The Classroom of God

God has been teaching me a lot about trust during this current semester of Generation-Link.  Last semester, I asked him to cause me to trust him COMPLETELY.  Little did I know, he would take my prayer very seriously, and use some methods to answer it that I wouldn't have asked for.  

What is trust?  Is it believing that God will keep me from harm and trouble?  Is it believing that when I'm suffering he will relieve me?  Is it believing that God will grant me a relatively happy and care-free life?  If you had asked me last semester, I wouldn't have said that this was really what I believed about trust.  But this past month's experiences with suffering have shown me otherwise.

This past month I have gone through the hardest period of time in my life so far.  I don't mean to sound overly dramatic.  The details of this struggle don't really matter.  The short of it is this.  I was suddenly overcome every morning when I woke up with the most horrible, uncontrollable fear and anxiety I have ever experienced.  For almost a month, I didn't want to get out of bed in the mornings.  I couldn't eat most of the time.  I vomited regularly.  I couldn't spend a moment by myself at my apartment.  I made multiple visits to the doctor and tried various medicines to help.  I read God's Word but felt that God had forsaken me.  I pursued counseling and help from anyone and everyone.  I struggled to believe that a good God wouldn't respond immediately to my cries for help.  And yet throughout this whole time, I longed for heaven more than I ever have before.  Through this desperate period of time, God began to teach me what trust really is.  

Trust is NOT believing that God will keep me from harm or trouble.  He COULD, because he is able.  But if he doesn't keep me from harm, he will give me the grace to sustain me through it.  He will give me the grace I need for ANYTHING he allows in my path.  He will provide me with HIMSELF.

Trust is NOT believing that he will always relieve me from suffering.  He COULD, because he is able.  But if he chooses not to, he is still GOOD.  He always does what is for my good and his glory.  Do I really believe that with all my heart when I'm in the midst of suffering?  He is GOOD.  He is most glorified in my suffering or he wouldn't be allowing it!

Trust is NOT believing that God will grant me a relatively happy and care-free life.  He COULD, because he able.  But even during times of great mourning and pain, he can give me the ability to REJOICE because of the gospel.  I have been rescued from my greatest problem through Christ's blood!  I have been healed of my worst disease! I have been credited the righteousness of Christ!  I have been granted an eternal reward in heaven!  This world of pain, sickness, tears and death is not my home.  Praise Him!

No matter what trial I face, no matter what suffering I experience, no matter what struggle or sin I fight daily, God's grace is sufficient for every minute, for every hour, for every day.  The answer to a struggling spirit is nothing short of a thankful heart.  Thanking the Lord for what he has given me, and not dwelling on what I have to do without.  Thanking the Lord for what he has saved me from, and not dwelling on what he is allowing me to experience.

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again:  Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you."  Philippians 4:4-9

Even in our sufferings, Lord, let us be content, knowing that you are doing a greater work than we can even fathom.  Let us trust you truly and fully.  Thank you that you always work for our good and your glory.  Give us the ability to believe your Word and rely on you, even in our greatest struggles.

"Thou hast disarmed me of the means in which I trusted, 
and I have no strength but in thee.  

Thou alone canst hold back my evil ways, 
but without thy grace to sustain me I fall.  
Satan's darts quickly inflame me, and the shield that should quench them easily drops from my hand:  
Empower me against his wiles and assaults. 

Keep me sensible of my weakness, and of my dependence upon thy strength.  

Let every trial teach me more of thy peace, more of thy love.  

Thy Holy Spirit is given to increase thy graces and I cannot preserve or improve them 
unless he works continually in me.  

May he confirm my trust in thy promised help, 
and let me walk humbly in dependence upon thee, for Jesus' sake."

Valley of Vision:  "Grace in Trials"

        __________________

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians 4:16-18


Written by Emily Kurtz.

