Amazed by Grace

Trials and tribulations happen just as rampant and severe to those of us who serve others as they do to those we serve. During these times Satan’s ploy is to get us to think we have nowhere to turn. Whether it’s burnout due to the overwhelming needs of others, shortage of staff or funds, or personal issues, those of us who serve others need the same grace we dispense to others.

Oftentimes, when I am going through trials, scriptures pop into my mind, and I say, “Yes, LORD, but what does that look like?” During one arduous trial I was enduring, Psalm 91:14 popped into my mind. “Because he loves me says the LORD, I will rescue him, I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.” As I meditated on that verse the phone rang. It was Amy Crafton, “Vince,” she stated, “AmazingGrace.Life would like to make it possible for YBC to take 50 kids to Kids Across America again this summer.” I responded, “Amy, I just can’t, I just buried my sister after burying my brother a few years ago, my marriage is in shambles, my daughter is being bullied at school, my son is having learning issues, and I’ve been sharing the vision God gave me for a new facility and no one seems to be listening. I’m just not in a good place right now. I don’t see how I can do it.” Amy’s response, “Vince, you’re doing the Lord’s work, you’re just under spiritual attack. Thanks for letting me know how to pray for you and when you get time, I’d like to hear about the vision God has given you.” I thought to myself, “That’s the last time I’ll hear from her.” I was wrong.

In addition to prayer, God used Amy and AmazingGrace.Life to provide for YBC in many tangible ways. In addition to support from Amazing Grace Life, YBC has had many friends hear about us from Amy, and they have come alongside us in serving the underserved.

As our building campaign progressed, we needed additional donations to close the deal. Just in the nick of time I received a letter (which I still have) from Harold Simmons with a check enclosed to close the deal. We moved into our facility, and the ministry continued to grow. We have had other burdens to cross and always God has been faithful in carrying us through. We can truly say we exist today as a testament to our Faithful Father who sees us, hears us and takes care of us through the body of Christ.

Each time I think of Amy a line from my favorite poem, “IF” by Rudyard Kipling comes to mind:

“If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch”

AmazingGrace.Life is in lockstep with the work of the Holy Spirit. I am amazed by the changes it has made in my life and those YBC serves in the following ways:

· Children hear a clear presentation of the plan of salvation at YBC.

· Thousands of children ages 4-12 have become Christians at YBC.

· Parents marvel at the prayer life and scripture memory of their children once they join YBC.

· 28,800 after school meals served.

· 11,000 meals served.

· 21,000 hours of homework help.

· 92% of regular attending students improve in reading, writing & math.

· Faithful attending students maintain an 80+ GPA or higher.

· 100% of students who remain in YBC until 18 graduate high school.

· YBC has college graduates from NYU, SMU, UT Arlington, UT Dallas, Baylor, the University of Houston, El Centro, Richland College, Dallas Theological Seminary, Perkins School of Theology at SMU, and we have a student who earned a scholarship to study abroad in Singapore.

· YBC has students either enlisted or honorably discharged from various branches of the Armed forces. (Army, Air Force and Navy).

Through prayer, hands on ministry, and a series of 11th hour reprieves, Amazing Grace Life has played a major role in YBC’s longevity. As a result, we will celebrate 25 years of changing lives in April 2020.

Vince Gaddis

Youth Believing in Change

Living the Christian Life

I was at the end of my rope. My marriage was falling apart, I was starting my own photography business, and my dad was dying of cancer. My mom invited me to a Bible class and that’s when my life began to change. It didn’t change overnight, but it was the beginning of my journey… Following Jesus. Sandy came into my life in 1992; she had been teaching the Bible class for many years. There was something about her that I wanted and needed in my life. It was Jesus! Over the course of the next 28 years, she taught me how important it is to trust the Lord Jesus, to depend on Him, and to be available to Him. Then, He could use me for his ways and his purposes.

