Discipleship at Work

“At a young age God called me to him and I have carried this burden of needing to bring other people to Him since,” said Megan Hulling. She knows we’re all called to do that, but she thinks God gave her a special yearning in her heart for it. Megan said it was really hard for her to get people to come to church with her though. Every time she would invite someone, it seemed like they had excuse after excuse.

Then she and her husband Nick visited Chets in January of last year. “I knew there was something special about the people who were at Chets,” said Megan. “They were actively pursuing relationships for the sake of Christ.” That was something God was encouraging Megan and Nick to do as well.

After attending a few weeks, they tried out a LifeGroup where Megan learned about a discipleship program for women called triads. “My life was changed dramatically through discipleship,” said Megan. “I was Bible studied out. I didn’t want to lead people to another Bible study.” She was longing for a way to invest in deeper relationships for the sake of the gospel. Disciple triads offered her that opportunity.

Megan said her first triad came together really organically. Kristin and Ellen were women she knew from her gym. They had already done a Mark Batterson book club together and both were asking questions about God and faith.

“So, I’ve got this year long book thing I want to do with you. It’s an hour and a half each week.” She said Kristen and Ellen were both eager to be a part of it. They were hungry to connect, to find truth, purpose, and healing.

“I didn’t know exactly what I was doing but I prayed the Holy Spirit would lead us.” Megan said it’s been incredible to see God at work. Both Kristin and Ellen have come to faith in Christ, have been baptized, and are growing in their faith.

Megan was surprised to hear there were other women who’d heard about the triad and wanted to know more. That’s when Megan realized people were having discipleship FOMO (fear of missing out). “This is what the gospel should be doing, you should want what Jesus has for you” said Megan. We should see people’s lives so transformed by the gospel that everyone else wants that same thing.

She said being a part of a triad was a huge encouragement to her faith as well. She recalled a chapter on the armor of God and the impact learning about the belt of truth has had in her own life. “When the lies of the world come, putting on the belt of truth has radically changed my life,” she said.

“I think a lot of people are really scared because they feel awkward, or don’t have the time or don’t feel equipped to disciple” said Megan. But God can use you if you’re willing. Megan recently started a new triad with two more women and she’s excited for how God is going to work through this new group. “It can be complicated, but it’s amazing,” she said.

Megan gets it now. She can invite people to church, but she can also invite them to be part of her life through discipleship. It’s an opportunity to share God with people in a very real way said Megan. “I fell in love with discipleship because I fell in love with the long term change it makes.”

Fanning the Flame

“God does not burn out. Let Him use me to add to His family” was the prayer of one woman after attending IF:Gathering 2018. Over 200 women from all of our campuses experienced a weekend of teaching, discipleship, conversations, and encouragement. “There was good teaching, good fellowship, and it was encouraging,” said another woman about the weekend.

Speakers challenged the women to fan the flames of their faith. As one woman put it, “continue being a light or flame even when we feel we aren’t making an inch of difference.” They were inspired to deepen their faith and trust God with everything. “I felt Him speaking to me about obedience and patience and remembering to trust Him in order to strengthen my faith” said one woman.

Throughout the weekend, they spent time in each other’s homes talking together about what God was teaching them and sharing their success and struggles. I was reminded “God is working all things out for His good, it’s been difficult, but I know He’s at the helm” said one woman.

They encouraged one another to remain near to God and endure in the everyday. As another woman put it, “to not be weary but remember what God has done, is doing, and what He will do.” They were challenged “to be bolder, step out of fear and into faith.”

Consistency in reading the Bible is another thing many women said they needed to get back to after being challenged throughout the weekend. God showed me I need to “have accountability and be intentional about daily reading scripture and spending time with Jesus” said one woman. Another said, “getting back into scripture on a daily basis. Being more intentional at home sharing the Word of God”

Over the weekend, women were challenged to look around and identify others they could share God with through discipleship. After the weekend, one woman said, “I feel God calling me to look at the opportunities for discipleship right where I am, right now instead of waiting for better times or conditions.” I need to “reach out to the people God placed on my heart to disciple” said another woman.

Everyone enjoyed spending time with each other and having real conversations about life and faith. “I love the time learning and growing with other women” said one of the attendees. God used the IF:Gathering to change lives and help women across all of the Chets campuses connect with each other.

If you want to build relationships with other women and grow in your relationship with Christ, then you don’t want to miss IF:Gathering 2019. Discover how you can daily choose to trust God with the big and the small. And learn how leaning on God’s understanding and way of life is always better than our own. To sign up visit chetscreek.com/if-gathering before March 29.

Together - THRIVE 2019

“The church is a whole, not separate, and was designed to be that way. We are the next generation and we can only have a revival if we work together.” This is what God revealed to one student who attended our Chets Students annual THRIVE Weekend. This year, 222 students and leaders from all four of our campuses came together for a weekend of fun, worship, and discipleship. Students connected with God, built relationships with each other, and were challenged to live together in Christ centered community.

Even though we are each gifted uniquely and individually, we are better together. One student said, “God showed me that being together is important no matter how different you are.” Students put their differences aside for the weekend and recognized, the most important thing to have in common is Christ.

Through large group teaching and small group discussion, students were reminded that true togetherness comes from being a part of the family of God and can only happen if we’re willing to love each other as Christ demonstrated. God has called us to live together for the purpose of drawing people close to Him. Students were reminded that God’s plan for them is to be united by their love for Jesus.

Pastor Muche Ukegbu, pastor of our church plant partner in Miami, The Brooke Church, came again this year. He too encouraged students that being together is important, saying “The church isn’t like a family it is a family.”

Many students said that idea finally clicked for them this weekend. “God showed me the church is family” said one student. Another said, “I learned so many new things about how to connect with my church family.”

One of the ways students connected with each other was during their community group time. They spent time building relationships with each other and learning about what Biblical togetherness actually means.

They also came together for worship led by the Ascension Worship team. “My favorite part of THRIVE was worship when we were all singing louder than the music,” said one student. The powerful voices of the students raised together in unity was incredible.

But THRIVE wouldn’t be THRIVE without some healthy competition. Each team fought to win the coveted THRIVE cup throughout the weekend doing everything they could to prove their team had the most spirit, showed servanthood, and leadership.

Teams got to show off their creativity and competitive nature as each team worked together to fashion race cars out of cardboard boxes and competed against each other in the THRIVE 500. It wasn’t your typical competition though. As each team competed, the other teams cheered them on as a true family.

Throughout the weekend students grew closer to each other and closer to God. When asked how God spoke to them at Thrive, here’s how they responded:

“God told me to look around and see that all of these people are people he gave me, and I need to treasure them and be thankful for them.”

“That it's important to involve yourself in the community and to be there for each other like a family.”

“He showed me that meaningful and deep conversations can bring us closer together and we can all bring different aspects to the group.” 

“To bring God’s love to people we must love them openly ourselves.”

“Don’t think that you are useless because your strengths are important to the church.”

