I'll be changing the blogsite soon...and then keeping it up to date. Here is a copy of my September 2010 prayer letter almost ready to be mailed... Thanks, Mike
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Student Leaders Did an Excellent Job!!!
Last Monday, November 16, four students took over Bible study while I was ministering in Argentina. All reports came back that they did an awesome job!
Paul and Jesse had the place setup and ready before anyone arrived and made sure it was packed up and locked up at the end.
Andrew took the praise items at the beginning of the study and led the students to the throne in prayer. Then after the Bible study time, he took prayer requests and had a time of prayer with the group.
Danny led the study itself on the theme of encouragement. He was engaging the youth to be involved, challenging small groups in discussions and presenting his thoughts from his own preparation. He even had the groups present skits representing the theme and had individuals write "encouragement notes" to help them begin applying this scriptural mandate.
I praise God for His leaders who responded to this call (and for all the others who pitched in as well) to step out of their comfort zones and step up in front to lead 25 of their peers.
Our challenge/theme this year, to be a godly example NO MATTER HOW YOUNG YOU ARE, is being lived out through our young people.
Praise God and Keep Praying!
Paul and Jesse had the place setup and ready before anyone arrived and made sure it was packed up and locked up at the end.
Andrew took the praise items at the beginning of the study and led the students to the throne in prayer. Then after the Bible study time, he took prayer requests and had a time of prayer with the group.
Danny led the study itself on the theme of encouragement. He was engaging the youth to be involved, challenging small groups in discussions and presenting his thoughts from his own preparation. He even had the groups present skits representing the theme and had individuals write "encouragement notes" to help them begin applying this scriptural mandate.
I praise God for His leaders who responded to this call (and for all the others who pitched in as well) to step out of their comfort zones and step up in front to lead 25 of their peers.
Our challenge/theme this year, to be a godly example NO MATTER HOW YOUNG YOU ARE, is being lived out through our young people.
Praise God and Keep Praying!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Off to Argentina...
Sunday, November 15, I'll leave Santa Cruz for Cordoba, Argentina. I'll join our WGM missionaries to Argentina for their field conference and staff retreat. I'll be providing ministry to the young people while their parents are occupied in meetings.
I'm due back in Santa Cruz on Sunday evening, November 22. Our WGM staff conference here in Santa Cruz then begins on the morning of the 23rd. That is set to go through Wednesday and then we plan to spend Thanksgiving together. Should be a busy, but good week together.
After the holiday week off school, we only have 3 weeks before the end of the semester. These are busy, but good days...
Since my last blog, I've been involved in many activities. Monday, I had the drama crew over for dinner after a dress rehearsal, so they could stay on for our Monday evening Bible study.
Two weeks ago, we had a servant day with the youth.
Then, just last week, there was a four-school tournament involving our varsity soccer and volleyball teams. It was a full and tiring three-day event, but our young people did an excellent job in competition while conveying a godly testimony to the other schools.
Between two soccer games, the coach asked me to host the team for dinner so he could share a brief challenge and devotional with them. It was great to see how they worked together, supported each other and fought hard.
As I head off to Argentina, please pray with me that I will be used of God. I'm also praying for physical and spiritual rest as I "take a break" from the norm.
Please pray for our Monday night Bible study on the 16th as several of our young people take charge. I know God will use them in a mighty way as they reach outside their comfort zones!
Thank you for your vital part in this ministry!
Blessings!
I'm due back in Santa Cruz on Sunday evening, November 22. Our WGM staff conference here in Santa Cruz then begins on the morning of the 23rd. That is set to go through Wednesday and then we plan to spend Thanksgiving together. Should be a busy, but good week together.
After the holiday week off school, we only have 3 weeks before the end of the semester. These are busy, but good days...
Since my last blog, I've been involved in many activities. Monday, I had the drama crew over for dinner after a dress rehearsal, so they could stay on for our Monday evening Bible study.
Two weeks ago, we had a servant day with the youth.
Then, just last week, there was a four-school tournament involving our varsity soccer and volleyball teams. It was a full and tiring three-day event, but our young people did an excellent job in competition while conveying a godly testimony to the other schools.
Between two soccer games, the coach asked me to host the team for dinner so he could share a brief challenge and devotional with them. It was great to see how they worked together, supported each other and fought hard.
As I head off to Argentina, please pray with me that I will be used of God. I'm also praying for physical and spiritual rest as I "take a break" from the norm.Please pray for our Monday night Bible study on the 16th as several of our young people take charge. I know God will use them in a mighty way as they reach outside their comfort zones!
