Monday, December 7, 2009

The gain in losing a cell phone

This will be the last time that you hear from me until next year. It has been five months since we moved in; it has felt a lot shorter than that. School is wrapping up and we have finals coming up. I am hoping that we all perform well on them.

On Thursday night we had an appreciation dinner for the people that volunteer and support ThreeSixty. The dinner went well. I got to meet a lot of people who work behind the scenes at ThreeSixty. The funniest part to me was that Rick wanted to get some laughs so he dressed like me and Steve, but very few people laughed. I think that hurt his ego a little.

Recently I lost my cell phone. Since then I have had a lot more time to think and I have been less stressed. I have more time to read my Bible instead of just rushing through it. I can sit there and really think through and understand what I am reading. I would have lost my phone a long time ago had I known this is what was going to happen.

I thank God for working in me and helping me get through ThreeSixty and putting the people in my life who are helping me along the way.

Jerime

Monday, November 16, 2009

Andrew's Turn

In the ThreeSixty house, everything is going good although as children, there are small mistakes, but I pray that God will continue to teach us how to follow his ways and do his will. Concerning school work, last week Laura Harper and Dave Nix demonstrated the great love of Christ to Bullen and me. They both came to help us in writing an essay about the Death of a Salesman. I was disappointed when I got my math exam back and had failed again, it has been challenging to me but I trust God in everything. I thank God so much for Rick and Chad for the encouragement.

This week Dave taught me how to play a song, Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound. He is a good teacher, he wants me to put guitar lessons in my schedule. On Saturday I went to Dave's house to play guitar. I give glory to God for his great love. This week, as I look to God, I see his love for his children. God is speaking to me this week that, if we stay in the will of God, we get more blessing, but when we get out from the will of God, his blessing disappears from us. I am blessed to learn guitar.

On Thursday, Bullen and I went to see a dermatology doctor for our skin problems. I am so excited for what God is doing through ThreeSixty ministry. I just want to ask anybody who is going to read this blog to pray for this ministry. I know there is no weapon forged against this ministry of God that will prosper. God will continue to provide to this ministry, bless, and send us to the world . Through this ministry, the gospel of the kingdom will be preached to the whole world as the testimony to the Nations.

My father has been sick lately and there is no medical care for him in southern Sudan, however I am so happy that God provided a way for him to go to Kampala Uganda for treatment and God paid for all of his expenses. God is more than good to me. In conclusion, let us pray for others, for the ThreeSixty family, and the board members, God is able to do whatever he wants. He is always with us, he started and he will finish it. May the peace of God Almighty who passes above the human understanding keep our heart and minds in the love of God the father, son, and the Holy spirit.

BrotherAndrew

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Mid-Term Exams

This week has been either slam-full or slam-dead. Mid-terms were this week and we were all anticipating the results, but we had to miss some important events as we were studying (the Lifeline Banquet, Bart Box's class on How to Study the Bible and Andrew and Bullen had to miss Secret Church). We are thankful for the slow days so that we could catch up on sleep. Bullen and I got new glasses - thanks so much to Dr. Michael Blackburn at Oak Mountain Eye Care who so graciously provided the eye exam, frames and lens all at no cost.

We all got to draw new chores this week. I am so excited that I did not get bathroom duty again - I have cleaned the toilets since August 2nd. Today I drew the kitchen and I think the floor had more crunck on it than the toilets.

I was able to spend time with Mr. Sciacca, my high school Principal, this past week as we walked and talked and became scattered, smothered and covered. It is great to have people in my life that care about my choices and life decisions, like my momma, Mr. Sciacca and ThreeSixty.

Jerime

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Three Months

It has officially been three months since we moved into the house, you can't tell me that time doesn't fly. This week has been very busy due to mid-term testing. One of the things that I enjoyed doing this week was going to the Basement for the first time. I enjoyed it because it was an overwhelming way to see so many teens get together and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Another thing that I enjoyed was spending time with my mentor, Bill Nelson. I would like to thank God for putting him in my life because it has been a tremendous blessing to have him as my mentor. Finally, the weekend is here and I'm going to spend it at home with my family. I pray that everyone will have a humbling and safe weekend.

