It wasn't a typical summer day, either for Shanice, a college student or for Matthew, a 2nd grader.
Shanice, a Child Development major at the University of Wisconsin, was spending her summer in Chicago with Summer in the City. During SITC, Here's Life brings in college students to work in inner-city ministries.
On this particular day, Shanice was helping to teach music to 20 2nd graders at an inner-city tutoring program. As she enthusiastically demonstrated the hand motions to the song, "Lord, I Lift your Name on High," she noticed Matthew was not participating.
Matthew, a normally adventurous 8 year old, just watched. What was he thinking?
Trying to engage him, Shanice asked him to come up front and be her helper. When they finished, he started asking questions — Who is God? Why did Jesus die? It was clear he knew nothing about the gospel.
Shanice explained to him what it means to know God personally, trying to make it as clear as she could to this young boy.
That's when Matthew mentioned his sister. She had died, and he hoped that she was now in heaven. Shanice helped him understand God’s love and forgiveness and His promise of heaven. In fact, she even made him explain the gospel back to her so she could be sure he understood.
Once Matthew knew how to ask Jesus into his life, he was eager to pray, and he and Shanice bowed their heads together.
Because Shanice's SITC team was at the same ministry site all week, she was able to follow up with Matthew during the next days. She was even able to present him with his very own children's Bible.
A hot summer day in the inner city, a wonderful song with hand motions, a college student serving the poor … and now a young boy has new life in Christ!
This summer you can have a life-changing impact on the children and adults of America's inner cities. You can help send college students out onto the streets for Here's Life's Summer in the City. Click here to give now.
