Comments on: Shreddin’ in the ATL http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/ Rantings of a Jesus-loving, raving lunatic Tue, 07 Sep 2010 14:17:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: gnarshredder90 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-141645 gnarshredder90 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:24:39 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-141645 Haley, I was where you were. I have been there. The blade and all. I was haveing a hard time with school, with friends, and fighting with my family. For Me, it was almost as if Greg had heard of my past. The drama was amazing and It was one of the main things that helped me solidify my faith, for the second time. Your story, and in all realness, mine as well, has been a very positive influence on the people around me. I wish you could have been there, you would have cried with the rest of us. I thank you for sharing your story, and letting Greg Share it with us. God Be with you, God Bless you. Jessica, AKA Lex. Haley,
I was where you were. I have been there. The blade and all. I was haveing a hard time with school, with friends, and fighting with my family. For Me, it was almost as if Greg had heard of my past. The drama was amazing and It was one of the main things that helped me solidify my faith, for the second time. Your story, and in all realness, mine as well, has been a very positive influence on the people around me. I wish you could have been there, you would have cried with the rest of us. I thank you for sharing your story, and letting Greg Share it with us.
God Be with you, God Bless you.
Jessica, AKA Lex.

]]> By: gnarshredder90 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-141641 gnarshredder90 Tue, 18 Aug 2009 05:10:52 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-141641 First off, my name is Jessica, but everyone call me Lex, not really sure why but they do. I have a story to tell and I hope that you will ‘listen’ or read in this case. I was there that weekend in ALT. When I first heard about it, from my youth pastor, I thought it was just going to be a giant outreach thing and maybe some good music to go with it. To be honest, I only went to please my pastor. Being one of the senior members of the youth group, I am expected to do this kind of thing. I was expected to lead the youth group on their many adventures, this being one of them. So, with my forms sign, I packed a bag and packed myself in the van my pastor had rented. We traveled from our church in Palm Bay, (Central Florida, Near Kennedy Space Center), to Atlanta, Georgia. I was the oldest on the trip and I was expected to act like one of the adults. We checked into our hotel and put our youth group tee shirts on. Once we walked into the actual conference center, I heard the music and I remember smiling. I couldn’t believe that I might actually enjoy myself. Like I said, I first thought that I was just going to please my youth pastor. We got there a little late the first night, so we had to sit in the back of this huge room. The first talks and everything were amazing. Mind blowing to say the least. My opinion changed when the talks finished, the music carried me to where I used to be when I first became a Christian. I admit that before this experience, I strayed from Jesus too many times to count. When I heard what we were going to be doing with the Outreach, I got scared. When I first pictured Atlanta, I pictured gangs everywhere and well the worst I could think of. I thought everyone in charge was crazy. We got one of the worst neighborhoods to get. No, not the side of town that had nothing to give, but the side of town that had more than enough and still wouldn’t give. The richer side of the town that can’t see the conditions around them. Now I grew up lower class, being raised by my mother and her parents. I am the younger of her two daughters. I know what its like to live from paycheck to paycheck. That’s what some of the families we helped do. I had hoped that the people we were going to see would help out their neighbors. I was horribly disappointed. I couldn’t believe some of the responses that my group got. “We don’t give to people.” Or “Why should I give to them? Why can’t they work for their food?” I was horrified that someone would even think that helping someone else was so much work. The highlight of the entire outreach was this one elderly lady’s house. It was the last house we went to and she shuffled to the door, her dog in her hand. Being the leader of my group, I stepped forward a little and told her what we were doing. She smiled and nodded. With our youth pastor following, she led us to the pantry of her house and she said: “Take how ever much you please. I have no used for it really.” I was floored. With a glance back to my pastor, we started stacking cans on her counter. We got to about ten cans and