God bless
Stephen

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Studying for God's Glory

Praise the Lord for his greatness and unending love which covers the whole earth. The heaven declares his glory and the creation cry to his greatness. God is so good and will be all ways great.

This week was one of the greatest weeks I have had since we arrived at the ThreeSixty house.We were very busy studying and found ourselves working to finish our English work around 2:00 am. This is unusual for me, as I always want go to bed around 9:00 pm. Finding myself being up late has been a great joy for me because I am not studying to pass these classes for myself but for the glory of God and for the people around the world who have no access to an education. Therefore, God will use my staying up late at night for his glory around the Nations of the World.

I continually considered what mark will I make in this world so that the Name of God will be glorified? Jesus took fishermen who only knew how to fish, how to use their boat, how to make net and their life is all about fishing. But Jesus called them and taught them instead to be fishers of men. Today their story has made a great impact. What about me, my story is hard for me to tell but I have hope in Christ. Just as he turned the life of these fisherman's he who called me by his name will glorify his name through my life for the nations of the World.

Bullen

Friday, October 23, 2009

When Rick is traveling....

Another week at the house has passed. This week Rick went out of town for work related reasons. While he was gone the house felt like it slowed down. Most of the days when Rick is here we usually have dinner ready to eat, but not this week. This week it was Andrew’s week to cook. Let’s just say he didn’t do much cooking. Most of the week it was every man for himself.

Wednesday night the ThreeSixty guys had the opportunity to speak at the ThreeSixty board meeting. Everything went well, everyone spoke well and did a good job. When Bullen spoke I think he had everybody in the room teary eyed. I think that he might have touched everybody in that room that night. I really look at Bullen differently than I had before.



Jerime

ThreeSixty Participant Video



2 Corinthians 3: 1-6 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Lessons Learned

Another week at the ThreeSixty house has passed. This is usually not my week to write the blog. I was supposed to write the blog last week but I didn’t. Instead I lied to my house parents and Chad about writing the blog and I kept that lie going until Wednesday. I should have never told the lie in the first place. Now I really can’t be trusted with what I say, because I lost that trust with the lie I told. As punishment I have to write the next two blogs and I can’t drive the car for a week. I think the punishment fits the crime, so I just have to suck it up and deal with it. I would like to apologize again to Chad, Rick, and La La for lying about writing the blog. I also want to apologize to everyone that follows the ThreeSixty house and reads the blog - it won’t happen again.

As I was walking in the rain yesterday, I took that time to talk to God, not necessarily to pray but talk. Me and the Man upstairs had a good conversation on my journey home. I told him about my problems and what I needed to do to fix them. I told him that I need his help with lying because I know that I’m not going to be able to do it by myself. I felt like he heard me because when I got finished talking, I heard thunder so I know he was listening. I believe everything happens for a reason and maybe my reason is to touch somebody through this blog.

Jerime

Jerime was not asked to write on this topic and I didn’t even know that he was until he sent me his writing to post. The fact that he chose to be transparent and ask for forgiveness publicly demonstrates the work that God is doing in his life. Jerime – I love you and am praying with you. You are not walking through this journey alone.

Because this week is Andrew’s normal week to write there are two postings.

Seeking the Wisdom of God

This week has been the hardest week for me since moving in but it has been a good week to come close to God. I have been calling on God to give me wisdom and understanding. In the book of James 1:5 it says if anyone is lacking wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously. I want to be faithful to God till the end. My prayer is for more wisdom, His wisdom and not my own.

I thank God so much for his love for me, last Sunday was my birthday. I appreciate my family in Sudan for celebrating my birthday in my absence and I also appreciate my friends here in the United States. We were able to celebrate my birthday with friends in Wadley, Al and here at my house in Birmingham. We had a lot of fun. During my birthday Chad, Bullen and Stephen tried to give me a birthday spanking. Chad held my hands then Bullen and Stephen started spanking me. I enjoyed the nice time and I am still receiving birthday cards. Thank you Jesus!

