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Redeemed Ministries Benefit
August 22, 2009
by Christi Stewart
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 At the beginning of the summer, several of us including Sarah Holley, Shelby Richards, Kailey Massey, and myself began to pray about the way we could be used by God as soon as possible. We had had such a great time being used by Him, helping with a garage sale to benefit a new widow and her young children earlier that spring. We all agreed we wanted to do some kind of another benefit at the beginning of the year, but we were unsure for whom, where, and when. As we prayed about it, and talked about it, we eventually came upon the idea to have a pool party which would serve as a great beginning of the school year event and also welcome the new students to NCS. We decided that the ministry we believed God wanted us to put our time and money towards was Redeemed Ministries, an anti-human trafficking organization which works to increase awareness about modern day slavery in our area. So we found the location, set the date--August 22 (the day after the huge event where the football players went with Redeemed Ministries to the brothels and prayed over them)--and began to ask people to help us.
 My parents, Kim and Bob Stewart, ever so graciously donated the funds necessary to rent the pool place and to provide food for everyone. I was absolutely amazed and so thankful at my parents’ willingness to help us with this. It honestly touched me more than most anything. The fact that my parents were willing to give up hard-earned things, that aren’t so easy to come by in today’s world right now, truly showed their honest heart for God. I truly believe that they have their priorities about the importance of money down very well. I can only hope that I am the same way about what God blesses me with someday.
Many people worked hard to make sure that this party would be a success. Students involved did announcements, passed out flyers, told their families to come, and many other things. Our parents and teachers, like Rich Reaves, were praying for us consistently, and helping us get everything that we needed. Rich Reaves even organized a way for there to be live Christian music by Aaron Friedman at the end of the party. Dennis Mark, the main leader of Redeemed Ministries, was also supposed to be there, to help spread knowledge and awareness about human trafficking, and just how much it really happens.
 Then came the day of the pool party. Everything was crazy! A bunch of moms and their kids came over to my house, including Jared Woods, his mom, all the girls I mentioned earlier, and several others to do whatever they could to help out. The teens made posters and other decorations, and then everyone drove all of the supplies over to the pool place to set up. We all worked for the first hour, taking tickets and serving food, but after the first hour the kids who were helping decided to swim with everyone else. It was so much fun!
Later, a mini-worship service took place. Dennis Mark got up to speak about Redeemed Ministries, and inspired many students to give their time to helping that ministry this year. Then there was a time of worship where Aaron got out his acoustic guitar and sang a few worship songs. It was amazing. I have never worshiped God in a more unusual place than in that swimming pool. It was so amazing, and so encouraging. You could obviously feel God’s spirit coming down to be with his children that were gathered there together, lifting up His name. And we were in a pool!!! How cool is that?
Over all, the pool party was a great success. Over $350 was raised to help the people held captive as slaves. More importantly, I believe, many people heard about this that didn’t even know it was going on. The more people that know about this terrible thing going on in our own city, the less it will happen. I am completely confident that God will use the awareness being spread to do great things. He is strong enough to deliver us from death; surely he can and will deliver his people from this terrible sin if we ask Him to. |
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