I nodded, backing away from the pantry. She smiled and piled out another 15 or 20 cans. “I really don’t need this much, it’s just me and my dog.” She assured us. I had been instructed to ask if the donor would like to pray. At first I was a little hesitant about it. I am not really a public prayer person. I motioned to my pastor to begin the prayer and he shook his head, telling me that it was my turn to step up. My voice shook as I prayed, but when I was finished, the elderly lady gave me the biggest hug I could imagine and told me that she would pray for all of us. She will forever be in my heart. I don’t think I could ever forget her. Another thing that touched me a lot was the Cell phone challenge. At first I couldn’t think of anyone to call, most of my friends already follow Christ. Then I remembered Rose. Rose and I have been best friends since 6th grade. We have been there for each other through everything. Rose has struggled with a very harsh history. She was assaulted and raped when she was 12, a few months after we met. I was the 1st one she told about it. I convinced her that she needed to report it. I helped her through the trial. Her assaulter was convicted and sent to prison. I was there, through it all. During it all I told her about Jesus, but she was never ready for him. Before I left for the conference, I told her that Jesus would always be there, knocking at her heart, waiting for her to open the door. The Cell Phone Challenge gave me the chance to tell her even more, everything I had learned. She didn’t accept Jesus that day, but when I got back home, I called her. She told me that she needed to talk to me and we talked for several hours. I agreed to meet with her and she told me that she was ready and she wanted Jesus to save her. Since then, Rose and I have been leading the rest of our friends, the nonbelievers, to Jesus. There are only two left to come to Christ: Mandy and Russell. I pray every night that they choose Christ. The entire experience was beyond what I could have imagined. I have to say thank you to everyone who made it possible. Most of all, God. He opened my eyes to what needs to be done, and how I can help get it done. I was told that I would be a good candidate for seminary. I laughed the first time I heard that, but now, I am starting to think seriously about it. I didn’t think one weekend of listening to speakers, watching skits, and doing outreach would change my life… but it did… and I am glorifying God. With his help, I helped establish ‘Fellowship Of Christian Athletes’ and ‘Young Believers’ organizations in my high school. The two organizations are charged with outreach and fellowship in the school. Most of the students in high schools now fit into three categories: Believers, Non-Believers that have heard, and Non-Believers that haven’t heard. I graduated in May and I will be coming back to make sure that they team I left it with continues down the right road, the road to Christ. I hope that you all will keep my friends, our outreach, and myself in your prayers. Russell and Mandy will come around; God has given me that comfort. Thank you for letting me share my story with you. I still have my 'D2S' wristband. In fact I think it lasted nearly to graduation on May 23rd. March 6 to May 20th, well over two months. Of course, I think God had something to do with it. Jessica AKA Lex SHREAD THE GNAR!! First off, my name is Jessica, but everyone call me Lex, not really sure why but they do. I have a story to tell and I hope that you will ‘listen’ or read in this case. I was there that weekend in ALT. When I first heard about it, from my youth pastor, I thought it was just going to be a giant outreach thing and maybe some good music to go with it. To be honest, I only went to please my pastor. Being one of the senior members of the youth group, I am expected to do this kind of thing. I was expected to lead the youth group on their many adventures, this being one of them.

So, with my forms sign, I packed a bag and packed myself in the van my pastor had rented. We traveled from our church in Palm Bay, (Central Florida, Near Kennedy Space Center), to Atlanta, Georgia. I was the oldest on the trip and I was expected to act like one of the adults. We checked into our hotel and put our youth group tee shirts on. Once we walked into the actual conference center, I heard the music and I remember smiling. I couldn’t believe that I might actually enjoy myself. Like I said, I first thought that I was just going to please my youth pastor. We got there a little late the first night, so we had to sit in the back of this huge room. The first talks and everything were amazing. Mind blowing to say the least. My opinion changed when the talks finished, the music carried me to where I used to be when I first became a Christian. I admit that before this experience, I strayed from Jesus too many times to count.