Regarding school, everybody is busy and some classes are hard, but I pray that God will help us to do better. I was busy and stressed this week with an essay. I know God was there to help me. I appreciate Lee Baker and Scott Bickel for being our math tutor. Thank God for Chad, he came and worked with us a couple of nights and even called to quiz us over the phone.

This week Bullen and I met a friend from Kenya. She told us about some Sudanese friends who are working downtown in Birmingham. This week in the ThreeSixty house everybody is doing well. Pray for continued love of God, our study in His word and to stay strong in the faith. No matter what is coming our way; good or bad we give God the glory, honor and praise.

Andrew

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Advice to All Future Applicants

Months before beginning the process of accepting applications for the initial class of ThreeSixty participants we were continual in prayer, asking God to reveal those of which he had called to help lay the foundation of this ministry. The 2009 class of Jerime, Stephen, Andrew and Bullen will forever hold a special place in this ministry. These four guys stepped out in faith not knowing exactly what being a participant in ThreeSixty fully entailed. There was no facility to see where they would be residing, there was no house parents selected to get to know, there was nothing more than a vision of what would be. Facing the unknown, these four guys obviously had questions, but in the midst of unanswered questions they were willing to step out in faith to follow God's leading.


We have now completed accepting applications and have begun the interview process for the class of 2010. This past Saturday we even had the opportunity to interview one of the candidates who lives in Ethiopia, via telephone. As we were going through this process, Rick and Lisa asked Jerime and Stephen what their response would be if they were asked whether or not someone should apply to be a part of next years class. I believe that their responses reveal the heart of ThreeSixty. Stephen immediately answered "Yes apply, but you better bring your A game because your responsibility will increase 10 fold." Jerime then added "I would tell them to apply, but they better come ready to work because it is not a free ride."

We desire to impact young men for the glory of God. Participants in ThreeSixty will have more responsibility, more learning opportunities, and more accountability than their peers that they sit in class with everyday. However, with the responsibility, accountability and learning comes opportunity. Opportunity to learn to live a life that denies self and takes on the cause of Christ, an opportunity to learn to live a life of humility in which the only boasting is in the cross of Christ, an opportunity to learn to live a life of radical forsaking and abandonment to the things of this world in order to declare the supremacy of Christ among the nations. Forsaking yourself for the sake of the lost around the world is certainly not a free ride but there is nothing that compares to living a life that impacts the nations for the glory of God.


May God continue to work in the lives of the participants of ThreeSixty in such a way that only he could receive the glory!



Chad Glover

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Continual Effort

This weeks blog was written by Stephen.

Hello ThreeSixty fans, I know you have been waiting for me to blog again, so here we go.

I have to tell you this last week and a half has been very intense. Classes are well under way and tests are coming at a furious rate. These tests cannot be studied for in one night, therefore we have to burn the midnight oil for multiple nights. I have officially been a college student for two whole months and it is fun, busy and relentless. I am learning, growing, showing, sharing, burning, serving and blogging.

I am surrounded by so many wonderful people in the ThreeSixty program. I want to give a big shout out to all the volunteers who have helped us makes our life a little bit easier. I will be forever grateful and never forget the love from my momma, Ms. Cookie Griffin. If it was not for her loving me enough to sacrifice for me, I certainly would not be in the position that I am today.

God Bless,
Stephen

Monday, September 28, 2009

Sanctification

Last week it was Bullen's turn to write the blog...

As many have seen on Facebook, Andrew was our great cook this week and he cooked very well. If we were to vote who would be our cook next week or always, we will all vote for Andrew to become the ThreeSixty chef. This would help us all to not have to cook anymore because we would have a chef.

This was been a great week and all of us are doing well at the ThreeSixty house as we are studying the word of of God together. We have been studying about sanctification with Deric Thomas, which is the process as we grow and walk with the Lord till our bodies will be glorified and that will be the end of sanctification. The Lord has started his work in us by regeneration and he will finish his work when our bodies are glorified. This is a great hope for us as believers.

Also we are thanking those who have given their time to come and help us in tutoring us in this week they have done a great job by being a great example of Christ to us and we are so grateful

The Tower of Selfishness

This blog post is one that Andrew wrote about a week ago.

