Meet Colin

Colin K. Bio:

"I was born and raised in Federal Way, Wa. I grew up going to church every Sunday for Sunday school, A.W.A.N.A. on Wednesdays and youth group on Tuesdays. Although I was at church 3 or more days a week I didn't authentically know God. During 7th and 8th grade, I played b-ball at Sacajawea middle school. During these two years, I realized the sin in the world. Other students cursed A LOT, smoked, drank alcohol and looked at porn magazines around campus. All these temptations strained my relationship with God. As time went on I eventually realized my sinful nature and needed to figure out who I was living for, me or God?
Eventually I understood my priorities in life and decided to live for God. Over these past 2 years I have really begun to grow in my faith. I have started to really enjoy reading my Bible and praying. Now spending time with God is an important, necessary and desired aspect of my life."

Colin is a part of The Fishing Project. He decided to make a commitment to be more bold about sharing his faith with those around him. When asked about TFP, Colin replied; "The Fishing Project is a mission group founded by Amy... designed to reach out to the people of our schools and community, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ... It is going very well!"

Two of Colin's favorite Bible verses are:
James 1:2-4 "Consider is pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kids, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

"This verse really helps me know that God is always there for me," Colin says, "and through all things I am being cared for. Through trials I grow in my faith."

And; 1 Timothy 4:12 "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity."

"I love this verse because it inspires me to be an example for everyone, even those who are older than me." - Colin K.

Want to know more about TFP and how to get involved? Ask Colin!
Colin made the decision to be bold in sharing his faith, are you ready to make that commitment too?

""Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."" Matthew 4:19

Day 24

Day Twenty-Four

October 6, 2010

My name is Amy R. I am a sophomore in high school. I started The Fishing Project a few months ago as a way to keep me accountable to sharing Christ with others. I have been keeping this log as a constant reminder for myself, and as encouragement for all of you readers. The Fishing Project is not just for me and it's not just writing about my day. The Fishing Project is something you live- constantly sharing God's love with others and using every opportunity to spread the gospel.

Today I got to talk to my friend from English. She skipped a few classes this week, so she doesn't get a candy bar. BUT! She is getting so much better about watching her language! She is making some serious life-changing choices and today she spent her first period reading the Bible. I got to look through it and she was highlighting her favorite verses, asking questions, and really seems to care.

God hears our prayers. God loves us. God wants what's best for us.

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."

2 Peter 1:5-7;

"For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Day 23

Day Twenty-Three

October 5, 2010

God is faithful. He has a plan in place. He listens to our prayers. He provides for us and looks out for us.

I have a brother who got a nice study Bible. Two years ago. He lost that Bible and got it replaced. I found that very slightly used Bible a few months ago. It has no cover anymore, but other than that it is barely touched other than a few underlined or highlighted verses. Today I was blessed enough to give this Bible to my friend in English. We spent all of our class today going through different verses in the Bible, highlighting them, talking about them, and applying what the Bible says to our lives. We talked for well over an hour and she understands more than I gave her credit for. Praise God!

Her challenge for this month, along with her other friend, is to not cuss or use inappropriate language. SHE chose that challenge! The next two challenges for her to choose from are respecting her parents, and treating everyone with kindness and compassion, even if she doesn't like them. She told me that she picked the language challenge because, "If I work on myself first, then it will be easier to be nice to other people and I'll be more approachable." Amen! If only everybody could see that.

AND! As I was writing this, I got to watch my friend speak up about God and her love for Him on Facebook!

In French class I was reading one of my Bible study books and my teacher saw the cover. He told me about this app on the iPhone that has the Bible in every translation. I saw him look on his phone for the name of the app! I'm pretty sure my French teacher is a Christian? Encouraging :D.

Philippians 1:27a;

"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ..."

Philippians 4:8;

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."

Matthew 21:22;

"If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

Day 22

Day Twenty-Two

October 4, 2010

I am so worried. Not for tests or homework or anything about me. I'm worried about my friends at TJ. I really don't think that they understand the difference between believing in God versus living for God and completely giving your life to Him. One of my friends could be leaving very soon and won't be back for a few months! The last thing that I want is for her to fall back into the world and completely put aside what she knows is right. Who knew that I would care so much for people that scared me the first time I saw them? God knew.

These friends of mine might not fully understand what living a Christian life looks like, and how to go around applying what's in the Bible to how they live, but they do see me every day. I'm done slacking off. I'm done with just smiles and compliments. I need to show them more. They know that I'm different and I hope that they realize my life is better because of that difference. But I want them to see what this difference can mean for them. Christ is the difference. When we finally allow Him to take over our entire lives- from how we act around others to how we begin to think about them in our private thoughts to everything else about us- our entire lives begin to change. There's no possible way for me to explain this to them. It's something you can only learn through experience.

The expression "monkey see, monkey do" comes to mind. Maybe through my example, and the example of the other believers around them, they can see how they need to improve. I'm not perfect, though. Maybe through my flaws they can see that perfection isn't realistic either. PLEASE! If you are reading this, pray for my friends and all of the other lost people. People that still need to decide between the wide way and the narrow way of life. There are so many of God's people that still have to hear the full extent of the good news that is the gospel. So many people that we interact with on a daily basis, but might not look at twice. You know, I still haven't talked to that one girl that I share two classes with?

Pray, stay focused, live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ, constantly be on the lookout for those in need, and never take your eyes off of God and the ultimate goal in this life- to give all glory, honor, and praise to our Creator.

James 2:19;

"You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder."

Matthew 6:24;

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other."

Romans 12:2;

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing, and perfect will."

