S3 Stories of Strength

As believers, we should be praying regularly while waiting for answers to our prayers. But did you ever think that YOU may be the answer to someone else’s prayer?

Here’s how I learned that not only is God’s timing perfect, but He is generous and creative. When my son started middle school, I became the parent coordinator for his S3 club. At a S3 meeting for parent coordinators, I met Tara who also had a son and was the parent coordinator at a different middle school in our district. Fast forward to when our sons were high school freshmen, and they were attending Summer Band Camp. One day they were on a much needed break for food and from the heat, and Tara offered to take both boys to get something to eat. My son called to get permission since he knew I was pretty strict about not riding with strangers. He didn’t know that this mom wasn’t a stranger to me so of course I said it was fine! Tara later told me that she had been praying that her son would find a godly friend in high school, someone who shared his beliefs so they could encourage one another and build each other up. She looked up in her rear view mirror and realized that the answer to her prayer was sitting right there in her car! My son! Yes, I had been praying that prayer as well, and God is so good that He orchestrated for these two boys to meet. They were from different middle schools but both loved Jesus, were involved in S3, played the same instrument, and they met and hit it off during that first week of band camp. They have both since graduated from different colleges, are living in different cities, but are still friends and make the effort to keep in touch and support each other in their various missional activities. And his mom and I? We’re still friends too!

God promises to answer our prayers. He might answer yes, no or wait. In the waiting, God just might be getting everything lined up so that when your prayer is answered, it answers someone else’s as well!

Keep praying!

Brenda

Hi!  I’m Blanca. It is hard for me to put into words what Students Standing Strong (S3) means to me. I found S3 when I was looking for something for my children. I did some research and I loved the concept of S3 because it encourages students to teach others. Our club is an outreach. We have some core leaders, but different students come every week. These students are curious about God and looking for community.

For me personally, my role is both passive and active. It is passive because my kids are the leaders. But my role is also active. For these past five years of our club, God has been teaching me how to be very active in prayer. Even though I am not talking or teaching, I am praying, listening, and loving the students who come to our club. My heart is to show God’s love to them through actions and my love for them. And I love them unconditionally. 

One student shared with me that when she comes to the club she feels accepted. Another student said she felt blessed by the food. The kids come for different reasons, and even if they don’t know why, they still come. We have been so blessed by S3. It is a very important part of my life and my  family’s life. My prayer for our club is that the seeds being planted for JESUS in the students’ hearts will grow strong.

“However, they did not listen, but they kept acting in accordance with their earlier custom. So, while these nations feared the Lord, they also served their idols; their children likewise and their grandchildren, just as their fathers did, they do to this day.”   2 Kings 17:40-41

This sounds very familiar … In our culture today we also cling to our customs, wanting God to be part of our plan – While God wants us to be part of His.

We profess Christianity … but say we must be “realistic” when the Bible demands changes in our behavior. The bottom line is we want a Savior… but have no intention of handing over the reins of our lives … However, God’s offer is to be both our Lord and Savior; it has always been a package deal.

Like the church at Laodicea, we think we don’t need anything. We show up Sunday morning, expect to be entertained, and bask in our self-righteousness… Never looking honestly at our hearts as that would demand confession and repentance…and would require change and obedience.

The idol of comfortable prosperity lures us as it has for generations. We want to serve The Kingdom, but only when it advances our own. Servanthood and self-sacrifice are no longer preached or practiced, and cultural traditions and opinions have replaced scripture as our guide.

How can we have drifted so far from the truth?

Have we forgotten that we are not fighting against lost people – we are fighting for them? God commands that we obey scripture, and lead others to Christ. Yet our hypocrisy not only misleads us, it misleads our children and grandchildren as well… Our culture is faltering, and we must get off this path.

The cost to follow Christ is everything… we must die to ourselves. So, either make that choice, or stop talking about it and confusing others with your duplicity.

If you fear God but still want to pursue your idols, you have a dilemma… The first commandment could not be clearer…it insists that we have only One God. Part-time Christianity has never been offered. So, choose this day whom you will serve… and then start obediently serving.

“The Bible recognizes no faith that does not lead to obedience, nor does it recognize any obedience that does not spring from faith. The two are opposite sides of the same coin.” – A. W. Tozer

For more devo’s created by Boyd Brigman, check out his site bigosbibletime.blogspot.com

Hello, I’m David. I’ve worked in youth ministry for 15 years and can confidently say there’s something very special and powerful about Students Standing Strong (S3).  Experiencing God’s Word wash over a room of 60+ kids every week is incredible! Empowered by the S3 model, kids dive into Scripture, teach and lead their friends, and put themselves in places where God uses them. My S3 Story is a family story.  I will start with my story and then let you hear from my wife and kids.

Our family worked together to get an S3 club started in our school district and it’s been a great opportunity.  Our own kids are learning scripture and leadership in ways they’ve never experienced before, and Stacy and I are building relationships in our community in new and impactful ways.  We’re grateful that S3 is in our schools and are humbled by God’s pursuit of the hearts of students and our family.  God doesn’t need us to do His work, but He chooses to invite all of us into what He’s doing. What a humbling invitation.
David, Father

Last fall, I was burdened for students at our school and several moms and I began to pray. We wanted to fight for kids to know the truth of who they were in Christ. So, when I heard about S3, I knew we needed to help bring a club to the intermediate school. I’ll admit I had a few moments of fear and doubt but God reminded me He was already there. He wanted me to trust Him. Students asked their friends to the S3 club and things took off like wildfire! Kids have been growing into leaders as they study and read God’s Word together.  Our own kids are learning to share the gospel and recognizing the Fruit of the Holy Spirit in their own lives. Starting a Students Standing Strong club has been a gift.  We’re learning to serve others together.
Stacy, Mother

Every part of the club is fun! I love leading the games, teaching the lesson, and hanging out with friends!  Gunner, 6th grade

Every school should have an S3 club. Some students have a hard time making friends in class. But at our S3 club they have fun with other kids and make friends. S3 gives students who are having a hard week something to look forward to.
Molly, 5th grade

I love that our family is part of S3! I meet lots of older kids and make new friends!
Wyatt, 2nd grade

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!'” Isaiah 6:8

My S3 Story started with me saying, “Yes” to God’s calling in a surprising and unconventional way. I felt the Holy Spirit nudging me during the summer to serve the youth at our church. As I began praying for guidance, God led me through a series of unique circumstances.

First, I said, “Yes,” to God calling me to clean the bathrooms at our church’s summer youth conference. I was definitely confused why God would want me to serve on the custodial team, but I trusted God and signed up. At the conference, the speaker spoke on heavy topics that face our youth. As the young girls responded to the speaker, they became emotional and some sought refuge in the restroom. God had me in the girls’ bathroom at just the right time and used me to minister to these young teens and offer them the hope of Jesus.

After the conference, I felt stirred by God to continue serving youth in my community. My children and I attended their school’s “See you at the Pole” rally. The principal noticed me and called me after the meeting. He told me how he wanted the school to have a student-led Bible club and asked me to help support the students in starting an S3 club. 

I prayed with my family and agreed to help lead the club. We got started in the spring with my son as the main student leader.  Together our motto was, “Reach one, teach one.” The club started small, but we were trusting God with growth. We believed even if only one student showed up, God would be glorified and the student ministered to. My “Yes” to God’s calling is letting me join with God to impact the youth in my community and further God’s Kingdom purposes. 

I hope God will use my story to reach you and teach you what can happen when we listen to God and answer His call.

-Jitendra