As my journey in life moved along, my father passed away, and my marriage ended. I was so hungry for the Lord. I was in four different Bible classes a week. I was reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (that changed my life!) I also did a workbook called, Experiencing God, and that had huge impact on my life as well. It taught me to look to see where God is working in my life and follow HIM. So I did. Sandy and I began to meet two or three times a month at Starbucks. I called it, Starbucks with Sandy. I hung on every word she said, because I knew she spoke Truth, Truth that comes from the Bible. She poured into me things that the Bible teaches that I never knew. For example, she taught me about prayer and why it is so important to pray and develop that intimate relationship with Jesus. She taught me to study the Scriptures, and how taking time out of your day is important, so that you can hear the Lord speak to you. She taught me to share the Gospel, that exposing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people is something that will change their lives forever and for eternity if they accept Jesus as Savior. Sandy says that there are two parts to being a Christian. The first is the day you ask Him into your heart and believe that He died on the cross for your sins and rose again in three days. The second part is following Him and learning about Him through the words of the Bible. That is why I think the Lord placed it on my heart to spread the Gospel to as many people as I can. The Bible talks about sharing Him and now I try to share everyday!

Over the past 30 years I have learned that trusting in the Lord, depending on Him, and being available to Him, is a real game changer. I can truly say my life would not be the same without the relationship I have with the Lord and with Sandy! She is my mentor, my rock, and my go-to here on earth. I’m so glad that I get to celebrate her 100th birthday this week!

Struggling

It’s not fun, but we all do it at some point in our lives. We have that in common with every human being. Although our struggles can be different than our neighbors, friends, coworkers, and family members.

How do we deal with it? Start by praying. Ask the Lord to give you HIS peace and comfort. Ask for the Lord to hold you up and give you his strength, guidance, and encouragement. Stay focused on Christ, not your situation. If you believe in Jesus and you are following him, here are some verses from the Bible to comfort you:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition with Thanksgiving present your requests [struggles] to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7

We can’t control what other people do, or say, or lie about. But we can pray about the situation, and ask God to cover us in his peace. Recite this verse, and pray for the Lord to help you focus on him and not what you are struggling with.

Jesus told his disciples (and was preparing them), “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world. I am telling you this, so that in me
[following me, praying to me, having a relationship with me] you may have peace.” John 16:33

Christians struggle just as much as everyone else. But having Christ in our lives allows us to experience his peace, even in the midst of what we are struggling with. Be specific in your prayers. When you start to feel alone or anxious about something, turn your thoughts to Jesus, and recognize him for who he is. He is our Creator, he is our Father, and he knows our struggles.

Difficult times, crises, and hard times bring us closer to the Lord, or they should. When I am struggling with something, I really lean into the Lord. I pray a lot more, read more Bible verses that pertain to how I am feeling, and I am laser focused on Christ. One of my prayers is, “Lord every time I think about _____, turn my thoughts back to you. Cover me in your peace and surround me with your angels.”

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will keep your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-7

Sometimes I will repeat that verse in my mind, to remind myself to TRUST in the Lord. It’s not about me. It’s about him, and trusting in him and who he says he is to help me during my struggles in life. If we have chosen to follow him and we believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, he promises to be there for us. He loves us and we are his, when we ask him to be in our lives. I can’t imagine my life without Christ.

“I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Pastor Roman in Honduras

We’re excited to give a re-cap of Pastor Roman after meeting him last year and delivering Amazing Grace books to him and his community through World Vision in September 2018! World Vision is helping to support his ministry in ways that can help him disciple the community and kids through VBS curriculum, anti-violence interventions and prevention for parents who abuse their children, basic needs support. Several groups are financially supporting their curriculum needs to help the kids grow and develop in their faith!

Amazing Grace Visits Honduras and Meets Pastor Roman

God has different ways of communicating with us. Some are obvious; some are not. As believers we need to be available to God so He can use us. We also have to trust him, and know he is working behind the scenes for his purposes and plans to be drawn out. We don’t always know why things happen, but sometimes we can look back and see how God has his hand on every detail.

