Church Family,
I want to share something with you that we have been celebrating – the Lord has been answering your prayers. A few weeks ago, we placed prayer bracelets in the foyer before and after our Sunday services, each carrying the name of a student or leader attending our District Student Weekend on March 27–29. Many of you faithfully took those names and brought them before the Lord, asking Him to move in their hearts, to draw them closer to Himself, and to save those who did not yet know Him. And we want you to know, He did.
During our District Student Weekend in Aberdeen, South Dakota, we saw God move in powerful and personal ways. Over the course of that weekend, 2 students recommitted their lives to following Christ, and 8 students placed their faith and trust in Jesus for the very first time. Eight students who were once spiritually lost are now found. Eight students who were once far from Christ are now walking with Him. That is worth celebrating!
This is the grace of God on full display—rescuing, redeeming, and making new. Heaven itself rejoices over moments like these, and we rejoice alongside it. Lives have been changed for eternity, and that is something only the Lord can do. What we witnessed was not just a moment, but the beginning of a lifelong journey with Jesus. All glory and praise be to Him, who is still saving, still calling, and still transforming hearts today. But what makes this even more meaningful is knowing that you, as a church family, were a part of it through your prayers.
Throughout the weekend, our focus was clear: we wanted to help our students not only grow in their love for Jesus but also develop a boldness to share Him with others. Our theme, “Fearlessly Making Known the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” became more than just words; it became something we watched our students step into.
One of the most powerful moments came when our students and leaders went out into the Aberdeen community, knocking on doors to collect items for a local food bank, while also praying with people, listening to their stories, and courageously sharing the gospel. To watch middle school and high school students step out in faith—to move past fear, to trust the Lord, and to speak about Jesus with boldness—was both humbling and deeply encouraging. This is what we are praying for and striving toward. We want to be a ministry that doesn’t just gather students but equips them to follow Christ, love others well, and boldly make Him known in their schools, homes, and communities.
Weekends like this are a meaningful part of our discipleship pathway as we trust the Lord to raise up a generation who don’t just know about Jesus, but truly know Him and live for Him. So from the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Thank you for praying, for caring, and for investing in the next generation. Please don’t stop. Continue to pray for these students, that they would grow, remain rooted in Christ, and walk faithfully with Him, and for those who are still far from Jesus, as well as for our leaders who faithfully serve week after week. God is at work, and it is a joy to be part of what He is doing.
As Paul writes in Ephesians 6:19–20 (NIV), “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
With gratitude and excitement for what’s ahead,
Pastor Lucas Jackson