New Mercies

"This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, for His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:21-23.

Praise God for a new month, a new day, new mercies!

The past month held its share of discouragements and setbacks, and the Lord taught me to rely on His grace. Not only did I deal with personal battles, but it appeared that everywhere I turned, I encountered someone who was experiencing difficult times (friends experiencing loss, people dealing with health and financial issues, students I work with experiencing emotional turmoil . . .)! Has anybody been there? Can anyone relate to these hardships?

There's great news: we have a loving and compassionate God who "sees our frame and knows that we are made of dust." Each new day brings new mercies; each trial comes with a special dose of grace. In the same way that the Israelites had to learn to trust God for manna on a daily basis, God teaches us to rely on His compassionate hand day by day while we go through life's "deserts". Praise God!

Continuing on this note of praise . . .

God has provided a place for me to stay in Carrollton so that I can be in closer proximity to the high school students I work with. I'm already enjoying the benefits of living so close--I was able to attend the high school football game last night. I won't comment on the score, but I did enjoy waving a green and yellow pom-pom and screaming "Go, Trojans, Go!"

Our October outreach--JELLO FEST--was a delightfully messy experience (Stay tuned for pictures). I got jello in my ear, but best of all TWO STUDENTS PRAYED TO RECEIVE CHRIST!


Prayer Requests

Please pray for an upcoming "team talk" for Varsity and JV volleyball players at Newman Smith (October 15th). Team talks involve delivering a motivational message to a group of students, then encouraging them to become a part of a small group study where they can learn about God and grow in their relationship with Him.

It has been difficult getting groups of girls together for Bible studies due to time conflicts in the busy, busy lives of these high school girls. Please ask that God will grant us wisdom in structuring the Bible studies so that we can accomodate the various schedules.

Please pray for a student I've been "hanging out" with, K.E. She comes from a dysfunctional background and she is carrying a lot of emotional baggage. K.E. loves the Lord, and she is staying strong, but she is constantly battling negative thoughts and feelings. Ask that the Lord would strengthen her and grant me wisdom as I strive to point her to Him.

THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND PRAYERS!

And They'll Know We Are Christians By Our Love

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" John 13:35 (NIV).

Natalie, a Student Venture member, is a sophomore at Newman Smith High School. She plays volleyball and has a nice smile. Oh, and one more thing. She is a Christian.

Now, I don't simply mean that she calls her self a Christian, and I am not implying that she lives a sinless life. She doesn't walk around with a Bible strapped around her head or anything--no, she's a pretty normal teenager. Coach purses, boy issues and all.

Let me share a story with you, and you can draw your own conclusions.

School resumed this past Monday for Newman Smith students, and Natalie noticed that one of her friends, a fellow Student Venture member, had not bought any new clothing for the school year. So, she did what any normal Christian would do--she went to her room, looked at her own pile of new clothes, and thanked God that he had given them to her. She also sent a cursory prayer in her friend's direction, that God would take care of her financial situation.

No, it did not happen that way. What Natalie actually did was call her friend up and ask her what her favorite clothing store was. Then Natalie went out and bought a gift card from that store, and gave it to her friend. Two days ago, as I stood among an after-school crowd at Newman Smith, the girl who had received the gift shared with Tom, Brooke, and me, the story of what Natalie had done for her. There was a smile on her face, a smile that Jesus put there. But He used Natalie.

God calls us to come to Him through His Son and experience His love. He also calls us to demonstrate His love, and by it all men will know that we are His disciples (John 13:35). What a witness! The Bible says of the early Christians:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer . . . .Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need . . . .And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved"

(Acts 2:42, 45, 47).

The Christians' love for one another was a witness that led to salvation. Pray with me that God will enable us this school year to reach Carrollton high school students not just through our words, but through our demonstration of God's love for one another.

Other Prayer Requests:

1. Pray for God to direct our steps as we plan for our first outreach for the year--a pool party to welcome freshmen.
2. Ask that we would keep our plans aligned with God's will as we map Carrollton campuses for ministry opportunities this school year.
3. Please pray for me and other new staff or volunteers that will be coming onboard this year, as well as current Student Venture staff, that God would give us His vision and grant us the grace and humility to stick to it even when "results" are not apparent.

I love you all and I sincerely appreciate your partnership in ministry. I am truly blessed!

Dave Bryant--Testimony

Watch Dave Bryant share an abbreviated version of his testimony. Dave is a senior this year at Newman Smith High School, where I am an intern with Student Venture. He has a passionate heart for God and for leading others to Him. I tell you, folks, God is raising a generation for Himself that will bring revival not only to this nation, but to the world.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s1i4nz_cALw

Crossing Boundaries

Each time I read about Jesus' ministry on earth, I marvel at the way He was able to reach people at every level: poor, rich, outcast, high-ranking, young, old. It was not His worldly status that opened doors for Him to build relationships with people. And He was not exactly an orator -- in fact, it was the very simplicity of His profound words that caused (and still causes) people to pause and listen. I conclude (and I think you might agree) that it was pure love that enabled Christ to make the difference that He did in the lives of those He touched.

