Comments on: Dear Charlotte, http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/ Relentlessly pursuing Christ and His Cause Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:20:03 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: megan http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-2004 megan Wed, 15 Nov 2006 23:46:53 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-2004 wow!! this yr was my first dare2share conference!! and i had a blast!!! the bands were alsome!!! i think this is one of those youth trips that i'll never forget!! Saturday when greg told us to take out our cell phones and call a friend, and well i knew i couldn't call the person i wanted to b/c here house goes to bed about 8:30. Well the person i wanted to call is named ray. Well me and her were in a fight. we had been in that fight for over a months! When i woke up on sunday,I was still thinking about what Greg said so i picked up the phone and I called her and we both apolgized to each other and now we are friends again! The Lord did alot for me that weekend! so i hope next yr. i can go again!! wow!! this yr was my first dare2share conference!! and i had a blast!!! the bands were alsome!!! i think this is one of those youth trips that i’ll never forget!! Saturday when greg told us to take out our cell phones and call a friend, and well i knew i couldn’t call the person i wanted to b/c here house goes to bed about 8:30. Well the person i wanted to call is named ray. Well me and her were in a fight. we had been in that fight for over a months! When i woke up on sunday,I was still thinking about what Greg said so i picked up the phone and I called her and we both apolgized to each other and now we are friends again! The Lord did alot for me that weekend! so i hope next yr. i can go again!!

]]> By: Bethany http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1973 Bethany Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:26:51 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1973 Satin Knocking @ my Door Ok i wasn’t sure weather to put this under the NC conference or denver. Because i had a similar experience w/ satin that greg had in denver. I went to the North Carolina conference but it wasn’t easy getting there. Satin won me over last year and i didn’t go. See i live in NY and my youth group went for the first time last year except i was on the varsity soccer team that made it to states. So i didn’t go i was planing to go all the way up till 3 days b/4 our youth group left but satin hit me hard and i wasn’t strong enough. This year was a different story our soccer team was better than ever. I would be missing the 2 biggest soccer games of my high school career. And what made it even more difficult is Game Day the theme. While i was in the conference the my soccer team would be playing their best game ever. So here was satin again knocking @ my door but this time i had the support of my youth group. I go to a public school so know one understood my decision (i have around 64 kids in my grade and about 4 of us are Christians). But God gave me the strength to overcome satin and to tell my coach that i wouldn’t be @ the 2 most important games of the year. I loved the conference i learned so much (to much at once) it took me a couple of days after the conference to go over what happened and what i was suppose to do. But i did take the 48 hr challenge when we got bak to New York Sun. I worked out how i was going to confront my friend. and the next day i did… it was ok but i feel its going to take a while … When i got bak the soccer team was still going on so it was very weird coming bak to practices. We had another game sat. and on the 2 hr. bus ride i brought my bible and prayed (probably the hardest i have ever prayed) the whole way b/c i didn’t have a chance to share w/ anybody on my team about God. I prayed so that we would win but not for what ur thinking… i asked god to help us win so i could have another week w/ my team to have the chance to share god. God answered my prayer we won 3-0 and are now class d NYS champions so were off to states this Friday and i have a whole week to talk to the team so im praying to God to give me an opportunity. ( I should write a story on this experience lol) Thanks for Reading Bethany Satin Knocking @ my Door Ok i wasn’t sure weather to put this under the NC conference or denver. Because i had a similar experience w/ satin that greg had in denver. I went to the North Carolina conference but it wasn’t easy getting there. Satin won me over last year and i didn’t go. See i live in NY and my youth group went for the first time last year except i was on the varsity soccer team that made it to states. So i didn’t go i was planing to go all the way up till 3 days b/4 our youth group left but satin hit me hard and i wasn’t strong enough. This year was a different story our soccer team was better than ever. I would be missing the 2 biggest soccer games of my high school career. And what made it even more difficult is Game Day the theme. While i was in the conference the my soccer team would be playing their best game ever. So here was satin again knocking @ my door but this time i had the support of my youth group. I go to a public school so know one understood my decision (i have around 64 kids in my grade and about 4 of us are Christians). But God gave me the strength to overcome satin and to tell my coach that i wouldn’t be @ the 2 most important games of the year. I loved the conference i learned so much (to much at once) it took me a couple of days after the conference to go over what happened and what i was suppose to do. But i did take the 48 hr challenge when we got bak to New York Sun. I worked out how i was going to confront my friend. and the next day i did… it was ok but i feel its going to take a while … When i got bak the soccer team was still going on so it was very weird coming bak to practices. We had another game sat. and on the 2 hr. bus ride i brought my bible and prayed (probably the hardest i have ever prayed) the whole way b/c i didn’t have a chance to share w/ anybody on my team about God. I prayed so that we would win but not for what ur thinking… i asked god to help us win so i could have another week w/ my team to have the chance to share god. God answered my prayer we won 3-0 and are now class d NYS champions so were off to states this Friday and i have a whole week to talk to the team so im praying to God to give me an opportunity. ( I should write a story on this experience lol) Thanks for Reading Bethany

