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Bible-Reader Class of '01: Where Are They Now?
Tue., Apr. 3. 2007 12:10am EDT
Karl Messner, lead guitarist/producer for ApologetiX here.
As you may know one of the cool things I get to do in ApologetiX is introduce some kids to their first effort of reading the Bible for themselves. I encourage them to read one chapter a day starting in John, writing it in their bibles with the date, and then email a special email address (readingbuddy@apologetix.com) with what they read in the subject. Many many folks have done that and many still check in every day.
Sometimes they only email once, and then with the dawn comes a total amnesia of how cool it was to meet the rock band and unfortunately, life goes back to normal. The first kid I encouraged to read was a middle school basketball champ. She's never skipped a day and has gone on to not only read it end to end 10 times or more, she's also been very involved in ministries like Teen Mania.
Shortly after that first reader, I met another baller in California who insisted on calling me "sisterhood." She checked in three or four times and as far as I know read all of John and Acts. Then disapeared under the surf. here's the first letter I got from her on July 1, 2001:
Wasup Sisterhood?? Oohhhhhh what is this? I told you. I told you I would read it! Yea, you thought i wasn't going to do it, didn't you? i just finished John. and now i go to Matthew? Yea. OK, .but this is E*** if you still remember me from the uh, concert you had in Oakhurst. So, I just dropped you a line..to tell you I did it! Alright?
E***
Then I never heard another word from her since. In the six years since, I've seen hundreds of kids start reading, and read for a while. Some kept on and some just for a while. You never know when you've ignited a flame. You never know when you've started a livelong thing for them and they just don't want to bother you any more with email.
Well, surprise. Today I got this from her:
Karl-
Hi, it's E***. I do not know if you remember me. I met you at the Oakhurst Park in California about 6 years ago. We wrote back and forth for a while but I quit writing you. Sorry about that. i was probably 13 or 14 then. I was the basketball player. Even if you dont remember me, I just wanted to tell you what has happened in my life. The Lord used you to get me into reading His Word. You told me to start reading in John and then go to Matthew etc. I have never stopped reading it since.
I am now married and have two daughters. We (my husband and I) are really involved in the Church. We are a part of the the music, I, playing piano, bass, tambourine (and all those little instrauments like that) and vocals, and my husband the drummer. We are also involved in taking Bibles into restricted countries and I am now about to go again in the next couple of months.
When you met me I was a "Christian fool" so to speak. I knew all the right things to do but Jesus was not in my heart. The Lord sent me a pastor who is very wise and discerning who could see through my mask. And God used him to deliver me from "American Christianity." Now Jesus has everything to do with our lives in every aspect and the things of this world are growing dim. We know now that there is no going back.
Even if you do not remember me I just wanted to let you know how the Lord used you in my life. I remembered about you when I walked into my friends house and I heard ya'lls version of Slim Shady. And he told me it was ApologetiX. So I remembered you!
Anyways, praise the Lord for using wretches like us, and may He use you to advance His Kingdom and hasten the day of His return!
Grace and Peace be multiplied to you
In Christ,
E****
Since she's now in the trenches smuggling bibles, we're protecting her identity.
Great to hear the great news and can't wait to hear more of how God's working in their lives!
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