The Lufkin Daily News Saturday, May 20 2000 Spreading the Word: Teen heading to South Africa to evangelize

The Lufkin Daily News

Saturday, May 20 2000

Spreading the Word

Teen heading to South Africa to evangelize

JEREMY CAVERLEY points to the section of South Africa where he will travel as part of a Teen Mania team, performing street dramas and sharing the Gospel. Caverley is among many Angelina County teens taking part in summer mission programs such as Teen Mania which last summer sent more than 5,000 teens on projects in more than 30 countries.

Therefore prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. – 1 Peter 1:13, Jeremy Caverley’s favorite Bible verse.

By BRONWYN TURNER

Staff Writer

Nineteen-year-old Jeremy Caverley lives at the Godtel mission for the homeless in Lufkin, preparing to head out on the mission field himself.

The Huntington High School graduate will be a part of a Teen Mania drama team in South Africa this summer, telling the story of God’s grace and refuge. It’s a story Caverley understands well.

He sought shelter at God-tel when difficulties left him homeless. He has lived at the mission since January being disciple there as he worked daily at Casa Ole.

“I felt like God placed me there to work and to train,” said Caverley At the mission, he has participated in daily Bible study and informal music sessions playing guitar.

Caverley felt called to the mission field himself at an Acquire the Fire youth conference hosted by Teen Mania. In Houston, in February, when information was given about Teen Mania’s many summer missions, Caverley signed up to go.

His trip to South Africa will cost more than $3,000, so friends have rallied to help him raise the funds. A benefit concert is set for Memorial Day in the Sam’s parking lot with several groups slated to perform including the local band “Flourish.”

Friends and supports are also passing the hat, impressed with the story of a homeless teen willing to work and serve God. “We are proud of Jeremy for his future endeavor of mission work for the Lord,” said Debi Shanks, co-owner of Casa Ole where Jeremy works as a host. “He has learned perseverance, patience and responsibility from working at Casa Ole which will help him to do this special work. We will keep him in our prayers and continue to support him as he works toward meeting his goal,” she added in a statement of support typed out for Jeremy. “We hope the community will also support Jeremy through their prayers and contributions for his cause. Again we are proud and hope his journey will be successful.”

Local Christian radio broadcaster Billy Baldwin has also taken up Jeremy’s cause. “I believe it’s time for all of us to realize this is a opportunity to build bridges, one relationship at a time, and for me, that relationship right now is Jeremy Caverley,” said Baldwin, who hosts “The Bridge” on KYBI 101.9 FM Sundays from 6 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 10 p.m.

“I would urge those of you who can, to give so he can go.”

Baldwin’s son Jonathan is also part of a Teen Mania team headed for Haiti. “I believe that mission trips are necessary to do what God told us to do,” said Jonathan in an email sent to the Lufkin Daily News. “In this time we live in, it is necessary to defy the ordinary and do extraordinary things for God! There is something in the heart of my generation that says, ‘Send me, I will go!”

Caverley said much of the same when asked why he was willing to go on such a difficult mission project “I think of the lyrics from Audio Adrenalines ‘Hands and Feet,’ he said . “ I want to be Your hand, I want to be Your feet, I’ll go where You send me.”