One night at a middle school group, a girl raised her hand and asked, “What’s so good about Jesus anyway?” She wasn’t being sarcastic; she was genuinely asking. As she started explaining, it became clear she had heard pieces of the story before. People said Jesus loves her, that He died for her, but no one had ever explained why that actually matters. At one point she said, “How could a man from 2,000 years ago die for me if He doesn’t even know me?” So we talked through it with her. Nothing complicated; God made you on purpose and for a relationship with Him. But all of us choose our own way instead of God’s way, that’s called sin, and it separates us from Him. We can’t fix that gap by just “being good.” So God did what we couldn’t: Jesus came, lived a perfect life, died on the cross to take the punishment for our sin, but he didn’t just die, He rose from the dead. Because of that, anyone who turns from their sin and trusts in Jesus isn’t just forgiven, they’re brought into God’s family and given a brand-new life with Him now and forever.

 

It was one of those simple conversations that reminds you how many students aren’t pushing back on Jesus, they just haven’t had someone clearly explain Him yet. Because of you, we get to be in those moments. We get to go back to the basics and give the answers students are really seeking.

 

SARA VASSALLO, 71Five Campus Coordinator – Central Point

(541) 816-6761 | sara@71Five.org

“Lord God, you are my hope. I have trusted you since I was young.” Psalm 71:5 ICB