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
Saturday, October 17, 2009
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
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
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
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 .
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.
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
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
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