Dream Giver
As I mentioned in the 32-Day blur post below, I had the privilege of being with students for a week at Daytona Beach a few weeks ago, one of which was a 15 year old named Brady. I got to know Brady through a letter he wrote in March which reads:
3/3/09
Dear Mr. Giglio,
Hi, my name is Brady S. and I’m 15 years old. I live in West Virginia. You are, to sum it up in a few words, my hero. Hearing God’s word through you absolutely changed my life. I thank the Lord for you everyday and you would not believe the amount of times I’ve watched Indescribable. I saw you at Myrtle Beach in 2007 at Student Life @ the Beach and I am stoked for Daytona this year!!!
The experience is one that will never be forgotten and I wish that all of my friends could attend, but one thing is stopping me from making that happen, price.. It led me to God and knowing that, I want to give others that same opportunity. The town of Berkeley Springs is not a very wealthy one and $500 a person is a lot to ask for students to pay. With all of our fund raising projects, we hope to maybe decrease that price to at least $300. But what kills me is that teens my age are going to miss out on something so life changing all because they can’t afford it. Should price be a factor in starting a relationship with God? I don’t think so, but I’m 15 and can’t do much about it other than generously asking for donations.
I would do anything to make this trip possible to 56 others, so they can experience the same thing I have. I am hoping that maybe you can help me in some way even if that way is simply praying for my church. And I’d like to thank you so much for being a positive role-model. When I grow up, I hope to be just as faithful as you are and thanks again for changing my life.
Thanks again and may God be with you.
Sincerely,
Brady S.
Hmmm. The average 15 year old letter, right?!?!
Well, though it’s impossible for me to personally respond to all the correspondence we receive, I shot Brady some encouragement and a short reply… and I waited.
A few weeks ago, at Student Life @ The Beach, I got to meet Brady, his mom, his youth pastor AND the 56 students that came from Berkeley Springs to experience one of the most amazing weeks of camp I have ever been a part of. Brady’s dream was realized and he filled a charter bus with friends and made the trek to Daytona Beach.
A few days after the week was over, this e-mail came:
Dear Louie,
What a week! I can’t choose a word to describe it, simply because there aren’t enough words to describe the pure awesomeness of it. Wow!! First I’d again like to thank you for your help in getting us there, it means more to me than I’m sure you know. So thank you for that.
I’d like to take this time and tell you about the things I’m talking about when I say this week was so amazing. I think you should see what you have helped me accomplish. You see, I had many people come who weren’t involved in youth group and had no faith what-so-ever. You changed that the first night for a few of them. Through you, God spoke to them personally and revealed Himself to them. Derrick C., 15 year old sophomore, now a follower of Christ; Shawn S., 16 year old junior, now a follower of Christ; Sabrina B., 16 year old junior, now a follower of Christ; Kevin C., 16 year old junior, now a follower of our Savior; Summer M., 13 year old 8th grader, now a follower of Christ; Brittani J., 17 year old senior, now a follower of Christ; Derrick S., 15 year old sophomore, now a follower of God, the Creator of Everything!
They never had much of any faith at all, and in just a few days, turned their life around. That made my week. If nothing else would have happened, I would’ve went home excited for them! It was awesome.
All my friends wouldn’t stop saying how I made it all happen and without me we wouldn’t have been there, blah blah blah. The old me was VERY arrogant and would have loved those compliments, yet I just kept telling them, “God made it happen, thank Him.” So then on Wednesday when I got to meet you and my group did as well, (they loved that by the way! Thanks!) all that was coming at me was more compliments, and again, I wasn’t absorbing them, just reflecting them up to the heavens. But then the moment that defined my week was when you decided to use me as your example and tell 7000 people about me. When they were cheering for me and my story, wow. Was I encouraged? Absolutely! But, I was as humble as I had ever been! I saw that it was exactly what God had in mind for me that week, for me to be humbled and I have you, Mr. Pastor Giglio (since you like that so much) to partially thank for that.
….Thank you! And most of all, above everything else, thank God. My friends…get my passion for the things I do now. I may actually have some more support this year when I get 112 people down there!!
For everything you’ve done for me and my group, thank you..
-Brady
P.S: Only 358 more days!
Wow! Just another 15 year old dreaming and giving his all to make Jesus famous!! How amazing!
Humbled, too,
Louie
PSS-I would look for TWO charter buses heading south from West Virginia next July!
July 28th, 2009 at 6:45 PM
Louie, thanks again for everything..
& to all of you reading this, never give up on your dreams.. Even when the road gets tough, you gotta keep the faith.. You may not receive a letter from Louie, but God will take care of you in a way in which only you deserve.. Philippians 4:13 says “I can do anything through He who strengthens me.” I live my life by that.. So never give up, God will keep you going:)
-Brady
July 28th, 2009 at 7:58 PM
Wow! Thank You Louie for everything you’ve done. You really did change my life. Daytona Beach was the best week ever. And I mostly have to thank Brady for that. I had no idea about Student Life, Untill Brady introduced it to me. I want to thank Brady And Louie, You Guys Have Changed My Life!! I can’t wait for next year!!!
