The end of week seven means the countdown of our days left at project has begun. Everyone is trying to soak up the remainder of their time here with one another. Our free days have been filled with beach and pool time, pickleball, and exploring the area. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that we only have a little more than a week left in South Carolina. It’s sad to think that our time together at project is running out, but that’s also what makes time the most precious gift. Going into week eight, I will definitely try to live in the moment and enjoy the blessing that is summer training project.
Because we must inevitably think about returning home soon, this week’s theme training was on discipleship. This training was very applicable and helped prepare our hearts for any discipleship we may do once back on campus. The talk was given by Bryce, who explained how a disciple knows the truth, loves, and bears fruit. A point that stuck out to me was that love can be shown through a person’s use of time. As disciples, we must invest our time in the church and loving people intentionally.
Our evangelism training this week was led by Stephanie, who talked about sacrificial intentionality. The main three points that Steph highlighted were that a gospel-centered identity leads us to live sacrificially out of love, sacrificial living is displayed by becoming all things to all people, and sacrifices are all gains, not losses. When our identities are gospel-centered, our sacrifices become motivated by love and selflessness instead of mere obligation. This is much more fulfilling and dissipates the sacrificial feeling. It is also one way I have seen myself grow this summer. The reasons for my sacrifices, big and small, have changed from things I felt expected to do, to things I want to do out of love. This points to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and the infinite amount of love he has for us.
This week’s social the Peg Leg team chose to have a music-themed social. The highlight of the evening was creating music videos for a song we got to pick within the genre our group was assigned. We had country, rap, R&B, pop, and 80s. All groups had an hour and forty-five minutes to film and edit the video. We had a viewing party to decide the winners, followed by line and swing dancing. Everyone enjoyed themselves and everyone had a blast dancing together and enjoyed the music!
Word training this week was led by Cole and he spoke on how God’s word shapes our prayer life. Cole started by sharing how God’s word – the Bible – is his way of communicating with us and us praying is our way of communicating with Him. Knowing this we should pray often and know that he is really listening to us. Sometimes when we pray it feels like we are talking to nothing but in reality, he is intently listening to us and loves to hear what we say.
Something that has been a fruitful part of our weekly routines here at project is our discipleship groups. Every Wednesday, room leaders lead their roommates through intentional time spent together in discipleship. Having the time to slow down and pour into one another is something I have appreciated very much. It created a space where we felt comfortable leaning into vulnerability and as a result, brought our room closer together. Our discipleship groups have shown me what it means to uplift and support one another as fellow Christians. In Hebrews chapter 10 we are told, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” The fellowship I have experienced at project fills my heart with gratitude and encourages me to strive to be a light for others.
This summer is the first time that I have participated in a discipleship group, and it has been one of the biggest blessings of my time here. Getting to know the girls I live with on a deeper level through discipleship group has been so sweet and our connection is so strong, and I know we will stay in touch for years to come. Reading the Bible together has helped us to practice the inductive method in a group setting and have a greater confidence in doing it. This group is also the first group I have confessed to. Through this these girls have all listened, prayed, held accountable, and encouraged each other in things that we have opened about.
As always, stay tuned for more updates!
- Ethnee and Sabrina
