Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Meet Kaleb...



Kaleb, 13

My life on the island is really cool, school is really laid back and I have a lot of friends and stuff. I like the crafts and how everyone is so helpful. I learned to keep the whole armor of God on and you’ll be safe. I think basketball, sports, movies and a lot of other things will help my friends who don’t come to church, come. I find a lot of my friends at camp and school. 

I’d like to see Humbly I Serve have an overnight camp here. It’d be a fun time for everyone to have fellowship and play games and have a chapel time. At night we could have basketball games and stuff like that. A lot of kids like camp and sometimes their parents need a break. This is a really good Bible Boot Camp and a lot of children go it!


Humbly I Serve is a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to reaching the children and youth of the Caribbean. We desire not only to fulfill their immediate basic needs, but also to show them God's love through implementing long-term medical, recreational, and outreach programs.  

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Plans.

After a long week and a few days of travel, the 2012 St. Thomas team has all dispersed to continue on to their normal lives. This time last week the Bible Boot Camp was well underway and the team had started to feel a minor, but still present, fatigue as late nights and early mornings became the norm.
Emporos Photos

For the team and kids Bible Boot Camp has become a memory... But the work God did that week is continuing...

This year we had over 90 kids attend Bible Boot Camp and 12 decided to become followers of Christ! 

After spending a couple years establishing the Bible Boot Camp program, Humbly I Serve is excited to seek other ways to help serve Grace Baptist Church and the island of St. Thomas.

Emporos Photo

"Humbly I Serve is not about a week program," Founder and President of HIS Ministries, Melinda Wilson said. "Humbly I Serve Ministries is about creating ongoing and genuine relationships with the goals to inspire and create a sustainable change within a community. HIS Ministries is thrilled to be at a place where we can serve Grace Baptist in other ways, now that the Bible Boot Camp has been fully established." 

While HIS Ministries was in St. Thomas, meetings were conducted and more needs were seen. HIS Ministries is will be announcing another amazing way the Lord has provided for us to serve in St. Thomas, soon!

Thank you for your prayers during this trip! We appreciate your prayers as the Lord continues to lead Humbly I Serve.

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Almost to the End.

This week has been a blessing to Humbly I Serve. Having the opportunity to serve the island children along with our brothers and sisters in Christ is incredible. Seeing the children excited to sing, play, talk and learn about the Lord has a life changing experience. Children are coming to VBS who have some very real questions about God and are searching for His purpose. Please continue to be in prayer for these children because, the reality is, once Humbly I Serve leaves this place and VBS is over- these children face a battle.
They will all return back to their homes and Satan's schemes. Some face the challenge of a fatherless life. Some life without the nurturing love of a mother. Some children will return to old friends and old habits, when they promised themselves they wouldn't. Some will want to go back to church, but have no way to get there. Some will be excited and promise to get involved with a group of believers- but as time continues they will slowly drop off.

Sadly, most kids will not return to Grace Baptist Church after the VBS program is over. Most kids will go home, forget what they learned and because have no person to keep them accountable or disciple them- VBS will be just a fun memory with their friends.

But, these children are not forgotten about. 

In fact, the children are a major priority for the churches on the island. The passion for Christ and love for His children is evident among the church leaders. Children are their future and need to be discipled- but there is only so much a couple people can do.

Grace Baptist Church, along with the others, need more people to serve. They need more people to take on administrative roles, get involved in the community and help their church spiritually grow. The servants hearts and spiritual focus among the church is incredible, but when you have limited people, your impact is limited. The bus will go get the kids, but the kids stop showing up. On the island their are many single parent homes, it is difficult for single parents to get their children to church.

Those working hard to develop programs within the church, also have to work, be parents, students, spouses...

There are many needs in St. Thomas and Humbly I Serve is thrilled to help meet the children's needs one week out of the year, but that's only one week. As HIS Ministries continues to work, the needs are becoming more great. The churches are in need of youth leaders, strong christian male role models, out reach programs, transportation, sports programs, discipleship materials, encouragement, and more space....

As the Lord's leads, Humbly I Serve looks forward to creating ways to help meet these specific needs and feels blessed to work with such servant minded people. Please be in prayer for the church leadership and for the island children who will return to the battle ground they live in each day. 

After teaching the Armor of God lessons, we cannot think of a more appropriate theme for the youth here. Being a Christian teen in St. Thomas is a battle. It's a fight. It's a big choice and commitment to make. And these children have been making the choice to be in battle and stand up for what's right.

HIS Ministries is so thankful of the chance to serve the youth and churches in St. Thomas and we are so excited to see where the Lord leads. Hearing all these needs maybe overwhelming, but please bring them to the Lord in prayer and consider ways you may practically be able to help meet these needs.

Monday, August 6, 2012

Bible Bootcamp: Armor of God

We made it and God has been working....

Our journey started at 1:00 am Friday morning. We gave our trip to the Lord, hopped in the van and made our way to DC. After two flights and one delay, we were in St. Thomas!

We have met some amazing servants of Christ through this trip! The genuine care for the hearts of island youth is evident and incredible. Churches are fervently praying to see kids come back to church and make good choices for their lives.

There is a great need for youth discipleship in St. Thomas and that's why Humbly I Serve is here! We have been reaching out the children and the Lord has been working!






Bible Bootcamp is like a VBS program, full of music,
Bible lessons, crafts, games, candy and prizes! The church and children have been promoting the Bible Bootcamp program
the past few weeks and it has been well received in the community. While our team eagerly anticipated what the
Lord has in store for the children; the children arrived early
to see what Humbly I Serve had in store for them! The excitement and large number of children gave us an indication that God was up to something and our team feels so blessed
to be a part of it all!






This year's theme is the Armor of God. The stage is set up like a bootcamp and the lessons work through a different piece of the armor each night.

The Stage.
The kids take their picture in this.
Stage.
Monday lesson was on the helmet of salvation. Kim did a wonderful job presenting the gospel last night and it was amazing to see several children inquire more about the Lord and want to pursue a relationship with him!
Theme Bible Verse.
God brought us Christian music artist, Beckah Shae and the kids loved her performance! She helped open up the program and Humbly I Serve is excited to have her for part of this trip! She also brought a friend with her, Oracle and he rapped for the kids! Of course, they loved him as well. We are so thankful for such a wonderful group to join with us!
Beckah Shae's friend, Oracle.
The kids!
She brought the most friends and won a prize!
Ayishih: the children's coordinator with Josh: The music coordinator.
(We are SO thankful for them!)

Tonight Kim will be teaching about the belt of truth. Thank you for your prayer they are evident  among our group, THANK YOU! Please continue to pray as we teach about God's truth tonight!