Our students and leaders had an incredible weekend praying together, worshiping together, having fun together, and being reminded of the importance of community. Pray that our students would continue to grow in community and remember the importance of being together.

Church Plant Updates

God is at work all around the world and we get to be a part of it! Check out these updates from our current church planting partners.

The Bridge Church was established in 2014, in Brooklyn, New York. It exists to help the people of Brooklyn connect to God, grow with family, and serve their city. Over the past year they’ve built relationships with those in their city through different events and partnerships. They had over 350 attend a day party they threw with live performances, a DJ, food, and a photo booth. They donated notebooks and backpacks to a local elementary school. They also hosted a joint worship night with another church in Brooklyn. Throughout the year they celebrated incredible life change as people committed to following Jesus and being baptized. In 2019, they hope to expand their City Groups from four to eight locations, build out toolkits, training videos, and materials needed to empower their teams to collaborate, and roll out a new website. As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for The Bridge Church:

• Pray they would be able to create more spaces and events to reach people in their community.

• Pray that they would press into God's call to do less activity and exercise more care for the health of their members.

• Pray that God would reveal where they should expand to next. 

The Brook Church launched in Miami, Florida in 2015. They desire to advance the gospel in Miami and throughout the nations. In 2018 they had a lot to celebrate but also a lot to mourn. They baptized three people and began their 2580 initiative to saturate the North-Dade corridor with a greater presence for a greater gospel witness and restoration. They partnered with a local elementary school to redo their teacher’s lounge and partnered with a local non-profit. They handed out over 1000 backpacks for kids going back to school and 400 turkeys during thanksgiving week. A few of their key leaders transitioned to different churches and ministry callings across the country. They also had two members tragically die. They adopted a church plant in their city whose pastor was called out of Miami and through that merger acquired an executive pastor. As they look to 2019, they plan to host the annual paint something beautiful block party, church in the park, and justice symposiums with community leaders. They also hope to launch a leadership pipeline. As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for The Brook Church:

• Pray for the implementation and success of the 2580 strategy.

• Pray for relational wholeness for their community.

• Pray for greater financial investment from church members and attenders.

• Pray for greater margin among leaders.

Église21 in Magog is located outside of Montreal, Canada. It’s in a location where less than 1% of the population consider themselves evangelical Christians. Established in 2015, they seek to be a church where people can discover the truth about Jesus and be transformed by His love. God is working in incredible ways there in Magog. Last year they hosted over 150 young adults for a conference where they heard about what Jesus means to their generation. God transformed the lives of several people there. There are some big changes they are praying for in 2019. They hope to hire a family pastor, a connection groups coordinator, and a training coordinator. The Magog Theater where they meet was damaged and needs restoration work. They also want to redevelop their administrative offices. As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for Église21:

• Pray that God would bring the funds they need to make these changes in 2019.

• Pray that lives will be transformed through the life-changing gospel.

• Pray that that God would continue to be glorified through the people of Église21.

Grace Alive launched in Orlando, Florida in 2017. They are a movement for all people to discover, deepen, and display their relationship with Jesus. This past year they’ve seen growth in their community groups. Community Groups exist to fulfill the mission of the church through regular gatherings for Bible study, community, accountability, and service to their city. Throughout the year they hosted Dinner with the Pastors meetings. These are opportunities for people to have their questions answered, hear a little bit about Grace Alive, and learn about how the church began. In 2018, Grace Alive has seen many people go public with their faith and be baptized. Those at Grace Church say, baptism declares “Jesus in my place!” Because of the generosity of their people, the mission of making disciples who make disciples that will eventually plant more multiethnic churches is being realized. God is allowing them to impact Orlando with the Gospel! As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for Grace Alive:

• Pray for continued opportunities to reach their community with the gospel.

• Pray for more people to come to a knowledge of who God is.

• Pray for continued growth in Community Groups.

La Chapelle Church in Montreal, Canada is known as a church for those who don't go to church. This past year was one of incredible growth and challenges. In 2018, 74 people professed faith in Christ and were baptized. God is building his church in Montreal one life at a time. This past December they held their biggest Christmas show ever in one of the most famous theaters in Montreal. A lot of energy was put on the show and there were hundreds of volunteers. More than 3,700 people attended who were touched by both the show and the message. The goal was to make people rediscover the real meaning of Christmas. They are facing difficulties with their meeting locations. The media did an article about La Chapelle and talked about our position on homosexuality which is making it difficult for them to find a space willing to allow them to meet there. As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for La Chapelle:

• Pray for the community of la Chapelle Ahuntsic as they search to find a new meeting location. Pray that they find a building.

• Pray that God will strengthen Pastor Josias Laporte and his family as they prepare to move to Gatineau where they will plant a fourth La Chapelle.

• Pray that they would continue to reach those who don’t know Christ and that God would prepare the hearts of each visitor to receive him.

Milestone Church in Natick launched in 2016 and God is at work changing lives there in MetroWest Boston. The people of Milestone Church have seen their neighbors profess Christ and be baptized! They added an additional worship service on Sundays, saw new church planters and leaders begin to surface, began new connections in their community, and planted a new church. God allowed them to inherit a new facility in Wellesley and there are 25 people and two lay leaders already committed to the new location. This past Christmas Eve they held their first gathering in the building and there was standing room only. God is at work! As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for Milestone Church:

• Milestone Church wants to build up their current leaders and raise up future leaders for church planting. Pray for them as they develop these leaders.

• Pray for the new Wellesley location. Pray for the launch team as they prepare and for wisdom as they reach their new community.

New Circle is a church in Indianapolis, Indiana. They desire to grow in their relationship with Christ, develop a deeper community with one another, and live out the Great Commission. In 2018 they averaged nearly 150 people in their Sunday gatherings, celebrated several baptisms, and added new members. This past summer, they purchased their building and have no debt. They also added two new people to their staff. They facilitated mission trips from six different partner churches and sent their own group on mission to an orphanage in Haiti. They helped their community by assisting two people from New Circle launch non-profits and becoming an intake site for free legal help on Sundays. They also gave over $12,000 to help fund new churches and organizations in Indianapolis. As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for New Circle Church:

• Pray that people would get connected during their Community Group relaunch.

• All of the people of New Circle have written down the names of two people that are far from Christ. Pray that they would have an opportunity to share the Gospel with these people and that they would come to Christ.

• Pray for those who currently scheduled to be baptized and for more to be bold in taking that next faith step.

• Pray for the individuals of the multi-housing complex near the building where our church gathers each week and that New Circle can make an impact on their lives.  