The tower of selfishness. What am I talking about? I am talking about how people do things for praising themselves. In the Old testament people rebelled against God and they started building a tower for themselves. God hates a selfish people. For example in Geneses 11:1 God confused the language of selfish people and scattered them. Today many people go to school in order to have better life in this world, earn more money for themselves and turn their back on God. What are we going to gain out of this world? Nothing, as for me , I go to school to for my people and God's glory.

We have had a blessed week, Jerime cooked nice food for us this week. I thank God so much for taking care of us. May the glory, power, and majesty be to our God forever and ever .

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Week # 6 According to Jerime

(This weeks blog was written by Jerime)


The beginning of the week was kind of different, because we were all returning home from visiting family and friends for Labor Day weekend. I enjoyed my weekend because Alabama beat VT 34-24. ROLL TIDE.

School went back to regular schedule. I had a math test this week which I think I did well on. This week has also been busy with all the bible studies we had to go to. We went to a Barons game with the Nelson’s small group. We had good seats because we were in the Coca-Cola sky box. Steve was gone all day Friday with his mentor, so he got to skip out on the cleaning we had to do. In fact Steve was let off the hook this week because he didn’t have to cook at all this week. I think I should give him my week to cook or maybe he should do everybody’s chores this week. (Good try Jerime – have fun cooking)

We ended the week with a guy’s night out at the Samford football game. Mr. Clark gave us all access passes to go on the field. The game was fun, Samford ended up beating Jacksonville 27-0. I believe this next week will be an even better week, because the guys know I’m cooking so that means no leftovers.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Life at the ThreeSixty House...

Stephen shares a little bit of what it is like to live in the ThreeSixty House....


It has been one month since four guys moved into the ThreeSixty house and it has been two weeks since we all started at Jeff State. I can truly tell you college is much different than high school. College is a faster pace and lots of responsibility. Now that I am away at college and my mom does not know my every move, it makes her worry. I pray that God will give her peace that passes all understanding and let her know that she has raised me well. Now back to the ThreeSixty house, it is like the survival of the fittest. We have to clean, cook, blog, wash clothes, study, walk back and forth to school, attend public speaking meetings, yard work, do odd jobs for extra money, grocery shopping, understand Moru (the language spoken by Andrew and Bullen in southern Sudan) and do it all with a SMILE. Whew!!! Let me catch my breath for a minute.

God has taught me this week that in order to be a leader, I have to choose to sacrifice for others. You have to be humble and whatever you do you must shine a light for Christ and give Him the glory. He also talked through me at the Kings Ranch to share my testimony and let the teenagers know that even though life is hard, Jesus will always love and protect you.

God Bless,
Stephen

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Classes Begin

Bullen had the opportunity to write the blog for this week.

This is our fourth week here at the ThreeSixty house and it has been really good to get to know each other more and more. We have been working together and praying for one another. I am so thankful for the great opportunity that God has given to each of us to be here as brothers under one roof and to be discipled and to go and impact the world for the glory of Christ, what a great privilege to all of us.

This week was a very busy week and we were all excited about the first week of school. Since we all have different class schedules the first day was also very busy for Lala and Pal as they drove all of us to school and back home throughout the day. Andrew was the chef of the week and the food was great. Janet came to help teach him a new recipe on Thursday.

Bullen

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Importance of Staying Together

This week's blog post is written by Andrew Mahandis.



To begin with, I would like to talk little bit about living together in the African traditional society. In the African traditional society, families have many children and stay together at one home in order to help one another. Every member of the family is required to participate in the different activities at home. For example, the men are responsible to build and repair a mud hut, go hunting, digging a garden and many other such activities. The women prepare the meals, take care of children and fetch water for the family.



It has now been three weeks and God has united us as one family at the ThreeSixty house, to educate us to be a great servants of God. Now we have learned term building. This week, we had a great time together at home. On Monday night, we had a great time at the house studying God’s word . We discussed regeneration which means an act of God in which he imparts a new spiritual life in us. Everyone of us participated in the studying of regeneration. Mama Lisa asked a question as we were talking about regeneration. She said, if a child accepted Christ as Lord at the age of 5, 10, 15 through 18 years then he or she backslides and becomes lost in many years of doing bad things, then he/she comes back God, then at what age did regeneration occur? During the first or second time? Find the answer through yourself.