20/20 Conference

Last weekend, Crosspoint college students made the 5 hour trip to Wake Forest, NC to attend the 20/20 Collegiate Conference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The theme of the conference this year was "The Scriptures Come to Life," and we sat under teaching that consistently emphasized a high view of Scripture where Christ is central. Students were able to see how from the book of Genesis all the way to Revelation, God's word points to Christ. Genesis 3:15 gives the first promise that a messiah would come to crush the head of Satan, and the rest of Scripture demonstrates how God is fulfilling His promises in Christ.

The worship music was also extremely Christ-honoring, and our group enjoyed participating in this time of corporate singing. Jesse, who is on staff with Generation LINK, is pictured above.

Part of the conference included breakout sessions where students could attend talks on the topic of their choice. Above is Pastor Jeremy speaking to a group of students in his session called "What does the Bible say about my future vocation?"


Another breakout session that stood out was one entitled, "Is the God of the Old Testament a moral monster?" During this talk, Jeremy Evans spoke about specific passages in the Old Testament that are difficult to understand, continually pointing out the grace of God in the midst of difficult and horrific circumstances. One of the challenges he gave us was to seek answers to the difficult questions because many times it's our laziness that prevents our understanding. Of course our pursuit of understanding must be always rooted in a deep trust in the character and trustworthiness of our great God.


Posted by Savannah Stone

A Church Growing and Reaching

One of my personal blessings in working with Generation LINK is the insight I have into the church body through the assimilation of new members.  I count it a privilege to give oversight to the membership process at Crosspoint and thoroughly enjoy seeing new people join our elders and congregation to further the gospel in Clemson and around the world.  Last week, Crosspoint held its membership class, Discovering Crosspoint, to educate potential members of the church’s history, beliefs, vision, and structure.  It is a blessing to be able to sit under our pastors’ teaching in the class throughout the year and be regularly reminded not only of God’s provision for his church, but also of his grace to us as individuals, most amazingly demonstrated by his salvation and sanctification of his people.  God has been so faithful to provide hearts and hands for the ministry of Crosspoint since its start in 2005, and it is a gift to witness his continued provision by bringing new members to the body who will serve and glorify his name!


Written by Andrew Gunter

A few years ago CrossPoint began the Shepherd Mentor Program for the kids living in a nearby government subsidized apartment complex.  Since then, a few mentors have moved away along with the person who organized and started the program.  This year, some of the current mentors and I have been trying to re-recruit and re-organize the program.   Last semester we revised our applications, logo, flyers, and training system.  We held an informational meeting and two training classes.  We now have a few new interested mentors and are waiting to receive mentee applications so they can be matched. The goal of this mentorship program is to build relationships that demonstrate Christ’s love, continually share and reflect the gospel, and set a Godly example for kids to follow.  Please pray that the Lord would provide great matches so that relationships can be built and kids can see the gospel reflected in our mentors’ lives.  Pray that the gospel will transform lives as a result of the mentoring program.

Posted by: Caroline Cole

Generation LINK Mid Year Retreat

At the halfway point of serving a year with Generation LINK, Jeremy Chasteen likes to reward his staff with a getaway. For the past three years, Generation LINK staff has had the blessing of spending four days together in Gatlinburg, TN.

Eighteen Generation LINK staff along with Jeremy Chasteen’s family and myself (making 25 people total!) spent December 18^th-21^st, 2011 on our mid-year retreat. We all stayed in one (large) cabin and enjoyed sitting around the fireplace, talking, laughing, and playing games together. We had a few heated rounds of mafia but don’t worry, no friendships were ruined! We also had several meetings in which we took time to hear a personal and ministry update from each Generation LINK staff and then encouraged that person with evidences of God’s grace that we see in their lives. I think that everyone would say these meetings were incredibly edifying to them personally and to the team as a whole. We also spent a morning evaluating our own personal walk with the Lord and our ministry area and set some goals for the new year. In addition, we gave Generation LINK staff the opportunity to give feedback and evaluate the Generation LINK program as a whole.