Story City Church is in Los Angeles, California with a vision to be for the story of God, for the city of LA. The gospel is at the center of everything they do. #BetterTogetherLA is Story City Church’s generosity initiative to serve the communities that sustain us. When there is a need in our community, we want to run to it and serve. We facilitate this generosity through groups from all over the US who help us fulfill our servant role in our city. In summer of 2018 they hosted #BetterTogetherLA weekend where they had a free backpack giveaway, free head shots, free family photos, free parents’ night out childcare service, free computer repair, free car wash, free minor home renovation projects, foster family day out, and a free mobile health clinic. Life change is happening in their community groups that meet throughout the week to spend time catching up, sharing food, studying the Bible, and praying. This week, Story City celebrates their third birthday! As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for Story City Church:

• Pray they would continue to reach their community with the love of God.

• Pray for them as they celebrate their third birthday this Sunday. They will be having taco trucks after each service with free tacos! Pray for new people to come and for them to connect with others.   

Walk Church launched in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2015 to free people to walk in Jesus. This past year God has been at work in some incredible ways. Forty-four people began relationships with Jesus and 34 people took their next step of faith and were baptized. They hired six new staff members and are praising God for His provision. In 2018, they went from one worship experience to two and averaged over 250 people in attendance. Throughout the year, they fed over 1,000 people in Las Vegas through their Food Pantry. They hosted six mission teams from different partner churches and sent out their first mission team to one of their partner churches. This summer kids from all around the city gathered together for their first ever VBS and students attended their first summer camp. They launched their WALK Church App and through it, seen more engagement. They currently have a church planting couple working with them as apprentices as they plan to launch a church in Las Vegas in 2020. As we move into 2019, here are some of the ways you can pray for Walk Church:

• Pray that God would continue to use Walk Church to free people to walk in Jesus.

• Pray for continued opportunities to serve their community.

• Pray that the community of believers would be bold about sharing their faith with others.

ThankFULL

He had no idea what would come from the thank you note he wrote, all he knew was that he had to write it, and he knew exactly who he needed to write it to.

During our ThankFULL series at Chets, we passed out thank you cards and challenged everyone to write out a thank you and give it to someone. A specific woman came to Mike Russell’s mind during that challenge. That woman was Geri. She was the one to first shared the gospel with Mike and played an instrumental role in his faith journey.

It had been about 2 ½ years since Mike had last seen Geri when he called her in November. Geri’s daughter answered and told him Geri was receiving cancer treatment at Kindred Hospital in Green Cove Springs. Mike and his wife drove down to Green Cove and found her in worse shape than they expected. Although her eyes were open, Geri was not able to communicate. Mike took out the thank you letter he wrote and began to read it to her… 

Dear Geri,

I called your house the other day and Sue told me you were at Kindred Hospital in Green Cove Springs. Diane and I immediately decided we wanted to come visit you.

I want to thank you for being such a great friend over these last 40 years. Back in the late ‘70’s when I showed up at Alderman Park Apartments and asked if you would like a bid regarding painting your apartments, you pretty quickly offered me the job. I was always impressed with your positive approach to life and how nice you were to people.

(At the time, Mike owned an apartment painting business and came across Geri while making cold calls.)

It didn’t take you long to start telling me about Jesus Christ. I would classify myself as an agnostic at that time in my life. I basically didn’t care if there was a God or not.

(Mike started drinking in high school at the age of 17 and continued to abuse alcohol and drugs until he was 34. Still in the middle of abusing drugs and alcohol, Mike said Geri could tell he was hurting and that he needed the Lord. Geri continued sharing the truth of the gospel with Mike even though he didn’t want to think about God.)

Fast forward to 1985. I was a patient at the Care Unit in Jacksonville Beach. I realized I was an alcoholic and that I wanted to stop. It was a very difficult time in my life. You came to visit me, which was a tremendous encouragement. You gave me my first Bible at that time (which I still have and will forever cherish).

After getting sober, I wanted to know the answers to life’s most important questions. Why am I here? Who created this world? What is the purpose of life? I eventually found out those answers. On June 29, 1986 I asked Jesus into my heart and became a Christian.

(When you’re not sober, you’re not thinking about big life things. “When you get sober, you begin to wonder about things because you’re not numbing your brain every night” said Mike. During this time, Mike was working for a trucking company and met another woman, Betty, who sensed he was searching for truth. Mike began going to a Bible study she led and also started going to church with her. “The more I learned about the Bible, the more I knew it was true” said Mike. One Sunday he asked Betty, “when do you know it’s time” and that day he gave his life to the Lord. The truth that Geri had shared years before had finally taken root.)

Geri, I want you to know that you played a HUGE part in my salvation. Thank you so much for investing the time in me so that I was able to come to Christ.

Love in Christ,

Mike Russell

After finishing the letter, Mike and Diane spent some time praying with Geri believing that she heard them. “I am very grateful that we were able to spend a little time with Geri and to thank her for the impact she has had on my life” said Mike.

Mike and his wife Diane

You see, a few weeks ago, Geri passed away. Although it’s sad she’s not here anymore, Mike said it’s good knowing she’s no longer in pain and there’s hope because he’ll see her again someday.

“You have those people along the way that plant seeds” said Mike. In his life, a whole lot of those seeds were planted by Geri. He says unlike Geri, he may not tell everyone in the grocery store about Jesus. But he is willing to share the truth of the gospel to his own family and the other people God puts in his life.

A Place to Belong

Imagine visiting a place thinking you would be there for a day or two of vacation and then waking up one day having lived there for a year and a half. That’s what happened to Claudia, Pablo, Sofia, Mateo, and Alejandro (names changed for security).

When Claudia and her family first came to Jacksonville from Venezuela in 2017, they had no intention of staying. They came to visit an Uncle who lived here and then were planning to settle somewhere in Orlando or Miami. But as Claudia said, “God had a different plan.”

God opened the door for them to get an apartment and Mateo and Sofia enrolled in school knowing no English. “Everything was done by God,” said Claudia.

Each day Claudia brought Mateo and Sofia to school and every day when she crossed the street the crossing guard was really nice. Claudia assumed she was from the U.S. but after hearing her speak Spanish, she found out she was also Venezuelan. They began talking and Maria (the crossing guard) invited Claudia to come to ESL class with her at Chets Creek Church on Monday nights. Claudia thought it would be helpful for her to practice pronunciation and would be good for her husband, Pablo, as well.

In late 2017, their family attended ESL. Claudia said they immediately felt really comfortable. After meeting their teachers, engaging with other classmates, listening to Abel’s devotion, and hearing how much fun the kids had in their group, Claudia knew they’d be back.

“My kids love to come,” said Claudia, “I cannot explain. It was something amazing, they kept asking, ‘please can we go again to church tonight?’” So they kept coming on Mondays and started coming on Wednesday nights too.

After being in the United States for just a short time, Claudia learned she was six months pregnant. “I had no idea that I was pregnant. I kept saying, ‘God what are we doing here?’ Everything felt out of control, but God told me to remain.” It was a high-risk pregnancy and because of that it was difficult to find a doctor to take care of her. But God opened the door for them again and they began receiving medical care for Claudia and baby Alejandro.

