Students on Summer Projects

We have about 5 students (possibly a couple more) going on summer projects, about 3 working at Christian camps, and more that are heading home for the summer with the heart and intention to live for Christ and make Him known to others around them! Isn't that amazing?! With summer projects (which are pretty much mission trips through Cru) quickly approaching, time is running out for the funds to come in for them in order to go. These students have stepped out in faith to say that they're going, trust Him to bring in the money and then have Him use them on their trips to reach others. What an exciting time! If you could please pray for them, their teams, and their finances as they go, that would be awesome!

"This summer God has provided me with the most amazing opportunity to serve him at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I will be going on the same summer project as last year but was invited to be student staff. I will be co-leading a bible study with some of the other staff as well as discipling 3 or 4 different girls attending the summer project. I am seriously so excited to take daily steps of faith this summer and trust the Lord with my whole heart. To GO and share the absolutely be love of all with the people in Orlando. I will be going on this project from May 26-July 7th and need to trust the Lord in raising 2,500 dollars. I also request prayer for this experience and that God would prepare my heart as well as the heart of the students attending this project. Thank you very much."

Ashlie Battiato

 "Following graduation in May, my options are to intern at a Young Life camp, intern at the Olympic Center, or start practicing as a personal trainer. I also plan on being a climbing bum, and make light sabers and sell them. I also hope to make enough money to buy a car so I can move to the Springs or Fort Collins. Prayers would be appreciated."
Taylor Carrillo

 

 "I got into my summer project! It is 'Shifting Sands' in North Africa with Jesus Film Ministries. I would greatly appreciate prayers! Of course I will also need to raise the support, which is about $4-5,000. The project is for three weeks in the June."
Rachael Taylor
1676 West Kuiaha Rd.
Haiku, HI 96708

 

 "I am working at a summer camp, Anderson Western Camps, near Eagle, Colorado from May 28 to August 20. I will be a rafting guide, doing rock climbing, and what not. Prayers would be appreciated."
John Clewe

 "I am working at a summer camp from May12- August 1. I am taking 14 boys with 3 other staff members into the wilderness. We will be rock climbing, leadership building, mountain biking, rafting, caving, backpacking, and much more. It will be a summer to live in a hammock with one shower a week."
Miranda Lanning

 

"With support, I will be going on a one month Summer Project with Campus Crusade for Christ. I will be in the outdoors learning about God and life led by the Holy Spirit. The focus of the project will be 'doing ministry' with co-workers; building relationships and looking for opportunities to share Christ. I need to raise $3,250 in around two months. I need several partners to give finical support (towards housing, materials, some meals etc.). If the Lord leads you to support me, checks can be written out to Campus Crusade for Christ, online gifts can be given here: http://www.arkpages.com/vail/team-members/brandon-cox/ , or mail checks to:
Brandon Cox
Fort Lewis College
7594 1000 Rim Dr
Durango, CO 81301
 Mainly, I need prayer. God is going to do amazing things. Also, pray for Colin B. as he trusts God to go on this same project!"
Brandon Cox

"I have an unbelievable opportunity to take part in a summer mission project sponsored by Campus Crusade. With support, I will be spending a month of my summer (June 9-July 9) in the mountains of Crested Butte with Rocky Mountain Lifelines. The purpose of this summer project is to bring students into a grace and truth relationship with God and each other, to develop character and leadership in students using small groups, and to apply and reproduce these concepts back on campus and at home. Lifelines uses the outdoors to help people grow in relationship with God, in relationships with each other, in character, and in leadership. I need to raise a total of $2,750 by June 1st. If you would like to help me financially, please email me at lilbarby09@yahoo.com.  Also, prayers are greatly appreciated as I trust and follow God during this process."
Anne Barby

P.O. Box 4275
Durango, CO 81302

 

 And we have for sure one student, and possibly two other students, for our summer project called Crush Fear. The two- week project starts May 14th for staff, and May 16th for the students - who are coming from all over the United States. Then we all leave May 30th. They will each need to raise $500. Chris Bilotta is raising support, and you can make checks out to Master Plan Ministries and mail support checks to:
Chris Bilotta
    7512 Tamarisk Dr.
     Fort Collins, CO 80528
Contact Malcolm and I for more details or if you would like to financially support these students.

