Everywhere I go I tell people about Impact. I tell them our story. How Nicole and I moved to Charlotte with nothing, knowing no one and had faith that God had called us to a specific place at a specific time. I tell them about our failures. I tell them about our successes.

Sometimes I get caught up in believing that numbers equal success. I want to tell people about how we started with 0 students and now we have a community of over 100 students. But over the past 6 months I've realized that success isn't found in the massive numbers but in the stories of life change. So, if you will lend me your ear I would like to tell you a few stories. Rob grew up without a relationship with his mom and dad. He was taken away from them when he was little. His whole life he struggled with acceptance, with allowing others to love him. His grandparents took him to church but a tangible relationship with Jesus felt like a myth, like something that was for the really spiritual people that didn't have problems. He struggled with believing that God would leave him like his parents. When he came to UNCC he looked for places that would pull him further from God because he thought that might make his past easier to deal with. But an invitation from a classmate landed him at Impact. He found a place that talked about a God that was transforming us from the inside out. A God that desires an intimate relationship with us. He found a place where he could wear his rock ‘n' roll t-shirt and not be judged. He found a place that told him that a relationship with Jesus isn't about the "do and don't" but an intimate relationship. And he was set free! He's looking for ways to live out the way of Jesus because he believes that the way of Jesus is the best possible way to live.

 

Brandon grew up in great home. Great parents. Supportive. Grew up in church. But he didn't like the things that guys are supposed to like. He liked to sing more than play sports. The world around him told him that if you were a guy and didn't like certain things, talk a certain way and dress a certain way then there was something wrong with you. So, he decided that he must be homosexual. And that God must have created him this way.

 

When I met him he had given in to this lie. But I asked him if he would meet with me every week. We met every week for 2 years. The first time we met, he asked if he was "allowed" to be involved with Impact. By God's grace, my answer was one of grace. We shared stories. We shared struggles. We talked about everything and some weeks nothing. We ate together, changed the oil in his car together, played wiffle ball together, sang together, we just lived life together.  About 6 months ago he sat down with me and said, "Justin, God didn't create me this way. God has more in store for me." I sat in silence as a wave of emotions ran over me and I saw life-change right before my eyes. He's dating one of our female student leaders now. They have a healthy relationship. He's shared his past struggles with her and with his family. He's a man after God's heart. At the beginning of the summer we had breakfast and he told me that he felt like God was calling him into full time ministry. God uses our past to influence the future.

There's the story of Beth who grew up catholic and didn't know that a personal relationship with Jesus was possible. She didn't really like Christians. But she gave Impact a chance and a second chance. She's been baptized at Impact, she takes communion every week as a way to represent her connection with a God that wants to be in relationship with her and she's falling more and more in love with her personal Savior.

 

There's the stories of the students that you would never think would consider full time ministry but now God is helping them dream of what it would look like if they gave their whole life to Him.

 

And students don't have to decide to go into full time ministry for life change and full surrender to take place. There are students who are going to be nurses, teachers, lawyers, cooks, writers, communicators, politicians, doctors, and so many other things that have decided to have a skewed perspective. They have decided that their entire life is about following the way of Jesus no matter where they are or what they are doing. It's not just a Sunday thing, it's 24-7 thing. Their lives are entangled with the Kingdom of God. They are forever changed.

 

Life change is happening in Charlotte. But the truth is, it will only continue happening if you help us. We are $2,500 short every month. If we don't have more people partner with us then Impact will cease to exist. What will you do? Will you help? Will you change a life? Will you help set a student free? Will you be the reason a student at UNCC realizes that the Way of Jesus is the best possible way to live? We need your help NOW! What will you do?