Regional speech tournament!

My dad, sister, and I returned home last week from the NCFCA regional speech tournament. We didn't "break" to semi-finals, but we had a great time.  Watching others' speeches and learning from fellow competitors gave us valuable insight and we learned a lot from delivering our speeches as well. Despite the tight schedule and fast pace, we had plenty of time for fun. My dad volunteered as a hall monitor, and he enjoyed the authority that came with his bright pink “NO TALKING” sign. He would shoosh us and competitors we knew when we were being quiet, and when things became a little louder, he would threaten to take the noisemakers “downtown.” J A few of the highlights for me were meeting new friends and having great fellowship, playing Egyptian Rat Slap (card game), learning Scottish dancing at the banquet, getting to spend extra time with my dad, driving on the interstate en route to the tournament, studying the Bible with two sisters in the Lord one morning, watching a duo performance of the book "Horton Hears a Who" (it was hilarious!), and playing soccer w/ my sister in the hotel parking lot (during some free time one afternoon.) I also met a Mormon girl and had the opportunity to witness to her. Here is what I wrote about the encounter...

Before the tournament, I prayed that God would lead me to an unbeliever to witness to. Since the organization is for Christian Homeschool students, to me it seemed unlikely that I’d find an unbeliever. Still, I would keep an eye open for what God might do. During the 2^nd day of the tournament, He did it.

I saw a girl sitting at a table reading a thick, blue leather Bible. I sat down across from her, and we began chatting. Looking forward to some fellowship, I asked her what she was reading in her Bible. She told me she was reading up for a study that she does with her church. As I asked about her church, Taylor said, “Well, actually, I’m Mormon.” I hope my jaw didn’t drop, but I was so excited to realize that I was sitting across from the person that God had sent me! In that moment I completely forgot the little bit I’d learned about the Mormon religion, so I began asking her what she believed. Our (actually very pleasant) conversation was interrupted when it came time for us to go give our speeches, but we promised to reconvene. The next day in the student center, we had some free time and sat down together to continue talking. I walked her through the Ten Commandments, explaining our guilt before God, and then God’s amazing love displayed in Christ on the cross. This part went along like most witnessing encounters, but afterwards, it took a twist. When I finished talking about believers going to heaven and seeing Christ face to face when they die, she asked an interesting question. “So…what is the main purpose of life then?” She meant, what is the point of living for Jesus and dying to be with him forever, if there’s no world waiting for you to rule over in eternity? (Mormons believe the goal of existence is to model your life after Jesus so you can become a god of another world in the afterlife). I was amazed at the directness of her question, and said, “The reason God made us is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever.” I had a wonderful opportunity to explain what man was created for, and how we are to enjoy God. In conjunction, I also explained how living to become a god after death is a mistaken aim. We went back to the garden of Eden and I showed her how the desire to “be like God” was what caused Eve’s fall. We covered man’s depravity, our need for salvation, Christ’s amazing love, and repentance and faith. I pray that God touched her heart with the beauty of the gospel, and that she will abandon her pride and bow at the foot of the cross. I pray that she glimpsed the “light and easy yoke” of serving Jesus, and that she will turn from the false doctrine of works to embrace Him.

A-mazing!

04:10, Sunday, May 4, 2008 .. Posted by bjpitts

I love getting to hear about your evangelism adventures! It is so amazing to see the power of God working in and through your whole family! I laugh as I picture your dad wearing that t-shirt, haha. I miss all of you so much! The Spirit could not have given you a better topic to discuss with that young lady. It is incredible that the Mormons believe the age-old lie of desiring to be like God, only it is magnified into a world-wide false religion that uses Jesus as their mascot! Truly horrible and sad! I hope you get the chance to share these encounters at our church and motivate others to "go and tell."