Hello again,
As this newsletter gets to you, the semester will be coming to an end and the students will all be ready for their summer break. This past semester has been a great time in which I have gotten to know a few of the Macomb High students through our pizza lunch program on Fridays, as well as our Monday night outreach time. Our numbers have been regular for both, about 25-30 for pizza lunch and from 4-6 for our Monday night time. Our Monday night outreach will continue into this summer although I will not be able to be there myself. I am going to be heading back to
Agape fest-
On April 1st I took three students with me down to
In closing I would like to ask all of you for your prayers. Recently, with no surprise, life dealt me a bunch of bad cards, beginning with the deaths of some very close friends and family. I would like to ask for prayer for both my family and the family of Melissa Johnson.
Have you thought about the condition of your heart before the Lord, lately? He wants our hearts to be made of good and fertile soil, ready to learn, listen and put His love into action. Jesus was a master at this. Let’s just say perfect! If you haven’t studied Mark chapter 4 for a while, check it out.
As an adult working with teens I am always trying to gauge where a person’s heart is in relation to God. Are they open or closed? Are they hard hearted or tender toward the things of God? Sometimes they are kind of in between. That reminds me that it is the relationship with the person that matters most. When building relationships youth leaders earn the right to be heard through time spent with teens. It’s not that much different for adults either. Take time to get to know a person, do things with them that are not a part of your agenda, love like Jesus did, and share about how God has changed you when the opportunity arises. Then, I believe, the other individual will have seen Jesus through you. And that’s all we can do. It is up to us to plant the seed and water the seed, only God makes it grow. Each person has to decide whether or not to put their trust and faith in Jesus Christ alone, for their salvation in this life. May we be good farmers for the Lord.
Over the last month I have had the opportunity to speak at Walnut Grove UMC and
There have also been several times that teens have needed a listening ear. Volunteers relay stories and I have had 4 specific encounters over the last month as well. One evening a teen called me because he needed to get out of the house and process what had taken place with his parents. Another night a teen felt compelled to share his life story. All the wrongs he had done and his desire to get closer to the Lord. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit works and how God has given us power to love and be his messengers in this world full of selfishness and pride. May the Lord continue to bless this community as we yield to his Spirit.
On a family note, we have closed on the sale of our home. We are very thankful to all of you that prayed with us about this. We are settling in and love our new surroundings! Our daughter Abby turned 11 on May 14 and got the horse that was promised to her a year ago. She will be checking fences and riding away into the sunset, another dream come true. Thank you Jesus. I also got a chance to be a chaperone on my daughter Katy’s Kindergarten field trip. What a day! Kindergarteners are a handful.
· One teen put her faith in Christ about a week ago
· A couple of teens are really digging into God and discovering what He wants in their lives
· Pray for a Bushnell teen that dropped out of school due to having to care for his grandpa and brother
· Baccalaureate and Graduation coming up for seniors
· For the summer time to be productive in building relationships with teens and going deeper with God, discovering His plan in their lives.
· We have a couple of teens that are close to trusting Christ
· We continue to have a faithful group of volunteer leaders. It is nice to have a couple helping with Depth Charge on Wed. nights now.