CCC Gainesville | Blog
Jesus said, “I was a stranger and you invited me in…whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.” Matthew 25:35, 40
On July 16th thru August 2nd Chinese students ages 10-12 will be traveling to Gainesville to participate in an English Language Study Program coordinated by Education First (a non profit dedicated to encouraging international awareness). The students are coming here to improve their English language skills while experiencing American life and culture. Staying with volunteer host families who open their hearts and homes for a few weeks to these excited youths is a vital aspect of this program.
The students are occupied Monday thru Friday with English classes in the mornings and fun activities in the afternoons.
We ask our host families to provide:
–a bed for their student (it’s not necessary that they have their own room),
–an extra plate at the table, and a warm loving environment.
These students come fully insured and bring their own spending money.
The local Education First (EF) staff will be available 24 hours a day; 7 days a week while the students are here and for every new host family who participates from your church, youth group or organization EF will donate $25.00. Host family high school students can also earn up to 60 hours of community service.
Act quickly and you will have time to begin building a relationship with your student through letters, emails or Skype before they arrive. Training and orientation will be given for you and your student. You will have 4 weeks to share the love of God with a student from another part of the world, 4 weeks to influence a life for a lifetime and perhaps even affect international relations in the future!
What could these weeks in July mean? Only God knows what wonderful things may happen. But, isn’t it exciting to imagine the possibilities? A loving Christian home could be the place where our world becomes a better place!
If you are interested or have any Questions, please call:
DEBORAH GOMES, Program Leader 352-870-1241 or 352-328-4216
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tower high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
Energetic and wonderful teaching.
Raised my awareness of a group yet untouched by the glorious news that Jesus is King.
Here is a page from the notebook of an 11 year old boy who loved hours of teaching on “Heaven, Hell, and The End of the World”.
Mark your Good Friday 2014 calendars. I am serious.
I was already thrilled about the Secret Church event happening tomorrow. That excitement just got turbo-charged as i looked through the awesome notebook that each participant receives.
Tomorrow night 7pm in the YouthRoom. $7; no childcare. RSVP now, please!
Tonight in our 7pm Maundy Thursday, along with many other gospel texts, we are dwelling on the words Jesus Christ spoke from the cross.
They are often referred to as “The Seven Words”.
The sixth word is TETELESTAI–or “It is finished.”
Spurgeon: Once again—when He said, “It is finished,” Jesus had totally destroyed the power of Satan, of sin and of death. The Champion had entered the lists to do battle for our soul’s redemption against all our foes. He met Sin. Horrible, terrible, all-but omnipotent Sin nailed Him to the Cross. But in that deed, Christ nailed Sin also to the tree. There they both did hang together—Sin and Sin’s Destroyer. Sin destroyed Christ and by that destruction Christ destroyed Sin.
(All muggles can drop out now.)
This makes me think of the way Harry, our conquering hero, had to be destroyed by Voldemort in order to destroy Voldemort. Remember that final horcrux!? In the last battle Voldemort thought he was killing Harry but, ah glorious eucatastrophe!, the only thing he ultimately destroyed was his chance of survival. Boo yah, JKR! Well done.
