When all you do is introduce...

I was expecting extraordinary memories and life change.

One of my most favorite things to do is to listen to the testimonies of students after they return from a missions trip.  We usually set aside a day in which we all can sit and hear all their stories both funny and serious.

Upon initial inspection during this story-telling time, the team was weary and…disappointed.  Not what you expect after a missions trip.

They had ventured 9 1/2 hours north to Hungry Horse, Montana to help at Indian Youth Camp.  This is a camp in which Native American youth from 3rd grade and up are bussed in from all over Montana.

As we dug into their stories, we realized their weariness came from working with children and youth that were neurodivergent, hyper, a bit rebellious, night owls, fearful, and mostly just far from God.

They felt as if they didn’t make the difference they wanted to.  They had grand dreams of salvations and deep connection.

What they received were small babylike steps toward Jesus.

As I listened, I realized that these students had been a part of an introduction not a commitment. They were the ones that introduced these children and youth to Jesus.

At night when the kids were filled with fear that there were demons in the room and our students explained that Jesus was more powerful and led them in prayer to demand the demons leave them alone…they introduced them to Jesus.

During devotional time when circled together on the floor and our students taught them how to pray…they introduced them to Jesus.

When our students laughed at their antics and patiently stopped fights from escalating…they introduced them to Jesus.

When one of our students got a glimpse of the future music ministry of a boy and told him about it confirming that the boy should say yes to his pastor’s request to help with worship…they introduced them to Jesus.

When they explained for the first time who Jesus was to those who had not heard of him…they introduced them to Jesus.

When one young man decided he wanted to learn to read the Bible and our student got his phone number so they could talk weekly and study together…they introduced them to Jesus.

And through this storytelling time, the disappointment lifted and they realized that instead of making no difference at all…they made the biggest difference of all.  I have a feeling that they will see some familiar faces in Heaven of their new Native American friends.

As expected…extraordinary memories and life change.