When I heard what we were going to be doing with the Outreach, I got scared. When I first pictured Atlanta, I pictured gangs everywhere and well the worst I could think of. I thought everyone in charge was crazy. We got one of the worst neighborhoods to get. No, not the side of town that had nothing to give, but the side of town that had more than enough and still wouldn’t give. The richer side of the town that can’t see the conditions around them. Now I grew up lower class, being raised by my mother and her parents. I am the younger of her two daughters. I know what its like to live from paycheck to paycheck. That’s what some of the families we helped do. I had hoped that the people we were going to see would help out their neighbors. I was horribly disappointed. I couldn’t believe some of the responses that my group got. “We don’t give to people.” Or “Why should I give to them? Why can’t they work for their food?” I was horrified that someone would even think that helping someone else was so much work.

The highlight of the entire outreach was this one elderly lady’s house. It was the last house we went to and she shuffled to the door, her dog in her hand. Being the leader of my group, I stepped forward a little and told her what we were doing. She smiled and nodded. With our youth pastor following, she led us to the pantry of her house and she said: “Take how ever much you please. I have no used for it really.” I was floored. With a glance back to my pastor, we started stacking cans on her counter. We got to about ten cans and I nodded, backing away from the pantry. She smiled and piled out another 15 or 20 cans. “I really don’t need this much, it’s just me and my dog.” She assured us. I had been instructed to ask if the donor would like to pray. At first I was a little hesitant about it. I am not really a public prayer person. I motioned to my pastor to begin the prayer and he shook his head, telling me that it was my turn to step up. My voice shook as I prayed, but when I was finished, the elderly lady gave me the biggest hug I could imagine and told me that she would pray for all of us. She will forever be in my heart. I don’t think I could ever forget her.

Another thing that touched me a lot was the Cell phone challenge. At first I couldn’t think of anyone to call, most of my friends already follow Christ. Then I remembered Rose. Rose and I have been best friends since 6th grade. We have been there for each other through everything. Rose has struggled with a very harsh history. She was assaulted and raped when she was 12, a few months after we met. I was the 1st one she told about it. I convinced her that she needed to report it. I helped her through the trial. Her assaulter was convicted and sent to prison. I was there, through it all. During it all I told her about Jesus, but she was never ready for him. Before I left for the conference, I told her that Jesus would always be there, knocking at her heart, waiting for her to open the door. The Cell Phone Challenge gave me the chance to tell her even more, everything I had learned. She didn’t accept Jesus that day, but when I got back home, I called her. She told me that she needed to talk to me and we talked for several hours. I agreed to meet with her and she told me that she was ready and she wanted Jesus to save her. Since then, Rose and I have been leading the rest of our friends, the nonbelievers, to Jesus. There are only two left to come to Christ: Mandy and Russell. I pray every night that they choose Christ.

The entire experience was beyond what I could have imagined. I have to say thank you to everyone who made it possible. Most of all, God. He opened my eyes to what needs to be done, and how I can help get it done. I was told that I would be a good candidate for seminary. I laughed the first time I heard that, but now, I am starting to think seriously about it.

I didn’t think one weekend of listening to speakers, watching skits, and doing outreach would change my life… but it did… and I am glorifying God. With his help, I helped establish ‘Fellowship Of Christian Athletes’ and ‘Young Believers’ organizations in my high school. The two organizations are charged with outreach and fellowship in the school. Most of the students in high schools now fit into three categories: Believers, Non-Believers that have heard, and Non-Believers that haven’t heard. I graduated in May and I will be coming back to make sure that they team I left it with continues down the right road, the road to Christ.

I hope that you all will keep my friends, our outreach, and myself in your prayers. Russell and Mandy will come around; God has given me that comfort. Thank you for letting me share my story with you. I still have my ‘D2S’ wristband. In fact I think it lasted nearly to graduation on May 23rd. March 6 to May 20th, well over two months. Of course, I think God had something to do with it.

