| September 2007 For Every Day There is a Season This past summer I had the privilege of working on two projects for Outside the Box. The first was Ron Hutchcraft Ministries’ Warrior Leadership Summit (WLS). This event brought 500 native students from all over the United States and Canada to the Ozarks of Missouri. WLS helped to train these native students to be “warriors” for Christ. My favorite part of the week came on the final evening. We asked one representative from each of the 17 tribes represented at WLS to be part of our program. Each of those representatives stood on the balcony that overlooked the population. As the worship band was playing, we heard one after the other of the 17 representatives shout, “I’m Apache and I’m going to bring the hope of Jesus to my people.” “I’m Ojibwe and I’m going to bring the hope of Jesus to my people.” “I’m Navajo and I’m going to bring the hope of Jesus to my people,” and on through the tribes. Even as I type these words, I get chills from the power of that experience. It was coupled with tears and shouting and clapping. The Spirit of God moved mightily. I was also able to be a part of NYC ‘07: the Church of the Nazarene’s quadrennial conference for youth. Held in July 2007 in St. Louis, NYC saw 10,000 students from all over the country gather together to grow in their relationship with Christ. The theme was Water-Fire-Wind. We opened the event by creating a storm. Videos showed the storm front coming. At one point in the program, all of the youth leaders stood up and sprayed their water bottles over their students. We had pyro during the opener as well. It was amazing to watch a wall of fire and hear the roar of the students. We also had huge industrial fans blowing confetti around the arena. Water-Fire-Wind. It was amazing to be part of the team that guided the planning of this event. I wish you could have been there to experience it with us. More than ever, I see the impact of our work. I see individual students owning their faith and expressing a desire to live for Christ. I encounter organizations that want to provide life changing events that meet students where they are and call them to know, love and live Christ. It reminds me again of the value of our ministry. With every ministry, there are financial challenges. This year we are facing a potential financial deficit of $60,000. I’m part of the team that is developing a strategy to cover the deficit. One of my roles with OtB is to assist in raising these funds. By year end, I want to raise $15,000. This is a season where meeting the challenges requires a dedicated effort. Will you be a part? I’m communicating our current situation because I am passionate about the body of Christ. I believe that circumstances like these give us, as believers, an opportunity to depend on the Lord and rely on one another for support. It is a beautiful place to be…but the situation requires action. I am also passionate about God in His Word. When His Word says to “bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ”, I believe that. Both as an individual and as a member of Outside the Box, I have been blessed with the opportunity to bear the burdens of others. It is a life pursuit that defines me and brings me great joy. I can experience that joy when I’m aware of the needs of others. This again brings me to you. The current financial needs for Outside the Box are great and urgent. I need your help to carry this burden. The best way that you can help me is to pray and consider your part in giving. God is not lacking. He is the provider of all that we need. Through prayer, we can lay our burdens before Him. Your contribution itself is an answer to prayer. I want you to know how much I appreciate your love and support for me and for Outside the Box. THANK YOU! |