Next, they told of their time at The Crossing. The students spoke of experiencing love, acceptance, success, and hope.
Finally the students shared of where they are on their journey with God. Some have accepted a relationship with Christ; others are just starting to figure it out; still others are just learning some pieces and are kind of "freaked out by all this love talk".
I don't think anyone in the room could leave without feeling touched by these students and their stories. I think they are success stories. These guests listening to our students felt so touched, they also gave large donations to continue the ministry of The Crossing. Wow!
What nobody realized is that a few students after sharing their hearts and lives, after making an impact on others, after pouring out the ugliness in their experiences, after all of that, they began stealing items. They stole an IPOD, cash, and I don't even know what else. Although we don't know who definitely took items and who did not, we do know that items were taken.
When I first heard this, I was heartbroken, sickened, and furious! How could they after people were so generously giving to us? How could they after they just shared so much of themselves? How could they with all we have been teaching them? How could they?
I know how they could... I think of the book of Hosea. Aren't we so often more like the prostitute Gomer who runs back to a life of sin and brokenness rather than remaining in God's path? Aren't we more like David who had so much but also had to have Bathsheba at all costs? If you are thinking, "I've never been a prostitute, committed adultery, or ordered someone to be killed", I would challenge your thinking. Have you really never followed sin rather than God's path? Have you really never wanted more than you were given? Have you really never been jealous of what someone else had?
After this new thought, I realized how close we are to our students. Although I am still sad that a small few made a poor decision, I think this is a huge opportunity to grow. Two steps forward, three steps backward, fall down, get up, and two steps forward, and keep going. Man, that is the Crossing story. Our job is to love them, teach them, pray for them, and stay right beside them. What an honor to help be their tourguide on their journey to God.
