Come Alive

Intern Reflection Series // Post written by Gabe Sullivan

Hey everyone, Gabe here!
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I’m so excited to be able to share with everyone how the Lord has worked and what He has taught me over this absolutely amazing summer He’s blessed me with.

First, this entire summer has been one of the best that I've ever had the pleasure of living. The Lord blessed me with so many new experiences and the opportunity to meet so many new people this summer. I can never praise Him enough for it! This internship as a whole kind of came on unexpectedly in the spring; when my youth pastor asked me if I would consider being an intern it surprised me very much. I prayed for a little bit on the subject but quickly jumped into it and decided to apply, even if I was somewhat skeptical. I felt the Lord calling and was ready to see where it went. Praise Him that I was able to hear the call!
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From day one, the Lord began to teach me many things. I learned how to be part of true Christian community.

At first the interns were just this group of people who really weren't sure what to expect of the summer - but by the end of the first week we were united under the THP banner and dove into the outreach weeks together, as a family.

​So much has happened with them: dance parties at 1 AM, the South Church basement flooding, ​​the “Internmission” talent show, many late nights of work or Anomia, failing at laser tag, trying and LIKING coffee for the first time ever.  So many great stories and that’s not even talking about Team D yet.
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On the second outreach week, I had the pleasure of being a participant while still being an intern. The huge amount of work aside, I was blessed to be part of the best team ever - shoutout to Team D!

As soon as the week started, my team and I bonded instantly, and every experience made us grow even closer. From volunteering at Youth Challenge and Kinsella to dinner at the Torres-Serranos’ home to eating out at Banana Brazil Grill to Love Wins to worship every night - a family formed that week - and still to this day we keep in touch. Before this summer I had 3 or 4 friends I kept in contact with, but now I keep in touch with over 20 and it’s awesome!

Being a part of both the Interns and Team D has brought me into new places of wonder and awe of God. God desires for us to be in community and He has brought me into that this summer. As it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12,

Two are better than one, because they have good return for their labor; If either of them falls down, the one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them get up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

Community is essential to this walk we have. Even if we think that we can do it on our own, that’s already false because God is always with us! And God himself calls us to community with each other. There is not a day where I don’t praise God for the experiences in community I’ve had this summer! Praise Him for it all!

Another thing that the Lord has taught me this summer has been to live my life by prayer, one day at a time.

Up front, this seems like something so obvious, but how many of us actually do it? No, we freak out and forget that the God of the universe is with us and is always there to lead, help, and protect us. All we have to do is humble ourselves and ask Him for help. He will always answer. As it says in Matthew 7:7-8,

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

I cannot tell you how many times a quick prayer has helped me to calm down in a stressful situation and how many times a quick prayer would’ve helped me had I chosen to pray instead of worry. Forgive us Lord when we don’t seek you in every situation! Help us to live by constant communication with you!

The Lord taught me so much over this summer. But perhaps the biggest thing he did was cause my faith to come alive for the first time.

I’ve had faith for a while and the Lord has been at work within me, but this summer my faith came alive fully for the first time. With that came so many new opportunities to do work for His kingdom - opportunities that I never would have had before. Just in these past couple weeks, I’ve had numerous chances to serve and pray with others, whether people I knew or complete strangers! And the chances to pray with others only continues to grow as time goes on! The Lord fulfilled His promise as He says in Ezekiel 37:5,

​This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you and you will come to life.

Throughout this summer, the Lord has worked and taught me as I’ve continued seeking, following, and serving Him. I will literally never be able to praise Him enough for it all. I am so looking forward to jumping into community with my classmates, friends, teammates, coworkers, family, and brothers and sisters in Christ as this next school year gets underway.

I pray that anyone who reads this takes the lessons here to heart.

A life in Christ is fully realized when we let the Lord do His work, when we are in community with each other, constantly seeking Him in prayer, and being ready to obey His calling upon our lives.

I can happily say that this summer all these things happened because the Lord allowed them to, and I pray that it continues onward.

Praise Him for everything! Lord, continue to guide us as we go about the next year into the entire future! Let your spirit fall upon us and hold back attacks of the enemy at all points.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Thanks everyone for reading!
Have a great year!!!