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School Spirit

by Elesha Hodge

Can a small group of Christian students have an impact on their high school? You bet!

The Rhema Club may only have a couple dozen members, but its track record of consistent prayer and creative outreach programs has given it a good name among students, teachers and school administrators. (Speaking of names, the name Rhema comes from a Greek term for "word," as in "spread the word" about Jesus's birth in Luke 2:17.)

The club was started more than 10 years ago with the support of the local chapter of Youth for Christ and Riverview math teacher Connie Vierbicky, who's been the sponsor ever since. It was a rough beginning—church/state separation questions raised by school officials made it necessary for the club to draft an official constitution before it was allowed to meet on school grounds. But as long as the group cooperates with school authorities and students lead the witnessing and prayer, Rhema is free to live up to its motto: "To know Christ and to make him known."

And how do these students make Christ known? They start with prayer—every day at lunch, every Wednesday around the school's flagpole, and every year for a bigger event at See You At The Pole. Then throughout the year they share the Christian message by handing out 1,500 tracts, witnessing bracelets and candy canes with an evangelistic story attached. They also reach their classmates through after-school events, and they connect with teachers by volunteering one day each month to clean a teacher's room or help out with whatever he or she needs most.

Senior Danny Garcia, the club's president, says it only takes a few motivated people to get the ball rolling for a group like this. "You've just got to get excited about what you're doing and somehow convey that to other people," he says. "You might think other students are closed to the idea of being in a club, but if you ask them, and if you can get them as excited as you are, it will work."

Scott (on why he goes to a tanning bed even though he lives in Sarasota): "I don't have time to go to the beach."

Grace: "If someone doesn't know I'm a Christian, they don't know who I am."

Seth: "I had two friends who didn't go to church, didn't know God. Then I talked to them, and they started coming to Rhema. I've seen a big change in their lives."

Derek: "This isn't like the best place to surf, but we get waves here. The best place I've ever surfed is Sebastian Inlet, over on the east coast of Florida. I've been to California, but it wasn't that good. People who surf here get more out of it, because we don't get waves as often, and when they come, they're really small, so we have as much fun as possible."

Sarasota Facts Population: 50,961 Main Attractions: The No. 2 beach in the world (according to whoever ranks those things), several prime golf courses Who Lives There: Retirees and "snowbirds" (senior citizens who head south for the winter), plus a growing population of younger families What Local Teens Do for Fun: Hit the beach for sun and watersports, catch a movie at the Hollywood 20, drive over to Orlando or up to Tampa for theme parks Recent Celeb Sightings: Michael Jordan, Tom Cruise, Dick Vitale, Terry Bradshaw

Danny: "I've been Danny as long as I can remember, but I'll answer to Juan."

Sarasota has a strong Scottish heritage; members of the award-winning Riverview marching band—the "Kilties" —really do wear kilts. Josh says: "The question we get the most is, ‘What are you wearing under that?'"

Heidi: "There are a lot of people here who aren't Christians. Sometimes you feel bad talking about your religion in front of them."

Dane: "You want to share your faith, but you don't want to offend anyone. You've got to make friends with people first."

Denise: "I play volleyball on a club team—the Sweet Tomatoes. I'm a middle blocker. It's a lot of fun and really challenging."

Copyright © 1999 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine. Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.
September/October 1999, Vol. 58, No. 2, Page 12

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