When one thinks of Orlando, most folks will think of some well-known vacation destination, but I think of Tabernacle Baptist Church and Heritage Prep School. The Lord has given us many weeks of ministry here over the years with Pastor Markus Secrist, the youth pastor, and Pastor Steve Ware. Each year we are thrilled with all the Lord does. This year we had 116 different teens come to the rally nights, and we are grateful for the Lord’s working.

While out recruiting, Zach, the Ranger team captain, invited a young man after school. He came out all three nights, but met Jesus as his Savior on Wednesday night! Another young man in the Christian school got saved on Thursday night also!

On Monday, Rebekah, the Marine team co-captain, was out recruiting and invited a young man near the middle school. He came out with his brother and another friend and all three got saved! There were also a couple young men riding their bikes to school that Rebekah was able to invite. They came out for each rally night and got saved on Thursday night. 

Stephen, the Seal team captain, was out recruiting with Zeb, a young man who came to help out our team for the week. They met three guys on the street who were interested in coming out to Special Forces. Two of them came for all three nights. One of them said he was Muslim and did not seem to come under conviction at all, but was open to coming back to church events and a Bible study. The other young man responded on Thursday night and got saved! 

A young lady in the Christian school was convicted about her overuse of social media. She was dealing with insecurity and really had some friend struggles. Abi, the Ranger team co-captain, spent some time talking with her. The Lord led her to get rid of her social media, spend time with God, and communicate with her parents about her decision.

One young man in the Christian school responded to God working in his heart and spoke with Jonathan, the Marine team captain. He shared a testimony:

“God gave me strength to tell my parents of an immoral thing I’ve done for years…I’ve watched pornography. And… I was guilty of it and I didn’t like it at all. It made me miserable. And…I’ve told my parents about… two years ago at first and I cried… and God lifted me, but something came up and I got right back into it…but…just today, I told my parents again that I … you know, watch pornography. And…I broke down and…God just lifted me up. And…so I have to say…don’t go [down] the same road and… I hope…this influences you to tell your parents about the things that you’re hiding because if you’re hiding, the more guilt you take, the deeper you go.”

Another young lady struggled with anxiety and depression because her parents said she couldn’t do anything right. She also struggled with bitterness and fear of telling people what she was really going through. Getting up to give a testimony on Friday was a huge step, and she also decided to take the 20-minute challenge of prayer: 

“I didn’t think that any of the problems I did have were that big of a deal or that I would need the Lord to help me with it. But, I… I have really, really bad anxiety at times — especially social anxiety….after speaking to…the Seals co-captain Janna, today, she helped me realize that I don’t have to be scared of meeting new people or being in new areas because the Lord will be with me every step of the way….She helped me realize that being up here is kicking Satan in the face, kicking my anxiety in the face, and reaching out towards the Lord and asking Him for help.” 

Stephen was able to counsel a young man who had leadership in the school, but was bound by fear of man. He had gone through a difficult event and due to unhealed hurt, he had turned to sin. He was tired of his sin, and Stephen pointed him to John 8:36, “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” He definitely got to a breakthrough point in his own life and had an attitude change. However, he let the fear of man keep him in his seat during the testimony service on Friday night. After a message on the fear of man, the invitation was an opportunity to share a testimony if a young person hadn’t obeyed God the first time around. He shared: 

“This week…God talked to me about sin…sin I been struggling with for a long time…I learned that…over the past months I’ve been trying to get over this sin by myself but I can’t; I need God and I can’t do anything without Him…I learned this week I have to submit myself to Him…so I can do His will for my life.” 

Below is another testimony from a young person who got saved: 

“I’ve done stuff that I shouldn’t have done, and I asked God for forgiveness and He forgave me….I’ve stolen stuff from them like I shouldn’t have and I just…did stuff I shouldn’t. And the Lord just saved me and forgave me of what I’ve done.”