Jessica
AKA Lex

SHREAD THE GNAR!!

]]> By: Tiffany http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-121104 Tiffany Thu, 26 Mar 2009 11:39:12 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-121104 Hey greg!!!! I have some awesome news!!! I wrote on here earlier about my 13 year old friend whittney and how she wasn't saved, well last night i talked to her and shared the GOSPEL with her and about halfway through (O) she said she didn't know all that and i explained everything to her and she said that it was interesting. so i continued and when i got to the E-everyone who trusts in God will have everlasting life, she said she hadn't asked jesus into her heart. i said would you like to become a part of God's family? and she started crying and she said yes so we prayed the sinners prayer together and we both started crying and i said welcome to the family. She was soooooooooo happy the rest of the night. and she said it felt good to know someone would always be loving her. I'm so glad i got to learn the GOSPEL I think that is an awesome way to explain jesus to someone!!!! Just be prayin' that whittney will grow in the lord. Hey greg!!!! I have some awesome news!!! I wrote on here earlier about my 13 year old friend whittney and how she wasn’t saved, well last night i talked to her and shared the GOSPEL with her and about halfway through (O) she said she didn’t know all that and i explained everything to her and she said that it was interesting. so i continued and when i got to the E-everyone who trusts in God will have everlasting life, she said she hadn’t asked jesus into her heart. i said would you like to become a part of God’s family? and she started crying and she said yes so we prayed the sinners prayer together and we both started crying and i said welcome to the family. She was soooooooooo happy the rest of the night. and she said it felt good to know someone would always be loving her. I’m so glad i got to learn the GOSPEL I think that is an awesome way to explain jesus to someone!!!! Just be prayin’ that whittney will grow in the lord.

]]> By: Lilly.N http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-120808 Lilly.N Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:18:39 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-120808 Hey,greg How are you? Well,I just wanted to ask.. Has anyone wondered how long the Water Proof WRITBAND last after the Dare2Share conference is over in your state? Thats what I asked myself. Then, I had made plan so see how long the writband would last and it lasted a long time,TRUST ME. I receieved the writband in the Dare2Share Conference in Altanta on March 6 and the writband lasted untill March 23. To be pratical the waterproof Writband Last for 17 days. Its Amazing!!!!!! Well,I just wanted to inform you on that. Have a Nice Day God Bless! ~Love Lilly~ Hey,greg
How are you?
Well,I just wanted to ask..
Has anyone wondered how long the Water Proof WRITBAND last after the Dare2Share conference is over in your state?
Thats what I asked myself.
Then, I had made plan so see how long the writband would last and it lasted a long time,TRUST ME.
I receieved the writband in the Dare2Share Conference in Altanta on March 6 and the writband lasted untill March 23.
To be pratical the waterproof Writband Last for 17 days.
Its Amazing!!!!!!
Well,I just wanted to inform you on that.
Have a Nice Day
God Bless!
~Love Lilly~

