Please Pray for Orissa!!!

I just received an email from a ministry I have been supporting, called Gospel for Asia (GFA), about the carnage that is going on in Orissa, India. Some news reports say as many as 16 Christians have been killed, and KP Yohannan, founder of GFA, says the lives of hundreds of other Christians are at risk. I'd like to invite you all to join in prayer for our Christian brothers and sisters in that region of the world.

You may visit this link to watch KP Yohannan talk about what's been going on: http://www.gfa.org/orissa-video?cm_mmc=GFA-_-Email-_-377991-_-080828-Churches

August Newsletter

It's August already, and the end of summer is in sight. What a full summer it has been! Here are some updates:

Summer Venture

What a fun time I've had with the summer ministry. Getting knocked down while attempting to tag a buffed-up teenage dude during a game of Flag Football . . . watching students and staff attack each other with jello during JelloFest (yep. I was conveniently occupied during that one) . . . hearing students ask random strangers at the mall, "Are you the Blue Lagoo?" (Long story . . . one of those "you had to be there to appreciate it" kinda things). Besides the fun, it was great to interact with students in a more casual environment and to watch them grow as they had the opportunity to share the gospel or their life testimonies with a group of their peers.

I have included a selection of photos from Summer Venture outreach events for your viewing pleasure.

Top Row (L-R): A group of Carrollton girls at the Stonebriar Mall, where we had our Human Scavenger Hunt (The Blue Lagoo); Two bums we brought off the streets . . .oh, wait, never mind. That's Brooke and Jeremy, SV staff, in their disguise (they were impostors of the Blue Lagoo); Me (shouldn't be hard to recognize) posing with Lauri (the actual Blue Lagoo) and Katy, who's also on staff with SV.

Bottom Row (L-R): Plano, Frisco and Carrollton girls in all their glory after throwing jello at one another; Me and a student from Carrollton at a pool party; Jordan (during a gospel presentation) using a skit to demonstrate how God reached down to us.

Personal Growth

God has been taking me through a personal lesson on Grace--the extent of it; the beauty of it. Grace is a word I have been so familiar with, particularly in the past few years. Each time I share the gospel, I quote Ephesians 2:8:

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."

The wonderful truth is--we are not only saved, but also sustained through grace. Isn't that great? I forget this sometimes, and I find myself focusing on "doing" things for God instead of just resting in His grace (kind of like Martha in the Bible). I recently read somewhere that rather than trying to do things for God, we should be allowing Him do His work through us.

Hope some of this makes sense to you because it's been making me excited lately :)

Prayer Requests

• I need your prayers in earnest as we prepare to select and challenge potential student leaders for the coming school year. More and more, the Enemy seems to be throwing in distractions in the way of high school students to keep them from being committed to living for Christ. Please pray thay we would be able to help students consider their priorities from an eternal perspective.
• Please pray for wisdom for me to be discerning in selecting faithful, available, and teachable girls to disciple for the next year. This is essential for spiritual multiplication.
• Our final Summer Venture outreach is this Monday. Please pray that many students would come to know the Lord, be challenged to make Christ known, and commit to living for Him once school resumes.

That's all for now, folks :) My love and prayers are with you all. Please let me know if there is anything specific I can agree with you about in prayer.

To Live is Christ!!!

(Philippians 1:21)

Summer in Texas

Hot!!!

That is the word that best describes summer in Texas.

But we're having our fun and staying hydrated. I hope you all had a good July Fourth weekend. I had a packed weekend, myself, complete with an Oklahoma-style celebration and three fireworks displays. The picture on the right shows me with my friend, Jillian, whose family hosted me for a July 4th neighborhood potluck in Oklahoma. Jillian and I were 3rd runners up for the annual games (think sack races, three-legged races, and crab-walks). I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but our trophy has a sheep at its apex. Hey, it's Oklahoma :)

We have had a few weeks of our summer ministry, Summer Venture, and it has been exciting to meet new students and to watch student leaders grow as they participate in ministry this summer. Every Monday, we have an outreach (planned largely by students) at which students get to have fun with one another and hear the gospel presented by one of their peers. Last Monday, I participated in a game of Capture the Flag with about 40 students, and two days later, as I shuffled around on sore limbs, the phrase, "suffering for Christ" took on new meaning :) Actually, it was not that bad. The picture on the left shows Cameron, a senior, sharing the gospel at the last Monday outreach.

The picture next to it shows "Team Yellow" getting ready for a game of "Capture the Flag."

Praise!


I'm thankful that I was able to visit with my parents in the last week of June. I enjoyed being "spoiled" by them. The picture on the left shows me with my mom (I was only able to get half of my my face in. But you know what I look like). And on the right, that's me with my dad. The good looks run in the family :)


Prayer Requests

• Pray that the summer ministry will be fruitful--that students will be trained in being missionaries to their peers, that many would come into a relationship with Jesus Christ, and that we would disciple these students toward a life-long commitment to God.
• As we look ahead to a new school year, pray that God would grant us wisdom in selecting and discipling student leaders who will be ambassadors for Christ on their campuses next year.
• Pray for God to equip me with all the skills, knowledge, and grace I need to accomplish the task He has called me to do as I prepare to begin a new year of ministry.

