Corpus Christi 9/19-21/08
Deciding to Stand
by Briauna McKizzie

All of us went through period of our lives where we were first learning how to walk. We hear our mothers and fathers tell embarrassing and over dramatic stories about how we first learned to stand and later walk. Apparently, they were very emotional and inspiring moments. We’d grab a hold of the nearest table or unsuspecting human hand, and pull ourselves up. Then we’d teeter, and we might even fall, but we obviously eventually learned how to stand. While standing, our daddy’s and mommy’s would smile down at us.

We go through the same thing spiritually. We become Christians and at first we are as babies, watching in awe as the big people walk and stand oh so easily. But this is part of the beauty of being in a relationship with Christ, learning how to stand. We all had to learn how to stand for Christ. For some, we fall on faces time after time, and for others it’s as easy as counting to three. Still, it is a something we all must learn to do. And this is something that was taught at the Disciple Now weekend in Corpus Christie in 2008.

Glowing Heart drove into sunny Corpus Christie ready to take on a pretty large group of kids. Again, God surprised us by giving us a group where the number of kids basically equaled the number of Glowing Heart members. Obviously, God really wanted us to teach these kids an important lesson that would be hard to forget. There was definitely a struggle going on in the hearts of many of the kids to be passionate about their faith, and to be willing to share with others what God was doing in their lives. At the start of the weekend they’d talk about countless interesting things like their basketball and drill teams, but when it came to talking about their walk with God many of them ran out of things to say. Yet even though this was a difficult obstacle, it wasn’t one that God could not overcome. Because it was such a small group we were able to impact the kids in a ways that we couldn’t have done as easily if there had of been a larger number of kids. It was definitely a struggle reminding them how important it is to stand up and be active members of God’s kingdom, but it was not a struggle that ended in vain. As always, God answered our prayers and worked in the hearts of the kids. They came to the D-now passive, and hoping that someone else would take the job of leadership that Christ was offering them. They left with the desire to finally stand up and be leaders.

Just like when they were babies, it took some time to learn how to stand. But also, just like when they were babies, when they did learn to stand, they made their Father smile.


Click here to see pictures!