Monday, February 23, 2009

Prayer & Praise (Feb 22-28)

- This Fri, Feb 27, we are having our big kick-off event in preparation for Summer 2009. This will be an informational party for all returning and prospective summer missionaries. I am really excited! We are going to eat pizza, play games, and hear a presentation about what is coming up this summer.

Please pray for me this week as I prepare! I want to craft a presentation that is clear, concise, and compelling. I want something that will connect with the youth, answer any questions they may have, and generate lots of interest/excitement for the summer.

- Continue to pray that I could make good connections with families, individuals, and churches as I seek to raise the $3,910/month I need for doing ministry with CEF in Denver. This week I am talking with two missions pastors at churches that I think would be a good fit for CEF and us for them.

- Praise God for his grace and mercy in my life and in the lives of others.

Thanks for praying!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Prayer & Praise (Feb 15-21)

- This Fri, Feb 20, Larea, Erica, Lauren, & I are teaching our monthly kids’ club at Salvation Army Red Shield.

Our theme for the club will be “Watch what you say!” We are going to talk about the power of words and how God wants us to use our words. This is a huge issue for children and youth today; I am thinking of creating some discussion groups around the various anecdotes in the lesson to help the children internalize the teaching. We’ll see. The memory verse for the day is going to be Psalm 19:14 (look it up ... it’s a good one!).

Praise God for the opportunity we have to teach the children!!!

- Continue to pray that I could make good connections with families, individuals, and churches as I seek to raise the $3,910/month I need for doing ministry with CEF in Denver.

- In his book, Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster says: “The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people” (1). I think this is so true. Please pray for greater depth in my relationship with God this week. It is only from depth that we can then minister to others.

Thanks so much!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Recent Sermons

As some of you may know, I serve on the teaching-preaching team for the young adult community at my church. We are just about to wrap up a six part series on theology. I personally give the message about once a month (sometimes twice a month). Here are my two most recent, both from our current theology series:

01-11-09: What Christians Believe: Transcendence & Immanence

02-08-09: What Christians Believe: The Holy Spirit & The Church

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Prayer & Praise (Feb 8-14)

So sorry that I missed last week’s update! We are back on track now ... here is what’s going on, and how you can be involved through prayer and intercession:

- We are focusing our promotion & recruitment strategy for Christian Youth In Action (CYIA) on two concepts: (1) church partnerships, and (2) word-of-mouth. In the past couple of weeks, I have given five promotional talks in various settings at two different churches with which we are building partnerships. Today I mailed out the first round of CYIA applications (18 total). In each packet I enclosed a brochure about CYIA, encouraging the applicant to invite at least one friend to join them for the experience this summer.

Our targeted goal for Summer 2009 is to schedule 120 kids’ Bible clubs and train 20 summer missionaries to teach them. (We scheduled the first 40 clubs today!) In this, please pray for fruitful ministry, for God’s glory and kingdom.

- Continue to pray that I could make good connections with families, individuals, and churches as I seek to raise the $3,910/month I need for doing ministry with CEF in Denver.

- Praise God for a new staff member candidate who put in her application this week! (We currently have seven staff members for metro Denver, including myself.) On Monday, we got to meet her and hear the incredible story of God’s work in her life. It was such a blessing!

Thanks so much for your prayers! Grace and peace to you.