Claudia had Alejandro in March of 2018 and they participated in Family Dedication on Mother’s Day. From that point on they knew they wanted to be all in. They came on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays. “For us it’s good because it’s about relationship. It’s an opportunity for us to make friends,” said Claudia.

Claudia grew up in a Christian home in Venezuela and their family was very active in their church in Venezuela, so they’d been searching for a church that felt like their community of faith back home. They found that at Chets.

“It seems so simple but there is coffee and bread and things to eat. It makes it feel like you’re open and welcoming. It’s something nice and special,” Claudia said. It reminded her of her home church in Venezuela. She talked about the thought and planning that went into Family Dedication weekend, VBS, and kindergartners receiving a Bible on Back to School Sunday. All of those things told Claudia that Chets cared about people. And with the difficulties her family was facing, being cared for mattered.

Staying in the United States has been challenging but Claudia said God has provided. “Sometimes you pray in faith not knowing but He [God] is like a really good father who knows what we need.” They have a place to stay, friends, and a church they can call home.

“There are times we ask ‘How are we going to do this tomorrow?’ But God has provided over and over,” said Claudia. “It’s not easy for us to be here but we’ve found a home here, we feel comfortable, and we’re living by faith.”

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:23

The Gospel Cups

You never know who God is going to use or how He’ll do it. For the Weldon family, that someone was Pastor Glenn Reese. “It’s special because the same person who led me to the Lord and has had an impact on my whole life did the same thing for my kids,” said Cherie Weldon.

Cherie grew up going to Deermeadows Baptist and Brother Glenn, as she affectionately called him, knew her mom and dad even before she was born. “He was always like an Uncle to me,” said Cherie.

When she was six years old, Cherie accepted Christ and knew she wanted to be baptized. Before taking that step, she met with Glenn. He explained the gospel to her using four different colored Styrofoam cups. The cups represented God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), God the spirit (Holy Spirit), and all of us (the people). That cup illustration and the patient words of Glenn helped Cherie truly understood the decision she was making, and Glenn agreed she was ready to be baptized. Glenn baptized Cherie shortly after that conversation and continued to be a source of wisdom and comfort throughout her time at Deermeadows.

Cherie grew up, changed churches, got married to her husband JJ, and had four children: eight-year-old Connor, six-year-old twins Tyler and Parker, and five-year-old Taylor. The family made their way to Chets Creek Church earlier this year after moving from a different area of Jacksonville.

Her oldest son Connor accepted Christ before they came to Chets Creek but was hesitant to be baptized at their previous church because he was nervous about doing it in front of so many people. When Connor saw a baptism announcement with a picture of Brother Glenn baptizing someone at the beach, he began asking his mom questions. Cherie asked if he wanted to be baptized at the beach and he said yes.

Around the same time one of her twin sons said he wanted to accept Jesus Christ. His brother overheard and said he too was ready. Remembering the counseling she’d been through with Glenn, she asked if he still did the cup illustration and if he’d be willing to share it with her kids. He immediately agreed. Tyler and Parker made decisions to commit their lives to Christ and all three boys decided to be baptized.  

Cherie’s husband also decided to be baptized along with their boys. He was saved as a child but never baptized and decided he wanted to be do so when their first child was also ready. When it came time to determine who would be the person actually doing the baptizing at the beach Cherie said they all wanted Glenn. “We all felt comfortable with Glenn,” she said.

So, they asked if he’d baptize all of them. He of course agreed. The boys were incredibly excited and were counting down the days until they too would make their faith known. “Every time they’d see a picture of Brother Glenn baptizing, they’d point and say that’s going to be us soon,” said Cherie.

This summer JJ, Connor, Tyler, and Parker made their faith known just like Cherie had done all those years ago with the same man who’d impacted her life for eternity. “The most important prayer of any parent is that your child will grow to know God and live for Him,” said Cherie. She is prayerful that they’ll continue to grow in their faith and thankful for a church that helps them do that.

---

Pastor Glenn sharing his Gospel Cup Illustration.

20th Anniversary Celebration Recap

This past Sunday our Chets family celebrated our 20th anniversary together at The Florida Theatre. “I can’t believe it’s been 20 years. I remember meeting in the school when there were just a few people and praying for 250 people to come to the Eggstravagaza. The leadership at Chets is amazing,” said Sheri Kostick. We now average 2,500 people across our four campuses. It was amazing to celebrate with people from all of those campuses in one location.

As people entered the theatre, we had a photo booth to commemorate the occasion and a timeline banner for everyone to sign next to the year they began attending Chets Creek. From the person who was part of the first service in 1998 to the person who just started coming last month, the timeline was filled with people who’ve been a part of the story of Chets Creek Church.

Worship kicked off with a 20th celebration medley opener of songs from the past 20 years.  It was led by the worship leaders from each campus, a full band, and a worship choir. “I got to sing in a choir on stage for the first time in 15 years, which was an incredible honor, yet it turned out the choir was in the crowd. The roar of a joyful noise to the Lord was coming from the seats. Such an inspiring call for His presence,” said Brian Barbour.

Throughout the rest of the worship set, what Brian said could be felt in the audience as well. From the six year old doing KidWorship dance moves in the aisles to the hands raised in the balcony, God was moving and His people were giving Him glory.

After worship, we were reminded that we don’t take ourselves too seriously at Chets with a compilation of funny videos throughout the life of Chets Creek. Comedian Andrew Stanley took the stage next and had everyone laughing.

Each of our campus pastors shared the vision God has given them to reach their community. Getting to hear the heart of each campus pastor on the same night was a highlight for many. “My favorite part was hearing from each of the campus pastors - what genuine men of faith who are clearly receiving direction from the Lord! I was in awe the whole night,” said Dawn Parker.

The Chets staff took the stage at the end of the night with an inspirational show tune that shared the story of Chets and what it took and will take to continue doing what God has called us to… a million prayers. 

Worshipping together as one church was incredible. Being reminded of God’s faithfulness over the last 20 years. Hearing how God is at work across Jacksonville through each of our campuses, wow. Hearing the vision for the next 20 years.

“This was super fun!” said Lee Jordan and we couldn’t agree more. It was an incredibly fun and moving night. Thank you, Chets family, for celebrating 20 years of knowing God and being changed by Him in a way that will change the world with us. We’re looking forward to what God has for the next 20!

For more pictures from the night, check out our Facebook album.

20 Years of Living Beyond Ourselves

by Mark Smith

As part of our 20th anniversary celebration, we’re reflecting on our church’s values through the stories and experiences of our Chets family.

---

I moved to Jacksonville in the fall of 2005 as a freshman at the University of North Florida. It wasn’t long before some other students told me about Chets Creek Church. They said it was casual and met in an elementary school, very different from the traditional church that I had grown up in. The experience of visiting Chets for the first time is still very memorable to me.

Someone went out of their way to invite me. I was picked up in front of my dorm, driven to church, and shown around. There was coffee, juice, and donuts. Any fear or intimidation that I had about going to the College LifeGroup was short-lived because everyone was so welcoming. And after the service was over everyone jumped in to help stack the chairs in the cafeteria. Even the pastor!

