We Are Made Complete in Christ

We Are Made Complete in Christ

Colossians 2:10

written by Milena Ruiz

What started as a simple request from the principal for teachers to come up with ideas for a before-school club, turned into a life transformative experience for many students at Joseph Stilwell Military Academy of Leadership.

Melba J. Jackson, School Counselor at JSMAL, felt this was an important initiative and began brainstorming ways in which students can be more productive with their free time. She remembered her time in school where FCA was present on campus and loved the idea of kids having a safe space to grow and learn in God’s word and where they could interact and channel some of their energy towards something productive.

Middle school as we all know is a big season of transition and can be a difficult age socially. With social media and bullying at an all-time high, kids are managing many emotions. Melba takes the opportunity in her Huddles to remind her students of God’s promises, that we are created in His image and how we are made complete in Christ. When people say unkind things to us, how are we to respond? Jesus tells us to not retaliate, to not respond in anger, but to respond with love and that’s how you will win those people to you.

As her students are implementing these truths in their own lives, Melba is seeing them gain confidence and seeing a change in their overall decision making. They are stopping to think, what would Jesus do in this situation? Melba attests this transformative thinking to walking her students through The CORE. She allows the kids to read through the material and it opens up great conversation within the group, leading to deeper thinking.

God is certainly moving through Melba’s FCA Huddles and we are so grateful that Melba was obedient in the call to lead and share Jesus with her students. Melba is excited for what God has planned for this group and their lives.

If God continues bringing more and more students to her Huddle, the school has given her permission to use leadership classrooms that hold up to 55-60 students at a time. She also plans to raise leaders within her Huddles and to get officers and ministers involved to speak to the kids from their two supporting churches.

We are made complete in Christ - Colossians 2:10

What is a Huddle?

As we seek to make disciples who make disciples, we engage, equip and empower coaches and athletes to know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same. We do this through many different ways and environments. We identify spaces and places to cultivate relationships— individually or in groups—and we use Christ-centered Huddles, events, training and resources.

Huddles are certified small group Bible studies/devotions for coaches and athletes organized by FCA. We host them at various locations on and off campus—wherever coaches and athletes choose to gather.

About The CORE - 8 Essentials to Strengthen Your Faith

When you make a decision to follow Jesus, you are beginning the journey of a lifetime—a discipleship journey. This journey is a lifelong pursuit of becoming a fully devoted follower of Christ, or what we call, a disciple. A disciple is someone who is in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. The CORE gives you eight essentials on how to do just that. The CORE will help you be engaged in God’s Word, equipped on the basics of the faith, and empowered to help others grow in Jesus Christ. When you strengthen your CORE everything else benefits. To learn more about The CORE visit: nefloridafca.org/the-core