Yesterday, we went to Restoration Academy, which is where Stephen and Jerime completed their high school. We met Ms. Cookie Griffin, their mom, at the school. She showed us all the class rooms and we met many teachers as well. We also met Mrs. Amy at the school, she is a teacher and she worked with World Harvest Mission in Uganda for two years. The world Harvest Mission is now in Mundri Sudan. She has even heard about Mundri . This morning everyone woke up earlier to carry their duties of cleaning.



In conclusion, it’s Important to stay together, work and support one another. Together we will stand, but one will fall. I pray that God should teach us to obey his word and follow the right way.



Andrew

Monday, August 17, 2009

Settling in....

Last week's blog was written by ThreeSixty participant Jerime Griffin.

This week at the house has been kind of slow but it has been a good slow. This week was Steve's week to cook, I didn’t know what to think about that, it could have been bad or it could’ve ended up good. Shocking, we didn’t die, so he did well this week. My family came over this week for dinner, it was good to see them. Steve cooked for our mom for the first time and I think she was very pleased with what she ate. Friday was our first cleaning day and I got to clean toilets which is not a lot of fun.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

The First Week

Each week, the ThreeSixty guys are assigned projects at the house on a rotating basis. One gets cooking duty, one gets trash duty, one is responsible for cleaning the dishes and the last one gets a free week but they do have one responsibility. To write the blog. The only direction they receive on writing the blog is - write what ever you want. This will be posted by Saturday morning each week. Below is the entry that Stephen Griffin wrote. I invite you back each week to follow the guys through this journey....

August 2 has finally come and now Jerime, Bullen, Andrew, and I have moved in together with Rick and Lisa. I want to thank everyone who helped make this house like a five star hotel. It was a scary feeling at first because I had left my mother behind and I am staying with people who I knew for just a little while. As the days turn into weeks staying with everybody was not that bad after all, I had fun the first week. The things that I like the most was when Chad put us four in two teams and made us battle against each other. One battle was being blindfolded and your partner had to lead you to the flag by giving verbal directions. The second battle was building a structure with only toothpicks and marshmallows in 20 minutes (It was very sticky business). When we tied, we had to answer Bible trivia questions to break the tie. What I liked about the team battles was it helped us bond with each other and show our leadership skills. The other thing I liked about this week was the small group we had with Derrick Thomas from Brook Hills. We talked about John chapter three and what I liked about it was he made me looked at that chapter in a different way and he made it interesting by asking us question and keeping us involved. This week I have discovered that we all have different slangs and accents and it is going to be one interesting year as we come together and learn more about each other.


God Bless,
Stephen

Saturday, August 1, 2009

From the Beginning

The walls are constructed, the carpet is laid, the beds are made and move in day is tomorrow. What began as a dream some 20 months ago to impact young men in a way that will change their lives forever will reach another milestone, welcoming our first class of participants. At times this week it has been an emotional week for me as I sit back and reflect on the work that God has done to bring us to this point. I, along with members of my small group, had been spending extensive time in one of the housing projects in the Avondale area of Birmingham. Through this time I began to think there has to be a different way to have a meaningful impact on these young people. We would spend one, two maybe three hours a week with these young people but the need was much greater. As I began to speak to some of the high school kids about their dreams for the future I became saddened - not necessarily because they had low expectations (which they did) but rather because their goals and dreams were misplaced. Nothing seemed to focus on God or life in Him. From this point I began to pray "God if I can be used to impact this generation use me." From that point He birthed a vision of what was to come.

I remember sitting in the former Anchorage Restaurant in Homewood sharing the vision of what has become ThreeSixty to Clark Watson. At this point there was nothing on paper, there was no written plan, it was a God birthed vision. Clark was the first person (besides my wife) to hear about what I then was referring to as "The Center for Urban Disciple Making." Much to my surprise Clark was interested in this ministry and provided great insight and wisdom. Soon Josh Caldwell and I would stand talking in the lobby of Brook Hills for long periods of time about this dream of impacting the nations by radically impacting a select group of young men. I praise God for men like Clark Watson and Josh Caldwell who are willing to follow God's leading.

