Scripture

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." ~ Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

Message

We have been talking about The Far Greater Story of God’s love for us in recent weeks. We are currently learning about redemption and how God bought back our lives with the blood of His Son Jesus. As we understand this truth, we can live with great confidence knowing that our identity can be found in God’s never ending love for us.

And, if we are confident, then we can be courageous!  To be courageous is to be brave. We can take risks. We can initiate. We can try new things. We do not have to be afraid of failing.  We do not have to worry about the opinions of others because our identity comes from God’s love for us alone.

As Lightgliders, we will not shrink back from difficulties or danger. We will not run away from opportunities to help those in need.

Be courageous today, Lightgliders! You are never alone, and nothing can separate you from God’s love.

Conversation Starters

•What does it look like to live with courage?
•When have you been courageous?
•How can God’s love help you be more courageous?

Mystery Code

COURAGE
‍Input the Mystery Code in your profile in Lightglider Academy to receive a surprise in the game!

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Congrats to Game of the Week Winner - Flash Fearless Sweeper!

Be sure to visit Lightgliders on your desktop to send a postcard with your *NEW* Dancefloor Sticker!

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Keep playing Lightgliders to see your name at the top of the leaderboard!

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Scripture
‍"Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God's presence." - Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)

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Message
Lightgliders live with confidence because we believe that we are extremely valuable. We are so valuable to God that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for you. Do you realize what this means? It means that we never have to question our value. We are greatly loved. We have a strong reason to be confident and to shine light into the world.

Never forget how valuable you are. You always have a reason to be confident because of what Christ did for you. It is important to know that our confidence does not come from our abilities, our friends, or our moral performance. Our confidence comes from God's immeasurable love for us, which was showcased at the cross! When Lightgliders understand that their confidence is anchored upon the unchanging rock of God's love, they will walk with the courage and boldness required to shine in dark places, to stand up for what is right, and to repent to God when they make mistakes.

Conversation Starters
•Where does your confidence come from?
•How does understanding God's love impact our confidence?
•What is an example of a time when you stood up for what was right?

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Mystery Code
CONFIDENCE
Input the Mystery Code in your profile in LIghtglider Academy to receive a surprise in the game!

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Congrats to Game of the Week Winner - Flash Smashing Superstar!

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Be sure to visit Lightgliders on your desktop to send a postcard with your *NEW* Obstacle Course Sticker!

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Keep playing the Game of the Week for your chance at a fun prize!

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Scripture

"He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right. By his wounds you are healed."- 1 Peter 2:24 (NLT)

Message

Continuing in our unit on The Far Greater Story, we have come to its climax, known as Redemption. God created everything good. Man rebelled against His perfect standard. Because of our rebellion we are separated from God. Without the next part of the story, we are left without hope.

But God, in His goodness, didn’t leave us hopeless! He sent His Son Jesus to redeem us from our sin. Redemption means to be bought back, or to be freed from captivity. By Jesus living the life we should have lived and dying the death we deserved to die because of our sin, He bought us back!

When Jesus died on the cross, He paid for our sins with His blood, so that we may be restored to God and live forever with Him. This is what it means to be redeemed. We can have full life because of what He did for us! What a gift!

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‍Conversation Starters
•What is redemption?
•How have you been redeemed?
•How can being redeemed give you confidence?

Mystery Code

REDEEM

Input the Mystery Code in your profile in Lightglider Academy to receive a surprise in the game!

Scripture

"Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away." - Acts 3:19 (NLT)

Message

We have been learning about The Far Greater Story inside of Lightgliders in recent weeks, which is the basis for a biblical worldview. We have learned that God is good and has created all things good. However, we have rebelled against Him and His standard for goodness. This is called sin. It causes destruction and separates us from God. Once we recognize that we have rebelled and sinned against God, we have the opportunity to be repentant. To repent means to turn away from sin and turn to God. The Bible tells us to repent of our sins so that they may be wiped away. God will forgive us our sin and put us in a right relationship with Him.  As we understand that God is willing to forgive us even when we don’t deserve it, we can forgive others as well. So being repentant and forgiving go hand in hand.

