Welcome to Passion for Christ, a ministry of Utah Partnerships for Christ. In Acts 26, 18, Jesus said, Paul's purpose was to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light. and from the power of Satan unto God. That they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. We hope you'll join us for today's testimony of lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let's begin today's episode. Welcome to Passion for Christ. This is Russ, your host, and tonight. Boy, you might hear some buzzing in the background because we have a group from Woodman Valley Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. And so it's been a great day.
We've been doing a lot of ministry today down at Temple Square, and they've been helping out at the new property of Utah Partnerships for Christ. Gavin, what has the Lord taught you today or so far on your mission trip here? You've been serving as a leader this trip, but you came to Utah as a student. Correct. Yeah, yeah.
Tell me about what the Lord's doing. Yeah.
So, just for all the other people at home, my name is Gavin Cruz. I just graduated high school from Liberty High School in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I have been on this mission trip twice before. I've had the honor of getting to come out here as a student about four or five years ago. And now I have the honor and privilege to get to come back here as a leader.
So I believe that during this trip, the Lord has really taught me a lot between patience and gratitude and willingness to be vulnerable with just either my testimony or getting to have a little bit deeper talks with the students.
So I think that patience is definitely a big one. I would kind of highlight that because I feel like at some points in the trip, I would start to get a little bit tired or maybe a little bit hangry at some points. You know, so it's a lot of hard work, but it's all worth it in the end. It's all worth it for getting to glorify our Lord. Yeah, and The group is about 20 students and around 11 leaders.
And so you guys got here in Utah on Friday, I think it was. Yeah.
What are some of the things that you guys have been doing leading up to today going to Temple Square, which we'll talk about in a minute, but what kind of things have you been doing thus far? Yeah.
So we have been partnering with a church called the Genesis Project in Ogden, Utah. And they actually have two locations. They have one here in Ogden, Utah. While continuing on. Been to both, and it has been incredible to see how the ministry works at both campuses.
But we partnered with the Genesis Project to help them out with some landscaping. Originally, the plan was to do like a VBS kind of thing, but it looks like we got here a little bit too late.
So it's okay. I think that the Lord definitely pivoted that to give us more time to work on stuff that would help out the church in more of a long-term aspect.
So we've been doing stuff like that. And then in the afternoons, we go around and do community projects like going and cleaning up the streets of Ogden and painting stuff and just trying to find any way that we can use our gifts to serve the city. Awesome. That's so great. And then Today you are at Temple Square.
What were some of the things that you saw that maybe stuck out to you, that stood out to you, and this kind of burdens your heart, you know, or just some things that you heard or you saw? Just share with our listeners a little bit of that, if you would. Yeah, definitely. As we were walking around Temple Square, I was just overall amazed by the site and the architecture and everything about it. I was just so wowed and blown away at like how these temples were standing and the significance behind a lot of these symbols and stuff like that.
So I think that that was definitely interesting. It's fun to get to come back. Later on in life, and see it again and again because you learn something new every time. And so for me, we got to go to the visitor center and also go on the tour that they had. There, uh, with their group, and got to see what it was like inside of like a Mormon temple.
And so, walking around that, um, I just Had a lot of thoughts about like what they were trying to preach and a lot of the stuff that they believed in. And one thing that kind of stuck out to me is a lot of the times they would say, Oh, we believe this, we believe, but not necessarily like, I believe this, or I stand strong on my faith in this. And so I think that a lot of the times some of the questions that would be asked would kind of circle around with the same answers. And so sometimes I felt like it was a little bit. Not necessarily frustrating, but more of like a stump because you kind of wanted a different answer.
But just getting to learn more about like the significance between Mormonism and Christianity and what they took and built out of it and what it is nowadays, and getting to learn about modern-day prophets and how they believe that they can have one-on-one conversations with the Lord, which seems a little interesting to me. But I believe that this was definitely eye-opening and getting to see a new perspective of not only just what they believe, but also how they practice and how they go about doing practices like worship or coming together in unity and being bonded together through marriage or friendship or whatever else that looks like.