From that point I began to prepare a formal outline and plan. I conducted extensive research (I am sure that my wife will long remember the 900+ pages of research that I had "neatly sorted" throughout our home for weeks. I say neatly sorted because I knew where almost every article or statistic was but to the casual observer it looked like my children had gotten a hold of a large stack of papers.) Through many hours of prayer and much research a 25 or so page document outlined the need and the plan that God had birthed. It was this document that I would soon present to my pastor, Dr. David Platt. I remember David asking one of his staff members "What am I supposed to do with this? Does he really expect me to read this?" He did end up reading it and told me in the end he couldn't stop reading it. I remember David asking the question "who is helping you with this? Who is supporting you in this?" My response was "well I have shared it with Clark Watson and Josh Caldwell." For the most part to this point it had been me and God and I was the only hindrance in the group. Just as God used Clark and Josh to provide wisdom and insight, He also spoke through Dr. Platt.

Several months go by and I begin to share what God had birthed in my heart with a select group of believers. Each time that I share this vision God continued to clarify His plan. I began to realize that "The Center for Urban Disciple Making" was not the most appealing name to the age group we would be serving. I began to trust God to reveal the name of this ministry He had birthed. I was taking the family on a beach vacation and we passed a sign that said "OneEighty". I immediately proclaimed aloud "that is it! It is supposed to be called ThreeSixty". This declaration needed clarifying. Why ThreeSixty? ThreeSixty is representative of 360 degrees - a complete circle. Or more appropriately defined as ministering to every aspect and area of a young mans life.

To fast forward to today. God has brought a diverse group of young men together for the purpose of glorifying Himself and has burdened the hearts of men and women throughout Birmingham to help prepare these young men to be world changers - to be disciplers makers - to long to see the fame of Jesus spread to every nation, tribe and tongue. May it be so. May God use these men to shake the nations for His glory.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Freedom is Found in the Cross of Christ

At a stage in life where one son is out of college and another is in college most parents take a sigh of relief that they finally have time to their own and can travel and have more freedom. Facing this same scenario, Rick and Lisa Mitchell believe that their time is not their own but rather their life is to be lived to glorify God by making disciples of all nations and that their freedom is not found through being empty nesters but rather their freedom is found in the cross of Christ. I praise God that He has called and equipped Rick and Lisa Mitchell to serve as the ThreeSixty houseparent’s. God has set them apart for the purpose of bringing four young men into their home to shepherd and guide, to teach and serve.

On August 2nd, Jerime, Stephen, Andrew and Bullen will move into the Mitchell’s home. It is humbling to see the willingness of this family to allow God to use them in such a mighty way for His glory. Living life to the glory of Christ means living life in such a way that makes Christ look glorious. May Christ be glorified through Rick and Lisa Mitchell as they lay down their lives for cause of Christ and commit to the call of God. I pray that disciples will be made, that lives will be transformed and that Christ will be glorified. Please join me in surrounding this couple in prayer as they face the unknown being guided by the One who is all knowing.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

"Firewood"

Last night we had the blessed opportunity to fellowship together with Andrew, Bullen and a variety of friends of ThreeSixty at Oak Mountain State Park. As we sat around the camp fire, witnessing the beauty of God's creation and fellowshiping with one another it began to rain and the winds increased in strength. We gathered the food together and headed into one of the tents. "Crack", a tree limb fell to the ground near our campsite. Someone asked "what was that?" Andrew, with great wisdom responded "firewood". I do not believe that anyone among us was in fear of the elements that passed above us, but most of our thoughts were simply that limbs were falling around us whereas Andrew's thoughts were on the provision of God. He did not see the limbs as we saw them, he saw the limbs as good. Throughout the night I could not help but reflect on the faithfulness of God to provide for his people and through the sinful eyes of man how we could so easily reject the gift of God because it did not come as we perceived or we thought was most appropriate. May our eyes be fixed on things above and not on earthly things, may we recognize the goodness of God in our lives and be thankful for His provision!

