Illinois—Throughout the summer, students in grades six through eight from the Crest Hill Christian Junior Academy participated in the Magabook program, going door to door to distribute literature. Nearly 100 cookbooks were purchased by families in the Crest Hill area, and more than 300 Steps to Christ were left on a donation basis. More than 100 Darkness Before Dawn (the last ten chapters of The Great Controversy) and several full versions of The Great Controversy books were purchased. By the end of the summer, more than $3,000 of truth-filled literature was delivered by these students. Every student earned a scholarship equal to 50 percent of their sales. And everyone who purchased a book was offered Bible studies and an invitation to attend a variety of seminars, including Vacation Bible School for their children.

One of the students saw a four-year-old girl and her grandmother walking down the sidewalk. The student handed the little girl a flier advertising the school. As soon as her grandmother delivered her home, the little girl excitedly gave the flier to her mother, and stated questioningly, "Maybe I can go to this school?" The girl's mother checked out Crest Hill Christian Junior Academy online. She was amazed to learn that Seventh-day Adventists attend church on Saturday and thought, that makes sense. Two weeks later, her husband died suddenly. A week after that, she showed up at Crest Hill Christian Junior Academy. The little girl is now enrolled at our school, and her mom is taking Bible studies.

There were many more experiences during the summer which the students will never forget. Every day they went out, one or two families expressed an interest in sending their children to the school. Not one, not two, but 18 new students were enrolled this year because of the Magabook program. Of these new students, nine are enrolled in pre-kindergarten, one in kindergarten, and eight are scattered throughout grades one through eight. These new students are a direct result of one church's decision to make their school a missionary school and an evangelistic tool.

While it has been said that "success is often an unintended side-effect," the truth is, while the pastor, Tom Ferguson, had hoped that there would be interest generated in Crest Hill Christian Junior Academy, the real objective was to give students from the school a deeper spiritual experience through talking and praying with people they encountered. In addition to Bible enrollment cards, and other small literature for those who did or did not purchase literature, the pastor and students carried fliers that told about the school. What triggered the most interest was a simple answer to an oft-asked question of the students, "What school do you go to?"

Ferguson shared a text with the student workers this summer, Psalm 126:5, 6: "Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping, bearing seed for sowing, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." That text means much more to them now, at the end of the summer, than it did from the very beginning.

Perhaps this program would work for your church and school as you "Touch Every 1 for Jesus" in your community. For more information, contact Ron Clark, Illinois Youth Challenge, at 314-422-4096 or by e-mail: rclark.rh.iyc@gmail.com.

Rachel Terwillegar, assistant to the president for communication, Illinois Conference, with Tom Ferguson, pastor of the Joliet and Southwest Churches, and Ron Clark, Illinois Youth Challenge coordinator