So I just thought that was pretty fascinating. Right, great, great. And so. After this trip is over, You're going to get back to Colorado Springs. Are you going to continue like some type of an internship with Woodman Valley?
Or is this going to end in a few more days? And then God has other plans for you this summer? Or how is the Lord leading you going into the future now? Yeah, that's a great question.
So I actually just finished up some. Kind of ministry work through Woodman Valley Chapel. I was a fifth and sixth grade small group leader for two years with fifth grade and now seventh grade boys. And so that was a lot of fun. But yeah, now that the school year is over, I am done with youth group since I've graduated high school and I'm done leading those boys as they will move on to middle school.
And so yeah, during this summer, I'm here in Salt Lake City getting to serve and be a part of this mission trip, which has been such an incredible opportunity. And afterwards, I will get to go back home, hopefully, maybe find a new job and work a little bit through the summer. But come time August, I'm actually taking a gap year and doing a gap year program, which I actually never knew was a thing until this year. What does that consist of? What does that entail?
Yeah.
So a gap year program looks kind of almost like a school year, but it's a little bit different.
So sometimes it can tie school into it, sometimes it doesn't.
So initially, I was going to apply for a gap year program.
Well, I did apply for a gap year program here, or not here, in Colorado, and I got accepted. But the thing is that they needed a certain amount of people in order to do the program. And unfortunately, they didn't meet that number requirement, even though I did get accepted.
So they weren't able to follow through with the program.
So I saw that as a little bit of a bummer because I kind of had my hopes up high for this and kind of feeling like this was my calling and my next steps that God was taking me to. And then for the door to just kind of shut all of a sudden was a little bit hard for me. But I think that he did it for a good reason to turn me to this new gap year program that I'm going to out in South Carolina. Oh, wow. I'm going to University of Greenville to attend college while also doing the Gap Year program.
But this Gap Year program helps you to just kind of hone in like the skills and the gifts and talents that the Lord has blessed you with and how to use that and apply that to what you want to do in the real world. Wow, that sounds really great. Yeah.
I know the truth. network but That this is all a part of this podcast and radio. I believe we have a station in Greenville, South Carolina.
So people out there might, who who knows, maybe hear this. conversation we're having and be encouraged by it and who knows someone might Just walk up to you and go, Hey, I remember hearing about you, Gavin, or something like that. Who knows, right? That's exciting.
Well, God has great things ahead for you. Psalm 16:11 says, Thou will show me the path of life, in thy presence is fullness of joy, at thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore. And um that's just my favorite verse and you know and it's just such such a great verse with these loaded promises, you know, and I I believe you know that yourself, you know, so I'm excited to see what what God's gonna do through you. And everything, and as you continue to serve and lead this team, yeah.
So, man, thank you for coming out to Utah in the past. And leading and serving these youngsters, these junior hires, right? Of course, yeah, it's been a great honor. They're a great group of kids. I'm very proud of them.
I'm very impressed with the way that they've handled a lot of things here. They have a lot of maturity for their age.
So I'm very impressed with that. I'm very impressed with everything overall. It is such an honor to be here. Thank you for having me, Russ. This has been such an awesome opportunity.
Hey, it's a privilege. And so thank you so much for being on Passion for Christ. We'll be right back for the rest of today's testimony. Please know we at Utah Partnerships for Christ have been planting seeds of the gospel in Utah for over 24 years. We welcome any questions you may have and invite you to visit our website to obtain a list of words and definitions that would help you understand how Mormons think and how to be able to better witness to your friends who belong to the Mormon Church.
That website is www.upfc.org. That's upfc.org. We'll be right back. Welcome to Passion for Christ, a ministry of Utah Partnerships for Christ. In Acts 26, 18, Jesus said, Paul's purpose was to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light.
and from the power of Satan unto God. that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. We hope you'll join us for today's testimony of lives changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Now let's begin today's episode. Well, continuing on with our group from Woodman Valley Chapel from Colorado Springs, Colorado, we have Ellie.
