SV Getaway Conference 2011

Once a year we take off for Myrtle Beach, SC where 400 students gather for a powerful, Christ centered conference! It's my favorite Student Venture event! This year we brought 16 students from Jacksonville from 4 different high schools. They met hundreds of other SV students from Orlando, Atlanta, Chattanooga, Indianapolis, North Carolina, NY, and Cincinnati. With the help of college interns, volunteers, and SV staff, we help these students gain the tools they need to continue their Christian walk for a lifetime. Equipping them to know what they believe in and how to share it with others is so exciting to me! I led a seminar on how to prepare and share your testimony for over 100 students.

Bloom Where You Are Planted!

Spring is Here and New Life is exploding on campuses in Jacksonville!

Domnick was invited to share the Gospel and his testimony to 21 students in the Interact Club at Mandarin High School in March! Every student was captivated with what he had to say and took home a booklet called "Would you like to know God personally?" It's so exciting to see these opportunities present themselves when we are just available and willing to be used by God.

Real men praying! Pictured here are a few of the MHS SV Guys taking prayer seriously and interceding on behalf of those who do not know Christ at their school! Seniors: Domnick, Tyler and Zac, Freshman: Cole and Fabian.

Pictured here is the Interact Club looking at the booklets that Domnick shared the Gospel from.

Please pray for those who are searching for spiritual answers to receive understanding and faith from God above!

BTHS 18th Annual Turkey Bowl Outreach

Pie Eating Contest! Beau won and Chase will never eat pumpkin pie again!

2nd Annual Turkey Bowl at MHS

She got the frozen turkey closest to the soda bottle/pins!

Check out Darryl's concentration while bowling a frozen turkey!

Kristin and Devin ate pumpkin pie in our pie eating contest. Devin ate it faster!

Mandarin High School Student Venture Christian Club

Homecoming week at Mandarin consisted of crazy outfits each day, a huge turn out at SV, and the big game and dance this weekend! Great memories that will last forever were made!

Zac, Janie, and McKenzie were caught in the middle when we played, "You're My Friend If..."

Joy, Cassandra, and Miranda showing their school Spirit at the game!

It's so awesome to watch these students not only grow in their walk with God but also get to know each other on a deeper level every week! They are building frienships that will last a long time and they are surrounded by Christians who want to make a difference in the lives of others.

Student Venture meets every Tuesday in room D106 and is an open club that anyone can come visit throughout the year. We understand that its hard to get your friends to come to church with you, so Student Venture meets on campus to help you share your faith with your friends in a safe, fun enviornment.

Last week we talked about some Christians who struggle with the fear of losing their faith. We looked as scriptures that show you what God promises to do to enable us to live the Christian life. Surrendering to the Holy Spirit and letting Him guide our lives and change us one day at a time is key to living the Spirit-filled life! Continuing to meet with other believers and getting involved in church is also a great way to stay close to the heart of God. The daily discipline of prayer and reading the Word will help you grow in faith and understanding also!

Thank you all for sharing your prayer requests and for letting us share in your spiritual journey as God continues to make you into the persona He created you to be!

Because of Him,

Debra Burns

Challenge Day Wednesday and Thursday

My family group all day Wednesday was Daxavier, Jamie, Kayleigh, Ryan, and Tyler! My small group all day Thursday was Ben, Chelsea, Hector, Heather, and Alejandra pictured in second picture. Amazing students!

Fun games helped break up the intense emotional exercises. It was a 61/2 hour workshop that was just absolutely life changing!

Kate from Oakland, CA was an amazing speaker and teacher! So much fun!

Challenge Day Comes to Mandarin High School

This is Challenge Day on Tuesday: 100 students, 20 adult teachers and volunteers, Kate and Shawn from CA. Time to stop being fake and start getting REAL. To find out what Challenge Day is go to http://www.challengeday.org/. Or check it out on MTV on a show called "If you really knew me" I was able to participate three days this week. A lot of tears, boxes of tissues, tons of hugs, and lots of love and support! Students shared what's really going on in their lives from their past, their present, and even their future dreams. I was really impressed with how vulnerable and honest they were.

Fun games helped break up the intense emotions that were coming to the surface. It was a great release to scream, shout, yell, dance, and laugh with one another!

Cross the Line if....is an exercise to see what we have in common and to assure each other that we are not alone. Divorce, drug addiction, suicide attempts, lonliness, abuse, homelessness, etc.

My small group family for Tuesday was Luke, Larry, Jasmine, and Erin! Sweet kids!