New Year, New Start - Newsletter January 2013

 

Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”

Philippians 1:27-28a

 

New Year, New Start

 

Imagine you are a college student on New Year’s Eve, and you are in downtown Denver – what do you imagine that you would be doing? Would you believe that you are having a balloon fight with a couple thousand other college students and other civilians on the 16^th Street mall? And the whole reason you’re out in the freezing cold is so you could share the best news in the world with someone?! Needless to say, this was probably not your first thought! But that’s exactly what we got to witness this New Year’s at Denver Christmas Conference (DCC).

Here one story from that night from Anne, a senior at FLC:

“After the balloon sword fight my fiancé, Brandon, and I began telling people ‘Happy New Year!’ One specific couple I asked if they had any New Year’s resolutions. After the wife told me hers, she asked me mine, where I got to share with her my relationship with Christ and my desire to grow closer to Him. Our conversation very quickly turned into a spiritual one… I got to share the Gospel with her in a very clear way using a little booklet that spells out the Gospel… It brought her to tears. She didn’t accept Christ right that moment, but I gave her that little booklet, with a prayer for her to receive Christ in it, and she said, ‘This is the best New Year’s gift!’”

Okay, now let’s say you are a college student again. And this time you are coming back from Christmas break, and you have an opportunity to potentially share the Gospel with a girl you have only met once and you are feeling scared to do it – what do you imagine you would do? Would you fight through your feelings and go anyway?

Meghan was feeling uneasy after she told me (Leah) she would join me in this conversation to see where “L” was with God. But the Sunday before, the sermon on discipleship really encouraged her to step out in faith and watch God show up. As we were talking and hearing more about “L’s” story, her friend, “F”, came to meet up to have tea with her. Upon seeing the pictures, “F” was completely intrigued and wanted to participate too. After a little while I asked the question, “If Jesus was sitting with us right now, what would be one thing He would say to you?” After hearing their answers, I asked, “Can I tell you what I think He would tell you?” And using the Soularium pictures, and guided by the Holy Spirit, I got to show “L” and “F” how Jesus has a wonderful gift of eternal life, how our sin separates us from God, how Jesus is the only solution for our sin, and it’s by receiving Jesus by faith that we can have this gift. It sounded like “L” had already received Christ, but “F” was blown away by what we were telling her! When explaining how Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” she said, “Wow! No one has ever explained this to me like this! I really need this to sink in more.”

She needed more time to let the truth sink in, so we are going to follow up with her soon. Pray for all these people we have had a chance to meet and share Jesus with! And pray that we can keep meeting people and be bold to share the gospel with them!!

 

Prayer Requests

 

-       Nate and Erin Hebst (who are on staff with us at Fort Lewis College) welcomed the arrival of their third child – and first boy – on January 8^th, 2013!! Micah Peter Herbst is healthy and doing well, along with Mom, Dad and big sisters. Pray for continued health for everyone - especially since it’s flu season – and for the life adjustment to a family of five will be smooth!!

-       Pray for Stephanie Brown (also on staff at FLC), our student leaders, and us as well, as we continue to share the Gospel OPENLY (praise God) and invest in the lives of others. Pray that we will have God’s energy and wisdom as we all step into new roles and step out in faith!

-       Pray for our students to have a healthy balance of school and ministry – but more specifically that they would have the heart to see their mission field on campus and reach out to those who are headed into eternity without Jesus.

-       Thank you so much for your prayers and financial help!! We have been able to pay for a new battery for the Suburban and for DCC! And God blessed us with people putting new tires on the Subaru!! God is so faithful!!!

Snow Day at Three Trails Ranch (courtesy of Daniel Amerman)

 

Missional Women

 

If you are a woman, or have a lady in your life, please check out a new website designed for women who desire to live on mission for Jesus Christ! Topics range from devotionals, apologetics, image and identity, sexual issues, and more. Not to mention resources and encourage too! Many women contribute, including Master Plan staff women, Cru Staff, housewives, women workers – you name it!!

Visit www.MissionalWomen.com to discover more.

Snow Day (courtesy of Heidi O'Hara)

Our Passions for HIS Glory - July 2012 Newsletter

 

“…if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

Colossians 1:23

 

Our Passions for HIS Glory

 

As Leah and I walk through our first full summer together, we find that expectations can crop up everywhere.  For example, we were wanting to make sure we were well rested, recuperating from the past school year, and able to do ministry the way we have wanted to over the summer. These were difficult to keep balanced, but it has been a great learning experience, especially for me (Malcolm).

This summer brought more challenges than the school year in some ways. I got the chance to step out of my comfort zone of being in a leadership role when Leah and I got to lead the evangelism team at Night Vision. The time and energy spent there was great, and all the effort was not a loss as we learned just the other day that over 100 people gave their lives to Christ at the event.  Praise God for His faithfulness in working in people’s hearts! God exceedingly showed how faithful He can be if we are just willing to get out and let him work. I’m in awe of how God can take all of our insecurities and make them disappear and loose all meaning compared to watching people come into a saving relationship with Christ. Thank you for your prayers and help!