]]> By: Angela http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1940 Angela Tue, 14 Nov 2006 14:13:57 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1940 Blessings to you Greg & all the staff of D2S! We brought our youth the the conference last weekend and it was amazing to see God's presence in that building! It was our first trip but definately not the last! How fulfilling to feel the presence of God! It is so wonderful to see someone like you that is so committed to caring for our young people. The event made such an impact on our youth. They have a renewed faith and are really on fire for God! I am a youth leader and our older youth did not get to attend because of other activities and work.  It is so hard to get them involved anymore since they are working.  I ask for prayer for our youth, that they will put God first in their lives, get their priorites in order and be on fire for God!  They are pulled in so many directions of the world, one of Satan's biggest ploys. Our group stayed up until @ 1:00 talking about the drama. It really opened their eyes to what they will face one day! It really hit home hard with one of our young girls! She has been in church all her life and thought she was saved in VBS & said the prayer just like some of her friends but had not truly surrendered her heart to Christ. The drama depicted the exact scenerio she had gone through.  I have been praying for her through the last few months that God would really reveal himself to her! And did he ever! She made things right last weekend and finally realized that she really wasn't saved! I feel that it is real for her now! Keep her in your prayers too that she will be committed to God's plan for her life and the work that he has purposed her for! She also witnessed to one of her friends that has really been a bad influence in her life lately! What a miracle I saw this weekend from God! I was also wondering if it would be possible to get the draft of the drama for us to present in one of our youth praise worship services. It really impacted our group and I know that they would love to use it to impact others! Please let me know about that! We are about to start our GOSPEL Journey that I purchased at the event and will be working on our e team! I am really looking forward to helping them grow stronger in their faith! You have such a way with the young people and I pray that God will give you strength to continue His great work through you! Thanks for all you are in Him! Consumed in HIM! Angela Blessings to you Greg & all the staff of D2S! We brought our youth the the conference last weekend and it was amazing to see God’s presence in that building! It was our first trip but definately not the last! How fulfilling to feel the presence of God! It is so wonderful to see someone like you that is so committed to caring for our young people. The event made such an impact on our youth. They have a renewed faith and are really on fire for God! I am a youth leader and our older youth did not get to attend because of other activities and work.  It is so hard to get them involved anymore since they are working.  I ask for prayer for our youth, that they will put God first in their lives, get their priorites in order and be on fire for God!  They are pulled in so many directions of the world, one of Satan’s biggest ploys. Our group stayed up until @ 1:00 talking about the drama. It really opened their eyes to what they will face one day! It really hit home hard with one of our young girls! She has been in church all her life and thought she was saved in VBS & said the prayer just like some of her friends but had not truly surrendered her heart to Christ. The drama depicted the exact scenerio she had gone through.  I have been praying for her through the last few months that God would really reveal himself to her! And did he ever! She made things right last weekend and finally realized that she really wasn’t saved! I feel that it is real for her now! Keep her in your prayers too that she will be committed to God’s plan for her life and the work that he has purposed her for! She also witnessed to one of her friends that has really been a bad influence in her life lately! What a miracle I saw this weekend from God! I was also wondering if it would be possible to get the draft of the drama for us to present in one of our youth praise worship services. It really impacted our group and I know that they would love to use it to impact others! Please let me know about that! We are about to start our GOSPEL Journey that I purchased at the event and will be working on our e team! I am really looking forward to helping them grow stronger in their faith! You have such a way with the young people and I pray that God will give you strength to continue His great work through you! Thanks for all you are in Him! Consumed in HIM! Angela

]]> By: Seth http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1820 Seth Sun, 12 Nov 2006 21:37:16 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1820 Hey greg that was the best thing i have ever done in my life you are awesome and so is god!!! Hey greg that was the best thing i have ever done in my life you are awesome and so is god!!!

