From Ernie and Judy Scalabrin
We have been very excited as our relationship building among the lost families continues to bear fruit for the kingdom in so many ways. One way, is in our two public school Bible Clubs. One in our local middle/elementary school and our other one in our local regional high school which serves four towns including our own! Thanks to the Alliance Defense Fund legal team, we have been able to continue our first club AND start the second one despite school administrators blocking it. It is exciting to think of how much more we could do with the right funding. According to the Supreme Court, there is no school we legally could not get into as long as they allow other community groups to use their facilities.
We have seen more than 8 children put their trust in Christ in the past year. Young people are inviting their friends who are believers and who are not. The vast majority in the communities are not. And now we also use these clubs to disciple them and further impact their families and friends.
As we have won the trust over many years with families in our community, it overflows to other families who they know. Some of the young people we have known since they were in pre-school are now in high school. The fact that they feel comfortable coming to a Bible study that is different from their own church or non-churched background doesn't happen overnight. The ability then to share spiritual truths with them like the Gospel has far more weight because of the years of relational investment in a community.
It is so very precious to see young people hearing the Gospel for the very first time and responding eagerly to Jesus! Getting them started in their walks with God and answering their many questions. Helping them to deal with a world that is increasingly hostile to the Christian faith! They need to be grounded in the truth of God's Word and be able to give a loving response of grace and truth to the world around them more than ever.