So, Ellie, just speak into the microphone, kind of like the way I am here, and and uh. Tell us about what the Lord has been teaching you on this trip to Utah. Um, with this trip Yeah. With this trip to Utah, I think I've learned a lot about being stretched, um, because I'm not I ju I pull weeds and I like Do it at my own house, but doing it for the community I think is really motivating. And I've also been stretched of um.
Trying to Explore more and learn more about, like, what the Mormon faith is, because I know sometimes. I might judge a bit, and I've tried to not judge as much. Um. and like understand more than set apart. Yeah, so this trip is Partly designed to do all kinds of different service projects and stuff.
But then today, being at Temple Square, you get to understand more of what Mormonism is all about. And then I think by doing so, then you'll be able to better communicate the gospel to the Mormons, you know, and you'll be able to understand where they're coming from. Be able to speak a language to them that makes sense to them and just. Just overall, just get to know them as a person, like you say, and not jump to a conclusion necessarily. And it just shows that you care about them and you're trying to really point them to the Jesus of the Bible, huh?
Yes, for sure.
Well Well, I appreciate your enthusiasm for these things. We've been at the office here for the station and just been sharing about. Why do we have good reason to trust the Bible and all the evidence and things, and from coins and. that I'm looking at right here in front of me, right here, and Just so many things, like the pottery over there from Israel and pages of Bibles from the 1500s and stuff like that.
So we have Dana here, and she's one of the leaders. And we've got somebody here that wants to share, I think, right here. And let's say, I'm going to do this. I'm going to grab that microphone from you, like this. We're going to go like this.
And so just tell us your name and just tell us about what the Lord has been teaching you on this trip so far.
Okay. Uh, my name is Haley. And on this trip I've just like I feel like it's been like Really fun to like serve other people and just like. see different like communities because it's like It's also s not only like searching things you do, but searching your mind because I'm not used to like Being around a whole bunch of Mormons or being in Temple Square. Right, right, right.
So, this is, and this is nice because you get to go with your friends. Yeah.
And so it's it's a lot of fun and you get to you know probably stay up late and you know have a bunch of M and M's and cookies and things like that and no, no. He healthy foods, okay.
Well, To get in a bed so we can days and working hard, right? Yeah.
Well, you guys have done amazing work today for us out of our. ministry property out there in in Huntsville. really blessed me a lot.
So all the stuff you guys were doing. And so it's been a lot of fun.
So we'll be praying for you guys, Haley. And so I think next to you to your left is a young lady who'd like to share as well.
So would you want to just give us your first name and And just tell us a little bit about how the Lord's been teaching you some things on this trip. Hi, my name is Hannah. And um some things that the Lord has like taught me on this trip Is I've kinda like Been able to learn a little bit more about like Mormons and how. like they worship and how they And the way that they like got it have to enter the temple. And like I guess kind of like Just the way I serve people, like, it just reminds me, like, how I'm not, like, serving for myself and, like, my own credit, but I'm just giving it all to God.
And I've just learned about like all the different ways that God shows his love and like I've been praying about like how God can just show the truth. And he can teach us about teach the Mormons about like how Jesus is like came and died for our sins and that like everyone That believes in him will have eternal life and like go to heaven. And like he's enough. They don't. They don't need all these other things like these temples and stuff like that.
It's complete. Jesus is sufficient. He's. He's more than enough. It's like you don't have to add anything to a perfect...
You know Person, you know, and he's he's he is God the Son, and sadly, the Mormon people they just add all these other things. Don't they? And so So, when you were at Temple Square today, was there one thing that stood out to you as you. One specific thing, maybe maybe you saw a statue or a painting or something that just didn't quite Gel with you as a Christian. Young lady.
Um, so we were watching this video, um, on a tour that we took, and something that just stood out for me is that instead as like how we Christians can just go up And just like talk to God wherever we want in whatever form or way we want, like our unique selves. But Mormons, when before they like enter, like the tabernacle and stuff, they need to dress into like white clothing and stuff to all be like unified. Or like to their church services, you mean? Yeah.