I couldn’t tell you what songs we sang or what the sermon was about that morning. The things that stood out to me the most from that Sunday 13 years ago are the same things that still amaze me about our Chets family. This group of people knows that this life is not about us.

There’s nothing within me that is genuinely selfless. Don’t believe me? Just ask my wife. It’s only because God sent Jesus for me that I’ve experienced unconditional love. As a follower of Christ, I’m to love others in response. It’s stretching and often uncomfortable. But when I remember how much God loves me and see others as people who deserve to be loved, my priorities change.

It’s easier not to care. To do things the way we like rather than consider others. Everyone needs to know that they matter to God and be given the opportunity to respond to His love. But often people don’t believe that they matter to God until they know that they matter to someone else. I have been overwhelmed watching our Chets family show people that they matter. Both here in Jacksonville and around the world.

There’s no telling what my life would be like today had someone not taken the time to invite me and help me find my way. Lives are changed when we commit to living beyond ourselves. I can’t wait to see how God continues working through the people of Chets Creek Church.

Serving in Panama City

“There was just devastation everywhere. It’s going to take years to get their lives back together” said Monte Confer of the destruction from Hurricane Michael.

Monte, along with Rodney Butler, Allan Abner, Dan Glesener, and Jimmy Knight drove to Panama City earlier this week to help with relief efforts. The guys said the reality of what they saw was terrible. Rodney, who lived in Panama City for 37 years before moving to Jacksonville, shared with the guys how everything used to be before the hurricane.

“Imagine the thickest forest you can and not being able to see anything through it and then imagine driving by later and being able to clearly see from one side to the other because every tree was down” said Dan.

“It was the worst destruction I’ve ever seen” said Jimmy. At one of their first sites, it took the team nearly 15 minutes before they found the house. “There was kind of a driveway, but the entire house was buried in trees” said Jimmy. The team cut down the trees and cleared the driveway, so a crane operator could come in and get the trees off the house.

Looking at the house, the men were surprised to hear that the homeowner had stayed through the storm. He told them that when it got really bad, he just put another mattress on top of himself. He wasn’t the only one they met who stayed through the storm. Many like him had major structural damage and couldn’t repair the damage on their own.

The guys were happy to help however they could whether that meant cutting up giant trees or tarping roofs. “Whatever they needed us to do, we figured out how” said Jimmy. “It’s pretty humbling and the people we met were so appreciative.”  

While working they were able to connect with the homeowners as they were trying to put their lives back together. “In a small way we were able to make a positive impact on our neighbors” said Allan. It wasn’t just about meeting the physical needs of people but meeting their spiritual needs too. They got to tell people the reason they were there was because of the love of Christ.

“Seeing the outreach of the community around them” was one of the things Monte said touched him the most. On their drive to a work site, a woman they passed gave them a big hearty wave. The team stopped at her house and learned her name was Ginny. Her home had weathered the storm, and she lived alone, so she was welcoming those who’d been displaced into her home. She waved at them to let them know she was appreciative of the work they were doing. The team was able to do some work in her yard and clear out some trees for her. “She was helping her neighbors. We felt blessed to be able to help her so she could continue helping others” said Jimmy.

Allan said seeing the devastation in Panama City gave him a greater appreciation for the small things. “If everybody could see what we saw this weekend, I bet they’d have a much more grateful heart.”

The team was thankful to be used by God. “There’s years more work to be done up there. We only saw about a 3-mile-wide area of the destruction. It’s so much bigger than we even saw” said Dan.

---

Here are a few ways you can help with Hurricane Michael relief:

Pray

Prayer should be our first response to any situation. Pray for those who have lost loved ones, homes, businesses, and more. And for those who are responding to the storm.

Give

You can make a financial donation online or by designating a gift for “disaster relief” on a giving envelope.

We are also collecting items that will be given to our partners in the panhandle for distribution. Click here for the most recent list of items requested and drop off locations/hours.

Go

Our second team leaves this Sunday, October 28, to help tarp houses, do chainsaw work, assist with mud out, and other debris removal. Click here to learn more about our relief teams.

20 Years of Giving Generously

by Ned and Donna Hastings

As part of our 20th anniversary celebration, we’re reflecting on our church’s values through the stories and experiences of our Chets family.

---

God was directing our lives long before Chets Creek Church was even an idea. Our faith was growing, we were giving and serving, and things were good. Then we were introduced to Henry Blackaby’s Experiencing God study in the 1980s and our whole understanding of why we exist was jolted. The idea that God is already at work and our job is to join Him, not the other way around, transformed our priorities.

Fast forward to the late 1990s. God began to reveal His desire to plant a new church. We knew we wanted to be a part of it so we began praying and God orchestrated two things. First, the Jacksonville Baptist Association asked our pastor to consider planting a church in the Hodges area. A general location was clarified, and our church committed to start a new church. Second, our pastor introduced Spike Hogan to the group and his idea of what church should look like created excitement like we’d never experienced before. We were willing to do whatever we needed to. We were all in!

Looking back, we see how God used the long hours of praying, meeting, planning, traveling, and doing to grow our faith and bind us together as a core team. During that time and throughout the first few years we learned what it meant to serve and give generously - to live beyond ourselves. What made it so fulfilling was doing it in community with other believers. We had a strong sense from God that what we were doing was important to the kingdom.

Seeing God bring people together and place them exactly where He wanted them was overwhelming. We were doing things we never imagined we could. People were offering their time, skills, and resources as needs arose.

Through all of this, Spike was leading us to be a body of believers that welcomed everyone, especially the those who were far from God. Early on, the concept of reaching and impacting families, children, and students was grafted into our DNA. We had a very clear understanding of who we were, what we were doing, and how we were going to do it.

Being a part of Chets Creek Church has been a mind-boggling journey. What started as a handful of people studying Experiencing God led to a church that has launched four campuses and is supporting God’s work around the globe. It’s incredible to be a part of what He is doing.

Looking back some might ask, “How did you all do so much?” and our response is that we trusted God with all we had and He multiplied our efforts. We know there is much more to be done and we eagerly look forward to what God will do, knowing that nothing is impossible with Him.

Everything Changed

“I like sleeping in. That’s my jam” said Michelle Lummus. So, giving up sleeping in on a Sunday morning or missing family time for church never really seemed worth it to Michelle. She grew up going to church, but it always felt forced. Attending but never really participating.

A few years ago, her mom relocated from the Westside of Jacksonville to the beaches. She wanted to find a church, so Michelle visited a few with her. When they found Chets Creek her mom felt at home but Michelle just attended church as her companion. Listening but never really participating.

One Sunday before the launch of the North Campus, Pastor Josh Robinson spoke at the Hodges Campus and Michelle found him really relatable. She thought the idea of a church in north Jacksonville was interesting, but she knew she wasn’t going to move away from the beach anytime soon so that’s all the thought she gave it.

