CRUSH FEAR - May Newsletter 2013

 

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”

Psalm 56:3-4

 

  CRUSH FEAR 2013

 

This year God presented us with a new challenge: to direct our first summer project! Though we faced many challenges leading up to Crush Fear (including whether or not to even do it) May 19^th arrived with 6 students at Cascade Lodge for 2 weeks of fear crushing adventures!! The students got to face physical challenges (like rappelling, rock climbing, backpacking, rafting, zip lining and others) along with personal and ministry challenges (confronting a store manager about inappropriate magazines, street evangelism, sharing their testimony in front of a church and on the radio and MANY more). Needless to say that when June 2^nd came for them to go home, they were EXHAUSTED (along with the staff)!!! Though we as staff learned so much from the experience, we thought we would let the students share what they got from the project.

“God [these] past 2 weeks has shown me that with him he makes me stronger physically, mentally and spiritually.”

“God has worked in me a lot during this and shown me things I didn’t realize I had trouble with before. I was also forced to step out of my comfort zone during a lot of the activities, which was really awesome and necessary. It’s been so fun and challenging and I hope we can do a Crush Fear 2 or something else that we can all get back together to crush some more fear!”

“This was such an incredible experience and I was blessed in so many ways by it. I feel like my walk has been strengthened and like I have grown a ton.”

“I feel more at peace with my life, and feel as though I can conquer any trial I face if I let Christ have the throne.”

“I’ve realized my value in Him exists because of His grace and not my actions. I am less afraid to pursue what He calls me to because I know I can trust Him.”

“Before coming to Crush Fear, I was continually doubting myself and running away from who God wanted me to be. By confronting my fears and weaknesses, I feel as though I am more willing to step out in faith and take action to be where God is leading me.”

“Going into town to share the gospel and telling cashiers Jesus loves them helped me conquer my fears in that there is no reason to be afraid to share your faith.”

“Before, I wasn’t sure who God has made me to be… He has revealed [who I am] to me and how I am called to share God with others and to be His faithful servant.”

We can’t help but thank God for all that He did these two weeks!!! He has been so faithful to show up when we needed, to provide the energy and strength to keep going, and to help each person walk away more confident and courageous to live the life that He has called them to. We’re excited to see what He will do next in each of their lives!! Thank you so much for praying for us, the rest of the staff, and the students. Please continue to pray that these students will live the rest of their lives dedicated to the Great Commission without fear holding them back!!!

 

Prayer Requests

 

-       Please pray for healing for Leah: This semester we discovered that I (Leah) have a large cyst on my left ovary and a couple smaller ones on my right – all of which are due to endometriosis. We decided to go ahead and get them surgically removed June 12^th. Pray that God would bring healing in His timing and way!

-       We desire to raise an additional $700 in monthly support – prayer for the funds to be met and the time to ask people to partner with us would be greatly appreciated.

-       Continue to pray for Fort Lewis College to be won for Christ, and the students to have a summer glorifying to Him  and encouraging to their spiritual growth.

-       We are SO SO SO thankful for each and every one of you!! Thank you for your faithfulness to pray, serve and give. Let us know how we can be praying for you as well!!

 

Crush Fear Staff 2013

Eating Crickets and Mealworms (Don't worry, they ARE FDA approved!)

White Water Rafting

Setting out on the 6 hrs + of hiking

Tired, but none the worse

24 hour solo

Evagelism downtown Durango

The Ladies

The men

Our fearless students (From left to right): Casey, Lori, Kensey, Alex, Rachael (also our intern) and Shawnee

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!!

Back in the Saddle Again - Jan/Feb Newsletter

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”

Romans 12:9-15

 

Back in the Saddle Again…

What a crazy and amazing start back to full-time campus ministry! We feel like we have been sprinting since December, but this has been the most rewarding month and a half!

Though we have been busy with event after event (weekly meetings, a snow day, a retreat, Angel and Mortals), the best stuff has been happening in our day-to-day interactions with students. We have been so excited to be able to share the Good News of how Jesus changed our lives. Not only that, but we are encouraging our students in our discipleship appointments to be bold in their lives – whether it means to stop walking in sin or to take that step of obedience to share Jesus with someone else. 

