your testimonies with the world.

UPDATE: Jessie Boone's condition is slowly increasing. The pressure in her brain has been low and stable, but she is still fairly sedated. They are easing her off of sedatives and keeping a close eye on the pressure. It's still a journey and a waiting game. If there are some of you who want to keep better updated, you can join this facebook group where Jessie's mother is posting daily updates to her condition. Even if you don't have a facebook, You can still read the updates on that link. So keep her and her family in your prayers!

Pampering the Body AND Spirit

2009-03-18T20:22:00.000-07:00

This is Lexy Diaz and i am a Senior.

Today Wednesday the 18th i had the opportunity to work at a house, at the soup kitchen, at the nursing home and i got the wonderful opportunity to speak with the fellow seniors to a local youth group about missions. It was incredible to see how us worshiping at the soup kitchen brought so much hope and joy and love of Christ to the people's faces. I think at first some of the people were a little annoyed and/or weirded out but as we went on and on i got to see God's beautiful face among the faces of the community. In that i feel as though i got closer to God by just listening to the lost, broken heart and the people that have given up hope.
At the nursing home it was so great to speak with the elderly women and be a listening ear. These women were so "boonchie" in other words so precious and cute:) They would just sit and try to be very still and try not to mess up their nail polish. There were different stations that we rolled them to; the first was a relaxing back rub, next was the facial, and last was the nail painting station.
When i went to speak to the youth group it was so wonderful to kinda share what was on my heart about missions and it was so great to hear what was on other people's hearts. While we were talking i dont know if the kids were actually taking what we were saying and really thinking through it to apply it to them but even if they werent i think that God so till placed us there to plant a seed about missions on the heart.
I just think it was wonderful to see God in many different way today and it is so great to was our youth group grow together as a body of Christ.

This is Arielle!

I have had a blast on this trip! It is my first mission trip and I was so excited to go to Mexico, but I am even more glad that we went to Paducah, KY. Today we got to switch teams and work with different people. I have come to know our youth group and the hearts that they all have for missions and for Jesus. I have watched them at the Soup Kitchen and I am always amazed at how they can interact with people and make a connection in a few short moments. The people that we talk to aren't always the cleanest or the nicest people we have ever met, but that never matters to anyone and they push aside their inhibitions and get to know the people in the time that they have together. They make people feel special and they are a breath of fresh air to this community. They are all unique and I have loved getting to know them and see them work with others in this community.

UPDATE: The student from Church of the Servant, Jessie Boone, is still in ICU at the hospital, and her options are slimming. Please keep her in your prayers. The doctors have given her body about a 4-6 day window to show signs of recovery, as swelling in her brain keeps fluctuating. God is faithful and will work through all this. Let's keep lifting her and her family up.

What a Day!

2009-03-17T16:38:00.000-07:00

Hi this is Jason Berry!!! I am a Freshman from North and today i was on the street ministry team.

OK, so we start out and we have to go do some houses yards because the soup kitchen doesn't open until around 11:00. We got to this house and a tree was about to fall and it was right next to the house so Mr. Bruno got the long reach chainsaw and between me Issac and Mr. Bruno we cut the tree back to keep it off the house, it was really cool because I got to use the chainsaw and the pole saw. Afterwards we went off to the soup kitchen I tried to get a job serving food but they were all taken when I got there. So that meant that i had to talk to the patrons and socialize. ( not really my forte) So we are just chatting with these people and these two ladies (one of whom we had helped the day before) start giving our girls advise. Then we went off to the nursing home and socialized with the residents. The old people are so nice!!! We talked with them and some would just trail off into silence while others where absolutely sure what they were going to do. One lady was determined to move to Oklahoma and get a medium sized house and all this other stuff. We also chatted with alzheimers patients. Mary Dell Dean was with me and she told me that i did quite well in that every time they asked if we were from Kentucky I responded as if they had never asked me that before at all. But after all there was just no way you could be mean to these people they were just so sweet!!!

Hi this is Claire Belden and Sami Strong and we're juniors : )
This is Claire. Yesterday was an absolutely amazing day... and it just keeps getting better and better. God is completely opening my eyes to the world around me and is giving me work like I have never had before. It is so fulfilling when we finish each project and then get to talk with the homeowners. You can just see the light of God pouring out of their hearts with much thanks for the work we have done for them. Our group worked on three houses today. The first one we went to we meet this pretty cool guy named Kraig. He told us about his life. Kraig is probably a middle aged man who has a wife and two kids. Although he appeared to be strong and capable like any other his age, he wasn't. He told us that about eight years ago he was cleaning out his hand gun when he accidentally dropped it on the floor and something went wrong causing the gun to miss fire. The bullet shot him in the head. He went to the emergency room and they told them that there was internal bleeding around in his head around his brain and that he had about a 1% chance to live... he told us that every church in his little town was praying for him throughout his situation and somehow, someway he pulled through. I consider him a major blessing! The down side to the story is that he has gone through so much therapy that he has long term memory problems and cannot do work like he used to be able to do. This made him pretty sad, but he is just very thankful to be here today and that he can still get out and walk around to do stuff with his family. I consider him a walking angel and a reminder to myself how fragile life is and how we shouldn't take anything for granted. It has encouraged me use everything that I have to its full potential and to live life to the fullest, glorifying God always. That was one of the stories that have really touched me on this trip so far, but I have a feeling that I have quite a few more yet to come. I am having a blast and growing closer to my wonderful church peeps and most of all God! : )
P.S.
I am super excited for tomorrow... because rumor has it that all the girls get to go back to the nursing home tomorrow after some more work in the morning and pamper old little ladies. (like put make-up on them and do their nails and "girlie" stuff like that while the boys are doing more "manly man" work. It will be great!)