Conversation Starters

•What does it mean to repent?
•Why can we be willing to forgive others?
•How can you know your sins are wiped away?

Mystery Code

REPENT

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Gear up Lightgliders!

A major update to the Lightgliders app was released today!  Lightgliders has a new look and feel.

So make sure you download the update to the Lightgliders app!

It's now easier than ever to find the games and activities you love with the new content layout and scrolling system. And, there is a new weekly frontage system to showcase new themes, Bible-based lessons, and game competitions each week. See how other Lightgliders are doing, and challenge them by getting to the top of the leaderboard visible from the homepage.

So, again, download or upgrade your Lightgliders app. We look forward to seeing you in Lightgliders!

Glide on!

"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had." - Philippians 2:3-5 NLT

Even though we have gifts and talents, we are not perfect. We have weaknesses and flaws. We have missed and continue to miss the mark in many ways. Remembering this helps us to not think of ourselves too highly, but to be thankful that God loves us anyway. Our sense of identity and joy does not come from our strengths or our weaknesses, but rather it comes from God’s love for us.

To truly live with humility means to take the focus off ourselves, so that we can focus on others. Make sure you remember this important point about humility - it is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.

In this passage, we are called to imitate the attitude of Jesus. What kind of attitude did He have?

With the tremendous gifts and talents God has given you, you will accomplish great things with your life. Therefore, you must remember to remain humble and not become proud or arrogant. Humility is one of the core values of a Lightglider.

To be humble means to not think of yourself as too important. When we recognize how far short we fall when compared to God’s standard of goodness, we will live with humility.

Only through humility will we consider the needs of others before ourselves. And, as Lightgliders, this is what we seek to do each and every day.

Go check out what Kwan has to say about “Humility” in this week’s Spark!

"For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard." - Romans 3:23 (NLT)

We’ve just spent three weeks learning about Creation. To understand Creation is to understand that God created everything, including you and me!  And, because of this, our lives have purpose and tremendous value. This is the first part of the Far Greater Story.

The second part of the story is called Rebellion.

A rebellion is an open resistance to an authority.  As our Creator, God is our authority. To rebel against Him is to disobey His commands. This is called “sin.” It happens every time we do not live up to God’s standard of love and goodness. Whether we sin on purpose or by accident, we are rebelling against the way God has commanded us to live.  This happens a lot by you and every person you meet. We all rebel against God and His goodness. And the Bible tells us that the penalty of our rebellion is death.

This is why we need to be rescued. This is why we need a Savior. The penalty for our rebellion needs to be paid. Our sin needs to be forgiven.  Until we understand this, the story of Jesus will never make any sense to us.  

Pray this week for help to recognize when you sin and for the courage to confess your sin to God.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. - Romans 12:6a (NLT)

The last two weeks we have learned that God is our Creator.  Because of this, we have tremendous purpose. We can live with the knowledge that our lives matter because they do! If God took the time to make you, then you are extremely valuable.  

We also learned that God created us in His image. Because you are made in the image of a creative God, you can be inspired to use your imagination to create. How has God made you creative? Think of ways each day to use your unique gifts to put a smile on other people’s faces. Dream of ways to make an impact on the world around you. Live with passion. Pursue beauty.  Do everything you do with excellence. This is being creative and inspired.

If you play Lightgliders this week, use creativity to design an awesome treehouse.  Use imagination with every postcard you send out.  Inspire others to play games together at the Academy.  

As you live creative and inspired, others will follow!  

To live with purpose means to live every day with the belief that your life matters and that you can make a difference.

Here at Lightglider Academy, we rescue Gliddles, clear the blight, and seek to help others any way we can. The whole world is in need and we were all uniquely created to make an impact.

So what do you want to do with this gift of life you’ve been given? You have the opportunity every day to make a positive impact on the world in the ways that you respect, love, and serve those around you. You have been created with great purpose.  

~Bryce

Have you sent a postcard to a friend yet? Create something with this week’s theme verse and send it to your friends in Lightglider Academy!

