We are so grateful for the way you continue to invest in the lives of students here in Tuscaloosa. Thanks to your generosity and prayers, we were able to take 27 middle school students on a weekend retreat to Camp Tuscoba in the
middle of April, and what a powerful time it was. Throughout our time together, the students experienced meaningful
connections through intense competition, inspiring talks, and honest conversations. More importantly, they were invited into deeper discussions about what it truly looks like to follow Jesus in their everyday lives. Covering topics on Christian community, quiet/prayer time, reading the Bible, and worship, students were encouraged to see how faith can become a real and daily part of their lives. Many opened up about personal struggles and began asking thoughtful questions about faith. And for some of these students, this was for the very first time. One of the most impactful moments came on Sunday morning. After spending part of the weekend teaching the students a worship song they would hear at church, we brought them to a local church service. As soon as the song began, their faces lit up. Students who had never stepped foot in a church, or who had carried past negative experiences, were suddenly engaged and singing joyfully. It was a beautiful picture of what this ministry strives to accomplish: opening the door for students to experience the love of Jesus in a way that meets them right where they are.
We also saw incredible movement in the hearts of students who are self-proclaimed atheists or had wrestled deeply with faith. Over the course of the weekend, leaders had hard conversations as they began to lean in to what the Gospel offers. By the end of the retreat, several students said “yes” to a relationship with Jesus. We are now walking alongside them as they take their next steps in faith, helping them grow and stay connected. And all of this happened in just two days. As we look ahead to July, we are preparing to send students to a full week of summer camp. If God can move this
powerfully in a weekend, we can only imagine what He will do in an entire week set apart for Him. If you feel led
to support this next step, your gift will directly help send students to camp and continue creating spaces where they can encounter Jesus in life-changing ways. More than anything, we ask for your continued prayers for the sake of our students, their journeys, and the work still to come.
In Christ,
Mike Green