Renewed and Ready to Run - June 2012 Newsletter

 

“…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31

 

Renewed and Ready to Run

 

We finally have had the chance to have some down time this summer - HOORAY! God has blessed us tremendously with allowing us opportunity to go camping, enjoy the outdoors, and relax at home. We also got the chance to celebrate our 1^st anniversary! Thank you so much for praying for us and our marriage – and we ask that you keep praying for us too, cause we have a long ways to go still!!

While we’ve been able to make merry our time of summer, we’ve also been able to hear how God has been moving and working in the lives of students. While camping in Crested Butte, CO, we had the chance to meet up with Anne. Anne joined 13 other students from around the U.S. (one of them being Rachel, another gal from FLC) in the month long summer project called Lifelines. Though she had only been there less than two weeks, she said that the lessons she had learned already were worth the trip!! Please pray for Anne and Rachel as they finish this week, and then process their time once they return home.

The other blessing through our students has been through a girl I will call “M”. My (Leah’s) relationship with M has been one over text messages trying to encourage her to follow God, meet together to try to talk, to come to Connect – ANYTHING to help her grow in her walk with God. This has been going on for a couple years now. Not too long ago, she texted me to say that she truly wants to put God first in her life and get connected with other believers. I could tell a change, especially when we actually got to get together for coffee and meet for the first time face to face! PLEASE pray for M in her walk with God, to stay in fellowship with believers, and that the enemy will not snatch her away again!!

We love our students, and we can’t wait to see them all again in a couple months! Keep praying for them to stay strong in the Lord this summer!!

 

Other Prayer Requests

 

-       Night Vision 2012 is July 13^th & 14^th!!! Please pray for us to reach any non-believers that may come, and clearly communicate the Gospel so everyone we talk to can know exactly how to have a personal relationship with God. If you’re in the area, don’t forget to come by and hear great music!!

-       Following Night Vision, we are taking the 3 interns that are working with Master Plan this summer to go climbing and share the Gospel up in the Boulder/Denver area. Pray that we can be VERY intentional with sharing the Gospel with climbers. And if you’re in the area and feel like giving climbing a try – contact us soon! We would love for you to join us!!

-       Both of us need to remember to rest so we can run hard once the school year comes. Please pray that we can not only get through the events, but also have time to rest and prepare for the upcoming semester!!

-       If you don’t know yet, Colorado is on fire! Please pray for those fighting the fires, and for the fires to cease. Rain would be nice as well!

 

 

Eternally Significant - May 2012 Newsletter

 

“If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.”

1 Corinthians 3:12-15

Eternally Significant

 

Has fear ever kept you from doing more in life? Has it kept you from living a life of adventure and fun? Has it kept you from living out the Great Commission? We believe that fear is one of the most, if not the most, debilitating factor to keep people from living the abundant life Jesus promised His followers in John 10:10.

This year, we had 19 students from all over the United States come to Crush Fear (a two week project in Durango, CO) for one simple reason:

They were tired of living in fear!

Master Plan staff put these students through a myriad of activities where they had to choose to either run from the things that scared them, or walk through their fear trusting that Jesus would take care of them. From physical fears (like heights) to personal fears (like being alone and confrontation) to ministry fears (like evangelism), these students trusted Christ through everything we threw at them!

Malcolm and I wish we could tell you all the amazing stories from those two weeks, but we only have time for one to give you a glimpse.

On our last day of sharing our faith on the streets of Durango, Malcolm and I decided to take a risk and take our carload of students to the tiny town of Silverton (about 30 minutes from Cascade Lodge). I got to be paired with a girl named Laura, and after having a difficult time trying to share with tourist, God led us to some locals to share the Gospel with.

Laura and I saw a couple guys sitting on their porch talking, and Laura boldly went up to them and asked if they wanted to take a spiritual picture survey (Soularium). After a while of talking, it was brought out that just the day before they were in a crazy situation where, as they said it, “it had to have been God that saved them.” Laura took the opportunity and asked, “Well, would you like to know this God who saved you?” They both said, “Yeah! That would be great!” I am so excited to let you know that you have a new brother in Christ today, because Laura boldly stepped out by faith, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to live out the Great Commission in her life!!

Later that night, Laura commented on the day by saying,

“ I did the most eternally significant thing of my life today.”

Laura, along with so many other students, caught Jesus’ heart and mission for what is truly worth investing in now that will last into eternity.

 

Prayer Requests

 

-       The first week of June we had the honor of attending Master Plan Ministries’ very first New Staff (and old staff too) Training at Three Trails Ranch (the property that the ministry has been spending the last three years working on to become functional). We had a great time getting to know our 10 new staff people that has come on within the last year, and being trained up in ministry. Please pray for these new staff for God to bring in their monthly financial needs so they can get on campus as soon as possible!

-       Night Vision 2012 in Olathe, CO, is July 13-14!! Please keep us in prayer as we prepare for the event to share the Gospel with as many people as possible. We need volunteers to help us, and we would also love for YOU to join us! Contact us soon for more details, or register to volunteer at nightvisionphm.com

-       Pray for Malcolm and I as we trust God with our busy summer of travels and support maintenance.

-       We are praying for you – so let us know if there is anything specific we can be praying for!! We love you all, and are so blessed to have you has partners to prepare others to reach and influence the world for Christ!!!

 Crush Fear Pictures

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.