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Hello!
The Echo Group is ever-changing and growing to meet your needs. We are excited to introduce you to another new face. Samer Massad is a dynamic speaker who will connect with your group and point them towards the cross. Please check out our website for more information on Samer and read on to get to know him. (www.theechogroup.com)
And as always, feel free to contact us with any questions or for your next event. We'll be happy to help you find someone to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
The Echo Group |
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From Samer's Heart:
I am currently living in Dallas, Texas, where I am attending Dallas Theological Seminary. I am a full-time student working towards my Master's of Theology but I also work part-time at Dolfin Swim School, where I am a swim instructor. I get to teach kids how to swim!
My friend, who also goes to DTS, hooked me up with an interview. Let me tell you, I never would have thought that I would ever teach swimming lessons. I grew up a soccer player...not a swimmer. I did swim team for one summer in 8th grade, and am a decent swimmer but I have to admit, still random! Nevertheless, the job paid pretty well, and I love kids so I thought it might be a pretty cool deal. Not only did I get the job but I have absolutely loved it! And to my surprise, God has used this job to remind me of things that I never anticipated.
On Tuesdays, I teach these two brothers, Brooks (5 years old) and Charlie (3 years old). One day after lessons, I was hanging out with them and Brooks wanted me to come over and play. So I told him, "Dude, tell your mom to call my mom and we can figure it out!" Well, he took me pretty seriously. His mom was laughing and before they left, I gave her my number in case they ever needed a babysitter or something. The next week Brooks and Charlie came in for lessons. According to his mom, Brooks said he couldn't wait to come to lessons to see me and that he'd gotten mad at her because she never called my mom to setup a "play-date." At the end of lessons, right before they left, I found out that she was having a birthday party for Brooks and Charlie. She invited me and told me that Brooks would love to see me there. So I decided I was going to go.
When I got there, his mom thanked me and said, "You don't have to stay long. Get some food and you can leave." Well not only did I stay the whole time; I ended up playing with all the kids and running around being crazy- I had an absolute blast at the party. Brooks and Charlie were so excited! Brooks had a table full of gifts, literally, a table full. I gave him a card. I was still there after everyone left the party and Brooks went over to the table and started rummaging through the gifts. His mom told him to wait until they got home to open gifts and then he responded,
"No mom, I don't want to open these gifts yet, I just want to read Samer's card."
I was blown away. Absolutely blown away. Wish I could have seen my face. It was in that moment that I realized how much influence I had with Brooks. And as I drove home after the party, God reminded me:
We should never take for granted any position of influence.
To take something for granted simply means that you expect something to be available all the time and forget how fortunate you are to have it. So because of Whom I believe in, it would be irresponsible of me to limit my scope of influence in Brook's life to what I teach him in the swimming pool. So what did that mean for the 30 minutes I got to see Brooks every week? It didn't mean that I was going to break out a waterproof Bible and read him the story of David and Goliath. It didn't mean that I should baptize him in the pool. No. In fact the more I thought about it, God led me to a rather simple realization:
The easiest way to take advantage of your influence with someone is to love them the way Jesus loved you.
In one of His last commands to the disciples, in John 13:34-35, Jesus says,
"I new command I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
For those 30 minutes a week when I teach Brooks, I should strive to make that the most encouraging and loving 30 minutes of his week. If he invites me to his birthday party, I should go. If he invites me to come watch his soccer game and I'm able to go, I should. That goes for all the kids I teach. That goes for any person I'll ever have influence with in any capacity. Love them. Why? Because Jesus loved me first.
Here I am, at seminary, learning Greek and Hebrew so I can translate the Bible from its original languages. I'm taking all of these systematic theology classes and bible classes. It is so much to take it. I'm taking in so much knowledge and learning so many complex thoughts about God, theology, the Bible, and in the midst of all of that stuff, God is continuing to teach me this all-important, yet simple truth: the easiest way to take advantage of any position of influence I have is to simply love them the way Jesus loved me.
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An Interview With Samer Massad
1) What is your full name? Does it mean anything? How did you get your name?
