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TEEN CAMPERS

HOW DID THE 12 APOSTLES DIE?

Many wonder how the 12 apostles died, but The New Testament tells of the fate of only two of the apostles: Judas, who betrayed Jesus and then went out and hanged himself, and James the son of Zebedee, who was executed by Herod about 44 AD (Acts 12:2). Read how each of the apostles spread out to minister and evangelize and how many of the apostles died for their faith.

How Did the Apostles Die?

Reports and legends abound and they are not always reliable, but it is safe to say that the apostles went far and wide as heralds of the message of the risen Christ. An early legend says they cast lots and divided up the world to determine who would go where, so all could hear about Jesus. They suffered greatly for their faith and in most cases met violent deaths on account of their bold witness.

Peter and Paul

Both martyred in Rome about 66 AD, during the persecution under Emperor Nero. Paul was beheaded. Peter was crucified, upside down at his request, since he did not feel he was worthy to die in the same manner as his Lord.

Andrew

went to the "land of the man-eaters," in what is now the Soviet Union. Christians there claim him as the first to bring the gospel to their land. He also preached in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, and in Greece, where he is said to have been crucified.

Thomas

was probably most active in the area east of Syria. Tradition has him preaching as far east as India, where the ancient Marthoma Christians revere him as their founder. They claim that he died there when pierced through with the spears of four soldiers.

Philip

possibly had a powerful ministry in Carthage in North Africa and then in Asia Minor, where he converted the wife of a Roman proconsul. In retaliation the proconsul had Philip arrested and cruelly put to death.

Matthew

the tax collector and writer of a Gospel ministered in Persia and Ethiopia. Some of the oldest reports say he was not martyred, while others say he was stabbed to death in Ethiopia.

Bartholomew

had widespread missionary travels attributed to him by tradition: to India with Thomas, back to Armenia, and also to Ethiopia and Southern Arabia. There are various accounts of how he met his death as a martyr for the gospel.

James

the son of Alpheus is one of at least three James referred to in the New Testament. There is some confusion as to which is which, but this James is reckoned to have ministered in Syria. The Jewish historian Josephus reported that he was stoned and then clubbed to death.

Simon the Zealot

so the story goes, ministered in Persia and was killed after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.

Matthais

The apostle chosen to replace Judas. Tradition sends him to Syria with Andrew and to death by burning.

John

The only one of the apostles generally thought to have died a natural death from old age. He was the leader of the church in the Ephesus area and is said to have taken care of Mary the mother of Jesus in his home. During Domitian's persecution in the middle '90s, he was exiled to the island of Patmos. There he is credited with writing the last book of the New Testament--the Revelation. An early Latin tradition has him escaping unhurt after being cast into boiling oil at Rome.

Influence of the Apostles Today

The names of Jesus' apostles have become the most common names for males in the Western world. How many do you know named John, Pete, Tom, Andy, Jim, Bart, or Phil?

By Ron Hutchcraft

Anger, injustice, violence, death, disease, fear, unemployment - so much hurt. Our hearts ache for the brokenness and bleeding of a nation and world - and those we love. But we are not powerless!

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. (James 5:16 NLT)

But how should we pray in such times when hope is rare and everything seems broken? That's when we turn to God's own words to guide our conversations as we earnestly seek God.

Come boldly to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV)

Here are ten outcomes we know God wants us to believe Him for. The list could be much longer - but it's a starting point for prayer that can change hearts and "hopeless" situations and an embattled nation.

1. Lord, Please help me see what You see, and feel what You feel.

"Show me Your ways, Lord" (Psalm 25:4 NIV).

"When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them..." (Matthew 9:36 NIV).

2. Lord, Comfort the grieving and bring hope to the hopeless.

"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit" (Psalm 34:18 NIV).

"I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope. Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:21-23 NIV).

3. Lord, Provide for the desperate.

"Your Father already knows your needs" (Luke 12:30 NLT).

"I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink...I was sick and you looked after Me...Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of Mine, you did for Me" (Matthew 25:35-36, 40 NIV).

4. Lord, What would You have me do?

"'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked" (Acts 22:10 NIV).

5. Lord, Guide our leaders.

"I urge that...prayers be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV).

