The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Colleen H. during the 2007-2008 League.
Ambassador League Experience
It hard for me to, in just a few pages, sum up what I learned in Ambassador League. The range of things I learned is so wide and varied. This program gave me new experiences. It made me do things that I never would have done otherwise. It gave me the opportunity to meet new people, experience new things and read new opinions. It taught me how to have an open mind and realize that there is so much out there to learn.
Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
First of all, the reports that I had to write based on my experiences made me think a lot. I would have to look at something and focus on what I learned from it. This showed me that wherever you go, whatever you do, there is always something you can learn from it. Something good comes out of every situation. It may not seem that way at first, but when you really take the time to see how you can benefit from something, you will always find the positive.
2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
There is no part of scripture that God did not put there directly to help us. The Bible is our instruction manual for life. It teaches us everything we ever needed to know. It is filled with so many stories, rules, examples and blessings. But most of all, the pages of the Bible are filled with God's love. In this book, God tells us how much He loves us. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son." He sent His Son to die for us. God's gifts to us did not end when Jesus went back up to heaven. But that is where they started. He left, for us, the Holy Spirit, and also the Bible. A lot of Christians don't realize how great of a gift this is. So many of us walk right by our Bible sitting on the shelf every day, but never stop to read it. God wrote this book for us. How would you feel if you wrote a book for someone, and in it you told them how deeply you loved them and cared about them, but they never read it? This is exactly how God feels when we choose not to read His Word. Ambassador League really god me into the Bible and encouraged me to search for God's promises to us. It helped me understand why I believe what I believe. It gave me issues to research and find out what God says about them. It really helped me to appreciate the Bible more.
Romans 12:2 - "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking."
When I attended the different governmental meetings, such as the City Council and the Township Board, something stood out to me. There were many different citizens at the meetings, trying to persuade the government to think like them. I really admired their passion and persistence. They knew what they wanted, and they would not back down. However, no one appeared to me to be a voice for Christ at these meetings. Where were all the Christians? Ephesians 6:10 - "Be strong in the Lord and in His great power." 2 Timothy 1:7 - "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." Those two verses tell us to be strong in the Lord and to not be afraid. So then why was there no Christ followers speaking up at these meetings, trying to make an impact on our society? We are called by Christ to be a light in this dark world. Ambassador League showed me that the political field is in desperate need of people to step up and shine their light for Christ.
Deuteronomy 31:8 - "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you."
During Ambassador League, I went many places, and talked to many people that I normally would not be comfortable going to or talking to. It took a lot of courage, sometimes more than others, to not be intimidated by the situation. But when I stood on God's Word and realized that He would help me through any situation, I felt like I could do anything. Psalm 27:1 - "The LORD is my light and my salvation - so why should I be afraid?" God calls people sometimes to do things that require stepping out of their comfort zone. But God is a Great God. He will never call us to do anything that we cannot do. He will never make us go through a situation that He has not already prepared us for. So there is no reason to be afraid - God is on our side. Philippians 4:13 - "All things are possible with God."
Luke 2:6-7 - "And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them."
One of the most interesting things I learned while in Ambassador League was what I learned while reading "What if Jesus had never been born?" In this book, the authors showed how basically every part of our world would be different had Jesus never come to earth. Everything from education, to science, to the way we view life was drastically altered after the birth of Jesus. It is easy for us to think that Jesus' coming only gave us eternal life with Him. But what we don't realize is how much our earthly life was also changed. This is a great book that I think every Christian should read.
Job 27:5-6 - "I'll not deny my integrity even if it costs me my life. I'm holding fast to my integrity and not loosening my grip - and, believe me, I'll never regret it."
This verse basically sums up what I learned in Ambassador League. I have experienced first hand the importance of us being involved in every aspect of our society. Without light, the darkness takes over. It is up to us Christians to be that light, and make the darkness flee. Darkness cannot overcome light. But if the light chooses not to be there, all that is left is darkness. We have God's love to share with the whole world. It is our job to proclaim His name to every corner of the earth. What better place to start than right here at home?
