When facilitating a SLAM event, we place a heavy emphasis on studying the Word of God.  Though a large portion of our program is geared towards young people serving those in need, we cannot adequately serve the needy without a heart full of the Word that spills out into service.  Amidst our numerous opportunities to serve the needy this spring, we were careful to ensure that SLAM participants had multiple times per day to study the Word of God.

During the typical spring break weeks, SLAM facilitated mission efforts for seven different churches and nearly 200 participants.  These young people worked at and cleaned 80 elderly apartments and homes while also helping to establish eight gardens for marginalized communities and families.  In the midst of these work heavy projects, SLAM also facilitated two kid’s festivals for refugee and immigrant children.

As the SLAM students spent their time serving their needy neighbors in Nashville, TN and Columbus, OH this spring, they did so under the encouragement of learning God’s Word and applying it to their every day life.  Thank you to all the youth for using your spring break to be a doer of God’s word! Thank you to all the youth leaders who joined us this spring in an effort to teach young people the Word of God both through ‘hearing’ and ‘doing.’  May God be with you and your groups as you continue to live a mission.

The weekend had a distinctive intention: study the bible. And we did for 15 hours in a 2-day period. Gregg Garner was the main speaker for the weekend, and was excited to see the students’ determination to become biblically literate.

While focusing on 3 specific scriptures (Matthew 7, 13, and John 3), Gregg taught canonically explaining how the entire Bible is connected. The weekend began with a challenge from Matthew 7 to choose the narrow road that leads to life instead of the broad road that leads to destruction. It was educational and a unique experience to see God’s word relate with so many young people!

During the day on Saturday, the students began studying Matthew 13 in which Jesus teaches his disciples to be good soil that receives the Word as opposed to the hard path, rocky soil, and thorns that do not sustain the Word. They spent the rest of the day discussing their many questions and shared experiences as youth in relation to the taught scriptures. Saturday night, specifically, was special as students showed their desire to learn as they insisted Bible Study continued up to midnight!

The final teaching of the weekend, Sunday morning, focused on Jesus’ dialogue with Nicodemus (John 3).  Students were encouraged to experience a birth that comes from above which gives new life via the person of Jesus.  Each of these teachings were reviewed, discussed in breakout groups, and pondered often by the conference participants.  It was more than a conference; it was an experience.

Below are a few testimonies from the participants:

I have learned a lot from all of the SLAM staff members.  I don’t care to be myself here.  I always get so energetic and happy here.

- Miles Edens Knoxville, TN

Thank you so much for spreading and teaching me the word of God.  You guys truly have the spirit of God and are a good example of how to live the way God intends us to live.  I have learned so much and want to continue this journey of learning and following God.

– Steven Chigumira Nashville, TN

Thanks for the wonderful lessons you guys have given to me this weekend.

– David Wells Greencastle, IN

I had an awesome time hanging out with everyone and getting encouraged to walk the “narrow” path into life.

– Matt James Hilliard, OH

The work projects varied in activities but all took place within a 5-mile radius of each other.  Two of the groups did yard work for the elderly and disabled while another group spent the day organizing storage for a Christian Outreach Ministry.  The final group worked in a community garden in a low-income neighborhood.

Thank you to all who served with SLAM on Saturday!  Pictures of the event can be scene in the media section of the SLAM website or by clicking this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/42536547@N06/sets/72157627705064860/

by: Ty Mathews

Lawrence & Josephine Ssemakula are teachers with a family of six in Bombo Town, Uganda.  Lawrence and his wife have been cooperatives of SLAM’s in Uganda since 2004.  Their 12-year-old daughter, Queen is a very intelligent young lady that aspires to be a doctor some day.

Recently, Queen became very ill and so weak that she was unable to walk. The family immediately took her to the local hospital in Bombo Town for treatment.  Due to minimal access to the proper diagnostic equipment, the hospital gave their best guess of common diseases such as Malaria and Typhoid, yet she increasingly became more ill.

Simultaneously, God was doing something in the heart of a high school senior by the name of Hannah Lee from Mount Carmel United Methodist Church in Clarksville, TN.  Hannah was a participant in a SLAM mission week in Nashville, TN this summer and was inspired to put her faith into action by helping those in need.  Upon returning home from her trip, Hannah organized a car wash as a fundraiser to help SLAM meet some of the needs she became aware of on her trip.

When SLAM became aware of the severity of the situation with Lawrence and Josephine’s child in Uganda, the funds were accessed from Hannah’s car wash.   SLAM utilized the funds raised by Hannah to transport Queen to Uganda’s best health care facility, Kampala International Hospital.  This hospital performed the correct tests to properly diagnose Queen’s sickness.  It was there that the family learned she was suffering from a case of Hepatitis and that Queen also had iron deposits in her liver. Due to her Sickle-Cell Anemia, her sickness was worsened and required immediate response.

Through utilizing Hannah’s funds, SLAM was also able to send Queen to a sickle-cell specialist to prevent another episode from happening.  Had Queen not worked with this specialist, her hemoglobin levels would have dropped significantly causing her to have a blood transfusion (blood transfusions in Africa are often unsanitary and the cause of many deaths).

We live in a world that requires the people of God to use money for the good of others. As Ephesians 4 would tell us, “to give to the needy.” The LORD is so good. In a time of need for Lawrence’s family, Hannah listened to the LORD. We are thankful for God for healing Quinn and thankful to Hannah for obeying the LORD to give to those in need.

Please continue to pray for Quinn as she will continually be monitored as she manages her Sickle Cell anemia.

by: Ty Mathews

We Believe! We believe in the power of God’s word to transform our hearts, lives, communities, and churches. As dry as “conference” may sound, this event will renew your heart. These annual conferences are for youth. You will spend hours studying the Bible, engaging in discussion relevant to your experiences! We hope to see you soon so sign up now.

Event Details:

Dates: December 16-18, 2011
Location: Nashville, TN
For: Young people ages 16-22
Keynote Speaker: Gregg Garner, Founder of G.O.D. Int’l
What: A weekend of intensive Bible study and fellowship with our youth from around the nation.

Cost:

before Oct 31: $100
after Oct 31: $145

Arrival/Departure:

Arrival: Friday, December 16th @ 7pm
Departure: Sunday, December 18th @ 4pm
Location: SLAM HQ
Location: 401 Center St. Old Hickory, TN 37138

Application:

To register click here

Contact:

With questions e-mail studentmissions@slamweb.org or call (615) 832-2470

Dates: November 17-19, 2011

For: Adult Youth Leaders

What: Join other youth leaders from around the country for a weekend of Bible study, discussion, and workshops.  This time is designed to renew youth leaders via the Word of God in order that they might bring life to a generation of young people in need.  Sign-up now, only 25 spots available!

Keynote Speaker: Gregg Garner, Founder of G.O.D. Int’l

Cost by Sept. 30: $150

Cost after Sept. 30: $195

To register click here

With questions e-mail studentmissions@slamweb.org or call (615) 832-2470