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Just as we’ve learned about how God created each of the Lightglider Leaders over the past few weeks, He has created YOU for a specific purpose with specific gifts that are unique to YOU! Maybe you are good at being organized, or can make your friends laugh, or excel in a particular sport or subject. Though your gifts, strengths, and personality, God wants to use you to do good things!

What are some of the good things God is doing in and through you?

"So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27 (NLT)

The Bible begins by telling us that God created the world and everything in it. This includes you and me!  It doesn’t take us very long in the story to read that God not only created us, but he made human beings in his own image. We were made in the image of a good, holy, and loving God. Do you realize what this means?

It means that our lives matter! We were uniquely designed and created for a purpose!  And, every day we have the opportunity to reflect God’s image. We can be creative because God is the Creator! We can be loving because God is love! We can do good in the world because God is good!

As you play Lightgliders, you will learn that our number one goal is to respect ourselves and each other. We seek to do this because of what Genesis 1:27 says. Everyone bears God’s image and, therefore, has dignity given to them by God. When we respect others, we are honoring the One in whose image others were made.

What is the evidence in your life that you bear the image of God?

The Far Greater Story

As Lightgliders, our goals are to RESPECT, RESCUE, and RESTORE.  These goals are based upon the The Far Greater Story, the story of God’s love for us found in the Bible. Let me show you how.  

We seek to RESPECT those around us because God loves you and everyone else.  He created us in His image.  

We go on missions to RESCUE the Gliddles from the clutches of the Machines. God sent His Son Jesus on a mission to rescue us from the grip of sin. 

We work to RESTORE the land from the blight. One day God will restore everything to its original beauty, purpose, and goodness.  

God respects us, rescues us, and restores us. This is the Far Greater Story of His love. Knowing this story helps us to live with hope and purpose each day. Your story is a part of the Far Greater Story!

Have you watched the Spark yet? Listen in as Bryce and Santiago give a tour of Lightglider Academy!

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 

- Ephesians 5:1-2 NLT

Our lives are grand stories. This passage was written to help us live those grand stories in a way that brings honor and glory to God. 

What are ways to follow the example of Christ?

You were made to shine. With a lot of darkness in the world, that can feel like a big responsibility. But like a candle in dark tunnel, even the smallest light can be blinding. 

The Bible tells us that Jesus’ light will never go out. God sent His Son Jesus to shine light into the world and to save it. He also made us to shine with our unique passions and abilities. We have the opportunity to use our uniqueness to show God’s love to others. And, when we do, we are reflecting Jesus and shining light into the darkness. You may never the impact you are having as you shine each day.  

Watch this week’s episode of LGTV for a Gliding Tutorial!

The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. God sent a man, John the Baptist, to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 

- John 1:4-7 NLT

This passage calls Jesus the Word and tells us that He brought light to the world. John the Baptist was a man who told the world about this light. John lived to point others to Jesus. We have the same opportunity each day with our words and our actions.

How can we point others to Jesus?

Our last Gliddle Principle is Responsibility! That is a big word that can be carried out in small ways. Has your mom or dad ever asked you to make your bed? Being responsible is actually making your bed! Just like being honest and kind, when we are responsible it shows that we respect the things that have been given to us to take care of. We do the best we can in everything that we do - whether that is going on missions in the Yonders, completing Glidebook Challenges, doing our homework, or doing the things that our parents ask us to do. We do our best because it’s the responsible thing to do!

Check out this week’s Prayer for Responsibility and ask God to help you grow!

"Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." - Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

Being responsible means doing your best no matter what. This verse tells us to think of everything we do as for the Lord. This includes our homework, our chores, and even our hobbies. If we think of everything we do as an opportunity to honor God, we will be responsible. Care about everything you do, and do it with excellence!

Do you give your best in everything you do?

Our second Gliddle Principle is Kindness! Lightgliders show kindness to one another by being encouraging with their words and supportive in their tasks. They also show kindness to the land in the Yonders by restoring the blight! Kindness doesn’t have to be a big gesture for all the world to see. It can be something that some see as small, like smiling or giving a friend a high-five or introducing yourself to someone new at school. Showing kindness is a principle that we all choose to live by every day. Your kindness will shine light in dark places!