]]> By: beth sanders http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1777 beth sanders Sat, 11 Nov 2006 21:26:06 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1777 Hi Greg!!! Dare2Share wuz awesome!!! I'm @ the church Cassidy goes to (Eastern Hills). Our whole youth group wuz on a "spiritual high" after Saturday night. In fact, we still r!!! Everyone in our youth group has matured in some way. One kid in my youth group has really changed (you can tell)!!! D2S wuz awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Beth Sanders  Hi Greg!!! Dare2Share wuz awesome!!! I’m @ the church Cassidy goes to (Eastern Hills). Our whole youth group wuz on a "spiritual high" after Saturday night. In fact, we still r!!! Everyone in our youth group has matured in some way. One kid in my youth group has really changed (you can tell)!!! D2S wuz awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Beth Sanders 

]]> By: Morgan Guse http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1754 Morgan Guse Sat, 11 Nov 2006 04:12:55 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1754 Hello Greg,  My name is Morgan Guse and I went to the Gameday in Charlotte.  This was my first time and it definately won't be my last!  I was very encouraged by all that was done there at gameday.  It showed me and my youth group at Community Bible Church in Beaufort, SC, that there is an effective way to share your faith, what you believe in, and to do it without being offensive.  I have talked to everyone who went with us and it was life changing for all of us.  It was a great encouragement and challenge to all of us.  We have always been challenged by our youth group to share our faith, and we even go out and do it as a get together sometimes(we even go to other countries to share about God)...but I like how you did it.  You said...go find someone you don't know and share the Gospel with them.  Share your faith!  And then, you have four minutes to call that friend you have been praying for and tell them about God.  I did that...but the two people I called didn't answer their phones.  But I just wanted to say thanks and that I appreciate all that you do...encouraging the saints to share the Gospel and how to do it effectively.  I am truly grateful for that and I know that many others think the same way!  Press On with all that you are doing...I know that many people are affected by what you say, including myself, and I know that it will help everyone across the country.  I will be praying for future Gamedays! Hello Greg,  My name is Morgan Guse and I went to the Gameday in Charlotte.  This was my first time and it definately won’t be my last!  I was very encouraged by all that was done there at gameday.  It showed me and my youth group at Community Bible Church in Beaufort, SC, that there is an effective way to share your faith, what you believe in, and to do it without being offensive.  I have talked to everyone who went with us and it was life changing for all of us.  It was a great encouragement and challenge to all of us.  We have always been challenged by our youth group to share our faith, and we even go out and do it as a get together sometimes(we even go to other countries to share about God)…but I like how you did it.  You said…go find someone you don’t know and share the Gospel with them.  Share your faith!  And then, you have four minutes to call that friend you have been praying for and tell them about God.  I did that…but the two people I called didn’t answer their phones.  But I just wanted to say thanks and that I appreciate all that you do…encouraging the saints to share the Gospel and how to do it effectively.  I am truly grateful for that and I know that many others think the same way!  Press On with all that you are doing…I know that many people are affected by what you say, including myself, and I know that it will help everyone across the country.  I will be praying for future Gamedays!

]]> By: Brian Alexander http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1717 Brian Alexander Fri, 10 Nov 2006 03:39:08 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1717 Hey Greg. Thanks for the mesages this past weekend. I didn't have a cell phone to call my friends, but I did talk to them about Jeuss this weeek. It feels good to step up for Christ on my school campus. Eastern Hills Baptist Church Hey Greg. Thanks for the mesages this past weekend. I didn’t have a cell phone to call my friends, but I did talk to them about Jeuss this weeek. It feels good to step up for Christ on my school campus.

