Big Break '12 [VISIBLE]

At Sharky's (one of PCB's hot spot)

From March 10-17, I attended a Cru conference--Big Break! It's a weeklong conference that takes place over spring break in Panama City Beach, FL. Throughout the week we attend general seminars that train and equip us with practical tools to share our faith and are challenged each day to approach all kinds of people all over the city. Then during the evening session, anybody can come on stage and share their experience, whether or not a person has prayed to receive Christ. It has been so inspiring to hear so many people share their awesome God-moments and +1 experiences, (for example) where those who call themselves atheist turn agnostic or those who were agnostic take the next step to turn their lives over to God!

This year's theme is VISIBLE. Motivated by 1 John 1:1-4, we who claim to have a personal relationship with God must go out into the "world" and let our light shine as bright as day! The speakers, Roger Hershey & Matt Mikalatos, have warned us that we will see things we may not want to see during the week. There will be people dressed indecently, people drunk out of their minds, people engaged in sexual activity, and simply put...there will be those who will mock us, reject us, and make all kinds of crude remarks. Knowing this might scare us, but it shouldn't. The purpose of a lamp is to light up the darkness and we are the light of the world [Matt 5:14]. Also, when Jesus came into this world, he was the image of our invisible God and since he lives in us we make Him visible through our words & actions. Our love for one another will prove to the world that we truly follow Jesus [John 13:35].

Soularium

For our tools used to engage in spiritual conversations, we were trained in using a questionnaire, Soularium, and Persrspective cards. The questionnaire was a simple tool in which we ask noninvasive questions to start up a conversation. We were told that the whole point of sharing is to really listen to the people--listening to their opinions and perspective on life & spiritual things. Then however the conversation is led, we may share our story and even the KGP (the "Knowing God Personally" booklet, formally known as the "4 Spiritual Laws").

    

Perspective

Soularium is a really fun tool which involves a dialogue through artsy fartsy pictures, lol. This tool is great to use among right-brained people because it's so intuitive and allows each picture to be interpreted in so many different ways. Perspective is a great tool for left-brained individuals because it's broken up into 5 categories (Nature of God, Purpose of Life, Human Nature, Person of Jesus, and the Source of Spiritual Truth) so that the person can analyze each perspective objectively and rationally.

I, personally, love using Soularium because I've used it so many times before. Last week was the first time I've used the Persepctive cards with my partner. Since I'm not familiar with this tool, I felt bad for reading directly from the cards. But we were assured that it's ok to do it that way because ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who can convict the heart of the person. All we gotta do is step out in faith and allow Him to work!

Engaging in spiritual conversations!

The conversations we've engaged with all week have been...wow! I have met people who consider themselves Jewish, Catholic, Christian, agnostic, atheist or having "no opinion" in anything. It's been interesting to see where they were coming from and to understand their worldview. I really like how Big Break has taught me to hear other people's story, to get to know them as a person, rather than "force" the gospel down their throats. At the end of every conversation, we would leave the people with a sense of who God is and what it means to experience the kind of love that is unconditional and non-condemning. By the end of the week, we have engaged in 5,850 spiritual conversations; 2,345 of those conversations led to the gospel presentation and 180 have prayed to receive Christ!! Additionally, 413 have gone through the Satisfied booklet (for those who claim to already have a personal relationship with God) and have stepped out in faith to recommit their lives to Christ!

Although I have attended this conference before, this Big Break experience has all been so new to me. And I absolutely loved & enjoyed every moment! Every day has been an opportunity to trust God...to rely on and depend on for every encounter to share His love.
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P.S. I praise and thank God for the people who have supported me financially & spiritually (though prayer)! Without their help, I wouldn't have been able to experience God's wonderful plan through this life-changing event! :]