Happy New Year to all!  Well, ReFuel 2016 is in the books at Westminster Catawba Christian School.  The Upper School students and faculty/staff were greatly blessed to have Jason Malone share the Word of God with us during our version of a mid-year spiritual emphasis week.  This, coupled with the music led by Brandon Gray and Grayson Cato, was a great blessing to all who were able to attend.  As I think back on the week, allow me to share a few thoughts…

First, I was particularly blessed with the simple message of the gospel to FOLLOW JESUS!  I firmly believe that every single one of the 215 students who listened to Pastor Malone had been told to follow Jesus before.  But, some heard it for the first time this week.  As Luke says in Acts 2:47b, “And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.”  That was true at WCCS this week!  PRAISE GOD!

Second, I was thankful that Pastor Malone and the rest of those leading ReFuel this week really “get” what Christian education is all about.  They understood that they were continuing to teach what was being taught earlier in the year in the classrooms and on the fields and courts and stages – and that this would not be the last time that the students were encouraged to “follow Jesus.”  They did an outstanding job at connecting those who were truly impacted by the gospel with their teachers, pastors, and parents.  (Note – from one who has been a part of lots of spiritual emphasis weeks, this was a welcome blessing!)  The students went right from a challenging message to class or lunch – where they were forced to live it out immediately, and where they had access to many if questions arose.  From talking to the teachers, this was also a great blessing for them as they had opportunity to follow up on the messages in class throughout the week.

Third, I was reminded of students impacted by this kind of week before, and it excited me for the future.  I will never forget sitting in one of these gatherings about fifteen years ago when a young man (HS junior) began crying and rushed out of the room.  I followed him.  I will never forget his words.  He has recently lost a very close grandfather and, through tears, said that his life would not make his granddaddy happy.  His grandfather followed Jesus and this guy wanted to do the same.  We talked for a while, prayed together, and he became a Jesus-follower that day.  While I don’t know all of the stories of the students (and others) who heard Pastor Malone this week, I am absolutely convinced that some will look back – even 15 years from now – and say that they, too, became Jesus-followers this week!

Lastly, I am very aware that it takes many hands (and hearts!) to pull off this kind of week.  I am so thankful for our speaker and musicians mentioned above.  I am very thankful for Mr. Nathan Aylestock and Dr. John Furrow who coordinated much of the week.  I appreciate Mr. Scott Berg and Mr. Charles Hedrick, as well as quite a few student council members, who were responsible for setup and take down each day.  There were students running sound, taking pictures, and pulling all kinds of details together.  Many are to be thanked – even more than I have mentioned.  BUT, God is to be praised!  He is the One who, even as Pastor Malone reminded us this week, sovereignly worked all of the details together so that the students and teachers that HE wanted to be here were here.  He was the One softening the hearts of those who are now following Jesus for the first time – as well as those who have a renewed sense of what this really means.  He was the One who sent His Son with the message to FOLLOW ME!  He is the One who “added to the number” this week!