Michelle’s mom moved away from Jacksonville and Michelle stopped attending church. Sunday mornings were for sleeping and spending time with her husband Rob. But God was drawing her to Him.

Michelle works in administration at Mayo and was asked to participate in a joint venture with St. Vincent’s Medical Center. After a year and a half of commuting from the beach, Michelle and Rob moved to the Riverside area. She decided to give the North Campus a try.

“I went out to Sheffield and I walked in and breathed a sigh of relief.” She felt like it was a place she wanted to be and that was a new feeling. She told Rob she was going to start going regularly.

Rob grew up in a home that was Christian in name, but like Michelle, it was never a part of his life. Then in his late teens Rob joined the Mormon church. He was very active in the church through his early twenties until he joined the Navy. He began traveling a lot and it became less of a priority for him. Any time Michelle would bring up church Rob wasn’t interested.

After Michelle visited Chets, Josh reached out to her and asked if she and Rob would be willing to meet up for coffee. They had good conversation and it sparked more questions for Rob. So Rob reached out to Josh and asked if they could talk more about his background with the Mormon church. “I had a series of questions I wanted to ask him. Before we even started talking, he answered all my questions. Every single thing he answered.” Rob said to him that was a sign of God at work.

Rob and Michelle began regularly attending church together and in April, Michelle committed her life to Christ. She knew the moment Josh gave the salvation invitation during his sermon that God was telling her it was time to surrender. Shortly after Rob had a similar experience. “You know when the Spirit speaks to you, you just know. I was in church one Sunday and that happened,” said Rob. He’d been praying for God to show Him the truth and He knew that what Josh was saying was the truth.

Michelle and Rob were both baptized this summer. Michelle said knowing God has changed everything for her and Rob.

She never imagined that they would attend church together but now they go every week. Michelle said they want to get up and go in the mornings and that’s a big deal for the self-proclaimed sleep lover. “I want to go and hear what they’re speaking about and apply it to my life in ways that I never wanted to before” said Michelle.

Although Michelle and Rob didn’t raise their kids in church, they’re hopeful that the change they see in their parents is making an impact on them even now as adults. “We talk about scripture now and we pray at family dinners. We’ve made our faith a part of our everyday life” Michelle said.

Her faith has impacted the way Michelle does her job too. “I offer to pray with patients and families now. It’s outside of my comfort zone for sure, I can tell you that much.” But she does it because she wants others to know the same comfort she’s found.

Michelle said before she surrendered her life to Christ she’d pray and go through the motions but now it’s different because there’s belief behind it. She’s willing to give everything to God and trust that He’s got it. Her prayer now is, “Ok God, you got it. You’ll guide me where you want me.” And she’s willing to follow. Rob says he too sees things differently. God has put him in the exact place he needs to be and he’s thankful for that. He said, “When you surrender yourself, you can trust if it’s God’s will it’s going to happen.”

20 Years of Partnering with Families

by Natasha Jordan

As part of our 20th anniversary celebration, we’re reflecting on our church’s values through the stories and experiences of our Chets family.

---

As a military family traveling around the world, you experience many cultural, social, and even religious values that are not the norm back home. If you’re like us, you can look past the values that are in stark contrast to your own and see a person created in the image of God who you’ve been commanded to love. Before you know it, a relationship starts to form, and that person becomes family. Then it’s time to leave. This is why it’s vital for our family to connect with the community where God stations us – and fast.

When my husband Marc called me to say we got orders to Jacksonville, our prayer request to our church Ohana (family) was that we would find a church that fearlessly preached the Word of God, where our family could grow in Christ and serve, and with church members we could call family. As we drew closer to leaving Hawaii, I began questioning God about finding a new church home. What if the women’s group isn’t like our old one? What if the children’s ministry or Bible studies aren’t as good? And most of all, what if the church members don’t like to eat as much? I’m so glad God doesn’t make His decisions based on my doubt!

The day we moved to Jacksonville we also closed on our house. What should have been an exciting time was stressful for us. A last-minute confirmation was needed from Marc but he was on deployment and couldn’t be reached. Because of that, the kids and I were unable to get the keys to our house. We were legit homeless.

I called a military friend and without hesitation, she opened up her home to us. The next day she invited us to a church she’d visited forewarning me, “it’s in a school and sometimes the A/C doesn’t work but it’s only five minutes down the road.” The last thing on my mind was going to church but I also knew God had orchestrated all the events that led us to where we were. I grudgingly told her yes and we attended the North Campus at Sheffield Elementary for the first time.

Driving up it reminded me of a church we attended in Hawaii. But when we got there, I was surprised it answered my prayers for a new church home. From the greeters directing traffic to the ushers seating us on the front row, I knew they loved people and had a heart for the broken. On our way home, my 7-year-old son Daniel said to me “Mommy you said that we could stay if the preacher was preaching the word of God. It sounded like he was preaching the word of God, and he was funny.”

The next Sunday it was no question where we were going, and we kept going Sunday after Sunday. After a few weeks I realized the only way I would get to know people was to serve, so we started helping set up and tear down. Those same people who greeted us from day one with smiles and hugs maintained that same demeanor and welcomed us in, confirming their love for people. This prompted me to find a way to serve on Sundays. I remember going to Josh and asking him if they had a student ministry I could help with. He said, “I’ve been praying that God would send a godly woman to help out with students.” I said to him, “I’m not sure if that’s me but I do want to help.”

We’ve been attending Chets Creek Church for about a year and I must say God has blessed us beyond what we could have imagined. He allowed us to find a church that preaches the word of God and lives it out. A church where our family can grow and serve but that encourages us go into the world and teach about how that’s done. We found a family with sisters and brothers to do life with.

Finding a Place in ESL

“It’s exciting to work with internationals. I think the best word is fulfilling. You learn about their customs and their cultures. You just have to try it,” said Kathie Ross about serving in the English as a Second Language (ESL) ministry at Chets. Kathie never pictured herself as an English teacher or being so involved in ESL, but now she says, “I can’t stop.” 

Kathie moved to Jacksonville in 2005 from Atlanta to be more active in her grandkid’s lives. She went to a few different churches with her family but never fully settled and she wanted to find a place to plug in.

She was driving down Hodges when she saw the sign for Chets Creek Church. She thought Chets was a weird name for a church but her dad’s name was Chet so she figured she’d give it a try.

After just one Sunday, Kathie said she knew Chets was the place for her. The following Sunday she found a LifeGroup and began getting involved. She was all in.

Kathie heard about ESL during a Sunday service and it really interested her. She showed up on a Monday night to volunteer and she got put at the registration table. Her job was to be a friendly face and help check in students each week. 

A few weeks in, Chris Price came downstairs and said one of the teachers didn’t show up. He asked Kathie to teach. She said yes but she didn’t really want to do it. She didn’t feel equipped to teach. Once she got in the classroom, she found that she enjoyed engaging the students.

