Watch a video of our trip here

Honestly I don’t have words to describe how inspiring this group from Indiana that we brought to Puerto Rico. God used them as prayer warriors on the trip and even after the trip leading people to Christ and strengthening those who already made the decision. We couldn’t walk through a store, restaurant, or parking lots without praying for someone or someone asking us to pray for them. Even on their adventure day they left the ocean water to bring the living water to others.

Below is a snip preview from Richard Jett one of the school leaders.

We say we want people to follow Jesus. But are our lives actually making them want Him?

“You can guide a horse to a well, but you can’t force it to drink. However, you can add salt to its oats.”

That line sits in my grandpa’s journal, and I keep coming back to one question:

How salty is my life?

Sometimes you don’t realize the weight of something until after the fact. I wrote the article “Get ‘Em in the River” before leading our current seniors on a mission trip. But it was on that trip that I actually saw what happens when people step into the river.

Before going into a tourist area to pray with people, we gathered in the van. We took time to be still and ask God for a name, an image—anything that might help us know whom He wanted us to approach. What came to my mind was Hebrews 11:6 (NLT):

“And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

Not exactly inspiring…more like convicting. I knew it was a gentle rebuke. God was about to expose my lack of faith in His power at work in these students.

What Happens in the River

As we shared what came to mind, one student said she saw a vivid image of a lion.

Then we went.

And I watched these students walk up to strangers, start conversations, and pray with boldness. No hesitation. No overthinking. I remember thinking, This is it. This is what it means to get ‘em in the river.

Like a proud dad, I watched them step into what they were made for. But I still didn’t know what was coming.

When we regrouped, the stories started pouring in. Then the student who saw the image of a lion shared that when she approached someone, the man immediately started talking about…lions. He wasn’t prompted or led to talk about lions. He just offered it up.

That moment lit a fire in the group. Boldness turned into expectancy. And it didn’t stop there.

All week, we watched God move. On their free day, students walked the beach praying for people. When we got home, they continued in our own community. One encounter led to a man coming to church on Easter—he stayed for all three services and gave his life to Christ.

That’s what happens when people get in the river.

Read the full article here