]]> By: Tiffany cline http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-118788 Tiffany cline Thu, 12 Mar 2009 11:43:31 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-118788 Hey greg, i just wanted to tell you that, at the dare to share confrence in Atlanta we took what you called the "cell phone challenge" i called this girl whittney. She is having some problems right now her parents got divorced and she doesn't have many friends, just me, and she is getting all depressed. about a month and a half ago she tried to commit suicide but her mother stopped her. so when she told me i asked her why and she said she was unhappy with her life but she said she was getting some pills to make her happy. I told her happiness doesn't come from a bottle and that i knew someone that would always be her best friend and make her happy. When i invited her to my church she said i'm already a christian if thats what your doing. so i asked her what church she went to and she said she wasn't in one. i asked her if she was saved and she said she didn't know what that meant. So i tried to tell her but it made her mad at me, or so i thought. When i called her she didn't answer so i left two msgs. then i talked to her at school and she told me she wasn't mad she just didn't think God could help her because she kept praying and he didn't answer. then i told her that God can't look upon sin. I asked her if i could tell her about the GOSPEL and she said that she would love that!!!! I am so excited to Shred the Gnar for JESUS!!! Hey greg,
i just wanted to tell you that, at the dare to share confrence in Atlanta we took what you called the “cell phone challenge” i called this girl whittney. She is having some problems right now her parents got divorced and she doesn’t have many friends, just me, and she is getting all depressed. about a month and a half ago she tried to commit suicide but her mother stopped her. so when she told me i asked her why and she said she was unhappy with her life but she said she was getting some pills to make her happy. I told her happiness doesn’t come from a bottle and that i knew someone that would always be her best friend and make her happy. When i invited her to my church she said i’m already a christian if thats what your doing. so i asked her what church she went to and she said she wasn’t in one. i asked her if she was saved and she said she didn’t know what that meant. So i tried to tell her but it made her mad at me, or so i thought. When i called her she didn’t answer so i left two msgs. then i talked to her at school and she told me she wasn’t mad she just didn’t think God could help her because she kept praying and he didn’t answer. then i told her that God can’t look upon sin. I asked her if i could tell her about the GOSPEL and she said that she would love that!!!! I am so excited to Shred the Gnar for JESUS!!!

]]> By: Todd Pruitt http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-118551 Todd Pruitt Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:20:53 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-118551 Hey man I just wanted to say what an awesome time my youth group and I had in Atlanta. For most of my youth it was a life changing event. I wish you could have heard them talk in front of our church Sunday Night. Man just to hear how they spoke was inspiring to me. I really want to thank your staff and volunteers. Our church van broke down Saturday afternoon while doing the missons drive. Your staff bent over backwards for us and I cant thank them enough for the hospitality. My youth group was able to get back to the congress center Saturday night and finish out the conference, and your staff did everything they could to acomedate us. Tell Zane and Derwin that there are some really good people in Atlanta. I am sorry for their miss hap. Anyway I look forward to taking my youth deeper and wider and watch them " Shred the Nar" Thanks Again God Bless Todd Hey man I just wanted to say what an awesome time my youth group and I had in Atlanta. For most of my youth it was a life changing event. I wish you could have heard them talk in front of our church Sunday Night. Man just to hear how they spoke was inspiring to me. I really want to thank your staff and volunteers. Our church van broke down Saturday afternoon while doing the missons drive. Your staff bent over backwards for us and I cant thank them enough for the hospitality. My youth group was able to get back to the congress center Saturday night and finish out the conference, and your staff did everything they could to acomedate us. Tell Zane and Derwin that there are some really good people in Atlanta. I am sorry for their miss hap. Anyway I look forward to taking my youth deeper and wider and watch them ” Shred the Nar” Thanks Again God Bless Todd

]]> By: Lilly.N http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-118511 Lilly.N Tue, 10 Mar 2009 23:58:02 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-118511 waite Hes not goanna be where next year? ~Love Lilly~ waite
Hes not goanna be where next year?
~Love Lilly~

]]> By: Lilly.N http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-118484 Lilly.N Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:20:10 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-118484 Hey,Haley I'm so glad that Greg wrote a skit based on you b/c of that skit one of my friends accepted Christ into her heart. When greg talk about suidice...I knew that was a situation for one of my friends and I wasnt goanna let that happen so now I beginning to share GOSPEL with her and others and hopefully she will find that Amazing Love from Christ instead of Guys. ~Love Lilly~ Hey,Haley
I’m so glad that Greg wrote a skit based on you
b/c of that skit one of my friends accepted Christ into her heart.
When greg talk about suidice…I knew that was a situation for one of my friends and I wasnt goanna let that happen so now I beginning to share GOSPEL with her and others and hopefully she will find that Amazing Love from Christ instead of Guys.
~Love Lilly~

