In 2015, I stepped down from my position as Children’s Pastor at Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas.

It did not make sense at the time because the money just wasn’t there to be able to survive financially.

But I knew that if I did not follow the Lord’s leadership, I would be disobeying Him.

He called me to trust Him and do that. As time passed, I felt an urgency to obey. So, I gave my resignation, and my last day shortly followed.

From that point forward, the Lord has blessed us beyond what Vicki and I could have imagined.

Fruit from the Field Vine and Branches Ministries (Mexico) by Alex and Dianna Aburto

Our first generation of L.I.T.s is making an impact on the next generation even though we haven't been able to gather as L.I.T. The principles learned in their hearts from L.I.T. are now being shared during quarantine in their homes. Thank God for L.I.T.! Since quarantine, God began to provide for our students to be discipled from home and online. For months, V.B.M. student 7-year-old Iker has developed the habit, along with his family, of having a daily time with God. His older sister Marifer (13) learned the discipline & blessing of a daily time with God when she previously went through our L.I.T. (Leaders In Training) course in 5th-7th grades. During COVID, Marifer and her Mom have diligently worked with the family to establish their daily time with God using V.B.M.'s monthly discipleship booklet and prayer guide to read the Bible, memorize Scripture, and talk with God. His family is steadily growing in the Lord and sharing Jesus with their family and neighbors. Praise God!!!

(Picture: Thirteen-year-old Marifer on our L.I.T. mission trip leading her first person to Christ (left) and is now discipling her siblings, who are now leading their neighbors to Christ.)

L.I.T. Taught Me to Be a Leader by Holland Coleman

When I was old enough to join L.I.T., I jumped at the opportunity to do for others what had been done for me. Looking back, the most amazing thing I learned was a degree of ownership that many adults think kids are not ready for. Although we were supervised, when it was time for a Kids Jam (Children's Worship) or Kids Blitz (community outreach), we were responsible for everything. That included transporting our equipment, managing the stage, setting up and tearing down the auditorium, leading worship, all the various performances, teaching, and the invitation. This taught me a great deal about leadership, taking the initiative, and working with others to accomplish something.

Most importantly, my time in L.I.T. taught me that the Gospel is not merely an idea or a story, but that Christ is living and active among His people today, and that if you want to experience intimacy with Christ, the best way to do that is by coming alongside Him and joining in His work. That same sense of fulfillment that I first tasted in L.I.T.—of working toward an eternal purpose—is why I'm currently in seminary today and eager to pursue full-time ministry. (Picture of 5th grade Holland teaching in San Marcos, Texas during 2007, L.I.T. Mission Trip.)