Unemployment hit JC Araujo in December of 2010 after a 10-year run with his former employer. Self-employment followed for the next 6 months, and then an opportunity arose: a position as a Bible teacher at the local Christian school.

JC

As of August, JC teaches a Bible class of 120 juniors at Berean Christian High School. "It's like a square peg in a square hole. I fit in and love what I'm doing. I'm teaching the Bible which is something I believe God has gifted me to do," explains JC. 

The story continues with his daughter, Ariel, who attends Biola University and works with CSP. This year Ariel felt called to lead a Hometown Trip to her alma mater, Concord High School. Recognizing a potentially powerful connection, JC proposed the idea of a community service project for his Junior Bible class to his principle. JC explains, "There's a lot of young people right now looking for a sense of direction and a sense of identity. College students come in and provide leadership and they can really motivate high school students to truly do great things which they might not even think that they can do." 

JC [on right] with Berean Students, Concord High students, and CSP volunteers in front of Concord High School on a witnessing outreach

This service project allowed 120 Christian students to join forces with 3 local public high schools to share the Gospel on their campuses. JC states, "[For] some of them, this was their first time doing some intentional witnessing, so it's an adventure." JC recognized the power of Christian students coming alongside one another in the community to empower each other and to spread the Gospel in unity. "Many have been encouraged and many have been challenged," JC says about his students.

Next year, JC desires to continually challenge his students with outreach and community service. 

Pray for JC as he continues to mobilize his Christian high school students to encourage and come alongside their peers for the Gospel. 

 

-The California School Project