She began sitting in classes as a volunteer. Linda Montgomery, who was the ESL ministry leader at the time, brought up teaching again with Kathie. Linda asked if she wanted to teach the advanced class. After sitting in on the class, she decided to give it a try. She got ESL certified and began teaching every week. She loved it!

When Linda stepped down from the role of ministry leader, Abel Garcia asked Kathie if she would step into it. She wasn’t sure if that’s what she wanted but she had a good understanding of the program from serving in all the different roles. She prayed about it and took the position. Kathie has been leading the ESL ministry now for three years with Abel as a constant support through it all.  

Kathie said she prayed for God to double the ministry and He’s tripled it. “It’s fascinating to see how passionate and committed the teachers are. They want to be there, and they care about the students.” Last week they had 150 students and leaders.

“I’ve learned so much through this ministry and I’ve seen God working incredibly through the students and the teachers.” Although ESL is about teaching conversational English, more importantly it’s about helping students learn about the love God has for them. The first night of ESL this fall they had someone place their faith in Christ. Kathie says it’s exciting to be a part of the growing ESL ministry at Chets.

20 Years of Loving All People

by Kristen Pepe

As part of our 20th anniversary celebration, we’re reflecting on our church’s values through the stories and experiences of our Chets family.

---

Growing up I was pretty good at loving others. My parents set a great example showing me what it meant to love my neighbors and serve others. They were constantly helping those in need and finding opportunities to share Jesus with those around them. As I recognized how God’s love was changing my own life, I wanted to share that with everyone around me. But that’s where it ended. I loved and served those around me.

The moment anyone started talking about missions I had the, “Oh that’s cool for you. I’ll pray for you when you go but God hasn’t called me specifically” mentality. I thought, “I’ve got a mission field right here in the United States.” I laugh now thinking about how much I was missing.

Sure, I was kind to the “weird kid” at the lunch table, but I never considered the orphan kid in Haiti eating lunch without anyone to show him love. I prayed for my elderly neighbor who had cancer but didn’t consider the single mom in South Africa who was HIV positive. Without even knowing it, I was picking and choosing who I loved.

When I started attending Chets Creek Church in college, my perspective on loving all people and living on mission changed. I met people who were being the light of Jesus in their community and many of those same people were traveling overseas to share the same gospel message with people who’d never heard. I met people excited to go and be the hands and feet of Jesus to those who needed to know the love of Christ in Asia and Guatemala and all nations, just like the Great Commission commands us.

God began to change my heart. Yes, my mission field is my university, my neighborhood, and my workplace, but I could no longer ignore that it was more. It’s the students playing soccer and learning English in Honduras searching for a Savior. It’s the malnourished babies in Guatemala who need love and care. It’s the people being reached by the church plants that Chets supports. It’s the men, women, and children of the 31 places where Chets has sent mission teams. It’s the families that God has called out from our church to serve as occupational missionaries all across the world.

I finally began to understand what it meant to love all people. Not just those who are geographically close, not those who are convenient to love, but all people. I am so thankful to be a part of a church family that gets what it means to love God and love others.

Sending the Garcias

We are sad but excited to share that our Chets family will be sending the Garcia family to serve the people of Maui, Hawaii. Abel has serves as one of our missions pastors since the fall of 2012. Their family is moving to Hawaii in response to God's leading them to live as missionaries and begin to develop missional communities there. Here’s their story of how they’ve trusted God to lead them in this new adventure.

Here are some ways you can join us in praying for the Garcias:

• Pray for their move to Maui and for the transition over the next year, including long-term housing.

• Pray that their walk with Christ would continue to deepen and be the foundation for all they do.

• Pray for favor in the community and with their neighbors.

• Pray for connections and partnerships with other believers and churches on Maui.

• Pray for their unity as a couple and as a family.

• Pray for opportunities to develop relationships and engage in gospel conversations.

• Pray for gospel saturation and transformation in the community.

• Pray for God’s provision for the remaining financial needs.

If you are interested in receiving regular updates, prayer needs, and pictures of the family, you can join the Facebook group Garcia Family Prayer Partners.

20 Years of Trusting God's Word

by Glenn Reese

As part of our 20th anniversary celebration, we’re reflecting on our church’s values through the stories and experiences of our Chets family.

---

The Bible is the foundation of my life because the people I trust, trust the Bible. When all I could do was cry, pee, and poop, God placed me in the care of people who loved God and trusted His Word. My parents and grandparents taught, knew, studied, practiced, and believed the Bible to be God’s Word. And the group of people that started Chets Creek Church 20 years ago loved and trusted the Bible. The Word of God is our foundation today because it was the foundation back then.

The Bible is our foundation because only the Bible provides a constant, never-changing compass. Pretty much everything else in life changes. When the latest cultural shift takes place, the Bible doesn’t. When the latest political climate shifts, the Bible remains constant. I need that and we need it as a church family because of the temptation to be swayed or influenced by the latest and greatest, whatever or whoever that may be. The Bible is that by which we must measure all else.

The Bible is our foundation because it is truth. Anything else is someone’s opinion. However good, accurate, intellectual, and promising someone’s judgment may be, it is not the Word of God. It is their opinion. This is why we have made it such a priority to study to the Bible in our sermons, LifeGroups, and other church ministries. Because anything else is an opinion.

The Bible is our foundation because it is real. In his book, The Story of Reality, Gregory Koukl states that “the Bible is a story, not a story in the sense of once upon a time, but a story about things that really happened, or are going to happen… it is an account of the way things actually are.”

The Bible is our foundation because there is no other book like it. Not even close. People have sought to defame it, ban it, ridicule it, and even destroy it. It has outlived its pallbearers. No other book satisfies our deepest longings like the Bible. None. We’re prone to wander and our affections get misplaced. Only the Bible speaks into the depth of our souls and calls us to God.

The Bible is our foundation because it is about Jesus. Our lives and our church would be nothing were it not for Jesus. There is no stronger statement of truth than these words I learned and sang as a child: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Living Out Faith

After receiving a Bible on Back to School Sunday at Chets, six-year-old Logan told his mom Kristin Krancer, “Mommy we have so many Bibles that we read all the time, I wanna give this one to someone who doesn’t have a Bible and tell them about Jesus!” Kristin was blown away that her son had such a desire to share the gospel with others.

When they got home, one of the kids from their neighborhood was hanging out by their door. Logan knew he had to give the boy his new Bible. Logan shared a short version of the gospel with the boy and told him about how he loved Jesus. Logan’s older brother Gavin felt compelled to give the boy the bag of free bread they’d picked up at the Hodges Campus that morning.

The neighborhood boy was on a bike and needed help carrying his stuff back home so Gavin and Logan offered to help all why telling him about Jesus. Logan and Gavin were boldly putting into practice what their parents and their church family was teaching them.

“I love our church and the way they love our family” said Kristin. Before coming to Chets Creek they’d been at the same church for a long time. Somewhere along the way going to church had become less about a desire to go and more about an obligation because “it was the right thing to do.”