I am always thinking about the idea of crossing boundaries. How do I best break through the walls of pain, or insecurity, or worldliness to reach that teenager for Christ? How can I demonstrate God's love to this person or that person when I don't know what their needs are? God is constantly reminding me that it is His work to make a difference; it is my work to simply love. And for that matter, I don't have to muster this love on my own. The Holy Spirit is with me to empower me to love as God has commanded.

Last Monday, I had the opportunity to enjoy watching God work through a teenager to overstep a boundary in love and share words of hope with a bitter, young African-American man. I took seven Student Venture students to a local mall to share the gospel with people there. One fifteen-year-old student, Josh, felt a nudge to approach a young man whom he described as looking "all tough . . . like a gangster." With God's boldness, Josh initiated conversation with the man: "Looking at you, people will probably assume that you're a thug." The man, surprised, explained that he had just had the same conversation with his friend. Apparently, throughout the time they had been in the mall, he and his friend had been trailed by a caucasian policeman, and this young man was experiencing feelings of bitterness and remorse because he felt that in spite of his "good standing" and his college degrees, he was being judged for his appearances. Josh was able to talk to the man about a relationship with God, assuring him of his value in God's sight.

As each student shared his or her experience after our outreach at the mall -- explaining who Jesus is to an Iranian soap kiosk-salesman, taking a 10-year-old girl through the plan of salvation, receiving encouragement from a fellow Christian, and so on -- I could not help but smile as I realized that we had done what Jesus did during His ministry on earth. We had made ourselves available, and as one student, Courtney said, "deeply felt God's love" for these people; and God had taken care of the results!

Friends, thank you for your partnership in making these opportunities possible. Whether you give financially or spend time in prayer for me and Student Venture Carrollton, "your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58). Someday soon, we will stand before our Righteous Judge and rejoice that we played a part in restoring the lost to Him.

I love you all, and you are in my prayers always!

Freedom Month!!!

Hi friends!!

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July.

I returned from Colorado last Friday, volunteered at the Celebrate Freedom Christian concert in Dallas on Saturday, and hopped into Laura's Kentucky-bound vehicle on Sunday.

Yes, it's been a busy past couple of weeks, but I've had the blessing of visiting with many of my ministry supporters in a few different states, and reuniting with friends.

As I promised, I've got pictures from the Colorado Rocky Mountain Getaway Conference!!! Three students from Carrollton accepted Christ at the conference; one other student, raised a Muslim, also received Christ, but is having a difficult time with the idea that he can only serve one God. Please pray that God will continue to work on his heart. Several other students from other regions also received Christ at the conference.

The students at the conference all had the opportunity to share their faith with the community on the last full day at Estes Park, and through these students, God brought salvation to many of the inhabitants of Estes Park and surrounding towns/cities.

I have now raised up to one-third of my financial support--praise God!!! God is reminding me everyday of His ability to do over and beyond all that I could ever ask or think. I pray that you all experience the joy of resting in the assurance of His presence.

Prayer Requests . . .

I will be working together with a couple of other volunteers to oversee the summer Student Venture ministry in Carrollton. Please ask that God would use us to nurture the students and lead others to Him.

Please pray that God would grant the SV Carrollton staff the wisdom and discernment necessary to select and train student leaders for next year.

PLEASE let me know how I can be praying for you. Love you all!!

Sunrise!!

Main building on YMCA Camp, Estes Park




Rock Climbing :)

2nd Day in Colorado

Colorado is BEAUTIFUL!!!

I don't have lot of time to write right now, but I'd like to give a summary of the Colorado trip so far.

I left Dallas at 8pm on Friday in a bus carrying 50 high school students; the bus arrived at Estes Park, Colorado at 3:30pm on Saturday. Suffice it to say that by the time we arrived in Colorado, I was well-versed in every random topic the teenage mind could conjure :)

Did I mention that Colorado is beautiful? As the bus climbed up the mountains to Estes Park, my head swung back and forth to take in the view on my left, then my right. I didn't want to miss a bit of it. By the way, for those of you who care to know, Estes Park reminds me a lot of Julian, California.

Last evening, Sean McDowell shared with us about "Engaging God with your Mind." He blessed our lives with the testimony of his father, Josh McDowell, and encouraged the students to seek the truth about Christ for themselves, rather than live off words passed down to them by others--"because if you genuinely seek truth, you could find no possible conclusion other than that Jesus is truly the Christ, Savior of the world."

What a blessed truth!

Sorry I have no pictures yet. They will come in time, I'm sure. Please continue to keep us in your prayers!

Rocky Mountains, Here We Come!!!

Hi Friends!

Can you believe it's the middle of the month already?! I just want to send out a quick reminder that in approximately one week, Student Venture, Carrollton will be off to the Colorado Rocky Mountains where we will join hundreds of other students in the region for a week (June 22-29) of drawing closer to God. Please, continue to be in prayer for the students who are trying to raise funds to attend the Conference. We had a successful car wash fundraiser last Tuesday, and another one coming up on June 19th. This picture is actually of last year's car wash . . .but many of the same students were present this year :) Also pray that the Lord will guide the students as they recruit their friends to attend this Conference that will impact their lives for eternity. Finally, ask that the Lord would meet with us as we devote the week to seeking His face, that we would all come back changed.

If I have access to the internet (and time), I will try to keep you posted on the day-to-day goings on throughout the conference.

God bless you as you continue to fulfill the Great Commission!