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!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
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!
Monday, October 5, 2009
Be Praying ... Spiritual Emphasis & High School Retreat
We're in the midst of preparations for our upcoming Spiritual Enrichment Week at the Santa Cruz Christian Learning Center. I'm thankful to have Franco Salvatori return to Santa Cruz to challenge us once again. We will have special chapels each day at school.
On Monday, we're also having special times with Franco after the normal school schedule. The junior high will be going out for ice cream and then Franco will share his testimony and let them get to know him better.
After we return, the high school are invited over for dinner and a special Bible study with Franco.
I'm excited about Franco's challenge to RE-Think our relationship with Christ and understand what that looks like for each of us.
On Friday, October 16, we're having a retreat with the high school students. This is not a school event, but we're excited that most of our students will be attending this voluntary time away from Santa Cruz. I will be sharing messages loosely based on the book, Do Hard Things. Franco will attend the retreat to continue ministry with the youth one-on-one and lead our worship music.
Please be in prayer for both of these events. I've been in prayer for a real revival in the lives of our youth and within our staff and leadership! I'm also praying that God's message will be clearly conveyed by both me and Franco.
On Monday, we're also having special times with Franco after the normal school schedule. The junior high will be going out for ice cream and then Franco will share his testimony and let them get to know him better.After we return, the high school are invited over for dinner and a special Bible study with Franco.
I'm excited about Franco's challenge to RE-Think our relationship with Christ and understand what that looks like for each of us.
On Friday, October 16, we're having a retreat with the high school students. This is not a school event, but we're excited that most of our students will be attending this voluntary time away from Santa Cruz. I will be sharing messages loosely based on the book, Do Hard Things. Franco will attend the retreat to continue ministry with the youth one-on-one and lead our worship music.Please be in prayer for both of these events. I've been in prayer for a real revival in the lives of our youth and within our staff and leadership! I'm also praying that God's message will be clearly conveyed by both me and Franco.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Portraits and Mission Meetings
This was the week for yearbook pictures. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday I took the portrait pictures for our school yearbook. In all, I took some 600 pictures of the students, Pre-Kinder through twelfth grade, and staff. It was tiring, but fun.
Right after the pictures on Friday, I headed to the mission office to participate in a mission board meeting.
Then today we had a mini-staff meeting with all the WGM missionaries in Bolivia. We had a good time of worship and discussion and went over some important information and further training.
Throughout the week, I continued the regular ministries of Bible study, accountability times, chapel music coordination and leading chapel on Wednesday.
I'm preparing for a junior high Bible study next week and I am getting ready for our upcoming Spiritual Enrichment week and high school retreat which will take place in Mid-October...always something to keep me busy!
Right after the pictures on Friday, I headed to the mission office to participate in a mission board meeting.
Then today we had a mini-staff meeting with all the WGM missionaries in Bolivia. We had a good time of worship and discussion and went over some important information and further training.Throughout the week, I continued the regular ministries of Bible study, accountability times, chapel music coordination and leading chapel on Wednesday.
I'm preparing for a junior high Bible study next week and I am getting ready for our upcoming Spiritual Enrichment week and high school retreat which will take place in Mid-October...always something to keep me busy!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Bible Studies and Chapels...
We're off to a great start for our weekly high school Bible studies and secondary chapels at school.
Each Monday evening, about 35 to 40 young people have been gathering to study a series I've drawn from the book, Jesus Did It Anyway. It's a great challenge to live right no matter what the world throws at us!
We've had a variety of chapels and I've been able to share twice from our theme verse, I Timothy 4:12. First I shared the challenge for ALL Christians to give a clear testimony and live a godly example, no matter our age. This last week, the message focused on giving a clear example of Christ through our words.
This week's activities include: accountability time with a few of the guys; Bible study on Monday evening; set-up and shooting of yearbook pictures; direct the chapel music team and Wednesday's chapel; attend a mission board meeting; participate in an all-mission meeting; and continue preparations for upcoming Bible studies as well as our spiritual enrichment week and high school retreat in October.
Thank you so much for all your prayers! Blessings!
Each Monday evening, about 35 to 40 young people have been gathering to study a series I've drawn from the book, Jesus Did It Anyway. It's a great challenge to live right no matter what the world throws at us!
We've had a variety of chapels and I've been able to share twice from our theme verse, I Timothy 4:12. First I shared the challenge for ALL Christians to give a clear testimony and live a godly example, no matter our age. This last week, the message focused on giving a clear example of Christ through our words.
This week's activities include: accountability time with a few of the guys; Bible study on Monday evening; set-up and shooting of yearbook pictures; direct the chapel music team and Wednesday's chapel; attend a mission board meeting; participate in an all-mission meeting; and continue preparations for upcoming Bible studies as well as our spiritual enrichment week and high school retreat in October.Thank you so much for all your prayers! Blessings!
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