We also have 3 interns with us in Durango this summer! We are so excited to see these students grow in their walks and learn what ministry is all about. Two of the interns were at Crush Fear last year, and the other is a student that Malcolm has been discipling for the past few years. Pray for these students, and contact us if God lead's you help them financially this summer.

Thank you for taking the time to read through and pray for our students! We are so proud of them, and so excited to see what God will do this summer!!

Praise the Lord! - April 2012 Newsletter

 

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced…”

1 Chronicles 16:8-12

Thinking Back with Praise

 

Praise the Lord for this year!! We have finished another school year, and when we look back we can’t do anything except thank God for what He accomplished. Between the students we worked with and the staff, we have guessed that around 400 students on our campus have heard the Gospel, and over 30 people (either in our ministry or through the students in our ministry) made decisions for Christ this school year!! That’s more than either of us have seen, even while we were students!

Not only that, but the students have taken tremendous steps in their walks with God. From making the decision to be baptized, to sharing their testimony in front of a group (or a church service), putting together talks, leading bible studies, leading in various areas within the ministry – we were so blessed for the people God put in our path this year.

In this newsletter, we just want to tell you some exciting stories from this past semester – join with us as we look back at all that God accomplished our first semester on campus!!

(L to R) Clara, Jamie, and Shawnee at our end of the year BBQ

 

Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus

Shawnee was somewhat involved last semester – attending Connect, Cross training, and other events. By the looks of her, we all assumed she was a Christ-follower. But finally someone decided not to assume anything, and shared the Gospel with her. After taking a couple days at home to think through the information shared with her, Shawnee returned beaming with sharing that she surrendered her life to Jesus!

Watching Shawnee grow in the Lord this semester has been a great joy to everyone she encounters. Not long after personally receiving Jesus into her life, she began actively praying for her family to know Jesus, and has been sharing with them the same Good News that changed her life.

One of my (Leah) last times with Shawnee before she left was talking about her day, and she shared with me how she had this great quiet time that morning. Then she told me, “I can’t wait for the summer. Half an hour isn’t long enough to spend time with God. I really want at least an hour to read and study.” After talking some more about our walks with God, she told me, “I love our lifestyle!” She loves being a Christian, and it truly shows! Pray for Shawnee as she’s home this summer, especially for her spiritual growth and sharing with her family.

Senior's Night/ Last Connect of the Year

 

Reaching the Campus for Christ

Brandon, who just completed his junior year, shared this story with us:

“I had to present in front of my [psychology] class ‘My Career after College’ so I presented about college ministry. We had to give a definition what our career was and current topics discussed in the chosen career. I explained ministry. Then I said, ‘the current topic in ministry is “How to Know God Personally".’ I then shared my memorized version of the 4 points to knowing God personally (He loves you, we sin & are separated from knowing Him personally, Jesus bridged that gap, we must respond personally to his grace through faith in prayer). Basically, I had 10 minutes to share the gospel with my whole class. I don't fully know their response, but I like the quote, ‘Take the initiative through the power of the Holy Spirit and trust the results to God.’”

 

Prayer Requests

The next month is BUSY full of very exciting things. Thank you for your prayers!

-       We are excited to let you all know that Malcolm and I are moving to a new apartment! We hope new place will be better for ministering to the students, especially the climbers. Pray that we can move quickly and efficiently into the new place, which is happening before Crush Fear.

-       Crush Fear begins May 14^th (the students arrive May 16^th) through May 30^th. Students from all over the U.S. are coming to Durango for two weeks to walk through and crush fears in ministry, personal, etc. so they can live fruitful lives in obedience to God. Pray for staff and students alike as we prepare and walk through this project. Pray for protection, perseverance, and growth.

