Saying Goodbye...

After Bible study, 20+ students went to the airport to say farewell to Hannah Swindoll pictured here in the green jersey. She and her mother left for the States after serving in missions in Bolivia for a good part of Hannah's life.

Please pray for Hannah and her mother Mary, as they make their adjustments into their "new" life. Pray also for the senior class, the rest of the student body and the staff at SCCLC as we adjust to the changes.

His Unchanging Hand...

Last night's Bible study was the 6th in the series from Max Lucado's books, It's Not About Me. The study focused on His Unchanging Hand, the stability we can only find in God through Christ.

from Max Lucado's book...

“God never pauses to eat or asks the angels to cover for Him while He naps.

He never signals a time-out or puts the prayer requests from Russia on hold

while He handles South Africa.

He ‘never tires and never sleeps’ (Psalm 121:4).

Need a strong hand to hold? You’ll always find one in His.

His strength never changes.

Need unchanging truth to trust? Try God’s. His truth never wavers.

Your outlook may change. My convictions may sway,

but ‘the Scripture cannot be broken’ (John 10:35). And since it can’t,

since His truth will not waver, God’s ways will never alter.

He will always hate sin and love sinners, despise the proud and exalt the humble. He will always convict the evildoer and comfort the heavy-hearted.

He never changes direction mid-stream, recalibrates the course midway home,

or amends the heavenly Constitution.

God will always be the same.

Catch God in a bad mood? Won’t happen.

Fear exhausting His grace … think He’s given up on you? Wrong.

He’s never sullen or sour, sulking or stressed.

His strength, truth, ways and love never change.

He is ‘the same yesterday and today and forever’ (Heb. 13:8).

And because He is, the Lord ‘will be the stability of your times’ (Isaiah 33:6).”

- It’s Not About Me by Max Lucado - © 2004 Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, TN -

Why Worry?...Junior High Bible Study...

Eighteen 7th and 8th graders attended yesterday's Bible study. The subject, WORRY... We're all guilty of taking on worries, when that's really counterproductive. So we challenged each other in the area of first realizing the things that we do worry about, and giving those things over to God...They're really His problem, not ours! Just as Matthew 6 says, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"

Uncertainty and unrest can bring much worry. However, God consistently provides peace through the political situation in Bolivia. Please pray for our ministries and daily activities as we seek to continually be effective even during these unsure days...

Jon Birkey's "goodbye"...

Last night, at prayer meeting, we said our goodbyes to Jon Birkey as well as a few others. He's been volunteering in Bolivia since June completing an internship in missions and youth ministries for his degree from Huntington University. He had the opportunity to visit several of our ministries throughout the country and has assisted the youth program since school began in August.

Please continue to pray for Jon as he seeks to finish his internship, probably in California, over the next 3 months. I have appreciated his help and know that God has some great things in store for him wherever the Lord leads.

God continues to provide much peace during unsure times!

Thank you again for your prayers.

Continue to Pray...

Last night's Bible study was a little different. Instead of continuing our current study on the Max Lucado series, 24 youth gathered together to have a time of sharing and prayer. They shared their concerns over the current political unrest and the unknown future. Many shared verses from Scriptures that help bring comfort and reassurance in God. We then had times of prayer in small groups and as a body.

Please continue to pray for the young people during these unsure times. Pray for wisdom for all those in leadership throughout the different mission organizations, the Learning Center, and for all the families represented.

Thank you so much for your involvement and support through prayer!

Praying for Bolivia...

As you may know through international news, Bolivia has been undergoing some strains socially and politically over the last few years. Things have recently become a little more intense, so we would all covet your prayers. God is good and has been faithful in directing our paths.
Please pray for ...
- continued physical safety amidst these changes
- wisdom and discernment for the country's leadership
at all levels within the government
- the Bolivian people who are struggling through this process

Living in Harmony...

The title for chapel this week was, Living in Harmony. We discussed the importance of realizing how you were "wired" by God and how that affects our relationship with Him. Secondly, all relationships here on earth affect our relationship with God. When there are broken or hurt relationships that we need to resolve, they will only hurt all other relationships until there is resolution.
Continue to pray with me that our student body will walk in "harmony" with each other and with all others whom God places in their paths.

Senior Retreat 2008-09...

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of leading a retreat for the Class of 2009. Liz Morriss, their sponsor, and I took the entire class of 21 students to a nearby "farm" owned by a friend. (Jon Birkey, intern for this semester, also helped me a ton with preperation and running the weekend away.) We spent the weekend challenging them in leadership; tackling the tough issues of coming transition and "leaving right; team building initiatives; and just spending time as a class. The weather was unseasonally cold, but everyone seemed to have a great time together.

Team building initiatives...Some "down time" filled with games and even horseback riding...

Please continue to pray with me that the seniors will have an awesome year together as they close out their SCCLC "career". Also pray with me for their spiritual health and their influence and leadership to the student body of SCCLC. We have such a dynamic and vibrant group! The weekend away was memorable and fun, but I also pray it was a challenge that each of them will grab on to the possibilities that God will enable in their lives!