Yes, this is the view from Scott Drennen’s front porch.
Yes, this is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been on earth.
And yes, you can dispense with the “suffering for Jesus” jokes already.
I’m in St. John this week with our college ministry team leader John Cook. But today it isn’t the white beaches or the crystal blue water or the gorgeous sunset (see the header above) I witnessed today that left an impression on me, it was the conversations with people today that I won’t forget. The governer’s assistant who was blown away by the offer of our students serving the community – no strings attached. A secretary whose son was baptized in Hawksnest Bay by John last summer. The pastor who was skeptical at first who after six summers trusts our team to lead the only Vacation Bible School on the island all summer…and told John (the “Mr. Ask me what I do for a living John Cook”) that he was always welcome to preach and say “whatever God lays on your heart.” The community center worker who our group tried to reach out to for the first five years who finally gave us a shot last year for one day, and is now bringing 50 kids to Vacation Bible School. And there were several more moments today when I could tell that the consistent, hard-working, loving example of six years of our college students investing in this community had earned them a respect and a hearing for the truth of the gospel that doesn’t come any other way.
It was a beautiful day…and I’m not talking about the weather, but from seeing the hearts of the people of this island open to our students, our church, and our hope.
