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Hello All,
This week has truly been amazing. God is working in and through these students and it is so awesome to watch.
Although things have been going extremely well, it hasn't necessarily been easy. Satan has been at work all week and has attacked us from every angle. Satan has used sickness, hospital trips, stress, fatigue, and even the weather to try and distract us from our mission here. I have been so proud to watch the students persevere and not let any of these things discourage them.
Yesterday (Wednesday) was a great day. VBS has grown each day and we have gone from 21 kids the first day to 35 yesterday. These children come from many different backgrounds and it is awesome to have the opportunity to tell them how much God loves them.
In the afternoon we split up into groups to continue to do work projects here at the church and also at some homes in the community. Every home we have served at has been really appreciative and thankful for the work we've done. Our team has been a great witness for Jesus with the way we have served those in need.
Last night we had another E.P.I.C. night in the park. A few of our students were able to share the GOSPEL with a boy from the community named Danny. I too was able to get into a conversation with a 15 year old boy named Timmy. God opened a door for me to explain the entire Gospel to him and he was very receptive and open to it. Please be praying for Timmy and Danny, two boys who are group has been able to share Jesus with!
God has been so faithful this week. Please continue to support us in prayer. Everyone on the team is starting to feel pretty tired and worn out. Pray that God would give us the energy and enthusiasm to finish the good work we have started.
Ben
Thank God for Mondays!!! Yesterday was absolutley great, God did some big things and we still have 6 more days! I'm excited to see what God will continue to do through these teens this week. In the face of an attack from Satan these students joined even closer together to lift up our brother Matthew Hicks in his time of great trial. The students kicked off the first day of everything yesterday with VBS, work projects around the church and our first E.P.I.C (PARK) night. With 25 k-5th graders to start out the week of VBS our students handled each of their responsibilities seamlessly and Hunter Leathers and Simon Howard gave their testimonies in a clear way that portrayed the work God has done in their lives. Yesterday we split our team in half for the afternoon and half went into downtown Hamilton to invite students to our E.P.I.C Night while the other half stayed at the church with Pastor Tom to start some clean up project on the church grounds. In both groups the love of God was shining through so bright, Tom and others were blown away with the students work ethic on the project at the church and students were being bold about their faith and purpose while in town. We wrapped up the first day of events with our first E.P.I.C Night of the week down at the local park. Starting slow we began the games with full steam with only 5 youth and 20 of our students. By the time we braked for snack and testimony we had 15 teens sitting down to hear Anthony and Danielle share their powerful life stories. Even after hearing their stories before it amazes me every time how God has worked in these students lives, I am so proud to be helping out with this group and God is working here. Thank you for your continuous prayer support.
-Rhino
and the GCC team
Hey All!
So we finally made it! Last night we arrived in Hamilton around 5pm. It is so cool to see the things God is already doing within our team. We have had two "family times" already where we have been able to get together as a team to worship, pray, dig into the Word, and encourage each other.
This morning we were able to take part in the church service at Charlos Heights Community Church which is the church that is hosting us. We were able to lead worship for their congregation and I was given a chance to inroduce our team and tell them about our plans for the week. Charlos Heights is a very small church but they have amazing people and great leadership with Pastor Tom and his wife Jennifer. They have welcomed us with open arms and are excited for us to be here.
The congregatioin at Charles Heights also put on a potluck for us after church today. Not only was the food delicious but it was awesome to interact with the people here at Charlos Heights and get to know them better.
Right now the students are enjoying some down time before we start prepping for VBS which starts tommorow. VBS, service projects, and our Teen Outreach Nights all start tomorrow so be praying that God would be at work in the hearts and minds of the people we meet and talk with.
God is good and we are pumped to see how He uses us for His glory this week!
Thanks for your prayers!
Ben
The week of our departure is finally here. I have a wide range of emotions as I finalize the prep for this trip; nervous, excited, anxious, hopeful, etc. I truly believe that God is going to do some amazing things in and through our team next week. Are you praying like you believe that too?