SPECIAL UPDATE

In 2007, I joined the mission field with Student Venture, first as a volunteer, then as an intern once I had raised sufficient financial support. August 15th will mark the end of my year-long internship, which you committed to support through prayer, monthly pledges, or one-time contributions. Thank you very much for your encouragement and support. In the year since we have partnered together in ministry, God’s name has been glorified and His Kingdom advanced among high school students in Carrollton, Texas and environs.

As we came to the end of this past school year, I thought about what God had accomplished through the ministry. Reflecting on these victories, I realized how thrilled I was to have been a part of it, and how much I want to continue to be a part of God’s work at Newman Smith High School and in Carrollton. I have been invited to continue in ministry with Student Venture for one more school year, and after seeking God’s face in prayer, I am convinced that this is the direction He would have me take at this time.

I would like to invite you to stay onboard with me by continuing to pray for the ministry and by continuing to give monthly and/or one-time financial gifts as I minister to high school students in the 2008/2009 school year. You can also help me by giving me references for your friends, relatives, or acquaintances who may be interested in supporting me as an intern with Student venture. Thank you again for joining me to make disciples for Christ!

Back in Texas!

And . . . we're back in Texas! What a trip!

The bus ride back from Colorado seemed to go by much more quickly than the drive to Colorado. I must confess, I slept for most of it. I've been "counting blessings" since I returned home. As I shared in a previous note, we had several students from Carrollton accept Christ into their hearts or recommit themselves to Him at the conference. I look forward to what God is going to do in their lives and through them as we continue the process of discipleship.

I'll keep you updated on the summer discipleship events. In the mean time, enjoy these photos from Colorado :)

Photos:

Top Row (L-R): Mike Donehey (Tenth Avenue North); Beautiful mountain scenery (courtesy of Dave Bryant); Tenth Avenue North (the band that led us in worship for the whole week, and led our hearts to the foot of the cross. One student shared that as she sang the song "Let It Go" along with the band, God worked to break the unforgiveness she had been carrying in her heart. Praise God for a Christian band that makes it a priority to glorify God and speak the truth of His Word!)

Bottom Row (L-R): Danny, Rani, Natalia, Dave, Cameron, Jevarcus (after climbing Bear Lake); Pretty picture (courtesy of Dave).

News From Colorado!

We've been here three days in Estes Park, nestled in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and God has been at work! On the first night of our arrival, one of our Carrollton students accepted Christ for the first time, and three others rededicated their lives to Christ :) This set the stage for what has been a learning experience--watching God at work in the lives of students.

When Jesus told his disciples how difficult it would be for the rich man to enter heaven, they cried out in consternation, "Who then can be saved?"

I am afraid I often fall into the same error of despair when I observe high school students, listen to their stories, needs, and hurts. I am reminded of the evil forces of this world that are fighting for their souls, and I feel momentary panic: How in the world will these students ever choose Christ in the face of all these allurements?

Then comes the reassuring answer:

"With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible" (John 19:26).

Praise the Lord!!!

Please continue to pray for the conference, and specifically for the following:

Pray that the Holy Spirit would break every barrier or distraction in the lives of the students, and they would be receptive to what God is doing.

A few of the students have expressed anxiety about not being able to maintain their commitment to God once they return home to the issues they've been away from this week. Pray that God would begin to prepare Christian friends, understanding parents, supportive churches, to come alongside the students and help them in their walk with God.

Pray for God's continued protection over all the students and staff.

Thanks for being an important part of this life-changing week!

What's So Special About June?

A lot.

My mom just left after a week-long visit, and I'll be rejoining with her and my dad in New York later this month! For those of you who know how rarely I get to see my folks, you understand how excited I've been :)

A few students who have been a part of our ministry would also call this month special--they graduated from high school almost a week ago! To the glory of God, they all graduated in the top percentile of their class. One of our student-leaders, Dave, was among the graduands. He had the opportunity to share the gospel with his classmates one last time at a baccalaureate service the week before. He will be helping to lead the Student Venture summer ministry and he is eager to continue his ministry in college this fall.

One more reason this month is so special is GetAway, the incredible, life-changing conference you've been praying about alongside hundreds of Student Venture ministry partners around the world. We'll be leaving for Colorado tomorrow to join students from around the country to worship God and grow as spiritual leaders. Students will have the opportunity to attend electives that will provide the training they need to be missionaries on their campuses. They will also participate in recreation activities, quiet times, prayer, small group discussions, and, in some cases, leadership roles during the conference. Most importantly, students will have the opportunity to accept Christ into their lives for the first time!

Prayer Requests

• Please intercede on behalf of students who do not know Christ who will be attending the conference. Ask that this week will be a time of DIVINE APPOINTMENT for them.
• Pray for protection for those of us traveling on the bus, and those traveling by air; ask for safe travel to and from the conference.
• Pray that this would be a time of personal retreat for me; that I would make time to "be still" with God in this beautiful mountainous place.
• For balance, wisdom, and properly-aligned priorities for me in this busy month.

I will try to keep you posted while I am in Colorado.

"Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast. . ."

Psalm 139:7-10

Thank you for continuing to uphold me with prayer and with encouraging words. May you always experience God's abiding presence, no matter how far away you think you are from Him.