Show kindness to a friend in Lightglider Academy by sending them a boost or a postcard!

"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience." - Colossians 3:12 (NLT)

This verse tells us to clothe ourselves with lots of different character qualities. Have you ever thought about that? You can put things like kindness on the way you put on your clothes in the morning. Just like we pick out which shirt or pair of shoes we are going to wear, we can choose to be kind, humble, gentle, and patient every single day. Clothing ourselves with kindness shows God’s love to the world around us. And since we are God’s people, it is something we must do.

Where could you show more kindness?

This week we’re starting a new unit on character qualities to live with called “Gliddle Principles.” We’re going to talk about Honesty, Kindness, and Responsibility! As Lightgliders, it’s important to us to grow as people who love God and love those around us. One way we can show love and care to people in our lives is by being honest with one another. Have you ever been lied to? It probably didn’t feel very good. Telling the truth not only encourages others, it also shows people that we can be trusted. Speaking the truth honors God and shows respect to others.

Check out this week’s Spark to see what the Gliddles think about Honesty!

"Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds." - Colossians 3:9 (NLT)

You may have heard, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.” This applies to honesty as well. If what you’re going to say isn’t true, don’t say it at all. Honesty with ourselves and one another shows respect for what God has created. And, He tells us in His Word not to lie to each other! When we tell the truth, we are honoring God with our words, and building trust with those around us.

Are you an honest person?

Now that you’ve learned more about the leaders in Lightglider Academy, which one do you relate to? Which one would you want to hang out with?  It’s encouraging to see so many different types of people using their own unique gifts to work together and serve everyone in the Academy!

God has created each of us with unique strengths and gifts! He has planned good things for you to do with your life. As you go on missions, play mini-games, complete Glidebook Challenges, and interact with other Lightgliders, you can discover what you are passionate about.  Are you like Marlon and think things through before acting? Like Bryce, are you always up to lead an adventure? Or, like Kwan, do you prefer to work behind the scenes?  

However you were created, God will use you to do good in the world! You were made to shine!

Send someone a postcard this week to encourage them!

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." - Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)

Just as we’ve learned about how God created each of the Lightglider Leaders over the past few weeks, He has created YOU for a specific purpose with specific gifts that are unique to YOU! Maybe you are good at being organized, or can make your friends laugh, or excel in a particular sport or subject. Though your gifts, strengths, and personality, God wants to use you to do good things!

What are some of the good things God is doing in and through you?

How do you know if you have somebody else’s cheese? When it is nacho cheese!

Did you get it? If you thought it was funny, then please know that it was my joke. If you didn’t think it was funny, then it was Marlon’s!

Hey everybody! I am SANTIAGO! I bring the life to the Lightglider Academy party! I cannot tell you HOW MUCH FUN it is to be a Lightglider. You know what our goals are, right? RESPECT. RESCUE. RESTORE.

I believe that to RESTORE includes bringing JOY to people who need it. Sometimes through laughter. Sometimes through music. Sometimes through just hanging out and bring friendly. Everyone is totally different, so it can be difficult to know what will bring joy to another. I make it my goal to find out! Do you know what brings you joy? I would love to know.

I grew up in Honduras in a large house with a bunch of other boys. None of us were related but they are my brothers. We’ve been through a lot together. Do you know what brings me joy? People. Having people to talk to and care for is the greatest. You can have that here at Lightglider Academy.

So glad you’re here!

Ok, one more joke. Do we get fur from a skunk? Yes, as fur as possible! (Sorry, that joke stank!)

~Santiago

Enjoy more of Santiago and by checking out his story in this week’s Spark!

"The joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10 (NLT)

This week we met our final Lightglider Leader - Santiago. He is someone that always brings joy with him wherever he goes!

