Seventh- and eighth-graders at Thunderbird Christian Elementary School had a dream of reaching their fellow elementary students and their parents with the life-saving message of Jesus.

Some of them had been inspired by hearing stories of the tremendous experiences Thunderbird Adventist Academy students had while preaching ShareHim evangelistic sermons in various parts of the world and at home in Arizona.

They thought, "Why not us?" So five young evangelists and their support team began studying and preparing for the evangelistic series which would be held in the heart of affluent Scottsdale in a tent pitched on the parking lot of their school.

Jeff Forgey, a college student from the Camelback church, designed a colorful banner under the direction of Pastor Benjamin Lundquist. The theme, "In Tents Hope for Kids," played on the fact that the meeting was held in a large, outdoor event tent together with the intense hope for the kids of the school and community.

On Friday night, April 20, lights in the white party tent came on and the dream became a reality.

Students ran the sound equipment, led the worship and praise music, wrote and performed nightly skits, provided the special music, and preached with energy, enthusiasm and great power.

Youthful pianist for the series was Javier Lopez, who had recently gone on a ShareHim trip to the Dominican Republic with his father, Dr. Carlos Lopez, where they each preached their own separate series.

Seventh and eighth grade student preachers were Nana Bonah, Cody Blake, Jonathan Scott, Zachary Sharpe and Aaron Jewitt.

"The young preachers were able to captivate the hearts and minds of fellow-students and their parents in a way that no adult preacher could probably do," Lundquist says. "Through these meetings, many students and their parents discovered what Jesus could do for them, and as a result, gave their lives to Christ. Evangelism has transformed the TCE school and a new enthusiasm for Jesus pervades the campus."

Blake, told fellow preacher, Scott, about the "HS" button. "When you're getting ready to preach, you're all nervous and your mind is racing," he explains. "You're going over what you're going to say and you're really scared. Then you step on the platform and you step on the ‘HS' button. The Holy Spirit comes into your body, and you preach with a power not your own."

Many of the students have made decisions for baptism. Some, not from Adventist homes, have been encouraged to discuss their new-found relationship with Jesus with their parents who are of different faiths — or of no religious background at all.

"We have encouraged all our students who made decisions to follow the convictions of their young hearts," says Lundquist. "The teachers are praying that these parents will also be led to Christ as a result of the faith of their children. Young people preaching for Jesus — it really works!"