September 2007 Dear Friend, It has been a long stretch since you have heard from me by this format. For that I apologize! However, life and ministry are great and full. Let me fill this gap of time and communication with the following: · three good news home reports · three ministry multiplication stories · three immediate challenges. First - the good news! 1. July 29 marked Barbara's and my one year wedding anniversary. What a miraculous provision and friend she is. The exciting process of building a new life together has been wonderful and graced with God's love and protection. 2. Both of the growing families in our tree are expecting new babies. My daughter, Lesa Van Meter, is having a girl in September '07 and Beth Richert, my son Ryan's wife, is due in February '08. Those two additions will bring the grandchild count to four. Wow, how life changes. 3. Our one year old Golden Doodle puppy has brought much unpredictability, laughter, cuddling for Barb when I'm traveling, and sweet relief from the pressures of life and work. Second - some stories! 1. Last summer was the eighth time we helped produce the triennial DCLA evangelism training event. I just returned from a creative design session for the next one (summer of 2009). The two-and-a-half decades of the life and power of this event continue to unfold and have impact. To date, over 125,000 attendees' lives have been challenged and focused on the significance of learning to share their faith in Christ with their friends. 2. Back stage at a Dare 2 Share event in Chicago, I watched a youth pastor, whom I mentored for several years in Detroit, lead one of his students to Christ. The youth pastor now shepherds a church youth ministry of over 1,000 students. It is very fulfilling to see the results and multiplication of years of ministry 3. At the end of the final session of a six-day, ten-session, 10,000-student, dome event this summer, the executive director of the Nazarene Youth Conference suddenly grabbed me. With a huge hug he looked into my eyes and said, "Thank you for helping me bring my dreams to reality." Those words resonate deeply within my soul, for at the core of Outside the Box Ministries, it is our objective to help clarify, create and realize the spiritual dreams that leaders have for their students. When expressions like this happen we feel we have done our job. Third - immediate challenges! 1. Because of my less then adequate communication during the past several months, I have lost touch with you. As a result, you have not heard of the needs of this ministry. For instance, the regular financial support that has sustained our work over the past four decades of ministry is still very important and much needed. Would you prayerfully consider rejoining the team of financial supporters or starting to give on a regular basis? I also, pledge to you to be the source of more regular communication of needs and blessings. 2. Outside the Box Ministries is often invited to provide services to youth organizations that desperately need us but absolutely lack the funds to pay. We want to help them but do not want their inability to fund the project to be a roadblock. In response, we are starting the Eagle Donor campaign as a support base to allow us to continue serving some of the most important and effective ministries in America. Would you consider becoming an Eagle Donor? Or, can you help the Outside the Box team identify others who can? These would be individuals, businesses and foundations that would give, and/or guide us to gifts of at least $10,000 per year. [One scenario could be $5,000 given personally, and $5,000 raised from your personal contacts.] Will you apply your resources to become an Eagle Donor? We need your support. 3. Please post the names of our staff in a place you often look, and pray for them: Ryan Richert, Holly Ingels, BJ Strote and Mo Shields. They all look ahead to another school season of many events and special projects - all of which lead students to a new encounter with Jesus, and help for living a Godly life. Pray for... · creativity in mass communication, · safety in travel across the country, · wisdom in interactions with the leaders with whom they work, · energy to keep up the pace. My Love and Humble Thanksgiving for your friendship God Bless You..... Rolly Richert If you would like to receive only the email version of Rolly's prayer letters (for those of you who also receive a hard copy mailed to you), please send us an email to indicate that request to: info@otbm.org. You can also read Rolly's Prayer Letters online at www.otbm.org or www.rollyrichert.com.