Was the Forbidden Fruit Really Snickers?

In January we held our first all club Interactive Gospel Message. I don't think I have ever felt the presence of the Lord in the way that I did that night. Before every meeting we worship together as a leadership team and that day as we sat in a circle like we have many times before there was something different. The Spirit of the Lord was tangible and thick and throughout the entire night there was a cohesion and peace among our leaders and kids that I have never felt before. It was amazing!!

Our middle school friends entered the club room to find a makeshift Garden of Eden waiting for them with candy laden trees (the tree of the knowledge of good and evil had snickers or course... cause they are amazing!!), a serpent, the whole works. We talked about creation and some of our amazing student leaders acted out the fall after which our students were led out of the garden and into the hallway to learn about to consequences of sin, the wandering of the Israelites, and the law. They were then led back into a dark club room where they were blindfolded and separated from one another, signifying the spiritual blindness and separation that sin causes in our lives. As they sat there in the darkness our leaders were surrounding and scattered among them, acting out dialogue examples of the role sin may play in a middle schooler's life. They were then un-blindfolded and invited to think about the effect sin has had in their own lives and to record their sin on post it notes. We then shared the message of the cross and redemption and restoration that we have been offered through Jesus Christ. As soon as we stated "It is finished" two white boards at the front of the room that were covered in black sheeting were pulled apart to reveal a huge cross on the wall where the students were invited to once and for all lay their sin on the cross and give it to Jesus.

Throughout the whole process of planning this event it was obvious that the Lord was working. Our entire leadership team Martie, Steve, Abby, Victoria, Matt, Sean, Scott C., Amy, Derek, Dave, and Scott M. participated in the execution or planning. It was amazing to watch us all work so well together and bring us closer as a team. It was also such a blessing to watch our students hear about the hope that we have in Jesus. There is no blessing greater than watching a 7th grade girl's eyes well up with tears of hope as she hears that The Lord loves her enough to have sent His only Son to die and receive the consequences of her sin so that she could have eternal life with Him forever!!!! This is what it is all about!!