Eastern Hills Baptist Church

]]> By: juliedee http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1716 juliedee Fri, 10 Nov 2006 03:31:41 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1716 Hey!  I'm Julie and I was at the D2S in Charlotte.  It was the second time I went and the second time it was an amazing, life changing event.  I was talking to my youth pastor on AIM yesterday and we were talking about all the youth there and seeing them all worship.  It takes my breath everytime I look out in the crowd and see the hands raised, eyes closed, everyone praising God.  I could never be in a worship band because I wouldn't be able to sing.  Anyway, what you guys do at D2S really inspires and prepares us to share our faith.  It's such an important thing, and I think what you do is completely awesome.  Right now, I'm kind of in the process of sharing the Gospel with a friend at school.  His name is Chris and he pretty much knows nothing about God and His story.  Chris is a very quiet, loner type and he ended up sitting at our table by accident towards the beginning of the year.  He didn't know anyone sat there and I just asked if it was cool for us to sit there and he said yeah.  We've very slowly become friends, and a while back I invited him to church.  He was really excited about it and really wanted to come but didn't show.  I asked him what was up the next day and he said something came up with his sick brother.  So I was like okay, well next week.  It didn't happen.  He said his mom wouldn't let him last minute.  So I let it go for a while, even though I shouldn't have.  Weellll, since Dare 2 Share, God has really placed him on my heart and I know it's my duty to lead him to Christ.  So today at school I brought church back up and he asked me what we did on Wednesdays (youth group), and Sunday mornings.  It turns out that Chris has only been to church a few times when he was around 6.  God totally opened it up for me then so I went for it.  Turns out, Chris doesn't even really know what "being saved" means.  So I got super excited and started talking.  And, believe me, once I start, it's hard for me to stop.  So I talked, he had a few questions, and he's verrrryy open and ready to talk to me more about it tomorrow.  I'm pumped cause I really think Chris is close to trusting Jesus.  I know this was really long, but please be in prayer for God to use my rambling-don't-know-when-to-shut-up-self in some miraculous way to get the Message through to Chris and for Chris to take that step.  P.S. I used the GOSPEL.  :]  If it wasn't for you guys, I don't think I would've had the guts.  Thanks for reading even though this was 3 miles long.  -Julie Hey!  I’m Julie and I was at the D2S in Charlotte.  It was the second time I went and the second time it was an amazing, life changing event.  I was talking to my youth pastor on AIM yesterday and we were talking about all the youth there and seeing them all worship.  It takes my breath everytime I look out in the crowd and see the hands raised, eyes closed, everyone praising God.  I could never be in a worship band because I wouldn’t be able to sing.  Anyway, what you guys do at D2S really inspires and prepares us to share our faith.  It’s such an important thing, and I think what you do is completely awesome.  Right now, I’m kind of in the process of sharing the Gospel with a friend at school.  His name is Chris and he pretty much knows nothing about God and His story.  Chris is a very quiet, loner type and he ended up sitting at our table by accident towards the beginning of the year.  He didn’t know anyone sat there and I just asked if it was cool for us to sit there and he said yeah.  We’ve very slowly become friends, and a while back I invited him to church.  He was really excited about it and really wanted to come but didn’t show.  I asked him what was up the next day and he said something came up with his sick brother.  So I was like okay, well next week.  It didn’t happen.  He said his mom wouldn’t let him last minute.  So I let it go for a while, even though I shouldn’t have.  Weellll, since Dare 2 Share, God has really placed him on my heart and I know it’s my duty to lead him to Christ.  So today at school I brought church back up and he asked me what we did on Wednesdays (youth group), and Sunday mornings.  It turns out that Chris has only been to church a few times when he was around 6.  God totally opened it up for me then so I went for it.  Turns out, Chris doesn’t even really know what "being saved" means.  So I got super excited and started talking.  And, believe me, once I start, it’s hard for me to stop.  So I talked, he had a few questions, and he’s verrrryy open and ready to talk to me more about it tomorrow.  I’m pumped cause I really think Chris is close to trusting Jesus.  I know this was really long, but please be in prayer for God to use my rambling-don’t-know-when-to-shut-up-self in some miraculous way to get the Message through to Chris and for Chris to take that step.  P.S. I used the GOSPEL.  :]  If it wasn’t for you guys, I don’t think I would’ve had the guts.  Thanks for reading even though this was 3 miles long.  -Julie