-       Pray for our student’s summer. That while they’re home that they will find fellowship and grow on their own. We also have many students leaving for summer projects (mission trips) for at least a couple weeks out of their summers. Most will be in Colorado, but we do have one student going to be “student staff” with Cru at Walt Disney World, and one going to Northern Africa. All of them have funds that they still need to raise. Pray for them as they raise the rest of their funds, prepare for their trips, and grow in their walks with God. If you would like more information on their trips and their financial needs, visit our website.

Our New Mailing Address:

Malcolm and Leah Hillewaert

75 Misty Lane #3

Durango, CO 81301

NIGHT VISION 2012

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY  

 

Night Vision is a 2-day concert in Olathe, CO, July 13-14^th. We have been given the unique opportunity to join with the Praise Him Ministries (PHM) staff to go around the festival and share the Gospel with people! Spreading the Gospel is the biggest passion of PHM, and is one of the biggest reasons they even put on the concert. If you would like to join us volunteering by sharing your faith, then contact us for more information, or visit nightvisionphm.com to learn more about the concert, PHM, or how to volunteer.

 

Think About Such Things - Newsletter March 2012

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

Think about such things

Have you recently stopped to think and reflect on truth? The fact that God doesn’t hide Himself nor the truth from us is astounding! He doesn’t play hide and seek, but rather He says, “Seek and you will find” (Matt. 7:7).

What about whatever is noble? Have you thought about how just and right and of good character God is?

Do you keep close to heart and mind how pure Christ had to be in order to die for our sins? What about things that are lovely, admirable, excellent or praiseworthy about God? Have you noticed how He has intricately created the things around you, including you and your family?

I have been thinking more and more about how I just don’t praise, thank, or even acknowledge God on who He is. Instead I just think about my feelings, my circumstances, and ME when talking to God. I get so wrapped in fear and insecurities, that I do the opposite of what scripture tells me too – think about all that is good, and, ultimately, the One who is truly true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Join me in thanking and praising God for Who is He, what He has done, all that He is going to do and work things out for our good, and all that He has created.

 

I “mustache” you a question…

 

Have you ever thought about having a furry thing on your upper lip for a month so you can meet people for the purpose of the Gospel?? I know, it sounds strange and unusual, but this was an idea that came around in our staff brainstorming at the end of last semester. And we came to see this idea become a realization the last Tuesday of March.

We invited the whole campus to a Mustache March Competition, and we had a great turnout! The best part was the response cards we had everyone fill out on whether they were interested in talking more about Jesus or not – though many were not, there was a good handful who were! Our servant team students are now following up with them. Just goes to show you that even weird ideas can be successful and for the glory of God!!

Passing the baton

 

  We continued our tradition of leaving our Servant Team students to take over the duties of the ministry so they can learn how to become better leaders. After a week of inviting students to events, planning the events, running the evangelism table, following up with students from the competition, etc. they are off to a great start!

At our final retreat of the year, the Servant Team thought of the topics, gave the talks, invited other students – everything! The staff got to enjoy being with the students, learn how to take over other responsibilities at retreats (like cooking food). It was a great last retreat before everyone leaves for the summer, and we’re excited to see how these leaders will do the last few weeks of school.

Prayer Requests

We thank you for all your prayers! We thank and praise God for you in our lives, partnering with us is the ministry He has called us to. We would love your prayer for:

-       The students as they prepare to leave for the summer; that they will make wise decisions for and during their summer for God’s glory.

-       Everyone, including staff, will finish our last few weeks of school strong and still share the Gospel with as many people as we can, especially those who we have been sharing with all year.

-       Those who have yet to put their trust in Christ will make a decision before they leave school: Jeremy, Richie, Dan, Chelsea, Megan, Gavin, and others.

-       The new believers will have a chance to grow their roots into Christ.

-       For guys to sign up for Crush Fear, so the ladies who want to come have a chance. Also for the students coming will have their support raised, and their lives changed to no longer live in fear!

-       Pray for Malcolm’s sister and brother-in-law, and their three kids, as they leave for Haiti on April 10^th for at least 2 years!