by Craig Blodgett
One of my favorite Spring break trips we do in the High School Ministry is going to Los Angeles for a study on the Church. I remember what an incredible impact it had on the students when we went four years ago and I could not wait to go again this year! I get excited taking students away from home, away from their daily routines, and inviting them to a few days of seeking and growing in God’s truth together.
During the beginning of Spring Break (March 28-31) we traveled all over the Los Angeles area. We attended worship services at four different churches and went on tours of three other churches. We drove 750 miles and slept about eighteen hours total at Bel Air Presbyterian Church. While doing all of this we discussed and studied what the Scriptures say the Church is to be about. My prayer for us was to know the value and significance of the Church and to not take it for granted. My prayer was also that we would also have a better grasp on what we believe and why we believe it. My hope and prayer is that as we better understood the Church, we would invest with full hearts in what God is doing in and through the Church.
A student posted this on the Water’s Edge High School Facebook page at the beginning of the trip: “Tonight we were able to attend Saddleback High School Night in LA! Everyone was there for one reason and that was to worship our Heavenly Father. My whole opinion has changed about that church! They are just like us, they come to worship the Lord and praise and thank him for all he is doing. It wasn't a competition with money or popularity it was to Worship the Lord which just makes it so cool. My opinion has really changed and I was blessed to be there.”
At the end of the experience we had students in small groups write prayers for our church and youth group. I believe these written prayers put into perspective what many of them learned. Here are just a few of prayers that were written:
“We pray for our church and youth group that we will be united in brotherly love for each other through Christ and that the Holy Spirit will come upon us. We pray that we will make disciples and spread God’s love to all.”
“Dear God, we ask you to strengthen and unify us as one. To learn in fellowship and to keep each other accountable by studying your Word and growing in our relationship with you and others. As we continue to love you we show love to others who need you, through acts of love and kindness. May your name be glorified through our church as one so that others will see you through us. Amen.”
“We pray that the Holy Spirit will unite us in Christian fellowship to praise you as one body and be a church that is both ‘sent’ and ‘sending.’ Amen.”
Church is not something we just go to. WE are the church. The church is not to be a country club, supermarket, movie theater or museum. We are the Bride of Christ. We are God’s building and Jesus Christ is our foundation. We are the people of God on mission with Him. May we live in to this reality of being the Church.