No more mixture, I want the God of Scripture. 

This line is so profound and sums up what I see being lived out currently in this generation.  They want something that is real.  They don’t want it to be tied up with a bow or come officially sealed.  Appearances don’t matter as much as they used to.  They just want the raw, unfiltered truth.  They want something to hold onto that will be real and not fade from their hands.  They want to be known by their authenticity and not their masks.

And that’s what they want from Jesus too.  They want to know Him.  Not how the church sees Jesus.  Not how a preacher portrays what Christians should be and shades their view.  Not the hurt that they have experienced in trying to grasp a relationship with Jesus.  Not the mixture of what culture tells us and what other Christians tell us.  No more mixture.

This year we hosted another Circuit Riders team and I was especially impressed with the intentionality of this year’s team.  But as they worshipped, as they brought the message, as they prayed with students… these were the words that continued to come back to me and permeate throughout the room.  We continue to press into the truth that Scripture is not a mixture.  It’s the reality that we live in a broken world that needs Jesus and this generation is hungry for anything that hasn’t been tainted by lies.

Three nights straight they sang this song and declared truths over themselves.  And I will continue to take a stand and walk with them.

Oh, I want Jesus
Oh, I want Him
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him

No more mixture, give me the God of scripture
No more idols or lesser loves
No substitute will ever do
There’s nothing more I’ll ever pursue

Oh, I want Jesus
Oh, I want Him, only Him
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him

And I surrender until my heart grows tender
Here be my treasure, my greatest call
No substitute will ever do
There’s nothing more I’ll ever pursue

Oh, I want Jesus, sing it out
Oh, I want Him
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him

Oh, take this world and give me Him
Give me Him

Isn’t He enough, yeah
Isn’t He enough
Jesus is everything, all that I’ll ever need

Isn’t He enough, isn’t He enough
Jesus my King of Kings, You satisfy me
Oh, isn’t He enough

Isn’t He enough, yeah
Isn’t He enough
Jesus is everything, all that I’ll ever need

Isn’t He enough, isn’t He enough
Jesus my King of Kings, You satisfy me

Singing
Oh, I want Jesus, yes I do
Oh, I want Him
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him
Oh, I want Jesus

Oh, I want Jesus
Oh, I want Him, singing
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him

Oh, I want Jesus
Oh, I want Him
Oh, only Jesus
Take this world and give me Him
Take this world and give me Him
Oh, You can take this world and give me Him

“Are you going to put us in a newsletter?” they asked, laughing as we took this picture—because they knew their story really was newsletter-worthy.  And they now write their own newsletters for supporters

Eight years ago, each of these girls came into my life individually. They were both in college, choosing life paths that led them away from a relationship and lifestyle with Jesus. I walked with them faithfully through that time—listening, giving advice, and praying for them. There was leadership in each of them, but it was covered by fear of man, a desire for a different image, rebellion, running from God, and a lot of pain.

Fast-forward eight years, and I’m still championing them to be their best selves. They have given their lives to Jesus and are now serving and challenging college students to pursue Him wholeheartedly in partnership with the CCO (the college ministry team I served with during my years of discipling them). To say I am celebrating their lives is an understatement. This is the rejoicing of eight years of patient ministry, love, and the multiplication of Kingdom impact worked out in the most unlikely way.

God turned their lives into a testimony. He turned hundreds of hours that often felt like falling into a pit of mud into redemption and multiplication. He raised up His leaders to raise up other leaders.

Not all of the students that I sit with become multipliers. I would not have picked these two girls out of the class of 2021 to be Kingdom Builders. But I am elated that God did and that they are now part of the team raising up leaders on college campuses in Pittsburgh. God does have good surprises for us and I am so happy that their stories include this redemption and chapters.

Jess and I originally met through the basketball program. She wore the same number as me so we were destined to be teammates. And Carter first landed in my Bible Study group when she transferred into college and she felt convicted to try and find a group. Here are some photos from those early years of ministry with them!