Thank you for your vital part in this ministry!
Blessings!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Raising the Bar...
High School Retreat - Raising the Bar - was an awesome time away with 67 students. We left Santa Cruz on Friday afternoon and spent the weekend in the mountain village of Samaipata at a place called Cabañas Traudi. The weather was set to rain for the weekend, but we enjoyed the three days without a drop.
I was privileged to share the main messages on Friday and Saturday nights and the closing challenge on Sunday morning. Friday night, the focus was Got Expectations? - challenging each of us to quit living in the chicken coop, jump the fence and soar like eagles. Saturday evening's challenge was Raising the Bar - going deeper & higher both personally and spiritually. Several commitments were made that evening for salvation and, for others, to allow Christ to not only be Savior, but Lord. Sunday's closing session was to Do Hard Things, based on many of the challenges from the book with the same title.
Arianne loves to pose for the pictures...not sure if she realizes there's a dodge ball game going on???
It was a great group of young people and leaders. In all, we were some 84 people there for retreat (not all the staff made the picture).
At the end of small group time, each group presented a skit reminding us of the dangers of the "love for something" that has gone bad.
Susan Pedraza, a senior, shared her testimony for Saturday morning's devotional. She blessed each of us as she shared what God has been doing in and through her life. An encouraging challenge!
It takes a huge amount of work to have retreat. The staff of cooks, counselors, etc. did great. I'm also SO thankful for the group of young people that are willing to not only chip in, but work HARD!
Thank you for your prayers for the last week and a half of activity. God blessed both the Spiritual Emphasis Week and the retreat that followed. Pray for our youth who made some tough, but important decisions in their spiritual lives. Also pray for those who continue to search!
Blessings!
I was privileged to share the main messages on Friday and Saturday nights and the closing challenge on Sunday morning. Friday night, the focus was Got Expectations? - challenging each of us to quit living in the chicken coop, jump the fence and soar like eagles. Saturday evening's challenge was Raising the Bar - going deeper & higher both personally and spiritually. Several commitments were made that evening for salvation and, for others, to allow Christ to not only be Savior, but Lord. Sunday's closing session was to Do Hard Things, based on many of the challenges from the book with the same title.
Arianne loves to pose for the pictures...not sure if she realizes there's a dodge ball game going on???
It was a great group of young people and leaders. In all, we were some 84 people there for retreat (not all the staff made the picture).
At the end of small group time, each group presented a skit reminding us of the dangers of the "love for something" that has gone bad.
Susan Pedraza, a senior, shared her testimony for Saturday morning's devotional. She blessed each of us as she shared what God has been doing in and through her life. An encouraging challenge!
It takes a huge amount of work to have retreat. The staff of cooks, counselors, etc. did great. I'm also SO thankful for the group of young people that are willing to not only chip in, but work HARD!Thank you for your prayers for the last week and a half of activity. God blessed both the Spiritual Emphasis Week and the retreat that followed. Pray for our youth who made some tough, but important decisions in their spiritual lives. Also pray for those who continue to search!
Blessings!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Spiritual Emphasis Week...Going Well...
We're having a great Spiritual Emphasis week with Franco Salvatori. We got started first thing Monday morning with our first chapel. On Monday afternoon, the junior high students loaded up and headed to an ice cream shop to hang out and get to know Franco a little better. Afterward, we returned to the house and Franco shared his testimony with them and answered their questions about his life.
At 6:30, the high school students came over to enjoy fellowship and dinner together. 50 young people we in attendance as we ate and then Franco again shared his heart with them.
Chapels are going on each day and the young people are being challenged in their spiritual lives.
At the end of the week, 67 high school students are scheduled to go on a retreat. We're all excited about the time away and continued ministry to all involved.
Pray for the remaining chapels and for the upcoming retreat. I will be sharing on retreat about Raising the Bar! spiritually in our lives. Pray that I will be able to get all the preparations finished and that all of us attending will be open to the Lord's work in our lives.
Blessings!
At 6:30, the high school students came over to enjoy fellowship and dinner together. 50 young people we in attendance as we ate and then Franco again shared his heart with them.
Chapels are going on each day and the young people are being challenged in their spiritual lives.
At the end of the week, 67 high school students are scheduled to go on a retreat. We're all excited about the time away and continued ministry to all involved.Pray for the remaining chapels and for the upcoming retreat. I will be sharing on retreat about Raising the Bar! spiritually in our lives. Pray that I will be able to get all the preparations finished and that all of us attending will be open to the Lord's work in our lives.
Blessings!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