As I am finishing up all the last minute details for the trip I feel this sense of stress and anxiety. I have been asking myself questions like:
"Are we really ready for this?"
"Is everything planned like it should be?"
"Are the students and leaders going to remember all of the the training and preperation?"
Although I believe the answer to each of these questions is "yes" I needed to take a step back and remember the purpose of the trip. Yes, the details are important and will help us have a succesful trip but I find myself needing to prepare my heart more than anything.
I need to be ready and willing to do whatever it takes to obey God's commands to proclaim the good news of Jesus, to go and make disciples, and to serve those in need. Are you ready? Start preparing yourself for the opportunites God is going to present to you next week, and pray for boldness to take advantage of those opportunities!
Pastor Ben
Can you believe that in one month we will be loading up and heading to Montana? This whole process has been extremely cool as we prepare not only for Montana but for living out Mission51 here in Dallas. As a pastor I have felt the conviction to not only encourage my students to be telling their friends about Jesus but to be modeling it in my own life. This has led to some really neat conversations with a friend of mine recently. God has opened some doors and the Holy Spirit is at work in the heart and mind of my friend.
How are you doing? Are you sharing the Good News of Jesus with those around you? I will be the first one to agree with you that it can be really difficult. Howevere, I've learned that if you step out in faith and "go for it" with the opportunities God gives you that there are no limits to what can happen.
Pray that we have opportunities like this in Hamilton. That God would open the doors and that we would have the boldness and faith to walk through them.
Pastor Ben
Time is flying by! Our trip to Hamilton, MT is going to be here before you know it!
Last Friday, May 13th (spooky, right?) we had our big fundraiser for our Mission Montana team. The fundraiser was a Silent Auction and Dinner. We had nearly 100 people from GCC come out and support our team! Going into the fundraiser I was thinking that if we broke $1000 it would be a huge success. We ended up making over $3400 for our team and trip. Praise God!
The financial support is huge, but please continue to support us with your prayer. Pray for our team as we continue to train and prepare for the trip. Pray for the people of Hamilton, that God would soften their hearts and open the their minds to the good news of Jesus Christ that we will be sharing with them. PRAYER is the #1 way you can support our team!
This weekend we will be heading up to Corbett, OR for the Youthmark Spring Retreat. This is going to be an awesome time of training, prayer, worship, team building, and fun! Pray that God would use this weekend to really equip our team and bring us even closer together.
Thanks for all of your support!
Pastor Ben
We have a location! I just recieved word from Youthmark that our mission team will be headed to Hamilton, MT this summer! We will be teaming up with Charlos Heights Community Church and Pastor Tom Craig to serve and meet the needs of not only their church but the community of Hamilton.
PRAY that God would be preparing the people of Hamilton. PRAY that he would soften their hearts and begin to draw them to himself. PRAY that God would use our team in a powerful way this summer to impact Hamilton for Jesus Christ!
Exciting times!
Pastor Ben
Hey Everyone!
So I know many of you are wondering when we are going to find out our exact location in Montana. We do not know where it is yet but I can assure you that Buzz and the entire Youthmark team are working hard to find the right location for our team. PRAY that God would lead us to the community he wants and a place where we could be used by him in a mighty way. PRAY for the community we will be in, that God would start to soften there hearts and minds and begin drawing them to himself. Please continue to PRAY for our team and for this trip. PRAYER is the number one way you can support us!
We have already seen God work and answer prayer in our prepepartion for the trip. We have 3 students and 1 leader who have already raised all of there funds for the trip! We also have many other students who have also been raising support quickly! PRAY that God would continue to bring in support as he sees fit.
Everyday I get more and more excited about this team and about our adventure this summer. Let's get ready to bring the gospel to Montana this summer by bringing it to Dallas right now! Mission51!
Pastor Ben
Hey All!
All of our support letters were sent out on Monday! Start praying that God would bring in the support, both finiancial and prayer, as He sees fit!
Ben