Wake Forest

We are currently stationed at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It has been quite a week these first few days, but it seems like every week this summer has gone by faster than the one before. It literally feels like we just arrived on campus yesterday and we have been here since Saturday night.

Last week, in New Hampshire, we had such a great group of students. They were so eager to soak up as much knowledge and understanding as they could. Our staff was so tired at the end of that week because they had given so much to those students. The other amazing part about last week was that it was the toughest camp logistically in over three years. We had to change our meeting room three or four times as the facility we were on, really did not have a true room big enough to hold us all. At one point we were in four different meeting rooms in the same day. We were concerned that the students would be disheartened and disconnected from camp because of all of these changes, but 50% of them signed up to come back next year!!! It was really amazing to see and simply remember that it is nothing that we do but that it is all God's hand. That allowed us to leave New Hampshire on a very encouraging note.

This week it has been nice to be on a campus with air conditioning and one that has a true meeting room that can fit us all. Yesterday we went out witnessing in downtown Winston-Salem and it was probably the most encouraging witnessing time we have experienced with Worldview Academy. The area in which we went to held the bus station hub of Winston-Salem. We really did not have to go anywhere, people kept coming in and out and then new people who we could talk to would come in on new buses. It was amazing!! While we were out there, Michael was walking with our associate camp director watching the students when a police officer approached them. He then asked if they were in charge of all of these students and they said "yes". He then went on to tell them that he was a Christian and was very encouraged to see what we were doing out here with all of these students, and he wanted to make sure that we were simply engaging in conversations and not pushing anything on people. They smiled and reassured the police officer that we were simply getting in to conversations. He then thanked us and encouraged us and then he left.

Not two minutes after the police officer left, an older man came up to Michael, his name was Joe.

Joe: What did that police officer say to you? Is he making you guys leave the bus station?

Michael: No, he simply wanted to make sure that we were just talking with people and not being aggresive or making others feel threatened by us.

Joe: That's good because if they were going to try and kick you guys out I was going to have to get pretty upset. Just last week they kicked a gentleman out for passing out tracks down here.

Joe: You are with Worldview Academy aren't you?

Michael: I am, who are you?

Joe: I am a pastor here in the area. I come down here every week to witness to people. I have a booth set up right over there (across the street) where I sell sodas and waters to people and I tell them about Christ and the sacrifice He has made. I have been down here the last three years you guys have come down here to witness and I look forward to you guys coming each year!!!! I saw your first bus roll up and I looked over at my buddy and said, 'there they are, that is Worldview Academy'. Last year, a couple of your students approached me while I was selling sodas and I went along with them for a few minutes, knowing that this was a training for them so that they can go back to their own neighborhoods and witness to those people, but after ten minutes or so I let them know who I was. I got to talking with one of the girls in the group and she told me that her father was not a Christian, and man, I have been praying for her father all year long, and I was just wondering how he is doing!!!!

How encouraging is that!!! Here is a pastor who looked forward to us coming downtown each year, and he is genuinely concerned for our students while they are out there. It was so encouraging, not just to our staff but also our students. Willy then opened up his booth to us so that for $1 every member in their group could get something to drink, and ice cold soda or water. That was very helpful because it was in the nineties yesterday! So, many of our groups got a chance to go over and talk with him and there were many who came back so encouraged, not just because of their experience witnessing, but because of Joe and his support!! It was an awesome day!!!! Then, to top all of that off, when we came back to campus and had our debrief, we realized that there were over 15 people that trusted Christ while we were out witnessing!!!!!

Please pray for these people, that God would surround them with brothers and sisters in Christ who would encourage them and build them up. Also, please pray that god would continue to provide us with strength as we are rounding the final bend of the summer. Thank you for all of your prayers and support so far this summer! We are so thankful!!!

For Christ's Glory,

Michael & Angela