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“Therefore everyone who hears these words of had to face storms. However, as believers,
mine and puts them into practice is like a wise whatever happens in the world around, whatever
man who built his house on the rock. The rain uncertainty and problems we must deal with, we
came down, the streams rose, and the winds know that Jesus is with us, and His love and care
blew and beat against that house; yet it did and promises, like the rocks in the village where I
not fall, because it had its foundation on the grew up, are sure and certain.
rock. But everyone who hears these words of We often hear of the challenges that young
mine and does not put them into practice is people face growing up today. Nowhere is our
like a foolish man who built his house on sand. work more vital than getting God’s Word into the
The rain came down, the streams rose, and the hands of our young people in schools, colleges
winds blew and beat against that house, and it and universities. As you read the following
fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 extract from an email received in National Office
I was born and brought up in a small fishing from a school chaplain, would you pause for a
village in the far north of Scotland. When I was moment and pray for our work in schools.
a child, my father and my grandfather would "On Friday, at our Year 13 Prom, something
take me down to the seashore and teach me the amazing happened. A leaver came to me and
names of all the different rocks, names passed said that recently he had felt compelled to
down through the generations. search for and read his "little red Bible you gave
Generation after generation of villagers have to me in Year 7”. 7 years ago! He told me how From the Executive Director
lived and died but these rocks have never he has come to believe in Jesus, is not a part of
moved one inch despite all the storms that a church yet but is about to go into the Army
battered them. and get involved with the Christian community
As children we would build sandcastles on the there. AWESOME!!! I'm so excited about this.
beach down by the rocks, and in contrast to the Those little red books are changing people's
rocks that never moved despite all the waves eternities."
that crashed over them, it would only take a
gentle ripple of water to wash up the beach and Pray for schools to remain open to receive
sweep away our sandcastles. Testaments.
In the well-known verses quoted above, the Pray for schools to open that do not allow
house that was built on the rock by the wise Scripture presentations at present.
man, like the rocks I remember from my Pray for greater access to colleges and
childhood, stood firm and survived the storm. universities, through Fresher Fairs and, if
But the house built on sand by the foolish man, necessary, pavement distribution.
like the sandcastles we built on the beach as Pray for more new members to join and work
children, collapsed and was swept away. in these areas.
Jesus uses this story to illustrate the difference Pray that many students and their families
between someone who hears His Word and will be introduced to Jesus.
obeys what they hear, and someone who Thank you for your prayers.
hears His Word and ignores what they hear.
As members and Friends of GOOD NEWS for “For who is God besides the Lord? And who is
Everyone! our aim is to introduce others to the Rock except our God?” Psalm 18:31
Jesus, to share the good news of the Gospel,
praying that people will obey the words of Jesus Yours in Christ
and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.
Looking around in our world today, there is much
uncertainty, creating fear and anxiety for many
people, especially those who have no hope
beyond this life – there is nothing certain about
the sinking sands of this world. Of course, being Iain J Mair
a believer doesn’t mean we will have an easy life, Executive Director
far from it. Both the wise and foolish builders

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