MAINSTREAM MISSION: ONE HEART - New Jersey June 23 - July 5, 1997

Mainstream returned from New Jersey very tired, but very assured that God is still in the business of changing lives! What a great experience we had with some super new friends of ours in Madison, Flanders, Freehold, Howell, Flemington, and Aberdeen! Well, actually these were the townships where the Churches that we worked with were located, the students lived everywhere in Northern New Jersey! Our 'teams' worked together going through our ONE HEART materials that was written by our Minister with Students, Jim Graham - along with the Billy Graham LIFE & WITNESS curriculum... then we played together!

One of the most important things we did through our time there was to just hang out with our new friends to be an encouragement to them in their Christian lives. Real believers are a very small percentage in N.J. which keeps them from having a large support group on a day to day basis... but it CAN happen! Hang in there guys, we love you!

While we were there, we performed the musical 'SKIP' five times to enthusiastic audiences. The musical is an 'alternative' style work that uses some very contemporary sounds to ask questions about God... and IF he is God how he could possibly care about us compared with the vastness of the entire universe. Be sure to checkout Mainstream's Photo Album to see more shots of SKIP. It was Friday night at Madison High School when we met Josh...

He has come to bring me back home I was a lost sheep I never knew he truly existed I thought it was a myth But now I can see His love for me Lord I don't know how many times you were trying To get my attention He's opening up the gates of Heaven All the people around me patting me on the back In the struggle Jesus comes up to me and gives me a hug He says my son It's over come take my hand I've been waiting for you to come back home Then he leads me to the people that helped me God what did I do to deserve this love I am not even worthy of holding your cross But you said I was faithful till the end Lord thanks for sending me those angels My heart was black and ugly Now I feel a glow of happiness See you in heaven my friends. Josh ... (Dedicated to The Dream of Skip: everyone on the cast and crew and everyone on it who prayed for me and brought me to Jesus)

What else can you say? What happened that night at Madison High to Josh is available to anyone... all you have to do is simply accept the gift that God has provided for you. We love you Josh, and we are praying for you and all of your new family as you BEGIN your new life. Your coming in that night to see Skip wasn't an accident... God had that planned since the beginning of time, you are that important to our God!

We saw God move in the hearts and lives of our new friends all over New Jersey during our two weeks there. We miss our new teamates, and are praying that God will bless them in a big way. Even though you are out of our sight, believe me, we talk about you all the time!!! The two weeks went by very fast, and we did so many different things tourist-wise (be sure to visit the Photo Album), but one of the highlights for us was to join Larry Holcomb one afternoon to help get the word out about a new congregation that was just beginning to meet in Astoria-Queens. We split up and talked to some really friendly people in a 15 block area around 31st Street and Ditmars and had a lot of fun! If you happen to live there in Astoria, check it out... the new church meets right at the Subway Station on 31st! Many thanks to our hosts Steve Holloway at Madison Baptist Church, Eddie Hatcher at the Central Hunterdon Baptist Church in Flemington, David Persson at West Monmouth Baptist Church in Freehold, Tim McCormick at Hope Baptist Church in Flanders, Chris Gatti at Howell Baptist Church, and Gail Glenn at Calvary Baptist Church in Aberdeen. You all bent over backwards for us for two weeks out of your lives, and for that we are eternally grateful. Please stay in contact with us and let us know of upcoming things. Be sure to get all of your 'yutes' to register here so they can get on and chat with our 'yutes'. This coming Summer? Well, plans are being considered to include all of our Jersey friends to come to our own turf right here in ol' San Antonio and join in a huge Summer mission project. We have three other youth groups from different locations all over the US that may join us. Maybe we can even present a musical together... and rehearse 'long-distance'? If you come, we won't take you to the 'shoa' for a swim, we'll haul ya'll down to the gulf!!!