Adventures WorldRace SethBarnes Sponsorship Giving

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This is my story.  It is a story of God’s amazing grace and unfailing love…

Old Habits Die Hard

A month or so later, after baseball and school fell through, I decided I was going to move home to Milwaukee. The pastor of my brother’s church warned me that I need to find fellowship and also a bible teaching, Spirit-filled church; I did just the opposite. The first day back I was drinking with the same crowd. I fell into old relationships and old sinful habits. I would try to quit at times, but over and over again I fell back into temptation. There were a few occasions where I drank so much that it led to an asthma attack. On those nights I would pray to God for mercy, but when it came to completely surrendering I fell short.

The turning point came on December 30th, 2007. That day I was at the Packers’ game and had gotten pretty drunk with my friends. Throughout the day, I sobered up, and by the time we got home to Milwaukee I was sober. Late that night, my friend asked if I could drive him home to Oconomowoc, and I agreed. As we were about to leave my apartment, I got a terrible feeling that one or both of us were going to die in a car crash on the way home; it was like I knew it in my heart. I tried to ignore it and took another step towards the door. At that time, I heard those words again, “Do not go back down that path, for the road is dangerous”. I immediately ducked into the bathroom shut the door and got on my knees. I prayed to God for mercy and forgiveness and for a way out of that fate. Through my tears I heard God speak the words, “Not another drop.” That night, December 30th, 2007, I promised God “not another drop” of alcohol, and by His grace and power I have stuck to that promise! Since that night Christ has been emptying me of everything that doesn’t resemble Him. He has given me a new heart, a new mind, and a new strength. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).

New Life

In September 2008 (this past September) I finally gained a firm foundation in Christ through Campus Crusade for Christ at UW-Milwaukee.  Since then, God has been challenging me every day to move closer to Him.  I grew close to Jesus through fellowship, evangelism, service, retreats, and leadership opportunities.  I was blessed to serve as the Community team leader for our Cru, creating Christ-centered events to offer fellowship and outreach.  In December, my friend Jon told me about a mission to Ghana, Africa he was planning on leading over spring break.  My interest was sparked right away.  I decided to pursue the opportunity and if God didn’t want me to go He would let me know one way or another.  In late Jaunary, Jon told me that while he was praying God revealed that he wouldn’t be going to Ghana.  Jon asked me if I was interested in leading the trip and I told him “absolutely yes!”, but I needed to pray about it.  That night I spent time in silence and solitude before God, and He spoke very clearly to me. “Yes Michael, Go! Lead. Be strong. Rise to the occasion.”

First Mission and First Time Leading a Mission!

The trip to Ghana was March 13th-22nd and it was amazing.  We flew from Milwaukee to Chicago to Frankfurt, Germany and then to Accra, Ghana.  With layovers, the trip was over 24 hours long! (which is actually not bad compared to some World Race travel times from what I hear!).  We did most of our ministry in Cape Coast, sharing the gospel with students at the University of Cape Coast.  UCC is a gorgeous campus and everyone there was more than welcoming.  In the U.S. it can be difficult to share your faith, too many students are uninterested and closed off.  At UCC students were just the opposite, inviting us into their rooms and introducing roommates.  They eagerly listened to what we had to say.  In fact, they are such gracious hosts that it was at times challenging to get them to participate in the conversation because they simply wanted to listen.  The six of us from UW-Milwaukee shared our faith with tons of people throughout the week.  We talked sometimes for over an hour in some rooms.  We spoke on the assurances of salvation, and pointed to verse like:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

And

“And this is our testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:11-13)

 

These verses helped assure those who had allowed Christ to take over the throne of their life that they have eternal life. We also walked students through the Four Spiritual Laws.