For several years now, we have had the privilege of coming to Calvary Baptist Church in Greer every two years. Since I lived in Greenville for several years and now have a daughter, son-in-law and grandson there, it is always a blessing to come back to the area. We also love working with Pastor Thomas and the folks there at Calvary Christian School. This year was no exception. We’re thankful for all the Lord did in hearts!
A special needs young man attended the Thursday rally night. He didn’t participate in the outdoor competition, but he enjoyed the food and indoor competition. During the invitation, he responded. Simeon, the Marine team captain, began talking with him and did a gospel drawing. The young man was tracking and seemed to understand, but Simeon wanted to make sure not to push him into a decision. He promised to come back the next night and talk. Friday night after the service, Simeon went through the wordless book with him. He clearly understood and prayed on his own to accept Jesus as his Savior!
During the Friday chapel invitation, Julianna, the Seal co-captain, sat down to talk to a girl who responded. Julianna asked her what God was doing in her heart, but she responded “I don’t know…I’m not really sure.” So, Julianna asked her if she knew for sure she was saved. The young lady began to cry and said, “no, I really don’t.” A few minutes later the young lady trust Jesus alone as her Savior.
Matthew, the Ranger team captain, was able to talk with a young man who responded on Wednesday during the chapel invitation. This young man was on a journey of forgiving his dad, who had walked out of his life twice. Matthew was able to counsel him through to full forgiveness with Christ’s strength. He shared Romans 8:28 and this young man decided to trust the Lord to work is situation out for good.
Polly, the Marine co-captain, was able to counsel a girl on Wednesday about her bitterness. Her dad is in her life on and off. This young lady struggled with anger towards her dad for drinking and neglecting his family. She chose to forgive her dad that day.
A young girl responded to the invitation on Thursday evening. Annaleese, the Ranger co-captain, talked with her about her salvation. She mentioned that at her church they believe the way to heaven is Jesus plus baptism. After going through the gospel with a drawing, this young girl realized her split trust and chose to believe fully on Jesus Christ.
A young man attended the war night rally on Wednesday. He enjoyed the competition and stayed for the Bible message, but did not respond to the invitation. The following night, he came again, but this time he responded to the gospel invitation. Mattew was able to talk with him and he settled his salvation that night.
After the Friday evening service was finished, a young girl came up to Polly and asked to talk. She was unsure of her salvation. Polly was able to take her inside the church and go through the gospel again. That night she trusted Jesus as her Savior.
One of the girls from the Christian school invited her friend to come on Friday. During the testimonies and preaching the friend was very engaged. In the invitation, she responded. As she talked with Annaleese, she told her how when she was young, she made a profession of faith, but it was just to please those around her. When she got older, she moved in with her Grandparents who leaned towards atheism. She began to questioned if God was really real. Through the testimonies that night, she had seen that those teens had something that was different, and confessed that she had felt God telling her to go back in the invitation. After talking a little more, this young lady prayed to accept Jesus as her personal Savior. When she was done praying, she looked up with tears and a big smile!
Here are a few testimonies from Friday night:
“My dad takes us out…to spend time with us and he asked me what I was struggling with in my Christian life and I said that I wasn’t able to grow…Today Mr. Van Gelderen taught about how the Christian life is impossible without God and I was trying to grow in my own strength and I realized today that I can’t grow on my own and that I have to rely completely on the Lord…I just need to give my life completely to the Lord.”
“I’ve had some rough moments in my life…I’ve been taken away from my biological family…placed in a new one…and just this past week He helped me get over my bitterness…I’m just very grateful for that.”
“This year, I noticed that I was depending on myself…to get through sin and stuff I was stuck on, and this morning, Pastor said that to get out of the boat and not depend on yourself like Peter and not drown in your struggles, but let Jesus take you by the hand and pull you up. And I did that and so far, I used a tract book that they gave us to do a 20-minute thing every day and it has helped so far.”
“I just wanted to admit, especially to my friends at Calvary that I’m not perfect and I know you guys know that, but one of my besetting sins has been doubting God, doubting my salvation, and that’s 1000% wrong because in the Bible it says, “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And I know that in my life I have called on Jesus’ name to save me and the reality is He’s done it. And I’ve definitely struggled with getting my eyes off myself and on the Lord, but I know for those of you out here, you might not be struggling with doubt…you might be struggling with something else, but it’s very easy to get your eyes on yourself, on what you can do and what you have done and I just want to tell you guys to look to Jesus because He is the author and finisher of our faith and so we can’t do it without Him.”
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