A student sat quietly as the team began to disperse after an evening group where one of our leaders shared about their faith. Through tears she shared a difficulty that she was facing at home. When I asked if we could pray for her she said, “I wish I believed like you do that praying to God would make a difference… but I don’t ”. I thanked her for being honest with us. I told her that I’ve seen prayer make a difference in countless areas of my life.
Next to me was another student who had recently responded to the message of Jesus at our Youth for Christ high school conference called Excel this past January. She said, “I want to pray for you too. I’m not that good at praying yet but I still want to do it for you.” The three us prayed in the middle of the Mohave Desert for God to intervene in a concern that was 2,700 miles away in New York. The day after we arrived home this student attended our church where she heard more about this God who loves her and answers prayer.
Our recent spring break rock-climbing trip to Joshua Tree National Park in California was a huge success!
We saw each and every prayer request answered. Our team of students worked together flawlessly and grew closer to one another throughout the trip. Our travel days went extremely well and we couldn’t have asked for better weather. We were protected physically with only a few minor scrapes here and there. We also had a very close surprise encounter with a rather large rattlesnake that ended well. Your prayers were evident!
Our hope was for each student to use this experience as a way to engage, re-engaged or go deeper in his or her journey with Jesus Christ. This hope was realized in many really cool ways.
Another one of our students towards the end of the trip said, “I’m not much for religion but I’d like to hear more about this Jesus you guys keep talking about”. A few of our leaders took him to a local climbing area the day we returned to New York and throughout the day shared further about Jesus and what a relationship with Him looks like.
Through a friendship forged during a rock-climbing trip the doors are opened for meaningful conversations about faith, surrendering, trust and the forgiveness we find in Jesus Christ. Please continue to keep us in prayer as we follow up with each of these students over the next few weeks.
Your prayers and support of this ministry are impacting the lives of kids with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for standing with us!
Steve Prettyman, Director - Shiloh's Edge Wilderness Ventures
(I asked Steve to serve as guest writer this week - thank you, Steve, for sharing the JTree stories!)
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