Last week, mission band NXT CHAPTR were in a school in Stockton sharing their gospel-packed lessons on mental health and resilience as part of the Still Standing tour with teenagers.
After hearing the lesson, one lad, Archie, went to speak to team member James at lunchtime and asked him, ‘How do you believe God is real?’
Archie shared that he used to be a Christian, but had prayed for a long time for something to happen and it hadn’t happened, so he had lost his faith. James was able to share some of his story with Archie as he’d questioned the same thing when he was younger and said that he learnt a lot from talking to other people who had a faith.
James asked Archie how he felt after hearing the stories in the lesson today and he said he’d got very emotional. James encouraged him that there is a plan and a purpose for his life and that it wasn’t a coincidence that he was in the room to hear those stories today. James also encouraged him to connect with a local church and youth group, and to follow the bands on social media so he could keep seeing uplifting gospel-centred content.
Team member Evy also had a great conversation with one of the young people. After the lesson, Mia asked Evy, ‘How can I get closer to God?’
Mia said that she’d recently given her life to Jesus, as she knew she needed something to find security in! As they got chatting, Mia shared that her parents didn’t know Jesus and she was finding it hard to know where to start with sharing about God with them. Evy pointed Mia to some of the resources on NXT CHAPTR’s social media including mini devotional-style videos and encouraged Mia to try journaling about the things she was reading in the Bible and journeying through on the Bible app, as well as looking at a youth group in her area. Mia was excited to find out more and try and share more about her faith with her parents.
The day after the schools visit, NXT CHAPTR headed to Tees Valley Community Church to serve at their youth group and share more about Jesus. During the evening, when the gospel was shared, seven young people responded and gave their lives to Jesus for the first time or as a recommitment! How amazing!
Please pray for Archie and Mia, and the other young people that our team met last week in Stockton, that they’d keep wanting to find out more about Jesus and would grow in their faith as they get plugged into church.