The trip may have been cut short due to the weather, however God used this opportunity to open my eyes to his goodness. I look forward to gathering together again with my brothers at the campsite to continue this journey soon!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

ThreeSixty participant Andrew Mandis is our guest writter this week. Here is what the Lord has spoken through Andrew.

On February 3, 2007 I was traveling by bus from Sudan to Kampala Uganda to attend school. While sleeping on the bus I heard a voice asking , “Andrew, who do you want to follow?” I answered I will follow Jesus. I then heard the question “how?” Wow this is head question. I said “God give me the right answer.” God gave me the answer in my heart, I said, “I will say yes to Jesus and do whatever he wants of me through the strength he gives me, but I will say NO to evil.” I then awoke thanking God for the change that had occurred. God used this opportunity to teach me to be a true follower of Christ. To be a true follower of Christ is to hate sin/sinful nature the same way to fear the lord is to hate evil (Ps 8:13). God chose us and appointed each of us to go and bear fruit- fruit that will last. How can we bear a good fruit that can last? Well, through the spiritual gifts. We were called to serve and to lead many others (John 15:16 ). God is speaking to us to be strong and courageous and to be careful, to obey all the laws (Joshua1:6-9) because he is preparing us for is work. May the peace of our lord Jesus Christ be with you as you read this testimony.

Written by Andrew Mandis

Monday, May 4, 2009

Out of Nothing...

"Out of nothing, God chose me from the jungle of Sudan to educate me for the people of southern Sudan and the world beyond." These were the words written by Andrew on his ThreeSixty application. Can you recognize the glorious picture of the gospel within these words.

"Out of nothing..." - before the new birth we are all spiritually dead and legally guilty before God. In John 3:3 Jesus says "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again." Without being born again we are hopeless, corrupt and guilty. We are nothing and have nothing apart from the grace of God.

"...God chose me..." - Romans 8:28-30 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." The effectual call awakens the dead, gives sight to the spiritually blind, opens the ears of the spiritually deaf, humbles the proud, softens the hard, and brings forth faith. 1 Corinthians 1:9 says "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

"...to educate me..." - 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." The Word of God does not state that all scripture is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness for Christians to have a better life now but rather says it is "SO THAT the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

"for the people of southern Sudan and the world beyond" - Contrary to the majority of college students Andrew is not looking at what job he may be able to get with his education, he is not concerned with the temporary things of this world. His purpose for getting an education is not for himself, to better his life or to have a good career. He does not even mention himself in his description of why he is getting an education. It is not for him, it is for others, his life purpose is to glorify God amongst the people of southern Sudan and the world beyond. Matthew 28: 18-20 says "Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

May each of us arise every day knowing that out of nothing God chose us to (fill in the blank) for the people of Alabama and the world beyond.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Testimony Written on the Tablets of Human Hearts

2 Corinthians 3: 1-6 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

As mortal men we in ourselves are inadequate and unable to accomplish good, but through our insufficiency Christ sufficiency reigns eternal.

May God make ThreeSixty a ministry that does not desire, pursue, seek after or need verbal commendation or letters of testimonial to demonstrate the impact of our ministry, but rather may our delight be found in the testimony written by the Spirit of the living God on the tablets of the hearts of the participants of ThreeSixty and those they minister too.

Father, use us in such a way that only you will receive the glory.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Inaugural Class

God, in His sovereignty, has brought together four young men from diverse backgrounds to be united together through the power of the Spirit of God as the inaugural class of ThreeSixty. Together these young men will journey through the next four years of their lives as God prepares them to impact the world for His glory.

Two of the young men had their families torn apart at an early age by the Muslim government in the middle of war torn Sudan because of their family’s faith in Christ. Rather than having their family taken away from them, the other two young men were removed from their families at an early age by authorities as a result of their parent’s drug abuse and an unstable home environment. Through God's grace He has demonstrated himself mightily in each of the young men's lives and has now united Andrew, Bullen, Jerime and Stephen together, setting aside their differences in pursuit of a life in which "Christ is all and in all".

May God work in these young men's lives and the ministry of ThreeSixty in such a way that only He would receive the glory!