Samer Suhail Massad
It's is an Arabic name. My parents were born in Israel and I'm Arabic. I've been told that Samer means someone who talks, tells stories, and entertains at night. Suhail, my middle name, is my dad's name is it means: handsome, noble, brilliant, easy-going, and peaceful. So apparently I am a handsome, noble, brilliant, easy-going, and peaceful guy who talks, tell stories, and entertains at night. Ha! I'll take that!
Better than what the alternative would have been. Apparently my dad wanted to name me Mario but my mom wouldn't let him!
2) What is your favorite color, why?
1. Blue
1a. Red
Yes I cheated, I picked two. Blue because...well I don't have a reason, I just love it. And Red because I went to The University of Georgia. GO DAWGS!
3) If you got to be a super hero, which one would you be?
Iron Man. He is by far the coolest superhero. That suit is unreal! The only thing I would change is the paint job- red and black is the way to go!
4) If you could only listen to 3 songs for the rest of your life, what would they be?
I'm cheating...again...and picking 4:
1. In Your Atmosphere (John Mayer)
2. Salvation is Here (Hillsong United)
3. Our Love Is Loud (David Crowder)
4. Why Georgia (John Mayer)
5) What did you do last Thursday night?
Had dinner with a bunch of friends, watched Nacho Libre (classic Jack Black movie), and played a board game called The Settlers of Catan.
6) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and who would you take with you?
I would wait until summer 2014, then I would fly down to Brazil with my dad, brother, a few of my close friends and we would go watch the FIFA World Cup finals match, live! Actually being at a World Cup finals match is near the top of my bucket list. That would be an amazing experience!
7) What is the best place you've actually already been to?
I'd rather give you a top 3!
1. Israel (Jerusalem, Haifa, Nazareth, the Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, pretty much everywhere.)
2. England (London, Hertford, Cambridge, Oxford)
3. The Great Wall of China
You can't expect me to pick just one of those. All three...absolutely amazing.
8) How/ when did you come to know the Lord and accept Jesus as your Savior?
I was in the 5th grade when our very good friends and next door neighbors at the time, the Kane's, invited me to go to church with them. It was a non-denominational church called the Church at West Cobb. Up to this point my only exposure to church was at a Catholic church in Atlanta that me and my family attended every now and then. I fell in love with the Church at West Cobb and my excitement led my family to also start attending. It was soon after that I started attending church regularly and right before I started the 6th grade, I accepted Jesus as my Savior. It was not really until middle school that my relationship with the Lord really began to flourish. I got my first NIV Teen Study Bible for Christmas when I was in the 6th grade and for the first time in my life I began to read and study the Bible. I got more and more plugged in at church, started attending FCA, and started accountability with some friends. What I love about my story is that it all started with some good friends and neighbors who loved me and my family enough to invite us to come to church with them. I wonder what the Kane's would have said if someone told them then, that 11 years later I'd be in seminary? They probably would not have believed it. That just goes to show how God can work through the seemingly simple things: love and an invitation to come to church.
9) Why are you passionate about students?
I credit so much of who I am today to the things that I learned during my time as a student. My passion for students stems not only from my own experiences as a student, but also because those experiences and things that I learned are directly tied to different people and mentors that were a part of my life in different capacities. Whether one of my parents, a small group leader, my youth pastor, or a speaker I admired that I saw once a year at camp, God surrounded me with people who believed in me, who spoke truth and invested into my life, and whom I could look up too. God used people in my life in a huge way growing up and even still to this day. It's because of this time of development that I look back at my time in middle school, high school, and my college career at the University of Georgia and have more fond memories than I do regrets. I want to be that same person to any and every student I encounter. I want more than anything for God to use me to speak truth into students lives. I want students to know that Jesus is the answer. I want to help students realize their unbelievable potential. I want to be that voice of encouragement and belief that became so familiar to me. In a nut shell, I want to play a small part in building up generations of students who are passionate about Jesus and could change the world. Really, change the world.
And on a less serious note, I love having fun and hanging out with students is an absolute blast.
10) What's your favorite subject to teach on?
Having authentic faith and trusting God. What it looks like to grow your faith and what it looks like to live out your faith in various arenas of life. |
If you have any further questions about Samer Massad or would like to book him for your next event, then please contact us and we'll help you in anyway that we can. We'll also simplify the booking process.
Please call us at 678-787-2239 or go to our website:
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