Middle School PreTrip Devotional Packet A NOTE FROM THE YOUTH PASTOR Welcome to the Holland 2018 Pre-Trip Devotional Packet. Each devotional is written by a mission trip participant. It’s so exciting to think that each person going on the trip has already started thinking and praying about the trip (by writing their devotional), and that each of us will be preparing for 26 days leading up to this trip! I expect God to bless this preparation in huge ways! Instructions for using this devotional packet: 1. Read each devotional on the date at the top of each page.* 2. Pray for the person who wrote the devotional. Prayer tips: That God would speak through these devotionals and prepare them for this trip. That this trip would be an encouragement in their spiritual life. That they would connect with God in deep ways during worship. That they would give all of themselves to God in service. That they would be an encouragement to others. That they would see God in other people and tell them that. That they would deepen their relationships with people in our youth group. That they would develop, even more, a caring, compassionate heart for others. That this trip would lead to life change after the trip. That they would have SO much fun. That they would keep a positive attitude and help others to stay positive too. That they would understand God in a new way. That God would speak to them through others. That they would be willing to try new things. That other people would enjoy their company. That they would find times to connect with adult leaders. For safety and good health. That they would be hungry spiritually for God before, during, and after the trip. 3. Text/Email/Message the person who wrote the devotional, letting them know you prayed for them. This can be as simple as saying, “I prayed for you today” or you could write out what you actually prayed for them. (parents, its up to you if you want to text them) *If you get behind in doing these devotionals, don’t quit. Simply catch up. You need to do them all and message everyone before getting in the vans to leave on June 24. If you haven’t done the devotionals and messaged everyone by then, you will have to spend some time alone at the beginning of trip writing out prayers to the people you missed. May 30 Holland PreTrip Devotional ! I finished doing this devotional. ! I prayed for and sent Bryston a message ! I prayed for and sent Dylan a message Bryston VanWyke Instagram: bryston.vanwyk iMessage: [email protected] Fishers of men Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.(Mathew 4:19) Watch “Jesus Calls Peter" From the Saddleback Kids Channel What does it mean to be fishers of men? When Jesus said Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men he was using that as a way to connect with them because they were fishermen and he wanted to say it in terms they would understand. They already knew how to fish by using the proper tools like where to cast their nets. So Jesus took them out and gave them the proper tools and tactics to fish for men. I can relate to this because I understand the world of fishing. On our mission trip we should make it our mission to fish for men. We can do this by be- ing Christlike, showing love and compassion toward people and sharing the word of God with them. Dear God, please be with us on this mission trip. Help give us the tools we need to follow you and be fishers of men. Amen Often times when we catch fish they are killed but when we fish for men we help give them new life. Dylan Lamb Phone: 616-323-4766 Email: [email protected] HOPE Bible Verse: Isaiah 9:7. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Prayer: Dear lord, I pray that we all have a safe but fun trip to holland. I pray that we all grow closer to you. I hope that we are safe. Video: Listen to “Shout to the Lord” by Hillsong May 31 Holland PreTrip Devotional ! I finished doing this devotional. ! I prayed for and sent this person a message Messing Up By: Reagan Davis Email: [email protected] Phone number: (616)856-951 Romans 5:21 New Living Translation (NLT) 21 So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. As middle schoolers this is probably a daily thing as we are dealing with so many different things pulling for our attention and it's easy to fall into the trap of sin and temptation in so many things in our daily lives. God’s love is full of grace. He understands immaturity and knows that there is no real life without him. He knows that if he is patient that people will eventually be faced with the fact that their big dreams are empty if they do not include him. He loves it when people come back to him when they have messed up. He is where we find the love and acceptance we long for when we are at the other side of hopelessness. Song: Tenth Avenue North - Worn (with lyrics) Dear God, thank you that we can come back to you when we’ve sinned. Thank you for forgiving us. Help us to extend the same forgiveness to each other on this trip. June 1 Holland PreTrip Devotional ! I finished doing this devotional. ! I prayed for and sent this person a message Kim Verbrugge (616) 238-2525 [email protected] All in Before our trip to alaska last year we all had to choose a job that we had to perform during or before our trip. Out of the jobs provided I chose to write bible verses for everyone in our youth group. The purpose of my job was to give our group something to reflect upon and carry around with them during the week. I found my task very challenging because I wasn't finding a verse that had the right theme. Nothing was jumping out at me and telling me “SHARE THIS WITH YOUTH GROUP!” That is until I found 1 Peter 4:10-11. It really spoke truth and was an inspiration to me and hopefully others on that trip. So I would like to share that verse with you guys again this year. SCRIPTURE: 1 Peter 4:10-11: Each one of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in all its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus christ. The whole point of our mission trips is to serve God. Sometimes I feel as though this mission gets lost behind all the stresses, anxieties, and thrills of participating in our trips. We all go because we want to have fun and serve God but our heads aren't always “all in.” There are things that will always distract us from staying focused on mission trips. It may be things at home or at work or even things happening on the trip that prevent us from being “all in” for serving god. We all have our own talents and strengths so let's use them to serve our amazing God continuously and wholeheartedly on this trip:)) CHALLENGE: As our time is getting closer to our trip together I challenge you to really engage yourself into these devotions. Don't do them because we HAVE to, but do them because you want to serve God with your whole mind and heart. Put aside distractions before our trip and really dive into the devos so when it comes to our trip, you will be better able to put aside the distractions and be “all in.” PRAY: God, help us to use our gifts to the best of our abilities. Prepare our hearts to be ready for this trip. Help us to set aside all distraction and be “all in.” June 2 Holland PreTrip Devotional ! I finished doing this devotional. ! I prayed for and sent this person a message Abigail Ursiny Abigail [email protected] Salvation John 14:6 “I am the way the truth and the life. No one can come to the father except through me. I think that this verse means that you have to accept Jesus into your heart to go to the God, the father and to live eternally in heaven. I am going to tell you about the time I got saved. I was in second grade in Hiptown, the children’s program at the church I attended. The leaders asked if anyone wanted to ask God into their hearts. On one of those days I felt like it was something I wanted to do so I went up on stage and prayed the prayer. When I was done praying I felt really good and I wanted to do more. That was a very special day for me and my leaders were so proud of me and I was proud of myself to have the courage to go up there in front of everybody and accept Jesus.