Joy simply means - a source of delight. Santiago’s joy, or delight, comes from the Lord. Since God doesn’t change, we can always draw joy from Him. It doesn’t mean that life will always go the way we hoped or planned, but it does mean that we always have a reason to live in joy. That is why Santiago’s key word is “Enjoy.” He looks to enjoy this life that God has given Him and to spread that joy to others.

How do you receive and give joy to others?

Forward Base

In order to stop the spread of blight, Lightglider Academy wants to set up a new base in the Yonders! We need your help to defend it against the oncoming hordes of Machines while upgrading your defenses! Just remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day. If at first the base is overrun, just regroup, make some upgrades with the scrap you find from the Machines, and try try again! Persistence is key on this one!

Hi there! My name is Tova. You met Marlon last week who follows his head. Well, I am led by my heart. I was one of the first to become a leader at Lightglider Academy. Why? I saw the Gliddles in trouble and I saw the land being destroyed. My heart was burdened by it and I had to help. It really didn’t take a lot of thought or planning. And before I knew it, Bryce sent me on a mission to the Yonders. Now the Gliddles have my heart. They continue to teach me so much about sacrifice, loyalty, and joy!

I grew up in the United Kingdom. Growing up, I always enjoyed meeting new people and striking up conversations. I realized that many people are hurting, so I made it my mission to be a vessel of healing to the poor, to orphans, and to those who are lonely. I want to care for them by showing they are loved! My biggest passion is listening to people’s stories and seeing if I can be a source of care or encouragement.

I never know what new adventure, friend, or significant moment awaits me. I don’t need a plan or a strategy. All I need is a heart that wants to help those who are hurting.

~Tova

Tova’s story is highlighted in this week’s Spark! Get to know her better by checking it out!

Jesus replied, “You must love your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” This is the greatest commandment. A second is equally important, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37-39 (NLT)

Tova takes these commands very seriously. Her heart overflows with love for God and for others. Similar to Marlon’s desire to know God’s truth with all his mind, Tova’s desire is to honor God with all of her heart by helping those that are hurting.

This week’s verse talks about loving God with all your heart, soul and mind. Tova’s strength is her big heart. With this gift, she is a source of encouragement and care to everyone she comes into contact with.

In what ways do you look to care for others?

My name is Marlon. Let me tell you a little bit about me. I am usually hanging out in the Library at Lightglider Academy. I am from the United States and I love doing two things - reading books and lifting weights. It’s important to exercise the mind and the body. I am usually the more brainy and strategic of the Academy leaders. I think and study hard on any new idea before believing it or acting on it. That’s why I was the last to join the Academy leaders. I had to make sure that rescuing Gliddles and clearing blight were the right things to do. Usually when we are thinking of others before ourselves, it is the right thing to do. But I had to make sure.

I am passionate about finding the truth. We are in a world filled with many ideas competing for our attention. Ideas are either helpful to others and to the world, or they are hurtful.

The Bible is our greatest source of truth. Not only does it teach us how to live, but it tells the story of Jesus, the author of our faith. I encourage all Lightgliders to search hard for truth and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Discovering truth is one of life’s greatest adventures!

~Marlon

Learn more about Marlon in this week’s Spark!

"Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and all the people." - Luke 2:52 (NLT)

This week you were introduced to Marlon. His key word is “Think.” Marlon takes his studies very seriously. He is passionate about finding the truth, so when he reads verses like this one, he gets excited because Jesus took His studies seriously too! It’s important to Marlon to grow in wisdom, especially by reading and studying his Bible - the source of truth!

How does the Bible make you think about life’s most important questions?

My name is Nisha. I am one of the “quieter” Lightgliders. You may not notice me and that is exactly the way I like to help!

I was born and raised in India. Being the oldest of seven kids, I was given a lot of responsibility with my brothers and sisters. They needed me to be consistent and caring. Do you have siblings? Having little brothers and sisters has taught me a lot about what it means to give without expecting much in return.

I came to Lightglider Academy a bit nervous. There were so many big personalities and talented people here. Bryce is courageous. Tambika is administrative. Marlon is a genius. I didn’t know what I had to offer. One day Tova thanked me for always doing the little things that seem to go unnoticed. She said that these were the things that helped others be more effective. Things like collecting boosts in my treehouse and giving them away to new Lightgliders!

