'No reserves', 'No retreats', 'No regrets'--Cheryl Fawcett

 

In this evening’s session, Operation Barnabas opened with a drama. Ed Lewis honored paid youth pastors and lead youth leaders in churches.

Students enjoyed Operation Barnabas performing songs and skits. Then Timothy Kurtaneck, Director of Operation Barnabas, encouraged students to apply for OB for next summer’s teams.

Dave Rank introduced Cheryl Fawcett, the morning’s main speaker. Cheryl currently serves as the director for Vision For Youth International in partnership with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism. Go to fawcett.abwe.org to find out more about Cheryl and her ministry.

Cheryl asked students to turn to 1 Corinthians 6:19. She read, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.”

“How will you invest your life?” asked Cheryl.

Cheryl then told the story of William Whiting Borden.

Born a millionaire, William decided at the age of 7 to, “Say ‘no’ to myself and say ‘yes’ to Jesus every time”. William decided God was calling him to be a missionary to the Muslim Kansu people in China. On the way there, he stopped in Cairo to study Arabic. While there, he contracted spinal meningitis. Within a month, 25-year-old William Borden was dead.

William had written 6 words in his Bible: “No reserves”, “No retreats”, “No regrets”. The last two words were written shortly before he died. Read the full version of William’s story.

Cheryl talked about 2 spinal surgeries she’s had that put her on her back for 18 months. She cried out to God because it slowed her down from her plan to serve God. But God said, “You’re not ready yet”. Some suggested she not pursue ministry, but she didn’t want to give up. She finally became a teacher at a Bible college when, six weeks into teaching, she was diagnosed with cancer. Cheryl had major surgery and six months of chemotherapy. God said, “You’re not ready yet”. Cheryl has held onto the idea of “no retreat”.

After William died, his family found out that he was able to give away $70,000 to Christian work. When he died he left 1 million dollars to the cause of Christ. He never had a girl friend. He was so focused that he said he wouldn’t be able to give her the time she deserved so he never married.

Cheryl asked, “Are you willing to go to a hard place? Will some of you go to the hard places?” Cheryl asked students who are willing to go to the outside of the room.

Students from around the arena got up and went to the sides.

Afterward, Sarah from IN said, “It’s clear that the Lord’s moving and I think that it’s just incredible to see the number of students that are sensitive to the Lord’s leading.”