Yeah, that that's true. There's kind of like a standard uniform almost. They kind of need to like just kind of change who they are a little bit to go and present to the Lord. Right. Which like.
I don't get why they would do that because l the Lord just created us uniquely and differently to do that. Yes, some good good observations from all you girls, so thank you. Thank you. Yeah, we heard from Gavin. We heard from Haley.
No, Ellie, and we heard from Haley. And we heard from Hannah. And uh And so we're going to hear from Dana now. She's one of the leaders.
So, Dana, you've been listening to these young ladies speak. I mean, they're talking almost like. you know, b beyond their years. Oh, yeah. You know?
This is my fifth time getting to lead this trip or be a leader on this trip. Um, and it's it's amazing how these young junior, high, middle school kids are so Hungry to learn, but also to preach and to plant seeds. One thing that I've noticed over the years that I've been coming is it's Each year I come, I think I leave even more sad for the Mormon church. They just don't have a true north that they get to point towards. Um and things are always changing.
And there's so many rituals and ceremonies and and it's heartbreaking 'cause it's just so simple. Yes, yes.
Well put, well put.
Well, thank you so much again for all that you're doing here. We'll be Praying for all these seeds that have been planted and watered from you guys, and we'll look forward to seeing what the Lord does again next year. And we'll be praying for the Mormons, right? Yes. Thank you.
Thanks so much. We are going to change gears and we are going to talk with my friend Nate Williams. Nate. came here to Utah. To see about the possibility of bringing a mission team to Utah from.
The state of Alabama. And Nate is the director for a ministry, which I'll have him tell you about. The acronym is ARC. What does ARC stand for? ARC stands for Apologetics Resource Center, and that's what we do.
We evangelize, we share the gospel, and we tell people about Jesus, we defend the faith. Yes, you go to churches. You work with Racio Christie as another part of your ministry, a great campus ministry that helps people understand the reliability of the Bible and the evidences for Christianity. And so we've had a good day today. We were down at Temple Square today.
What were some of the things as you're preparing to possibly bring a team out next year? What struck you? How did the Lord move in your heart today for these people that are lost? Yeah.
I think that God moved in my heart in this way: people who are lost don't always know that they're lost.
So, we go about our daily lives, and this is for anyone anywhere. We go to our jobs, our neighborhoods, but we really need the work of the Lord to kind of expose the fact that we are lost, that we are sick, in need of a Savior. And so, everyone here in Utah have their lives, they're doing what they're doing, they're living how they're living. And so, we pray that as we go and share the gospel, the Holy Spirit is working in our hearts. Amen.
That's right, that's right.
Well, it's been fun. We're going to be having you have a conversation with a friend of mine who won't give his name just out of respect for him, for his privacy, but Everybody out there listening to this, please pray for a friend of mine. We'll call him Bob, but it's not really Bob. But he's a guy that he. I love this guy, and I've been sharing the gospel with him for like 20 years, literally.
And so we're just not going to give up on him.
So Bob, if you're listening. Know that we love you and that we want you to know the Jesus of the Bible. We don't want a counterfeit Jesus, you know, like 2 Corinthians 11. Tell us what 2 Corinthians 11 talks about when Paul was. kind of warning the people there from Corinth.
A different Yeah, different Jesus, different gospel. That sometimes we make a Jesus that we want, that sounds good, feels good to us, but ultimately that's not how God works. God is the God of truth and irrelevant of our feelings and what we want Him to be, and so we need to remember that. Amen. Well with that, we're going to sign off on another edition of Passion for Christ.
We'll do another interview at more depth after Nate's trip is over with. We'll do that and we'll air it here on the program. Thank you for listening. Thank you for praying. If you'd like to help support Utah Partnerships for Christ, just go to our website, upfc.org.
We'll see you again right here on this good station next week. Before we sign off for today, please know that all of us here at Utah Partnerships for Christ appreciate your prayers and support. We are also available to do Zoom call workshops or personal coaching on reaching Mormons for Christ. Contact us today at upfc.org. That's upfc.org.
Thanks so much for joining us on another edition of passion for Christ.