]]> By: Lilly.N http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-118481 Lilly.N Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:09:54 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-118481 Hey I am glad you came to Atlanta b/c I have learned alot on how to shred the gnar with my friends about God Recently I have gone back to God and Now we are cool then ever but I brought my lil sis with me and this was her first time as a teenager to attend any conference/concert. She thought it was amazing and she also learned how to share Christ with others I am currently a freshman and man let me tell ya its hard to bring up God with my friends and even people I dont know but after the experience in Dare2Share its became easier b/c I have learned to trust God in everything and I ask him to use me so I may get through to my friends and others. People were really shocked that I am not Ashambed to Say that I believe in God fully,they say I'm happier than ever and so full with joy. But I said its b/c of JESUS I'm alive and I really do pray for each and every one of my friends so they might come to Christ and find that peace and happyness that I found. To conclude it all, I took in every message that was preached,every scrit that I saw and applied it to my daily life! So Pray for me as I speak and tell my friends about the GOSPEL And also Pray for them to accept Christ and Find that happyness that we all have. ~Love Lilly~ Hey
I am glad you came to Atlanta b/c I have learned alot on how to shred the gnar with my friends about God
Recently I have gone back to God and Now we are cool then ever
but I brought my lil sis with me and this was her first time as a teenager to attend any conference/concert.
She thought it was amazing and she also learned how to share Christ with others
I am currently a freshman and man let me tell ya its hard to bring up God with my friends and even people I dont know but after the experience in Dare2Share its became easier b/c I have learned to trust God in everything and I ask him to use me so I may get through to my friends and others.
People were really shocked that I am not Ashambed to Say that I believe in God fully,they say I’m happier than ever and so full with joy.
But I said its b/c of JESUS I’m alive and I really do pray for each and every one of my friends so they might come to Christ and find that peace and happyness that I found.

To conclude it all,
I took in every message that was preached,every scrit that I saw and applied it to my daily life!

So Pray for me as I speak and tell my friends about the GOSPEL
And also Pray for them to accept Christ and Find that happyness that we all have.
~Love Lilly~

]]> By: Rachael Harrell http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl/comment-page-1/#comment-118476 Rachael Harrell Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:22:57 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/conferences/shreddin-in-the-atl#comment-118476 I am so jealous of everyone who got to go to D2S this year. Though not completely. This time last year my parents and I were preparing to leave the country with a missions organization called Operation Mobilization. It is so weird that it was only one year ago. D2S was a very good thing for me last year. The friends who went with me ended up becoming my best friends, and I am convinced it was partly because of that. I do miss very much being able to go this year, I have been twice in the past, especially because of the bands that were there. =P I think last year I had decided I wanted to work for D2S, doing who knows what. Now, have no idea and the future is approaching so quickly it is speeding by at a blur. I do have a question for anyone who has the knowledge. Is there a video of that drama?? I absolutely love the D2S dramas. They are so inspiring. Congrats to all of you who got to go. I wish I was there, but only half because the country I am living in is Italy.=P With much love! ~Rachael P.S.-I am a 16 year old missionary kid. Wow. I am so jealous of everyone who got to go to D2S this year. Though not completely.
This time last year my parents and I were preparing to leave the country with a missions organization called Operation Mobilization. It is so weird that it was only one year ago. D2S was a very good thing for me last year. The friends who went with me ended up becoming my best friends, and I am convinced it was partly because of that.
I do miss very much being able to go this year, I have been twice in the past, especially because of the bands that were there. =P
I think last year I had decided I wanted to work for D2S, doing who knows what. Now, have no idea and the future is approaching so quickly it is speeding by at a blur.

I do have a question for anyone who has the knowledge. Is there a video of that drama?? I absolutely love the D2S dramas. They are so inspiring.

Congrats to all of you who got to go. I wish I was there, but only half because the country I am living in is Italy.=P
With much love!
~Rachael

P.S.-I am a 16 year old missionary kid. Wow.

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