Field Report: October 2008

Greetings Friends!  As we look at the circumstances surrounding us, we are certainly living in uncertain times.  I am struck by how little we can count on our economy, our political climate, or our world to truly give us comfort.  However, I am more convinced than ever before, that God is still in control and still in the business of changing lives!

Ministry News:  Leaving a Legacy
Recently, Sam and I had the privilege of hearing from the President of Campus Crusade for Christ at Canyon Hills Community Church.  He shared many stories about how God is working around the globe and using ordinary people to do extraordinary things to advance the kingdom of God.  In many ways, Steve Douglass is continuing the legacy that Bill Bright had begun, until the Lord took him home five years ago.  At that same church venue, Sam and I were able to meet up with a recently married Campus Crusade for Christ staff couple.  The husband, Herman, came as a student on our summer mission trip to closed East Asia ten years ago.  As a result of that summer, he dedicated his life to reaching that country with the gospel and has been overseas serving as a Campus Director for the past several years.  As we re-connected at the church, his wife Angela relayed the story that she had been placed on the same campus where Sam, Herman and I had helped start a ministry that summer, over ten years ago.  She spoke about the legacy we had left on that campus which made it possible for her to continue reaching students and continue the ministry that our project had begun so many summers ago. 

Last weekend I had the privilege of being in a former Alaska student's wedding in Chico, California.  As the wedding party said goodbye to the bride and groom when the reception was ending, I looked around me and was struck by the picture of discipleship I was seeing in front of me.  I saw Jonathan, now a missionary to Tibet, and myself who had both descipled Aaron (the groom) through college at UAA.  In addition, there were several graduated students that Aaron had poured his life into while he was in college, standing among this small group of men.  It was such a powerful picture of the importance of discipleship and how God uses our intentionality in someone's life to grow their faith and to bring Him glory.  Thank you so much for all the years you have poured your prayers, finances and partnership into our ministry...It has been so humbling and exciting to see how God continues to use these students long after they graduate to impact the world!

Prayer Requests 

• We are up and running as a ministry at Everett Community College.  We have about six faithful leaders and have already seen God use them in many ways, both in school and in their communities.  Please pray that God will multiply their time, commitment to Him, and their creativity as we pursue ways that we can reach out to the students on this campus
• Pray for our fall retreat coming up (October 31-November 1).  Pray that we would have a good turnout from campuses around the Puget Sound area, that God would speak to these students in a powerful way and that as a result we would have renewed hearts and commitment to the Lord and bringing His message to a troubled and dying world.
• Pray for my time management and the school load that I am carrying in graduate school that the Lord would multiply my time and that I would have good priorities in regards to balancing family, work, and school.
• Pray for several of our supporters and friends who are going through very difficult times right now.
• Pray for discernment regarding how to handle a very zealous Orthodox believer who has caused some disruptions during our weekly meetings at Everett.

Love,

Mark, Sam, Jordan, TJ and Elianna