Caleb is one of five students participating in Northland’s new GO Study Abroad program. Find out more about GO Study Abroad here.
Caleb Kimbrough, junior Cross-Cultural Studies major
Brisbane, Australia
This last week has been extremely good. We started the Friday night youth meetings—this first one went very well. We had five kids show up. The age that we are trying to reach is junior high. Due to their age, each one has too much energy, a lack of self control, and a little hint of absolute craziness—we get along perfectly! I was able to preach the Gospel to them all, and God was my strength and help. I honestly did nothing. I was a mouthpiece for God. I studied and prayed a lot; but, in the end, God was the One who did everything. I stumbled and stuttered at different parts, and I think I should have been more discouraged; however, in all honesty, I was not because God let me know I was His servant (and this is no small thing). God gave me this mouth that I have; and the mind I have, He gave me also. He was the One steering me!
For example, I asked the kids a lot of questions, and then God directed the questions in a way that led each one to admit to being a sinner, that sin had to be punished, and that the punishment is Hell. I really think that for some of the kids this thought hit home, and they seemed to think about what this means. God showed Himself mighty to me. He also taught me a lot through the night. I want to be a friend to these kids, but God has showed me that it is imperative that I am a leader—not for my name’s sake but for the glory of God. It is much easier to just be their friend, but God has called me to lead. I think this will be my biggest struggle.
God has given me such a love and burden for these kids! The fact—if these kids do not choose Jesus Christ as their Savior and do not believe on Him they will spend eternity in Hell—has hit me like a ton of bricks. So often I just see kids and their sin and think, “Oh, they are just kids, and they are supposed to mess around and get in trouble.” But they are literally walking to Hell and do not even know it. This fact broke me on Friday night and has made my own salvation sweeter. If you all could pray for them, that would be so awesome. I know that God answered your prayers in helping me; pray for these kids also, and we will see God work in their lives. I know you cannot see their faces, but they are great kids who need the love and blood of Jesus.
I am still learning from the local church. Because the church is so small, they all rely on one another. I have been asked to help do a puppet show at a school where one of the ladies teaches, and then I am going to be able to help another guy in the church dig trenches for some piping that he needs to put in. It is encouraging just to be asked to help out.