A sight into an African Village

What a reality God brought on the youth that went to Mission Reality Weekend! Only but a glimpse and taste of what the African Refugee Camps are all about. The Thrive youth students started out at the church to watch a video, but really came out after watching the video with no bags, no shoes, and no cell phones! They were bombarded with smoke and firecrackers and only a bus that stood in front of them! They all hopped on the bus to head to a reality that only the leaders knew about. From there on once they got to the camp, much of themselves started to be broken down. The next 16 hours or so, kids started realizing how the refugees had it so hard and we here in America have been so blessed. Youth had to fetch their own water, were only served one meal over the 24 hours and had nothing but a tarp to sleep on! Bugs were everywhere, there were no bathrooms, and boredom beyond their imagination happened as well. From this though a greater image was brought out in the fact that these kids realized what they had and the broken hearts that were across the Atlantic Ocean in Africa. Thankfulness rose from the kids hearts as the sudden realization of a bed at home, food to eat, and family to love on them.

See there is more to life than the greatest treasures here on Earth. It may take a huge reality weekend to realize that, but we as youth need to be more aware of what really is going on amongst the other nations in the world. Jesus Christ loves everyone even those kids in Africa the same. It does not take the life of luxury to gain more approval from Jesus. Christ loves everyone and only wants to capture your heart. Let him lead your life and he will give an abundance beyond your imagination! "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?" Next time you are in your quiet place or have a moment to just stop and think from everyday life, remind yourself of that comment. If you gain the whole world and lose your soul, what will it profit you? I think to gain the whole love of Jesus Christ and gain your soul profits you eternal life! He loves each and everyone of you! Seek and believe!

One Love Productions Crew

Start of the Summer

I just want to shout out to the youth at Steele Creek for all the work they have done this summer so far for Thrive on Mission! You are all serving well and glorifying God through service of your own backyard! Mission trips are fun, most of them are all outside the state and in different countries, but thrive students are helping the community surrounding them. The charlotte area is deeply blessed by your ministry and continue to thrive throughout the summer! We also want to take time to pray for those students in other areas of the world doing the same thing we are doing! We want to pray and keep in mind the other youth groups serving in other countries as well as around their communities as well. The thrive team is definitely blessed with the youth at Steele Creek and are seeing the change drawn out from these two weeks in the summer. Thanks for all you do and thank you God for all you have provided us with! Jesus you are the ultimate provider and the ultimate healer! We glorify you all our days!

Michael Kozlowski
One Love Productions

"I steadfastly refuse to gratify the devil by becoming discouraged"