What can a class of middle school students do to impact the world for Christ?

This was the question our NLC students asked themselves 3 years ago and it did not take long to find a way right here in our own church body. The Buhlers minister to children the same age as those in our class and it really struck a cord. The Dalit children in India belong to a caste of society that are below the bottom rung of the ladder. They are called "the untouchables" because any person of standing would not even go near them...

Our students have adopted and supported two Dalit students with monthly contributions that provide for their Christian schooling, clothing and food. Every week students empty their pockets of change and the occasional dollar bill to sacrificially meet the needs of these students their own age on the other side of the world.

In an effort to do more to help the Buhlers and the students with one-time expenses and other needs we came up with the idea of a charity auction.

Each of the students contribute from their own property items that they know will appeal to other students. They also help their parents and other friends understand the need and donate items to sell.

Then on a special night once each year we have a pizza party and auction.

The 3rd Annual Middle School Auction to support the Dalit children was held on 3/12 and we were humbled by the generosity of the contributors of items, bidders and other benefactors.

We broke our previous record by raising over $1100 for this important work!

The Lord has also used this to teach our students other lessons like:

- how to give selflessly from the abundance that God has given you
- how to release something you cherish into the Lord's hands and watch him do amazing things that you did not expect
- how to share your burden with others in such a way that they come on board and help out
- how to show gratitude to others when they sacrificially give to make your vision become a reality

Some amazing testimonies of God's provision and His people's selfless obedience were shared and are happening every day in the lives of our students.

Please celebrate with us and be in prayer for our students that they might develop a burden for souls that would cause them to give their lives away in service to Christ.

Special thanks to all those adults who have helped, encouraged, contributed and sacrificially given to this event to help us teach these lessons and provide for the needs of the Dalit Children and the Buhler's ministry!!