We are grateful and amazed at all God did during the week we spent at Malvern partnering with Gospel Light Baptist Church and Christian Academy. God answered so many specific prayers, and we saw God work in so many ways. God truly did above and beyond what we could ask or think! 

Annaleese was recruiting with a few of the girls from the Christian School and met a girl at the local boys and girls club. The girl was really excited about the event, and promised to ask her mom if she could attend. Her mom ended up dropping her off at the rally about an hour early, and the girl from the Christian school, who had helped invite her, was able to connect with her in the time leading up to the competitions. The girl responded in the first invitation and, with tears, settled her salvation. The girl from the Christian school was able to witness her salvation firsthand, and see what God wanted to do through her. She later testified how God had changed her life through seeing someone, that she had a part in inviting, come and receive Christ.   

A young man from the academy, who was on the Marine Team gave a testimony on Friday about how God convicted him about secret sin, and some things he had been hiding from his parents. Here is his testimony he gave on Friday:

“God really convicted me, and convinced me that I needed to tell my parents, but I was afraid. It was as if Satan was telling me that if I told my parents they would not love me. I prayed that God would give me the courage to talk to my parents about it, and He did. I told my parents about it, and they showed love to me and helped me deal with it.” 

A young man from the community who was part of the Seal Team testified how he had stopped going to church many years earlier, and had battled depression all throughout his teenage years. He said that “something in his heart told him to go to Walmart” on the night he was recruited, and ended up coming because of the invite from his team captain, Austin. He received Christ on the first rally night, and later testified that,

“I was saved, and now I have been able to sleep again.” 

Matthew, the Marine team captain, was recruiting with a few young men from the Christian School, and invited a group of guys who were out skateboarding in the neighborhood. They seemed excited about the event, and promised to ask their parents if they could attend. Matthew told the young men who were recruiting with him to pray specifically that they would come to the rally the next day. They showed up on Wednesday, and all three responded during the invitation and accepted Christ as their Savior. The young men from the school were super excited to see how God used their efforts during the recruiting time. 

A young lady from the church testified that God spoke to her during the chapel message on bitterness, and she realized that she was harboring bitterness and anger towards some people in her life. She responded to what God was telling her to do, and Annaleese was able to help her realize that she had to give it over to God. She testified that she has seen God help in these areas this week.  

“Every morning since, when I wake up, I pray and ask God ‘please help me not to be angry at those people and not be bitter at them.’” 

A young man from the academy, who was part of the Marine Team testified that during the chapel service, the verse from I John 1:9 about confessing our sin really hit home. He testified that he thought, “Oh no, he is talking to me here!” He realized there was sin that He had been hiding from his parents, and went out immediately following chapel and confessed the things that he had been hiding from them. 

A young lady from the community testified for many years she and her parents had been in and out of church. This led to a very dysfunctional home life, and her parents ended up separating when she was nine. She said because of this she felt like she did not have any relationship with God. However, she came to the evening rally and testified, “last night I was saved!” She hopes that soon her parents and her can begin attending Gospel Light Baptist. 

A young man from the academy responded to the chapel message on hidden sin and was counseled by Luke, the Ranger captain. He relayed that due to a very dysfunctional family situation, he had become bitter at his parents, and began to do things behind their backs. He was able to give his situation over to God, and he later testified that he was going to do his best to not hide things from those who had the right to know.  

A young lady testified on Friday that because of a brother moving out, she felt abandoned. This led to depression, and she began to doubt that she was loved. She shared how that because of her depression, she began to try to starve herself. However, God worked in her heart and she brought a friend to the rally who ended up getting saved. She testified that she was able to let go of her bitterness and give it over to the Lord:

“I saw the Lord work in my friend’s heart, and it showed me that God had not forgotten, and that people still cared.”

A young man from the Marine Team testified that he was really convicted about the need for accountability in his life. He said that although he does not have a viewing problem, he realized that his thoughts were not always under control. He downloaded the Cord App this week, and set up some accountability partners to help keep him accountable on a daily basis. He testified on Friday:

“It has been a huge encouragement to me. It really helps me focus on what I am thinking on throughout my day.”