What is your storyline?
It was almost a year ago that I heard about ReFuel for the first time. I came to visit WCCS on a cold morning in February to have my first meet-and-greet with WCCS parents and to speak in the Upper School chapel. It was in those few minutes before chapel that a few of the parents commented on the impact that ReFuel 2014 had on their children. I asked a few follow-up questions, trying to picture it in my mind. As we have just wrapped up ReFuel 2015, I can say that the picture that I had formed was close, but, the real thing was even better.
For those unaware, ReFuel2015 is the Westminster Catawba Christian School version of a mid-year spiritual emphasis week on the upper school campus. A schedule is set to allow for an extended chapel time each day of the week, where we are blessed to have an out-of-town band and speaker share with our school community. The music was led by Waylove, a very talented band from Columbia, SC, that has been very effective at leading us in worship while allowing us to focus on the ministry of the Word. The speaker was Jim Thompson, from Greenville, SC, who shared the STORY of the Word of God from the Scriptures in a way that allowed all of us to see our part in the storyline.
ReFuel 2015 Band – Waylove
I have been a part of many different versions of these spiritual emphasis weeks and, in many ways, this week has been similar. But, ReFuel2015 has had a remarkable depth to it, especially since the audience included 6th through 12th graders. The music was wonderful, but the words sung were even more powerful. The speaker was energetic and engaging, but didn’t short-change the students with a surface message. He dug deep. He met us (the students, teachers, administrators) where we were and challenged us to not only understand the storyline of God’s Kingdom, but to see our place in it. He shared that the Bible is a kingdom story that is moved along by God’s covenant promises with a “happy ending” because of the gospel. We were reminded that we get to be a part of God’s story by grace alone. We were challenged to live rightly in the story as we walk in the truth (a point I particularly enjoyed!). Then, we wrapped up the week with a strong message about the end of the story – and the biblical hope that is sure.
Speaker – Jim Thompson
As we listened to the Friday message about the “happy ending” to God’s story of His kingdom, I couldn’t help but think about the current events in our world. As we met, the city of Paris is reeling from news of death and destruction at the hands of a few men. Then, even during our meeting, a second hostage situation began to unfold in France. Closer to home, newspaper headlines scream of the effects of sin on the creation that God called “good”. Even within our midst, as Jim Thompson spoke of the death of his grandmother, I looked around the gym at those whose lives had recently been altered by the death of loved ones. I long for the sure hope of a new heaven and new earth as seen in Revelation 21, where death shall be no more!
“In You there is life,
In You there’s no death,
In You there is purpose so I give you my hands”
(lyrics from “More Than”)
I praise God that He brought Jim Thompson and Waylove to WCCS this week (and thank Mr. Aylestock and Mrs. Christopher and the rest for making it happen). I believe that God used them to alter the storylines of many this week and that the new heaven and new earth will have a few more inhabitants. I also believe that many will walk differently after this week and, I pray, will do so the rest of their lives. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 4)