Are you reflecting God’s glory?

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

When we are at the right place at the right time, God connects and reconnects. 

Attending the 25th anniversary convention of Youth for Christ International in Winona Lake Indiana, we took carloads of teenagers from TTT. At the back of the Billy Sunday Tabernacle, we met Pat Jenney from Lawrenceville, Illinois, who had brought a group of teenagers. We connected and invited Pat’s daughter Holly to a TTT event. Holly in turn invited a teenage friend from Olney, Cindy Pantle. Although a student youth leader in her denomination, when Cindy heard the Gospel, she first thought, “I don’t need this. I’m already okay.” But when she heard God’s ABCs spelled out in scripture: Admit you’ve sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23); Believe on Christ (John 3:16); Confess Christ publicly (Romans 10:9-10); Cindy immediately made the decision to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ,” and was “born again.“ 

Back in Lawrenceville that fall, Holly’s parents opened their home for a TTT Youth for Christ club to meet each week. And Cindy likewise persuaded her parents to open their home for a weekly TTT Youth for Christ club. 

TTT put together a “Burger Bash” near TTT’s headquarters on the outskirts of Evansville, and the two girls decided to compete to see whether more would come from Lawrenceville or Olney for free hamburgers. 

They personified the chorus “Win Them One by One”:  “So you bring the one next to you, and I’ll bring the one next to me; in all kinds of weather, we’ll all work together, and see what can be done; if you’ll bring the one next to you, and I bring the one next to me, in no time at all we’ll have them all; so win them, win them, one by one.” 

It was a virtual tie, with each bringing approximately 50 from their schools to TTT’s Burger Bash. 

Among those invited was Cindy’s sister Susan, who made the decision to personally “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Fast forward: following high school, Susan attended Wheaton College, got involved in tennis, and later affiliated with the American Bible Society evangelism outreach at the Olympics, sharing the Gospel and winning many to Christ. 

During their high school days, both Holly and Cindy continued their involvement with TTT Christian Youth Ministries, leading Bible clubs in their hometowns and attending TTT Saturday night events week after week. Cindy spearheaded a campaign to buy a used school bus, and recruited a qualified Christian driver, bringing students from Olney, Lawrenceville, and Mt. Carmel every Saturday night for three years. Over 100 teenagers from Olney believed on Christ.

Between July 8 and August 9, the TTT team took Fair Share to nine county fairs and street festivals, including Lawrence County (near Sumner), Richland County (Olney), and Wabash County (Mt. Carmel). At the Olney fair, several adults told us they had been invited to TTT as teenagers by Cindy and others. 

We praise the Lord for the ways He worked in hearts and lives during Fair Share, and give Him all the glory as we share this “good report” – 5 weeks, 9 counties, 3,100+ miles traveled; 18 team members sharing at fairs and helping behind the scenes; hundreds praying and dozens providing financial and other resources; multiple connections and reconnections with TTT alumni, pastors, youth leaders, and others; Thousands saw the “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” message on tent banners; 2,107 bottles of water were distributed in Jesus’ name; 2,114 copies of God’s ABCs were shared; 88 Bibles were given to youth and adults; 131 participated in surveys about teenagers, hearing the Gospel one-on-one; 62 teenagers and preteens made the personal decision to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Saturday, September 7 is to again be “Burger Bash” at TTT, with free hamburgers for all who participate in person. In addition to the weekly programming geared to ages 10-19, the first Saturday monthly also includes “Tiger Cub” programming for kids ages 6-9 in a separate area. The thrust toward this special Saturday night is “Mustard Seed Faith.” 

We are praying that teenagers and preteens, pastors and youth workers, and other caring adults will invite many students to attend in person, where they will hear the Gospel and an invitation to personally “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Will you reflect God’s glory, informing, inviting and bringing 10-19 year-olds to Burger Bash? Wherever you are, pray that God’s glory will continue to be reflected.

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