Greg and Hannah traveled to the Dominican Republic in June with a mission team from our local church. We partnered with Children of the Nations, an organization that provides a Christ-centered education as well as medical and nutritional aid to impoverished children in the D.R. See www.cotni.org.

Roll over the photos below to read the captions or use the following links to see the photos on Greg’s flickr page.

See Greg’s DR Highlight photos with captions
See all Greg’s DR photos

Unstoppable and Unafraid is the theme for this summer’s student Getaway Conference. Based on Isaiah 6:1-8 — “Look. This coal has touched your lips. Gone your guilt, your sins wiped out.” And then I heard the voice of the Master: “Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?” I spoke up, “I’ll go. Send me!” (The Message)

These six days are more than a conference, they are a time of equipping, training, and life-changing messages to prepare students to walk with God, explore Biblical truths and learn how to talk to friends about their personal faith. Over 600 students from east of the Mississippi gathered in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Youth speaker James White addressed the topics of Finishing after Failing and The Freedom we have in Christ. On the beach, students found ways of attracting attention. After doing crazy sand battles and tug-of-war, they took the initiative in the power of the Holy Spirit to share Christ, leaving the results to God.

Students were challenged to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Several students decided to go on a Student Venture International Spring or Summer mission project next year.

To hear the amazing speakers, student testimonies and fun music from 10th Avenue North, visit www.svorlando.com.

Family Stuff

• Greg and Hannah are ministering in the Dominican Republic June 26 through July 2. Because this is so far outside her life experience, Hannah is a bit nervous about the trip. Pray for safe journeys and good health.
• We continue to go round and round with insurance regarding one of Ethan’s therapies. We hear, “yes” and then, “no”. This is a huge emotional drain on Kristie who is exercising all due diligence in pursuing the process.
• Pray for wisdom regarding Ethan’s schooling. Praying through what will be best for him next year and waiting for the Lord’s leading. In the meantime, doing much school work over the summer.

After donning stylish hair nets and a thourough application of hand sanitizer, our group of volunteers took their places. Moments later, the line of tables covered with bins of rice, dried vegetables and seasonings became an efficient food packaging assembly line for Haiti relief.

As the relief and development aid arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International, the ministry of Global Aid Network spans the globe helping to meet physical needs in areas of poverty and despair and providing hope through evangelistic outreach. At the CCC Headquarters, our family participated in packaging 103,999 meals in one afternoon!

Family Stuff

• Greg and Hannah’s short-term mission to the Dominican Republic with our church is fully funded! We will be in country June 26 through July 1.
• We *think* we have the situation resolved with our insurace to cover one of Ethan’s therapies.

Going into high school is different for everyone. Most are worried about their grades, but a few are mostly thinking about alcohol and drugs. And I was part of that few.

You never heard about grades or teachers when I spoke about high school, all you heard about was the parties and who got the most wasted.

Most people think it’s cool to drink and smoke, but they only think that because they don’t know how else to have fun. Well, my fun for the fall semester was Student Venture with my friends and people who actually cared about my future. Going into high school I didn’t think that Student Venture could make that big of a difference, but it truly did. I have made a lot of new friends and grown even closer to my old friends.

But Student Venture has changed my relationship drastically with one person — God. I didn’t really have a connection with him before Student Venture, but now I have gotten closer and closer to him and I have fallen more and more in love with him. Student Venture has taught me many things, but if I had to pick the most important thing that it has changed, it is that when I can’t depend on anyone else, God is always there and he always will be. There is truly only one person I can be myself around and that is God.

Before Student Venture I had never opened a Bible, but now I have found my favorite verse, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1

— Makenzie

Makenzie’s story was passed on to us from the SV Atlanta team. Your prayer and financial support is helping to reach teens like Makenzie all across the country and around the world! Thank you!

Family Stuff

• We are still praying for wisdom and timing for a 2 ½ day EEG (brain wave scan) for Ethan to check for absence seizure activity. The test requires him to stay at the hospital for the duration.
• We are still in the appeal process with our health insurance for coverage of local OT for Ethan. (therapy to develop fine motor skills). We’re only covered for a therapist who is “in-network” but too far away to be practical. He has been out of OT for five weeks.
• We are thankful to see slow but steady progress with Ethan’s vision therapy.
• Greg and Hannah are preparing for a short-term mission to Barahona, Dominican Republic in June with our local church. This is an exciting opportunity for Greg and Hannah to love and serve orphaned and destitute children together. Please pray that Hannah will grow in her heart for the lost, that God will provide the funds to cover the trip, and that the fruit of the Spirit would radiate from them as they prepare and go.