I guess I am learning that even the little things can make a big difference. It brings me joy to serve. Putting the needs of others before my own helps me to be humble and encourage others all at the same time. Those who serve are the most impactful leaders!

~Nisha

Hear more about Nisha’s story in this week’s Spark!

"But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must first be your servant..." - Mark 10:43 (NLT)

Nisha’s key word is “Serve.” She loves to serve others. She understands that sometimes, the most influential person is the one who serves and encourages others in their strengths.  So, she puts others needs before her own!  This verse helps Nisha know that serving others is just as important as going on adventures like Bryce does or running the Academy like Tambika does! Helping others shine is a great example of being a leader.

Why did Jesus say that to be a leader you must first be a servant?

We need RES to restore the land, and the Gliddles are here to help! Be sure to dodge the Machines and get to the Zipway while grabbing up all of the RES in the area!

Hi, I’m Kwan. I was born and raised in South Korea. I have always been curious and inventive. And I like to work behind the scenes. My biggest passion at Lightglider Academy is to figure out the blight problem. That dark ooze is destroying the land and taking away its beauty and purpose. Have you seen it yet on one of your missions? Thankfully, we can use our light to clear the blight. But, I want to find a permanent solution. That is my dream.

I usually hang out in the Innovation Lab. I work closely with the Gliddles to invent things that can help -- better gliders, new technologies, stuff like that. To solve problems, we need to be creative and we need to work together!

I don’t like to be the center of attention but that doesn’t mean I can’t make a powerful impact on the world. I work behind the scenes to help Tambika run the Academy, assist Bryce on missions, and support each Lightglider in our mission to Respect, Rescue and Restore. I have discovered how to use my unique gifts to help others.

~Kwan

Learn more about Kwan in this week’s Spark!

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love." - Galatians 5:13 (NLT)

This week we get to hear from Kwan! Kwan is someone who knows the importance and impact of being a ‘behind-the-scenes’ guy. He doesn’t look to be the center of attention. He knows that he can make a great impact doing all the things that are necessary but may not be even noticed. He fixes gliders. He creates new tech for Yonders missions. He works to ensure that his fellow Lightgliders are successful. He does it with excellence and with a smile on his face. Kwan’s word is “Help” because he is a source of help wherever he goes.

He doesn’t look for the applause of others because he knows that he works for an audience of One.  Therefore, he uses his gifts to serve others and to bring glory to God!

How do you “use your freedom to serve one another in love?”

Did you know that Gliddles are good at making jokes? Join our two Gliddle hosts as they pun their way through commentary on Lightglider Academy levels.

Jabari yako rafiki! That means ‘How are you my friend?’ in Swahili. I’m Tambika. I manage Lightglider Academy while the Professor is away. Running this place isn’t easy, but it is rewarding. I get to meet all the new Lightgliders when they arrive in the Courtyard. That is a fun part of my job! I even get to send you on your first mission to the Yonders.

I was born and raised in Tanzania. Do you know where that is? It is a beautiful country in Africa. Growing up, I always looked for leadership positions in my school and community. I love to serve others through organization. I love plans. I love calendars. I love details. And, all of these things are important at Lightglider Academy. Otherwise, everything would be more chaotic than it already is!

My desire is for you to look for opportunities to be a servant leader. We need people in this world with all types of gifts and talents. No matter how you are gifted, always remember that above all else, being a leader means serving others first.

~Tambika

PS Learn more of my story in this week’s Spark!

"If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." - Romans 12:8 (NLT)

Our featured leader this week is Tambika! She loves looking for opportunities to lead those around her, which is why the word used to describe her uniqueness is “Lead.” But Tambika also understands that to truly be a leader, she must serve others before herself.

This verse helps Tambika, and all of us, know that we all have gifts that God has given us. But God doesn’t just give us gifts so that we can enjoy our own success. He blesses us with talents and abilities so that we can use them for the good of those around us.

