The FREEDOM TOUR creates all sorts of ripples.
When a bunch of passionate people get excited and begin telling stories about this amazing adventure, there’s no way to predict how the impact will spread. It’s fun, interesting, and humbling to hear some of the ways God uses this crazy experience.
The old (former?) teacher in me is always pleased when the tour impacts kids.
I told you a few months ago that Monte and I spoke at Eaton Middle School and that they planned a Week Of Hope fundraiser. I couldn’t have imagined how it would turn out.
During their Week Of Hope they did nutty middle school stuff. On Hat Day kids could purchase a “hat license” and wear a hat during school. On Tech Day they could purchase a license to use a cell phone for part of the day. Crazy stuff that middle school kids loved.
Teacher challenge day–each teacher thought up some bizarre stunt, then the kids voted by putting money in their jar. Winner had to do their stunt.
The week wasn’t all fun and games. Classes devoted time, where it was appropriate, to talk about the issue of human trafficking and why they were doing the Week Of Hope.
Becky, Monte, and I were invited to the year-end assembly. Their student body president proudly presented the proceeds from their efforts.
It’s easy to dismiss a fundraiser like this, to assume these kids were simply playing games so they could wear hats and use phones in class. I worked with middle school kids for a long time; I know them pretty well.
A lot of them were just goofing around, but some weren’t. Some listened. Some young hearts were touched. We’ll likely never know which ones.
That’s how ripples work…toss a stone in the pond and a few ripples come back to where you’re standing. But most head off into the distance, and you never see where they end up.
We know and appreciate the immediate impact of the dollars the kids raised.
But there’s most likely something longer-term and more profound that only God will see.