Ever since Caleb, a high-school sophomore in Jacksonville, Florida, went to FastBreak, he has been reading his Bible every night. He deeply wants to be a man that God can use on his campus and in his family.

Recently, when Caleb’s 25-year-old sister, Alexis, was visiting from Georgia, she stepped in his room at 11:30 on a Saturday night and found Caleb reading his Bible. She had questions about what he was reading, which led to a great conversation. Caleb found himself saying to Alexis, “the words in the Bible aren’t going to make much sense if you don’t first become a Christian.” He had a Knowing God Personally booklet by his bed and said, “Let me show you something.” As he read the booklet to her, page by page, God opened her eyes and her heart to what Jesus said in the Bible. Alexis prayed to receive Christ with her little brother that Saturday night and began the most meaningful relationship she will ever experience in her life.

This experience has encouraged Caleb in his walk with God and he shared about it to all his friends at a Student Venture meeting. Caleb’s heart’s desire is to be a man that God can use for His glory, and because of Student Venture he has the faith and the tools to make that happen.

Family Stuff

• So grateful for our daughter, Hannah, who turns 8 on March 18th. What a delight she is. She is growing into a precious little girl with a sweet heart for the Lord. It is wonderful to see her be herself among public school friends and share her heart for the Lord without realizing that many people would be trembling to say what she says.
• Praying for wisdom and timing for a 2.5 day EEG (brain wave scan) for Ethan. We’re trying to catch absence seizure activity. These are tricky to catch. Logistics of this testing seems quite challenging, along with being confined to a bed for 2 days.
• Praising God that our insurance will cover 30 sessions for Ethan’s Vision Therapy. Please pray his eyes will learn to work together. He is seeing double, not only with both eyes, but in his up-close single eye vision. Pray that God would use this therapy to work though many struggles we are dealing with.
• Pray for perseverance, as we need to get Ethan back in OT (therapy to develop fine motor skills). There are always many insurance battles to fight and it can become very overwhelming and defeating. Pray too, that Kristie can be a creative and loving OT in the meantime. We are praying that Ethan would be able to write clearly by this July 2010.

Katrina, second from left, is a freshman at Timber Creek High School here in Orlando and is involved in Student Venture. Last month she attended our annual FastBreak conference and wrote about her experience. Her full story has been edited down for space.

“One of the things that has changed how I act at school and what I do there, is the amazing opportunity I had to go out and share my faith. We went door-to-door collecting cans of nonperishable food items for the Second Hand Food Bank. Then, we would started conversations using a short survey on things related to church and God.

“Every time I have ever done this, the results were mostly “No thank you” or “I’m already a Christian.” So, going into this outreach, my attitude was very indifferent and I knew nothing would happen.

“I went out with three other people. We approached a house and Shaylyn, a senior in high school, answered the door. She donated a bag full of cans and immediately she was very welcoming and we jumped into a conversation.

“Together, we read through the Connecting with God booklet, which explains the gospel. Right from the start she was very interested in what I had to say and she opened up about her story. She was so amazed by the fact that God sent Jesus Christ to die for her, and saved her from all her sins. She was in awe that she was created with value and worth.

“After talking with Shaylyn for about forty-five minutes we got to the fourth point in the book. At the bottom of the page there is a picture of two circles. The first circle shows self is on the throne and Christ is outside the life and the second circle shows Christ is on the throne and self is yielding to Christ. I asked Shaylyn which circle best represents her life. She said, ‘Most definitely the first circle.’ Then I asked, “Well, which circle would you like to have represent your life?” And she replied by saying, ‘Definitely the second!!’

“She was really excited to begin her relationship with God. Right then, she prayed the prayer along with me. As I was praying with her, a smile came across my face. It was like God saying, ‘Katrina, my daughter, I am so much more powerful than you think I am.’ Right then I realized that it’s not through my own strength that I can reach people, but through God’s, and God’s alone
“Since then, I have been taking opportunities during lunch to talk to people who are eating by themselves. Or passing by people in the hallway, even if I don’t know them, and asking them how there day is going. Or telling the administrators how much I appreciate what they do. I don’t do these things as good deeds or to make myself known. But I do it simply to give all the glory to God, and to show people the everlasting love, joy, and peace I have found in my Father, Savior, and Best Friend, Jesus Christ. My purpose, even if I am an everyday, 14-year-old girl, is to be the salt and the light in this lost, dark world!”

Family Stuff

• Pray for God’s provision of our monthly financial support need.
• UPDATE: After two roofers unable to determine the problem, Greg was able to find the source of the leak and reapir it himself.
• On February 4, Ethan told Kristie that he wanted to be Jesus’ friend forever! Kristie and Ethan prayed together and he began New Life in Christ.
• While his vision is 20/20, Ethan is having problems with his eyes teaming together. So we think he sees double at close distances among other things. We’re putting him in a 36 week vision therapy program that we hope will train his eyes correctly.
• We also had Ethan evaluated by a neurologist as we think he may be having momentary seizures. We get the results later in February.