- Katie Zakrzewski
July 28th, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Aww that’s so cool, Brady! I’m happy that you and your friends got to come to Student Life this year, it really WAS amazing! So happy for you guys : ) God is AWESOME
July 29th, 2009 at 3:46 PM
So amazing!! I believe God has big things in store for Brady’s life. He’s already a missionary to his peers!
Loved this testimony. Praying for many, many more like it.
July 31st, 2009 at 3:42 AM
Hey guys. I realise I am a tad older than the rest of you (Louie you could possibly understand the age gap :-) at 31, but make no mistake, when the youth moves so powerfully, it is most contagious. Brady, you have plugged into the living God in such a powerful way. At 15 you have grasped something it took someone like me 20 something odd years to really get. What a life ahead. I read these blogs weekly and I really love the comments from you guys. Obviously I love what Louie puts down is awesome, but you guys are the future and man does that look good!!
So praise be to God who hears our prayers and reaches down to make the ordinary, extraordinary.
Regards
Jack (South Africa)
July 31st, 2009 at 7:30 AM
This is just so powerful:) I was there @ daytona beach.. It was just too much:D God where flowing true us! I come from the Netherlands and its just an unbelievable story how i get @ daytona. I was the only guy who was not from the USA!:D Isn’t that so great. Then i got in contact with the staff of the contact, i could just join their group! And i have spoken to Chris and Louie!:D WoW now i am back home and the temptation, the pains come’s back. But its like i have a powerful shield before me. That shield is called Jesus Christ!
Amen!
PS: I am also going too Passion 2010 with my sister. Does anybody knows a place where we can spent the night? Mail me @ bartjou@xs4all.nl
July 31st, 2009 at 9:30 AM
Louie and Brady -
So good to hear that God is moving through you. Pray that that passion and joy never fade! Enjoy hearing about God moving throught the younger generation! Enjoy 2010. I would love to attend but I am not sure what the future is going hold around then. Seems I will be looking for another job unless something breaks. Appreciate your prayers.
July 31st, 2009 at 4:47 PM
:-) Awesome!
July 31st, 2009 at 6:42 PM
This is definitely an example of huge faith in God! This brought tears to my eyes! We must rejoice with the angels in Heaven over our new brothers and sisters in Christ!
July 31st, 2009 at 11:58 PM
Hi Pastor Louie,
So encouraging!!!! Man, thanks so much for sharing Brady’s story with us at camp in Daytona and also for the update! His story is touching more lives then in West Virginia alone! Our kids were so encouraged when you spoke about him and they still talk about him today and his example of desiring to have his peers hear the gospel. They took it to heart in that they have all started inviting more friends…
Since camp (2 weeks ago) our church has already gone through some pretty amazing changes. My husband and I have started driving the van to pick up the kids for church and our youth invited so many kids from their neighborhood that we could hardly hold them (it’s an 8 passenger GMC)! They were all so excited and the moment they got in the van they wanted to listen to Chris Tomlin!! My heart was overjoyed because these kids are from such a rough area and have never even heard Christian music before and now (since camp) they love it and have made it so contagious that their friends now love it. In 2 weeks we’ve gone from 3 youth to 10 and they are bringing their younger siblings!!! So exciting to have so many children!!! We now have a new problem at Calvary Baptist Church… not enough transportation to get all the children to church!!! Praise God! Our original 3 really caught the vision at camp and are acting on it! We are actually really excited about this new problem! Josh and I literally talked about Brady last week and were remembering how he just prayed and then acted about his desire to get a large group from one place to another and that encouraged us! It is just so amazing to see God working the way that He is!! Praise God for showing all of us, by using each other, that He is so mind blowing amazingly great and in complete control and does answer prayer! Thanks again for talking about Brady! I know that God is using his story for His glory and the ripple effect will last for years to come.
Your sister in Christ,
Sarah
Calvary Baptist Church
Daytona Beach, FL
August 2nd, 2009 at 9:49 PM
Sarah:
So glad to hear that your youth group is growing! Isn’t it wonderful to have a problem such as having too many! We came to Daytona with just our kids b/c we don’t have a youth pastor. It was life changing for my daughter! We’ve told so many about it that I think next year we are bringing a group! I also loved Brady’s story, as we are a very small Appalachian town not to far from Brady. If God can provide funds for his group, I know that same big GOD will help with our funds! Hope to see you next year and hear an update how God has worked in your church! Lots of love from Ohio!!
August 3rd, 2009 at 7:08 AM
Louie
thanks for sharing this with us! Glory to our amazing GOD!
August 13th, 2009 at 8:04 PM
What else can we say about the awesomeness of our God!
Go Jesus! paul