Some other highlights of the week for me were eating (a lot!), ice skating, and singing together. Most significantly, the retreat was an opportunity to get good quality time together and bond as a staff team. I pray that as we are faithful to fellowship with one another, we will “[bear] with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2b-3).

If you are interested in learning more about the Generation LINK program, please visit our website at www.generation-link.org or email Jenna (Generation LINK Assistant Director) at jwayment@generation-link.org or Jeremy (Generation LINK Director) at jeremy@crosspointclemson.org.

Posted by Jenna Wayment

Rags to Riches

"God chose what is low and despised in the world" 1Corinthians 1:28

Walk the streets by moonlight, if you dare, and you will see sinners then. Watch when the night is dark, and the wind is howling, and the picklock is grating in the door, and you will see sinners then. Go to yon jail, and walk through the wards, and mark the men with heavy over-hanging brows, men whom you would not like to meet at night, and there are sinners there. Go to the Reformatories, and note those who have betrayed a rampant juvenile depravity, and you will see sinners there. Go across the seas to the place where a man will gnaw a bone upon which is reeking human flesh, and there is a sinner there. Go where you will, you need not ransack earth to find sinners, for they are common enough; you may find them in every lane and street of every city, and town, and village, and hamlet. It is for such that Jesus died. If you will select me the grossest specimen of humanity, if he be but born of woman, I will have hope of him yet, because Jesus Christ is come to seek and to save sinners. Electing love has selected some of the worst to be made the best. Pebbles of the brook grace turns into jewels for the crown-royal. Worthless dross He transforms into pure gold. Redeeming love has set apart many of the worst of mankind to be the reward of the Saviour's passion. Effectual grace calls forth many of the vilest of the vile to sit at the table of mercy, and therefore let none despair.
Reader, by that love looking out of Jesus' tearful eyes, by that love streaming from those bleeding wounds, by that faithful love, that strong love, that pure, disinterested, and abiding love; by the heart and by the bowels of the Saviour's compassion, we conjure you turn not away as though it were nothing to you; but believe on Him and you shall be saved. Trust your soul with Him and He will bring you to His Father's right hand in glory everlasting.
—Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Praise be to Jesus that we who are sinners, who are dressed in the rags of our own despicable works, are redeemed by an Almighty Merciful God!  We are the sinners that Spurgeon speaks of, but we are also the saints that he speaks of too, because we have been purchased by the blood of a spotless lamb.  Our God shed his tears and his blood for us so that we who are low may be lifted high.  But can we merely rejoice in our own salvation and not cry over those who continue in their trespasses and sin?  No, of course not!  We should be moved in the same way our Savior is moved, because we share His Spirit.  We are constantly being transformed into the image of Christ, therefore what saddens him, saddens us, and what makes him joyful, makes us joyful.  We should cry over the lost, but we should also rejoice because we know that it is God who chooses that which is "low and despised in the world".  Praise be to Jesus the Christ!  And let our prayer be for those who do not know Him.  Pray that Christ would strip them of their rags and clothe them in the glorious riches of grace.

Soli Deo gloria,

Sean Alford

Operation Christmas Child

Each year, CrossPoint partners with Samaritan’s Purse to collect shoeboxes from the Clemson community for Operation Christmas Child. Thousands of shoeboxes filled with toys, toiletries, school supplies, and a gospel track are sent to remote parts of the world where upon receiving the boxes, children are presented with the message of the gospel and in some countries offered the opportunity to participate in a 12 week discipleship program.


CrossPoint had a church fellowship last Wednesday night where we packed shoeboxes and wrapped them together. This is always a fun event that we do each year to serve Operation Christmas Child. This year as a church we collected close to 200 boxes.

We also serve as a drop-off location for other churches and organizations in the area. On Monday we sent about 1700 boxes to Anderson, where they will continue to travel to a distribution center before being sent all over the world. It is a joy to help in a small part of such a big mission where so many children will receive a gift of love to lift their spirits this Christmas, and most importantly the opportunity to hear about the love of Christ.

posted by: Caroline Cole