With all the joy of living in obedience to what God has called His people to also come the spiritual attacks from our enemy who would like nothing more than to keep the Gospel from spreading. We have seen small dissentions between staff, between us as a couple, and also in the students. We have seen some of our students go from walking strong with Christ to walking the line of sin. The best way I can describe it is we’re battling to make Romans 12 active in our daily lives, and the enemy doesn’t like that!

But what is so great to see is how God is sovereign and overcomes evil. We fight hard to keep seeking the Lord, keep seeking peace amongst each other, and keep letting God’s Truth reign over our feelings and circumstances! Thank you for all your prayers – God is doing big stuff on campus, and He’s definitely not done yet!! 

Stepping Out in Faith

 

Anne is a junior transfer student, and she has been such a wonderful addition to our group this year! She got to go to the Denver Christmas Conference, and had an amazing opportunity while there. Here is her story.

“On New Year’s Eve, we were sent out into the heart of downtown Denver to evangelize. We started by doing a flash mob across eight blocks. An hour later, we lined the street again for a massive wave and invited bystanders to join us. Across the street stood a high school girl, Eva, who ran over to join us. Afterwards, I finally decided to break the ice by asking her a few questions and talking to her about her background in Christianity. For the first time that night we met someone who didn’t believe in God. She asked us a lot of deep questions, allowing us to provide truth for her. At the end of our time together we exchanged numbers and offered to meet with her again before leaving Denver.

“The following day I received a text message from Eva asking if we could still hang out. Once we agreed to meet for lunch, she also asked to join some of the conference activities for the day. Along with all the other college students she helped us package 100,000 meals for Haiti and listened to a guest speaker during women’s time talk about shame. Afterwards we were able to learn more about her at dinner and she joined us again for the main session, which involved 1300 college students praising Jesus through song and an incredible talk by the main speaker.

“During campus time that night I was able to share my story about Eva with the rest of the students and staff from Master Plan Ministry. In the middle of discussion, I received a text message from Eva asking if we could talk. She proceeded to pour out her past to me, and the pain she felt from it. I was able to offer her healing and love through God’s love. I am thankful and filled with joy to tell you that she accepted Christ that night.”

 

Changed Lives

Chris is a sophomore this year, and we were so excited to have him share his testimony at our last retreat. He has graciously let us share his testimony with all of you!

“Even though I went to church growing up every Sunday, I thought of it as more of an obligation or job and didn’t truly see God for who he is and what he did. Through junior high and high school I felt this empty gap in my heart and resorted to drinking. This brought me to college where I drank too much one night and ended up in the hospital.

“Through everything that happened, I felt like God gave me life again. He saved me. A few weeks later, I met a few guys, who were a part of a ministry on campus in Durango called Connect. They ended up inviting me to a retreat taking place that month. Here I saw the true love of God and I realized how much I needed it in my life. Through all the talks and discussions, I saw I needed to surrender my life to Christ.

“I am so thankful to this day for everyone in connect and showing me the love of God and brining me to a life with Christ. If it weren’t for that first retreat, I probably would never have given my life to God.  I thank God every day for the people in my life that showed me how much I needed his grace and love.”

  

Prayer Requests

Thank you all so much for praying! We have been so blessed to have so many people praying for us and for the students.

-       Pray for Megan, Jeremy, Brandon, Halley, Chris, Nick, Dan, Richie, and all the other students that need Jesus in their lives as their personal Lord and Savior – and that we can have an opportunity to share with them as much as we can.

-       Pray that our students will continue to be bold in their walks with God by living out the great commission and walking in the light of truth.

-       For a student, Alex, and his family who are grieving the loss of his brother and their son who committed suicide a few weeks ago.

-       Pray that us on staff will be continually encouraged by God’s Truth, and that we will work together as a team

-       Pray that we will continue to work together in unity as a couple, and that God will continue to be bold in sharing the Gospel. 

Master Plan Students (from every campus) at DCC

Playing broom ball at the Ranch Snow Day

Sledding at the February Retreat

Rugby in the snow

Valentine's Day/ Angels and Mortals Connect