Ephesians 2:10;

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Matthew 5:16;

"In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 7:13-14;

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

1 Thessalonians 5:14, 16-18

"And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Meet Mason

Mason F. Bio:

"I grew up in a Christian family and we were always very close. We shared everything together and we loved hanging out. My parents divorced when I was about thirteen years old, this turned me into a very secluded and sad person. My freshman year in high school I started getting into a ton of things that made me feel better about myself, I did some very bad things that I regret doing and all this continued up to my junior year. My sister Emma invited me to youth group that year and I hated it! I felt so out of place and like everybody there was perfect. Luckily the only person I did trust at this point of my life was Emma and the only one Emma trusted was God. She pressured me to come back and I eventually met some friends and the youth pastor. To my surprise they all accepted me and genuinely cared about me. I started coming every week and I learned about the things Jesus Christ had done for me. I realized that I am an imperfect person and I needed someone to forgive me. I realized the God who created you and I, the heavens and the earth, loves me and died for me so that I could be forgiven! I accepted God into my heart as Lord and Savior. Since then, our relationship has been growing like crazy and could not be better."

When asked what the Fishing Project is and how it's going, Mason responded:
"The Fishing Project is about sharing the Gospel and the word of God with people who need to hear it. The Fishing Project is going very well!"

2 of Mason's favorite Bible verses are these:
1 Timothy 4:12
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
"This gives me motivation to talk to anyone young or old." Mason says.

Romans 10:9
"That if you confess with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (emphasis added)
"This is how I know I am going to heaven!" Exclaims Mason.

Mason is apart of The Fishing Project, he has personally decided that he wants to be bold in sharing his faith with others, proclaiming the name of Jesus even though he may be rejected. Are you willing to share your faith against all odds?
Have any questions about The Fishing Project? What it means? How to join? Ask Mason!


""Come, follow me", Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him." Matthew 4:19&20

Day 21

Day Twenty-One

October 1, 2010

Oh my goodness I love Fridays! Today we had another assembly so my classes were less than 40 minutes long. YAY! Less thinking required!

In band we mostly listened to the director talk. I think we played music, but it was so boring and uneventful that I forgot what we did for sure...

In English I heard my friend talk about how she shared the gospel even MORE! Her friend that I also sit next to is starting to do the same challenges. They get to work together. Hopefully that encourages them to stick with the challenges, instead of encouraging them to slack off together. I got to invite my friend to Bible Study again. She even looked a little bit half way interested!

In Math I made friends with the people around me and we make jokes during class to make it more entertaining. Most of them are about our teacher because he is a little bit too in love with math. Smiling... in Math class?... I guess that with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:21)

History was very entertaining. And one of the cool things about my History class is that the gospel bracelet is spreading around. I have the two guys that also go to AWANA, there's a girl who says she's a Christian (and hopefully she can become less ashamed and more eager to share the news), and we have three girls from my youth group in that class. And it's all about History, so I can relate events recorded in the Bible to events recorded in the history book and report my connections out loud to the class!

In French and in Chemistry there is a student that sits behind me, a different student in each class, that is really quiet and nice. They aren't necessarily the first to be noticed by others, and usually fade into the background, but I always make it a point to say hi to them and try at a conversation, even if it's a short one. Those two probably have the best smiles I have ever seen.

OH! And in French we had an... interesting substitute. She started the class really happy and talkative, but when some students talked out of turn she became very irritated. We had to stay absolutely silent for fear that she might blow steam out of her ears! But God helped me to stay calm and not laugh, and I was rewarded by being able to help her understand our assignment. She smiled at me! In case you haven't noticed throughout my entries- smiles mean a lot- more than words.

James 1:19;

"My dear brothers, take note of this; Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."

Day 20

Day Twenty

September 30, 2010

I woke up in the morning to a text from my English friend that made my day! She told me about how she resisted temptation and got to share the gospel with one of her friends earlier that morning. I have no idea how much of that I can completely trust her on, but I know that my friend is trying really hard to do what she knows is right and to complete the challenge I gave her. You can definitely see a change in her just twenty days into the school year.

We got talking in the end of class about a rainbow. I asked them if they knew what a rainbow meant. Today the world has changed it into a symbol for gay rights, but the original purpose of a rainbow wasn't for gay rights, it wasn't a scientific thing that I can't explain, it was a promise from God to us. My personal opinion is that God made it scientifically possible because God always works with science, never against. God created science. The rainbow is an example of how you can't use science to lead away from the existence of God, it only pulls you closer to His truth. I didn't have time to explain the rainbow in class, but I'm putting the passage with the flood on my Facebook page.

In Chemistry I always start class the same way. While the first few people straggle into their seats I look around and say very excitedly, "GUESS WHAT?" They all look at me and then I say, "It's the last class of the day!" or "It's half way through the week!" or "I didn't spill yogurt on myself today!" or something all positive that gives them a reason to smile. I don't know about everyone else, but if I smile at the beginning of class then I can usually smile through the rest of it... besides math because I hate strongly dislike math. I'm getting better, though.

We had our first official Fishing Project meeting after school for everyone who signed up. It was so encouraging to see other students want to live for Christ in school!

After the meeting I went right back to school with my mommy for open house. I was one of the very very few students who actually showed up, but my mom got to walk through the maze that is my class schedule. I bet we burned 5 million calories together! (maybe not that much- but it seemed like it) The best part about it was that my teachers all smiled when they saw me walk in, so either they think I'm a good kid or they were told they had to smile. I'm pretty sure that some of my teachers are on my side. One of my teachers even smiles every time I talk about Jesus to my friends.

1 Corinthians 10:24;

"Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

1 Corinthians 10:13;

"No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. "