Almost as soon as the show was done, we were off Denver as we had planned a climbing trip with the three interns we have this summer. The purpose of this trip was to go climb and share the gospel with climbers we met (and, at least for Leah and I, to learn how to plan and lead some sort of trip).  We really want to learn how to use the things we are passionate about for the glory of God’s name.

One story of the week was when we were working on a boulder problem with about 6 other people at the same time, learning about them as we climbed.  After a couple of hours the conversation about God naturally came up and we had a full blown conversation about whether or not God was perfect and whether Christ was the only way to go to heaven. For me, there is nothing more exciting then talking to people about Christ while climbing!

We had a very fun week as we got to go to Boulder and Mt Evans for climbing, and Rocky Mountain National Park, Water World, and a Rockies Game for some relaxing good times.  I’m blown away with the blessings that God have given us.  We got to spend a week in some of the most beautiful places, enjoyed God’s creation and sharing the best news ever with people that desperately need him.  As always the first time you do something there is always kinks and quirks to work out, but overall I came away thinking these trips could be very successful in the future. 

Sharing the Gospel at Night Vision

 

Prayer Requests

 

-       Pray for those who received Christ at Night Vision, and for the staff who are following up with all of them!!

-       Pray for our students – freshmen move in  August 23^rd, our big kick off BBQ is August 25^th, and classes begin August 27^th!! Pray that our students will come back ready to serve, and that students and staff will get the chance to reach as many people as possible and quickly as possible.

-       Pray for us as we leave August 14^th for our last trip for the summer! We’re bummed because we’ll be gone for all the beginning activities (we’re returning August 27^th), but we’re so excited to get a fun vacation AND get to see some dear friends get married August 25^th in Oregon!! Pray that we will have a safe trip, and also come back ready to go hard on campus for the 2012-13 school year!!

-       Thank you to all of you who have been sending us prayer requests!! Please know we’re praying for you all.

 

Never Will I Leave You

Malcolm got to write the newsletter this time around (which he did a great job, I can't wait to post it)! We had a great time this last month and God has been showing us both a lot. I (Leah, if you couldn't guess) really wanted to share something that God showed me this past month.

When we were up in Denver, God really put on my heart to reach out to a couple friends of mine from childhood. They have both been on my "Most Wanted" list for a long time. When we were in middle school, I took both of them to Camp Id-Ra-Ha-Je west where one did pray to receive Christ (though I do remember she was very afraid of hell, so I'm not sure if it was actual surrender to Christ or not - I'm not judging her decision, but she definitely is not living for Christ needless to say). The other I remember loved her experience at camp, but not sure she really made any commitments to Jesus. Regardless, they both have been exposed to the Gospel, but neither are living for Christ. In fact, I have seen them both go through very hard things since leaving high school. I don't want to share their personal lives here.

Anyway, with one friend, it took almost all week just to set down a time to see her. She kept changing times, bailing on our set time, etc. It was becoming a little discouraging. But God kept encouraging my heart saying, "Keep pursuing her. Show her how I won't give up pursuing her." So I kept pressing! Finally, we set down to have dinner after her work. Malcolm and I went to her work, and asked if we were still on for dinner. "Oh, I have to go to Boulder for something tonight!" she replied. AH! All this work, and I got 15 minutes of chat time! I wanted so badly to share the Gospel with her, to remind her of how good God is and how much He loves her! But God (and Malcolm) reminded me as we drove away - HE is in control! It's not my job to change hearts. It's my job to be obedient. And that's what I did. Gosh, even now my heart hurts for this friend of mine! How badly she needs Christ's healing in her life! How much hope she could have!! 

God keeps reminding me of one thing she said to me as we were hugging, "You are such a light to my life." How good is God! I barely did anything, and yet I did exactly what God wanted me to do - be obedient - and He did all the rest of the work!

My other friend is at a whole different place than my other friend. We got a whole hour to catch up, but I also didn't get to share the Gospel with her. But while I used the restroom, Malcolm got to share his testimony with her! (May I just say, I love that man I married!) 

I really desired to open up these relationships again, and to show these ladies just how much I love them and care for them, and ultimately how much God loves them. Pray for them please! And pray that I can be more bold next time to share the Gospel - or really, just be faithful to be obedient to what God wants me to do. 

God has really put this on my heart to encourage anyone who is reading this that it is never too late to reach out to those around you! Whenever I think of these friends, He has brought these scriptures to mind:

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5

"...if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself."

2 Timothy 2:13

God doesn't give up! God is relentless in His pursuit of people! We don't have to give up either. There are 2 times in which it's too late to keep reaching out to other people: if they die, or if you die. Sharing the Gospel with nonbelievers is one thing you can't do in heaven. Let's pray for each other in this!! Let's be persistent to show how persistent God is!!