World Vision is hosting the AmazingGrace.Life ministry team on our trip to Honduras. Since we have been here, we’ve been able to see how World Vision is helping tens of thousands of people and transforming entire communities with their program, which also creates sustainability for the villages. Each morning I do a devotional that I customized according to our itinerary. I start with a song to clear our heads, focus on the day, and to invite the Holy Spirit to cover us in his peace. I pray for the people we are going to meet, and that the Lord would go before us, behind us, and beside us. That he would prepare the hearts of those we will meet. And we could bring love, hope, encouragement to the kids. That we could be “Jesus in skin” to those who need it the most.

Our leader, Johnny Lopez, told us we would be going to see a man named Pastor Roman, who had a small church with dirt floors and a tin roof. The church is in a small village, called Amor Viviente, which means “living love.”

As we came in the back door, Pastor Roman was speaking to about 60 children. He stopped and welcomed us. Johnny said to me, “Tell Pastor Roman why you are here.” So I said, “The Lord has put it on my heart to write this book, Amazing Grace, and get it into the hands of as many people as I can because it’s so important that you, your family, these kids, and their families hear about Jesus and that they realize he loves them and cares for them. They need to ask him into their lives to be their personal Lord and Savior.” At that moment, Pastor Roman’s face lit up! Our eyes connected, and I could tell he knew I had Jesus in my heart and know the Lord as my Savior. When Pastor Roman looked through the book, he said, “This is like a life vest for us. The kids don’t have Bibles, but now they have the gospel of Jesus Christ and that booklet will always be their Bible.” Pastor Roman began to act out one of the stories in the book. I could tell he has such a gift and a passion for the kids.

I asked him, “Pastor Roman, what is your biggest need?” He said, “Food.” He started to cry. “I take care of 60 children, and the government only gives us a sack of rice and a sack of beans twice a month. I am their Papa. Most kids don’t have a father. The parents leave for work at 4am and don’t return home until 9pm, so there is no relationship between the children and their parents.” After we visited, I said to Johnny, “Is there a grocery store around here?” I had not seen anything that looked like a grocery store. He said, “If we drive an hour, I know of a big store.”  

We left Pastor Roman and told him we’d be back, but we didn’t tell him we were going to bring food back. We wanted to surprise him. We filled two trucks full of food, and when he saw all the things we bought, he was overcome with joy. We were overwhelmed with tears. It was an “ah-ha” moment for sure. He broke down crying and praying over the food. Thanking God for all he had done, thanking Him for His son, and praising God for being a wonderful God. He also said, “This is a dream for the children, to see that God is good. This is such a blessing.”

Later that night, Johnny told us that Pastor Roman never had a visitor before us. I know that was a divine appointment orchestrated by God. We showed up, we hugged the kids, and we played with them. We handed out beach balls and soccer balls, and brought new toothbrushes and toothpaste since they didn’t have their own. But most of all, we brought hope, love, and encouragement to Pastor Roman. I thanked him several times for being obedient to God’s call. I told him that we need more people like him! I told him, “When you get to heaven someday, all these kids are going to run up to you and say, “Thank you Pastor Roman for loving us and telling us about Jesus.” He cried. Then we cried again.

God brings people into our lives in his perfect timing. We had no idea how important our visit was to Pastor Roman. Nobody had come by to pat him on the back and say, “Thank you for all you are doing for our kids.”

God put us there on that day at that time. We prayed for God’s wisdom and direction. We were available to the Lord, and as a result of that, great things happened. We got to be a part of it. The Holy Spirit was moving not only in his church, but in the lives of our team. We got to experience God working in our lives and also in Pastor Roman’s. We poured out our love and encouragement into Pastor Roman. We “refilled” his heart with joy, love, reassurance, and encouragement. He does that everyday with those kids.  

It was such a blessing to be a blessing.

Where is God working in your life? Who can you encourage today?