]]> By: Jessy http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1704 Jessy Thu, 09 Nov 2006 23:51:25 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1704 hi Greg, i went to the d2s conference in Charlotte-and it made a huge impact on my life. I have been able to bring up Jesus in almost every conversation now, and 3 people i have talked to have accepted him! But, i have some friends that i am afraid to talk to about this. They are both mormons, and the other day at lunch, my cousin(who is a mormon, also) asked me about my wristband. I told her about dare2share and about going out into Charlotte, and telling people about the GOSPEL...and she said...you shouldn't do that...it's wrong...and that made me really upset...and i haven't talked to them about it since. They are both my best friends, and i want so much for them to accept Jesus. I have read half of the d2s book, and i am still unsure of how to talk to them about it.. anyways-thanks for motivating me>> ~jessy hi Greg, i went to the d2s conference in Charlotte-and it made a huge impact on my life. I have been able to bring up Jesus in almost every conversation now, and 3 people i have talked to have accepted him! But, i have some friends that i am afraid to talk to about this. They are both mormons, and the other day at lunch, my cousin(who is a mormon, also) asked me about my wristband. I told her about dare2share and about going out into Charlotte, and telling people about the GOSPEL…and she said…you shouldn’t do that…it’s wrong…and that made me really upset…and i haven’t talked to them about it since. They are both my best friends, and i want so much for them to accept Jesus. I have read half of the d2s book, and i am still unsure of how to talk to them about it.. anyways-thanks for motivating me>> ~jessy

]]> By: Crystal http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte/comment-page-1/#comment-1688 Crystal Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:50:28 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/dear-charlotte#comment-1688 Hi Greg!  I took my youth group to the Charlotte D2S for the fourth year in a row, and wow!  You guys never cease to amaze me at how you relate year after year to exactly what is going on with the teens today.  Our youth group has been struggling a lot lately to get our balance.  Our number one cheerleader and supporter (our pastor) died suddenly of a massive heart attack less than four months ago.  This sent our group reeling, and we haven't had a chance to recover completely as a group since.  Our group has dwindled down (we were already few in number) to about 8 regular attendees, and it's become very discouraging.  I'm sorry to say that I've not been the most encouraging youth leader through this.  I'm a full time volunteer leader, and since there's not anyone to really keep me accountable, I've nursed my pain (my pastor was my father figure for the past 10 years) and allowed the group to do the same.  I've slacked in my prayers for them, and in the activities we plan.  I've gone with the theory that if they just need to take some time to mourn, they can do that.  God's really been dealing with me about this lately, and I've tried to get them all fired up again...like we've been for the past several years.  You guys really helped me get that going.  We had 1/3 of our members attending the conference come to Christ, and every other one of them made a solid commitment for Christ.  The point that really broke me was when you had the youth leaders literally get on their knees and pray for their groups.  I really realized what I'd been neglecting, and things were put into perspective for me.  Thank you so much for your dedication to Christ and to the youth of our country...and for all the encouragement to us youth leaders.  As our group would say: "You rock like gravel!"  Hi Greg!  I took my youth group to the Charlotte D2S for the fourth year in a row, and wow!  You guys never cease to amaze me at how you relate year after year to exactly what is going on with the teens today.  Our youth group has been struggling a lot lately to get our balance.  Our number one cheerleader and supporter (our pastor) died suddenly of a massive heart attack less than four months ago.  This sent our group reeling, and we haven’t had a chance to recover completely as a group since.  Our group has dwindled down (we were already few in number) to about 8 regular attendees, and it’s become very discouraging.  I’m sorry to say that I’ve not been the most encouraging youth leader through this.  I’m a full time volunteer leader, and since there’s not anyone to really keep me accountable, I’ve nursed my pain (my pastor was my father figure for the past 10 years) and allowed the group to do the same.  I’ve slacked in my prayers for them, and in the activities we plan.  I’ve gone with the theory that if they just need to take some time to mourn, they can do that.  God’s really been dealing with me about this lately, and I’ve tried to get them all fired up again…like we’ve been for the past several years.  You guys really helped me get that going.  We had 1/3 of our members attending the conference come to Christ, and every other one of them made a solid commitment for Christ.  The point that really broke me was when you had the youth leaders literally get on their knees and pray for their groups.  I really realized what I’d been neglecting, and things were put into perspective for me.  Thank you so much for your dedication to Christ and to the youth of our country…and for all the encouragement to us youth leaders.  As our group would say: "You rock like gravel!" 

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