A text message in the middle of the night...

Luis' text message read this: "What happens if I stop believing in God?"

He went on to explain how he was afraid of going to hell, so that's why he continued believing in God. But God is supposed to bring peace and comfort, right? All he felt was fear. Fear of messing up. Fear of sinning. And he didn't want to keep living in that fear.

So at 12:05am I wrote back: "If the god you believe in only makes you afraid, maybe you should stop believing in him."

Christian School Crisis

The next day I found *Luis during one of his breaks between classes and we sat and talked for a while. He opened up and told me about some of his sin struggles. They were like burdens he carried. He felt like it was unfair for God to condemn him for the sins he was born with. He felt scared God would send him to hell because of his sin.

Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? — Romans 7:24 (ESV)

If you asked 90% of our students to share the Gospel with you, I bet they could all tell you the whole story. They could tell you that Jesus died for their sins so they could go to heaven. But there's a slight issue that I'm beginning to notice more and more. Their understanding of the Gospel doesn't go much deeper than that. And maybe that's our fault.

They've heard the substance of the Gospel over and over and over again throughout the years—praise the Lord—but a lot of them are still missing the heart.

They believe it because they have to. Their school is Christian, their churches are Christian, their friends are Christians, and their families are Christians. They don't really have a choice. But it's one thing to say "I believe in Jesus" and another to know Him.

But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” — Matthew 9:13 (NIV)

To please rather than appease.

It's crazy how much fear there is in the hearts of many of our students. Students like Luis. In last month's newsletter I wrote: "For many of them they don't need evangelism anymore, they need discipleship." I think this is a key step in their faith that I can help guide them through. They need to step from a belief in God based only out of fear to a faith in Him founded in love.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. — 1 John 4:18 (NASB1995)

Our students feel like they have to obey in order to appease their culture, their school, their parents, and God Himself. I was the same way when I was their age. What I'm growing to understand is that once you're in Christ, there's no more wrath to appease—only a Heavenly Father to please. It's simple, really:

We love, because He first loved us. — 1 John 4:19 (NASB)

March Highlights

God's goodness showed itself in new ways this past month. I'm so grateful that He's showing me more of who He is and how I can better serve the people around me!

Summer Trip

I haven't nailed down exact dates yet, but I plan to come back to the States from early June to mid July! Hope to see you then!

*Note: This student's name isn't actually Luis, but that's what I call him in my newsletters. You might remember him from this prayer request I sent a while back!