This is Sami now. This trip so far has been incredible! Usually I don't like not knowing the plan and what we're doing but this has been really great just not knowing what is to come, and going with the flow of what God has called each of us to do. We've had some really cool encounters with the people of this close knit community weather we helped move branches or talked to them while they at lunch or at a chill time at the nursing home. Everyone has been so open to what we have to offer and so thankful even if its a little job that some would look over. Throughout this trip everyone has gotten so much closer with eachother and God and the fellowship has been amazing. I've loved everything about this so far and I know that it will just be getting even better! : )

Those are just a few stories from this week! God is moving in great ways. But, prayer is still needed. Especially for one student at Church of the Servant in OKC. They took their high school students on a ski trip in Colorado this spring break, and while she was skiing, she crashed hard into a tree and is in the hospital. Please keep her in your prayers, and we will try to update on her status.

Thank you all SO much for taking the time to read and support us while we're here! There are a few highlight photos at the very bottom, so you should check them out.

God is GREAT.

Some Lead In Hopes That Others Will Follow

2009-03-16T14:35:00.001-07:00

Hello!
I am Max Nowakowski, a senior at New Cov. I had some stuff I want to share with anyone and everyone who might be reading this. God has really layed a few key issues on my heart since we left for the trip. Here is one or two of those very thoughts.

Tonight at worship we really had some great discussion. Multiple people were able to share their experiences from today, whatever that might encompass. One re-occurring theme that was traced through everyone's stories and experiences was the people of Paduca, and how they kept asking why a group like us could possibly want to come here of all places to serve. Some people mentioned the change of plans that kept us from going to Mexico, some simply said "Because we love you and we want to serve God." Something that hit me hard was how willing everyone was to just be used in any way possible to help others who can't help themselves. When you were a kid, were you willing to give up your one week off from school to cut down and haul away tree limbs? Either way, this group is special.

To the members and clergy at New Cov, send us out! No matter where you live or what you do, you make excuses: excuses not to go to work, not to spend money, not to run into that unfriendly neighbor. Any way you put it, we make excuses or reasons why we can't serve or be the body of Christ. My call is to you, New Covenant. Sponsor us. Get us there. Come with us, even. This group is JUMPING at the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ. There are so many people out there just like you. We all need time and money. I'm calling you to be different. Donate. Get involved. Do something to be a breath of fresh air to someone, somehow.

Does AC give the benediction by commissioning us to go and be the light of the world? Or does he remind us weekly to get pumped about the sweet music you can expect next Sunday? Did Jesus say to send ministers out? Or to make sure to have a big band for Sunday morning worship? The ball is in YOUR court. What will YOU do with it??

Day Two

2009-03-15T18:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a little update from one of our seniors, Aaron Bruns!

We all arrived in Paducah, Kentucky today. Damage from the ice storm is incredible. Looks like someone just dropped a solid sheet of ice on the whole forest. Can't find any trees that are not damaged. Our job is to clean up the branches in some of the local yards. We had worship with the youth of the church we are staying at. Lots of fun! Looking froward to tomorrow when we start work.

Till next time. :)

On the Road Again

2009-03-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

Well, early this morning, we woke up to breakfast being served to us by the wonderful people at King's Way UMC in Springfield, MO! They were such a blessing in serving us, and they even sent us off with a prayer of blessing during their early church service.

Now, we are on our way to only God knows where! ...and the leaders. But we can pretend. Anyways, we have a long drive ahead and spirits are high, despite the fact that everyone is asleep. So, I'll leave you now with a heart full of excitement and joy. I pray all of you have a blessed day! Stay tuned for more updates. I hope to have some pictures for you, soon!

Trusting in Christ,
-Travis

Going Through the Motions

2009-03-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is Micah. Yesterday we arrived in Springfield, Missouri, and unfortunately, we still have no idea where we're going. To me, this mission trip really isn't an adventure, instead, it is more of a search; a search for identity of how I should be as part of the body of Christ. I have often grown tired of the church and think of it as an institution that just "goes through the motions." I have been to many Christian camps, and it is always the same, go and get spiritually fed and go home but don't change our actions. This is a very common cycle that Christians go through. We are responsible for these generations, but we do not take leadership home. When we finally look out for other peoples' needs and take action for ourselves, we may actually become the church again. That is what I have hopes for this year, for us to come back and be missionaries right where we are. If we do this, we can show the world why we believe in a faithful, benevolent God that never leaves us or forsakes us.

Story: "Destination Unknown"

2009-03-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, March 14, 30 high school students and 15 adult and college-aged leaders from New Covenant will be depart for a week-long mission experience somewhere in the United States. Our mission theme is Story - as all week, we believe that we will be living in God's story - His story for the community we will be serving and His story for us (as a group and individually).

The leadership for the mission experience has decided to keep our destination and travel details a secret from our students. We've done this for a couple of reasons - first, for fun and adventure - second, to encourage our entire team in knowing that God is our Lead.

In the few, short days prior to our departure and all during our experience, this blog will be committed to the story God is writing while we are on mission. Both students and leaders will be sharing their thoughts on the adventure God is writing for us and that we are living for Him.

Won't you journey with us?

New Covenant Students // Love. Pray. Live.

2009-03-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

This blog is dedicated to the Student Ministry at New Covenant Church in Edmond, OK. Hopefully, it will challenge, inspire, invoke thought, create laughs, and point us to the One who has given us the capacity to Love, to Pray, and to Live.