Teenager Sarah Ringering and her SAGE Seniors evangelism support team arrived early one evening to set up for an evangelistic meeting in San Cristobal, Chiapas, Mexico.
Opening her laptop, Ringering tried to open her sermon presentation program — and the computer froze. Alternating between praying and tinkering with her computer, the program unfroze moments before Ringering and her translator stood to share that evening's presentation.
Ringering and three other teenagers — Matthew Buell, Matthew Hurley and Carlee Walker — joined Washington SAGE Seniors for an evangelistic mentoring mission trip in late December 2010 and early January 2011.
"This is the first time we took youth of the church to be mentored in evangelism," says Bob Grady, SAGE Seniors president. "SAGE is determined to continue this evangelism mentoring experiment with the youth."
Additionally, 33 SAGE volunteers worked with Maranatha Volunteers International to build a new church, paint six churches in the region, hold three Vacation Bible Schools and provide a medical clinic.
"All four young preachers experienced some real miracles while in Mexico and this experience will remain with them for life," says Grady. "My faith in the young people of this church to lead the church forward to Christ's coming has never been so strong."
The four teenagers plan to hold an evangelistic series in Bonney Lake, Wash., during 2011.