Semester Highlights - March/April Newsletter 2013

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:58

 

Semester Highlights

 

We just wrapped up another school year at Fort Lewis College, and this semester has definitely been eventful!!

         -  At our Mustache March Competition, we had 5 new people show up, 4 of which  were interested in talking to someone more about Jesus.

-       Russ and Linda Akins, the founders of Master Plan Ministries, celebrated their 45^th wedding anniversary with the college students at our Thursday dinner, where the students got to pick their brains about having healthy relationships.

-       Our last retreat of the year was a great success where some of our students took big steps of faith by sharing their testimonies and presenting a talk for the first time.

-       We got to take a fun weekend trip with the students to Moab, UT. We had one student come who we’ve seen on and off throughout the year, and now wants to be discipled next year.

-       We accepted 3 of our students (who are graduating this weekend) onto our staff team! Brandon Cox and Dakota Woodie came in as freshmen, and Anne Barby (almost Anne Cox) came in 2 years ago. All three have been excellent students to work with, and we are thrilled to have them on our team in Durango.

-       This semester alone, we know of at least  6 people who have indicated a decision to follow Christ on campus!! Praise God for changing the policy by this second semester so we can share openly the Gospel. Lives were changed for eternity this semester!!

 

Prayer Requests

-       Pray for the students to have fruitful walks with God over the summer, and to continue to take good steps of faith.

-       Pray for those who have heard the Gospel this year to receive Christ sooner rather than later, and that more people will share with them over the summer

-       Pray for Crush Fear, which is May 19^th- June 2^nd. Pray that the staff will finish all that we need to before hand, that the students coming will have all there funds raised in time, and that they will crush fear during the project that will help them live bold lives for Christ!

-       Pray for us to rest this summer, and also be able to boost our monthly monetary needs by asking others to partner with us.

-       Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and financial support this school year!! We thank God for you and your partnership in our work on campus.

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!

 

 

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!!