She and her husband began praying about what they should do. They visited a few different churches then heard about Chets Creek and decided to give it a try.

After the first Sunday both of her boys were begging to go back. She recalled her youngest son Logan even asking, “Can this be our new church?” Kristin says they were excited to go and happy to be involved.

Kristin felt the same way. “We’ve been here for about three months now and there’s been a completely different shift in my attitude,” she said. “I’ve become passionate about God again. I’ve found community.” Mark, Kristin’s husband, recently took a job where he works Sundays, but he’s been able to find community with their LifeGroup outside of Sunday mornings.

As a family, they’re always looking for ways to live out their faith. Kristin shared a story of driving downtown after church one Sunday and seeing a homeless man who needed food. She and the boys had grabbed a bag of the free Chets bread and knew the homeless man needed it more than they did, so they gave it to him. “We’ve made it our mission to go to the gym downtown and give away bread now every Sunday.”

“I don’t believe in preaching at your kids, but I think you teach them by example.” Kristin is thankful for a church that partners with her family to do that. She’s excited about the opportunities God is giving her family to share Jesus with and minister to the needs of those around them. “My heart is overflowing! I am so incredibly blessed to be a part of the Chets family.”

Finding Her Worth

“Like always, church was awesome. Before I came back to Jesus, I was lonely, broken, and feeling worthless, but through Jesus, I found grace, mercy, and compassion. Now I am filled with love, joy, and hope.”

Hannah Guile moved to Jacksonville at 14. She grew up as a part of a military family and going to church was part of her life. She accepted Christ at a young age and her parents were incredible examples of what it meant to love and serve God.

Hannah was a self-described “good girl.” She was in the worship band, was active in Christian clubs like YoungLife and WyldLife, and was a model student. “I never went to the principal’s office unless it was for something good” she joked. She had over 3,600 hours of community service from solely church stuff. She didn’t drink, do drugs, or have premarital sex.

But her priorities began to shift when she started college at UNF. Her heart wasn’t in the right place. Hannah tried a few campus ministries and said, “I kind of floated around and couldn’t get connected.” Her focus wasn’t on God and the pull of the world was strong.

Hannah stopped going to classes and failed out of school. She started drinking, doing drugs, and got into a bad relationship. “I stopped attending church because I didn’t feel like my heart was in it.” She wasn’t spending time with God and was trying to find her worth in everything but Jesus.

“I was so sad and so broken. I remember being high and sitting at my piano and writing a song about Jesus and His grace and mercy.” I called my mom and she encouraged me and pointed me to Jesus. She struggled some throughout her sophomore year, but she began seeking God again.

In early 2016, Nick Yarborough reached out to her and asked her to play keys at Chets. She’d never been to Chets but served on a worship team with Nick when she was 14. Hannah began attending Chets and occasionally playing keys. She knew God was calling her back to Himself. She started attending the College LifeGroup, found community, and was reminded of who God is. “When I thought I was unworthy, He still loved me. The reason God died on the cross was for me.”

Hannah also started participating YoungLife at UNF that same year and spent a week in the mountains with them. For the first time in a long time, she was reading the Bible and spending alone time with God. Then one night she was asked to share her testimony.

As she was sharing, she was overcome with everything that God had done for her. Hannah said, “I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest. I felt dirty and didn’t feel deserving of love or grace. But God made me feel clean again, worthy of His love.”

Hannah is now a leader in the Chets College Ministry. She says her testimony of having done it all helps her relate to others and allows honesty and vulnerability. She’s able to say, “I’m not judging you. I’ve been there too. God brought me through.” Now she declares with boldness to anyone who will listen, “No matter what you’ve done, you’re worthy of God’s love.”

Changing The Way I See The World

by Kaya Getz

This summer we sent a team of Chets Students on mission to the Florida Keys to help with hurricane relief and marine cleanup. Kaya Getz is one of the students who was on the trip. 

---

The mission trip was a lot of hard work, but it didn’t feel like “work” when I looked at it from the point of view of doing it for God's glory and reaching people who haven’t heard the Gospel. Going on a mission trip within the United States really opened my eyes, to show that I don’t have to go across the world to serve. There are kids right next door in my neighborhood, my school, and even at church to whom I give hope, love, and friendship.

This year I chose to go on the mission trip instead of going to Chets Students Camp. Last year I went to camp just to have fun. I’ve been going since third grade and I was kind of just going through the motions. At camp I took a turn or two wrong and ended up having to deal with a ton of easily avoided drama. I was so insecure and confused. I was upset about ruining some friendships. Looking back now, I’m not sure they were the best of relationships.

On this trip I realized God's plan is bigger and better than my own plan. I’ve gotten new friends and a stronger relationship with Christ. My faith has grown so much in my middle school years. Everyone says that you find who you are, and I have. When I came to the North Campus, I had no idea why the students kept coming back. I’m dead honest! We didn’t have the flashing lights, big group, or anything really special. It baffled me for a really long time. The kids came and enjoyed it so much they even drove themselves to youth group! They came for the message and the message only.

Take Eli Shami for example. One day I caught him in the hall and told him about youth group. A couple months after being involved in the church, his entire family got saved and he is one of the most on fire for Christ high schoolers I know now. He went on the Costa Rica trip and we had a lot of the same thoughts about being on mission wherever we are and sharing God’s love, even in Chets Students at the North Campus. We started off with a youth group of one when the campus launched. And now we’ve grown. God is working in bigger ways than I could have ever imagined!

On the trip I also realized I need to take more ownership in my walk with Christ. All my relationships should honor Christ. Your best friend, your boyfriend or girlfriend, and the people you’re closest to should be the ones encouraging you to grow in Christ. How I interact with my non-Christian friends shows them who Christ is.

One missionary spoke on Sunday night and said, “Every conversation is an opportunity to share the Gospel.” It hit me not just because it’s an awesome quote, but because I have many conversations in a day. I’m sad to say this, but before the mission trip very few had ever been about Jesus or anything important. It’s changed the way I talk and look at life. Now I find myself easily talking about the gospel in any conversation. 1 Peter 3:15 which says, “Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it” has to be one of my favorite verses now, if not my favorite.

I had a close friend in sixth grade who I invited to Chets, a church club at school, and See You at the Pole. She started to go to the Christian events without me; I didn’t even have to ask her to come. Last spring, she moved across the US and she died later that year. I’m comforted to know that she at least had the chance to know about God and that she searched for him. It relates back to “every conversation is an opportunity” because I had no clue my friend’s time on earth would be so short. I was kind of going through the motions just trying to be a good Christian girl. I had no idea God was using me for bigger things, like quite possibly the only way for my friend to hear the Gospel. It just blows my mind.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to go to the Keys and for the great leaders who were on the trip with me. I made so many friends, grew so much in my faith, and it changed how I look at life. The work was real, the impact was real, and the relationships we built were real. I cannot wait for next year’s adventure!