Over spring break, Jessica Marotte, staff in Sacramento, CA, hosted a student conference in a rental house to study the Gospel of Mark. She was told there were not many stairs, but when they got there they found a huge flight of stairs.
Jessica says, “One student who came to Mark Camp was wheelchair bound and required two people to her carry up and down 20 stairs each day. It took a lot of bravery for her to trust us not to drop her! Each time we carried her, I could only think, this is a living parable of Mark 2, when the four friends removed the roof of a house and carried their paralyzed friend down into to crowd to meet Jesus.
In the passage it says that when Jesus saw the four friends faith he forgave the paralyzed man and heals him. When we studied this passage at the conference, one of our students made an insightful comment that felt symbolic of this school year, ‘Each of us is the paralytic who needs Jesus’ healing, and each of us is a friend who has faith that helps us carry one-another to Jesus!’
Throughout this year, Jesus has been showing us–students, faculty and staff–that power of faithful community in our healing process. The year was full of miraculous healings that Jesus performed.
Through the power of prayer and intercession we saw God bring breakthrough in the ministry and in student’s lives! We ended the year with 5 students making first time decisions to follow Jesus, and 6 students making re-commitments to follow Jesus!”
Praise God with me for the work of God on campus and let’s consider with these students who God is inviting us to carry to Jesus.