Copperheads, Tarantulas, and Scorpions..oh my!

After 17 hours on the charter bus, our ministry team finally made it to Kansas. I spoke with Kayla today and she said that everything is going well. I asked what Kansas was like and she told me that they have copperheads and tarantulas and scorpions, so that sounds like an adventure:). Today they had staff orientation and the campers got registered around 1:00 this afternoon. They were going to have free time to swim, but it hasn't stopped raining since they got there. Pastor Wayne's arm is doing really well and he isn't even having to wear the sling. Keep praying for a speedy healing so that he can continue to minister without pain. Well, that's all I know right now, more later.

Kansas Missions Trip

Hey Guys,
Our team will be headed out Sunday morning at 5:00 am. We will be at the camp in Kansas for one week. I am asking for your prayers as we see God do incredible things in the lives of the students at the camp. Also, remember to continue to prepare yourself for what God is doing and getting ready to do in this student ministry. You guys are awesome!

Spirit of Caleb

Tonight, Pastor Wayne shared a word with us from Numbers 13:25-30 where the Israelite spies have just returned from scouting out the land of Canaan. All twelve of the spies agreed that the land that God had promised them was a good land, flowing with "milk and honey", but only two, Joshua and Caleb, believed that they could actually conquer and possess the land. Caleb in particular "quieted the people...and said, 'We must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!'". Pastor Wayne challenged us tonight to have the same Spirit as Caleb, a spirit that refuses to believe the negative report, a spirit that is prepared to go in and possess the spiritual land that God has given to us. I was pretty sure that I knew what the name Caleb meant, but just to be sure, I cracked open the baby name book. Guess what Caleb means...BOLD FAITH. That is exactly what we need right now. We are going to have to put our faith completely in God's promises and boldly declare that the things that He has promised will take place! So, as you seek God and prepare yourself to receive the things that God has promised, be careful not to listen to the negative report from the enemy, but like Caleb, have a bold faith that cannot be shaken.

Prepare Yourself

Amazing! That is the only word that I can think of to describe what God has been doing in Freedom 7. Just in the few weeks since Heath and I have been here, I have seen such a hunger for God beginning to burn in the hearts of our students. Last night was such a powerful service. I was so thrilled to see many of our younger students beginning to step up and take their places in God's plan for this student ministry. As you have heard several times over the last few weeks, God is challenging us to prepare ourselves for what He is going to do this fall. Don't take that lightly. Begin to seek God with all of your hearts. Take this summer to devote yourselves to studying God's word and praying for revival to begin in our hearts, because this fall we are going to see an amazing outpouring of God's Spirit and we need to be ready.

Some Pictures from Wednesday

Okay, so the pictures turned out kind of dark, but here's a few from youth service last Wednesday night. The Spirit of God really moved and Brother Shepherd (Pastor Wayne's dad)
shared a word with us. The Holy Spirit was moving so powerfully that no one wanted to leave when the vans came to take people home. I am sooooo excited about what God is doing in our students and I can't wait to see what more is coming.
Here's just a random shot of the game room. I actually was trying to load a different picture and got this one instead, oh well:).

Pray for PW

Hey guys, just wanted to tell you all that Pastor Wayne had to have surgery yesterday on that shoulder that has been giving him trouble. Please be praying that he has a super quick and easy recovery. Leave him a comment here to let him know that we're all praying (it will be sent to his email automatically). Love you guys and I'll see you tomorrow night.:)

Day at the park

Today, we had our entire service in the park. It was a gorgeous day, even though we had the threat of rain. Pastor's vision is to reach out to our community with the love of Christ, so what better way to be visible than to take our service to them. After service, we provided a meal and had inflatables for the kids to play on and even some softball for the grown ups.

Kidslink praise team leading in worship.
Here is Pastor Jamey with Sparkles the clown and Taylor.
The Mountain "Men" made the most wonderful peach and strawberry cobbler I have ever tasted-Dutch Oven style.
Some F7 students enjoying their lunch.
This was the inflatable obstacle course we had set up for the kids.
Just a few of the greatest students in the world.

We had a great turnout. There were several first time guests(!).
And here is Pastor Mike Cleckler. We love him!
Kidslink kids.
Their mouths were too full to smile:).