General

Hello, I’m John. My wife Nancy and I have chosen to give to Students Standing Strong (S3) for many years because we believe that God will honor the study of His Word in the public schools. Our youth are our future, and we feel these students need the hope that S3 brings through God’s Word.  We also want them to stand strong in their faith so that as they grow, they will have good moral values and integrity. With the decline in moral values, and the increase in suicides, it is so important to let these kids know that they are deeply loved by God.

We also know that the money we donate is used very carefully. We have seen how the leadership of S3 has been able to stretch a buck and how God has been able to reach so many hurting people with the donations we have given to S3. 

Additionally, the fact that the meetings are led by other students is amazing. Hopefully, the students will have each other to stand with them when they are under pressure to yield to temptation or when they need to take a stand for their Christian faith and values.

One day, when we get to heaven, we know we will be able to see the precious lives we have helped in a small way through our part in S3.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

Hi! My name is Ifunanya Obinabo and I am a junior at Grapevine High School. I’ve been in Students Standing Strong (S3) since eighth grade when one of my friends introduced it to me.

In my opinion I’ve always been close to God, but being in S3 really helped me understand my relationship with Him and what that entails. Furthermore, our meetings helped me learn more about the Bible and the Word of God. 

We spent a lot of time reviewing parts of the Bible and breaking it down to fully understand the message that God was trying to tell us through his disciples. By quoting the Bible often and listening to what was being said, I was able to learn more about my religion and what it means. 

One of the quotes that I discovered during our meetings was from Isaiah Chapter 1 verse 17 and it reads: “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

This really stuck with me because I feel that not only does it discuss morality, it is applicable to life regardless of religious belief. I’m always hearing how religion is fake or how it doesn’t make sense or how God doesn’t exist, but this quote seems to be above all that. I love it because it’s so inclusive, as you don’t need to be in a certain religion to follow it, it’s simply right.

This is amazing because it proves how immersive God is, how just by doing the right thing you are following His Word. 

Additionally, quotes like this remind me that while religion is sacred, it’s existence and the existence of God is always a reminder to do better. To stand up for others, to forgive, to share what I have when I have it. It helps me be a better person, something that I think we all strive to do. 

Through S3 I am able to communicate with others about the Lord and be free in my religion. I don’t need to restrict myself or change, I can simply just live in the Word. I learned so much from it and I enjoy teaching as well. I can’t wait for another year and I can’t wait for other schools to get to experience this club like I have! 

– Ifunanya

This past year was difficult to say the least. A global pandemic on top of an election year? Already sounds like a disaster. Graduating high school and moving off to college too? Now that sounds like a train wreck. Like many, last year was hard for me for various factors such as isolation from loved ones and the fear of the unknown. 

As many friends and loved ones of mine know, I’m a bit of a control freak. I like things done in a certain way, and last year was the perfect example of how I can’t control anything. It’s not because of my doing, it’s because of His. The most important thing I’ve learned from last year is how to be present and truly “let go and let God.” As simple as that phrase makes it seem, it’s honestly anything but. Often I find myself doing what I want to do or think is the right thing, without considering what God might be guiding me to do. 

The biggest example I have for this is when I decided where to go to college. That is a very stressful time for seniors, since very few are lucky enough to know where they might want to go. All of a sudden during my college search I felt called to attend a school in a completely different state, almost 10 hours away.  Ever since my freshman year of high school, I knew exactly where I wanted to go and all of a sudden I felt called to disobey my own desires. That feeling wrecked me.

The thing is, God doesn’t have to listen to what we want to do. It’s our job as Christians to obey Him and listen to what He tells us to do. There are many verses in the Bible along the lines of “let go and let God,” but one of my absolute favorite verses is Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” The Bible never tells us that once we cast our worries and troubles to God we will get what we want. It tells us that He will provide us with what we need. God knows you better than you know yourself. He knows what is right for you. If anything from this post sticks with you, I want it to be you asking God to guide you with something you are trying to control. 

– Gretchen

My name is Claire and I was a part of the Students Standing Strong (S3) group at Palombi middle school in both my 7th and 8th-grade years. S3 gave me a safe space and helped me grow a deeper connection with God.

With many elementary schools feeding into only one middle school, I often felt out of place or alone during middle school, and the work was harder and more plentiful than it had been in elementary school. At the end of a long Monday, S3 was the best and only thing that could lift my spirits. It got me through the day, thinking to myself, “Just 3 more periods until S3 where you can have fun, and talk about God, and eat good snacks” (of course my mind also went to the food;)).

During my time with S3 at Palombi, especially during my 2nd year, I stepped up and helped lead multiple lessons. My friend Chloe and I lead together, and the time we spent with our group leader going over notes about the lesson and actually leading the lesson itself were some of my favorite memories from my middle school years. S3 cemented the friendships I already had, helped me create new ones, and most importantly, strengthened my relationship with God.

During prayer time, I felt so safe and worthy of God’s love. I had been struggling in my relationship with God, not for any particular reason, I just didn’t feel close to Him and I didn’t know how to change that. S3 felt like a sign from God like He was telling me to come back to Him. We all joined in a circle, bowed our heads, held hands, and gave up our concerns, hopes, and thanks to God. Prayer time made me feel safe and I knew I could share anything with my group and they would pray for me and help me through it.

S3 was such a positive experience for me and I really enjoyed being a part of such a life-giving group. If you can, join! It’s such a great way to get involved with your school, meet new people, and strengthen your faith, and I am so grateful that I did it!!

-Claire