It's Saturday! No sit down Rebecca Black. I hope that you are all having a wonderful week currently. I know I am! It's been a very busy yet extremely enjoyable week here at YWAM Derby. We had a lovely visit from the Cambridge YWAM team in which we played a rather intense game of Fish Bowl. No worries though, the team of Jeanine, Coach Clarence and myself were victorious. Unrelated, well kind of related because i just mentioned his name, happy early birthday Coach Clarence. You're leadership and passion to serve God and his people is fye.
Back to what went on this week, it was really the first time that we had the experience of going to multiple outreaches. Out of the three I have had the opportunity to go to, I can hardly begin to say I have a favorite for they are all truly amazing. All three times I had the opportunity to work with youth from our own city. As well as organized outreach, the time I have been able to spend spreading the glory of Jesus through music at local pubs has truly been marvelous. I have met quite a few very talented people as well as simply been able to preach the gospel in the best way I know how.
However, there was one experience that really stuck out to me and that was at the "Roma Outreach." At the Roma outreach we work with kids from the ages of 10-18 that are a part of the Roma community. Now I was not entirely sure what to expect, but when we got to the church and there were approximately 50 young people needing to be loved, my heart just became elated. We just kinda hung out, some kids played football, some kids did arts and crafts, and others hung out with the music crew. It was really just so amazing to see how the kids bonded with me over one of my favorite gifts from God. It was one of the most adorable things ever to see the kids trying to rap and/or beatbox with me. They absolutely loved it. I am actually not sure who enjoyed it all more, the kids or me.
One of the guys I got to talk a little more with, we shall call him Patrick, is trying to become a professional boxer (I will make sure to stay on his good side) is really an awesome kid. I say kid but he just turned 17 a couple of weeks ago. It was just really awesome to begin building a relationship with him that I have a feeling will last the entirety of my stay here in Derby. What made the conversations with him even better was that I got to tell him a little about Jesus. And he was sincerely interested in what I had to say. That's what it is really all about anyway. Fulfilling the Great Commission given to us by Jesus Himself. To "go and make disciples of all nations." I am just so grateful to God for giving me the ability to glorify His name and use me to build His kingdom. Also he called me a dope rapper. Really though, Patrick is the dope one.
We also had a visit from the ever brilliant Ally Kay. He came and taught us on the history of the church of England, how to evangelize in the United Kingdom, and how to properly use Apologetics. It was truly a brilliant (I am trying to be more English) set of lectures. I already feel more equipped to go into the city and effectively evangelize. One of the main takeaways I got from the lectures this week is to become a part of the culture you are in and the need to build relationships with those in the community so that we may nurture them and walk with them from the beginning of their faith. I am seriously so grateful to all of those who aided me in finances in prayer in getting me to Derby. I am already learning so much and really growing in my personal walk with Jesus. Please continue to pray and intercede in everything we are doing over here in Derby.
Now, I have been reading the book "Thinking. Loving. Doing." I wanted to just share something with all of you that I absolutely loved from the chapter written by Rick Warren entitled "The Battle For Your Mind." Warren states, "One of the most important things we need to learn and teach others is how to guard, strengthen, and renew our minds, because the battle for sin always starts in the mind." That is brilliant isn't it? In manifold instances, the bible specifically talks about our minds and the faults of our minds. My favorite thing written by Rick Warren is about taking every single one of our thoughts captive:
""I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing... Wretched man that I am!" Romans 7:19, 24). The fact is, the reason we have so many ineffective Christians today is that they do not know how to fight the battle of the mind. And I blame pastors like me for that. We must spend more time teaching our people how to fight the battle of the mind."
He then goes on to discuss the faults of our mind depicted through scriptures:
1. Confused (Deut 28:20)
2. Anxious, Closed (Job 17:3-4)
3. Evil, Restless (Eccles 2:21-23)
4. Rash, Deluded (Leviticus 5:4; Isaiah 32:4)
Those are just a few of the examples he gave. The main takeaway for me from this chapter is simply the importance to take captive of our own minds. We cannot be a slave to the sin that desires to control us. Jesus said it Himself in Matthew 6. You cannot have two masters. You cannot be constantly in the darkness as a believer and be effective in your faith.
I just want to encourage everyone to captivate your own mind. Do not be a slave to your own desires, but instead desire only the ways and thoughts of our Heavenly Father. After all, "His thoughts are higher and His ways are better." I love you all and please keep praying for revival here in the United Kingdom.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."
-Romans 12:2
P.S: Love you Baechel.
Thanks to Clarence for the awesome picture! If you want to hear some of my music simply go to www.soundcloud.com/drew-andrew-couch
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