What gifts do you have and how are you using them?

The Lightglider leaders need you! When we’re in the Yonders, one of our goals is to defeat the Machines in order to rescue gliddles and restore the land! In order to do that, we are always looking to build new tech to help us battle. In Tinker Tech, we need you to build different kinds of tech out of the parts available to help in this mission!

Hey team. I just got back from the Yonders and it was crazy! I barely made it. I still can’t figure out why the Machines keep capturing Gliddles. It really bothers me.

Anyway, I’m Bryce. Maybe you know that by now. I was the first leader at Lightglider Academy. I came here from Australia, and I never looked back. I love adventure. I love taking risks. I love going into the Yonders. I love battling Machines. And I love rescuing Gliddles.

Some of Jesus’ last words to His disciples were to “Go!” Go be a friend to everyone you meet. Go tell them about Jesus. Go look for ways to make an impact. Living for something greater than yourself is the secret to living a life of purpose. And, when you do this, life becomes the greatest adventure ever!

~ Bryce

PS Learn more of my story in this week’s Spark!

“And then he told them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.’” - Mark 16:15 (NLT)

This week we learn more about Bryce and his love for adventure. Bryce’s love for adventure is driven by this commandment that Jesus gives to his disciples to “Go into all the world...” That is why the word used to describe Bryce’s uniqueness is “Go!” Like Bryce, we can go share the truth of Jesus and his love for us with our friends. After all, if the gospel is the best news in the world, why wouldn’t we want everyone to know about it?

What are ways share the Good News of Jesus?

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Join the Gliddles as they share tips and tricks for Lightglider Academy!

It is helpful to have people we can look up to who can serve as an example to us. This week we are starting a new unit learning about our Lightglider leaders in the Academy! We’ll get to know Bryce, Tambika, Kwan, NIsha, Marlon, Tova, and Santiago. We’ll learn a bit about each of their stories and how they were uniquely made to shine. You have a story too! You were uniquely made to shine.   

Check out this week’s Spark - What Does it Mean to Shine?  And don’t miss the Games of the Week on the front page!

“Remember your leaders who taught you the word of God. Think of all the good that has come from their lives, and follow the example of their faith.” - Hebrews 13:7 (NLT)

It is helpful to have people to look up to, who can show us what it means to shine. This passage tells us that we need to remember what we have been taught by wise people in our lives and should follow their example of faith. We grow in our relationship with Jesus by following what our role models in the faith have taught us!

Who do you look up to who can show you how to walk with God?

One of the five values of a Lightglider is love. We value love because it motivates us to respect each other, rescue the Gliddles, and restore the land. Love is our motivator.

When we love, we put the needs of others ahead of our own. Love comes in many forms, such as words of encouragement, acts of service, gifts, hugs, meaningful conversations, or just being there for another. Love energizes any atmosphere. Love is a pathway to joy and healing. Lightgliders were made to shine. Love is how we do it.

~Nisha

PS - Show love to your fellow Lightgliders this week by sending encouraging Postcards to brighten up their day!

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” - John 13:34-35 (NLT)

This week’s Lightglider value is love. In this passage, Jesus tells us to love those around us the way He has loved us. To love others means to choose to put their needs ahead of your own. Our biggest need is to be forever forgiven from the sickness that is our sin and selfishness. Jesus knew this, and paid for our sin at the cross. This was the ultimate act of love because Jesus gave up His life so that we could live.  With Jesus as our example, we can love others by identifying their needs and looking for ways to serve. Life becomes an incredible adventure as we do this.

What are the needs of the people around you?

Happy Easter Week Lightgliders! In Lightglider Academy, we go on rescue missions out into the Yonders every day. But at Easter, we are reminded of the greatest rescue mission of all time. From the beginning of creation, God had a plan to rescue the world from sin and brokenness. That plan was Jesus. At the cross, Jesus lay down His life for our sins, so that we could be forgiven and live forever. And on Easter Sunday, God raised Jesus back to life. What a miracle!

Check out this week’s Easter Spark and Prayer!