6. Lord, May Your justice prevail.

"The Lord is a God of justice" (Isaiah 30:18 NIV).

"This is what the Lord Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor'" (Zechariah 7:9-10 NIV).

7. Lord, Please turn hearts to You.

"I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord. They will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with all their heart" (Jeremiah 24:7 NIV).

8. Lord, Please awaken Your people.

"Open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest" (John 4:35 NIV).

9. Lord, Unify Your people.

"...That they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them..." (John 17:23 NIV).

10. Lord, Heal our land.

"If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray...I will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV).

No, we are not powerless. If we are faithful.

"I have posted watchmen on your walls...they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give Him no rest..." (Isaiah 62:6-7 NIV).

Let's Do Some Singing

MISSIONS --MAKE MEXICAN ENCHILADAS VERDES

eNCHALADAS.jpg

A church planter’s work is never done — but enchiladas verdes are the perfect end to a long day of ministry.  This is  a traditional Mexican favorite, with a recipe sent in by  TEAM missionaries Vicki and Art Reyes! 

Art was born and raised in Mexico until he was 10 years old. His family moved to the U.S. so Art and his siblings could live out the American dream. But as an adult, Art, along with his wife Vicki, felt God’s leading to serve Him in Mexico. Now, the couple serves a Mexican congregation and encourages other Hispanic Americans to join God’s work south of the border. Learn how the couple is seeing Hispanic Americans pursue missions.

Art and Vicki got this delicious enchiladas verdes recipe from a TEAM intern, who got it from her Mexican grandmother. And today, it’s become a favorite at the Reyes home as well! Although this is a popular dish is served throughout Mexico, various regions have their own takes on it. 

We made this recipe for four people (two enchiladas each) and served it with Mexican rice and a salad. There was enough sauce left to make more the next day. 

Here’s how to make enchiladas verdes!

 

Ingredients: 

  • 10 tomatillos

  • 1 green serrano pepper

  • A pinch of salt 

  • 1 clove of garlic 

  • Oil

  • 2 cooked and shredded chicken breasts

  • Mild shredded cheese (Chihuahua, Monterey Jack, manchego)

  • 8 corn tortillas

  • Optional toppings: shredded lettuce, chopped onion, cilantro, a small dollop of Mexican crema (similar to sour cream)

Sauce:

1. Boil 10 tomatillos and 1 green serrano pepper. 

2. Drain and blend with a pinch of salt and 1 clove of garlic. 

3. Cook sauce in a pan with 1 tablespoon of oil until it boils for about 2 minutes.

 

Putting it all together:

1. Slightly fry the corn tortillas in 1/3 cup oil (so they keep their consistency better).

2. Remove the excess oil and place the tortilla on a plate.

3. Fill with cheese and chicken, fold the tortilla in half and top with salsa and more cheese. Note: Some Mexican cooks like to dip the tortillas in the sauce before filling them. The enchilada is then placed seam-side down on the plate.

4. Enjoy!

#Dating

We’ve all heard it before: “We’re talking” or “He liked my Instagram post.” Our culture is very focused on how we look and how we spend our free time. Whether that be going to the beach with friends or playing on our travel volleyball team—we want people to look at us and want them to know what we’re doing 24/7. That’s why, if a friend tells us about a guy she’s interested in, the first thing we do is look up his social media. But sometimes we get so focused on how cute someone is or what they do for fun, that we forget to ask the most important questions: “Are they committed to Jesus?” and “How do they find ways to further God’s kingdom in their day-to-day life?”

I know it’s so easy to get wrapped up in how good they look on social media. But God cares about more than just appearances. He doesn’t care how many followers you have. Instead, God cares about whether your identity is in Christ— if you are following Him. As Christians, the Holy Spirit helps us grow in our understanding of who He is as we spend time in His Word regularly—on our own and with other believers at church. Therefore, when we are looking for a potential future spouse, we should seek someone who also has their identity in Jesus. God is with us, even when following Him means waiting for a godly person to pursue a romantic relationship with. Even if that means staying home on a Friday night when all our friends are out on dates. We can trust that God’s timing is always perfect, and He will be with us while we wait, giving us wisdom about the future. •

Anastasia Yoder • 

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