Engaging students through sports teams and other groups on campus is a proven strategy that allows our Staff to get to know the students, speak into their lives, and most importantly, to share the gospel with them. We hope you’re encouraged by this story from Chris McClellend, SV Staff serving in Cincinnati.

Early last week, I got to speak to 16 members of the Talawanda freshman football team. I told them about my athletic career in high school and how I always hoped sports would bring me lasting meaning and satisfaction, but it never lasted. I then explained how some friends in college explained to me how a relationship with God through Jesus Christ was the only thing that would satisfy me. I think the team was shocked that my past success did not satisfy me. They asked lots of questions about my life back then. At the end of my talk I explained how they could begin a relationship with God. Five of them prayed to receive Christ! Praise God!

The team talk was part of a pizza party outreach for the team. Eight weeks ago, the head coach asked me to spend 30 minutes with the team every Tuesday at practice. I gave short talks on topics like motivation, character, and teamwork. I also had trivia questions and team-building exercises to help the teammates bond together. The 22 guys on the team have really warmed up to me and seem to enjoy Tuesdays when I’m there. God has provided this unique opportunity to build relationships with the guys and share Jesus with them at the outreach.

There are two more weeks left in the season, so I will continue to go to practice on Tuesdays. Then I will challenge the guys to meet with me on Wednesdays after school so that they can continue to learn about Christ.

Family Stuff

• Pray for God’s provision of our monthly financial support need.
• We just discovered a roof leak and water damage in our house. We appreciate your prayers as we get the situation soundly resolved!
• Pray for Ethan’s heart, that he would be “good soil” ready to receive the seed of God’s Word.
• It seems like the Thanksgiving-Christmas-New Year season gets more hectic every year. Can you relate? We would like to bring simplicity back into these important celebrations. Please pray for us!

What teenage girl isn’t into fashion?

Imagine over 90 middle school girls crowded into the normally quiet media center on campus. The room is transformed into the venue for the Fall Trends Fasion show, an outreach hosted by Student Venture. The theme of the event is Inner and Outer Beauty. Four sophomore girls from the local high school step up to take center stage and run the show. You’ve heard of Extreme Makeover? Now imagine a “blind” makeover.

Yes, a game where the girl giving the makeover is blindfolded.

The results are… well, fun that only a teenager could appreciate! As the powder settles, the fashion show begins and features a mix of high school and middle schoolers.

Once the show is over, the stage is set for Marissa, who went on an overseas mission project this past summer to Hungary and learned how to share her faith in Christ. She explaines how she once tried to fill the “God-shaped vacuum” in her heart with many things — clothing, relationships, grades, activities — but always ended up feeling empty.

Marissa illustrates her story by filling a large plastic jug with objects that represented those many things. Then she fills the jug completely with two gallons of water.

She explaines that Jesus offers each of us living water. In John 4:14 Jesus said, “Anyone who drinks this [well] water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Marissa continues to share who Jesus is, how we’ve become separated from Him because of sin and how we can be restored into right relationship with Him.

Nine girls indicated they made decisions to follow Jesus. Please pray for these girls and the other 80+ who attended. Pray for them to get plugged into a group where they can continue to grow spiritually, have their questions answered and know how much they are loved by their Savior.

Family Stuff

• Pray for God’s provision of our monthly financial support need.
• Pray for Ethan in his Kindergarten class. He is receiving some great one-to-one time each afternoon with the Varying Exceptionalities teacher. We are continuing to hire additional private therapies outside of the school day. Please pray for his processing abilities and his hand/finger strength.
• Praises for Hannah’s sweet faith and love for the Lord. She asks great questions about what she hears on the playground (like horoscope stuff). She discerned that people who follow the stars are worshiping the creation, rather than the Creator. Please pray that God would protect her precious heart and that she’d continue to develop a Biblical world view.

It’s the first Friday of the school year. The final bell releases 1,600 middle school students into their first weekend of excitement and freedom. There are lots of options to consider for fun after school. However, 80 of them cram into a small portable on the far side of campus for a 90 minute Student Venture meeting.

All eyes and ears are intent on Rachel, a sophomore from the local high school as she shares the story of how God changed her life. Most of the kids are new to Student Venture and Rachel explains what the group is all about. One of the new girls, Aly, is the daughter of Hannah’s first grade teacher from last year (how fun, as I prayed for Aly throughout last year and wondered how God might work in her life).

After the meeting, Jodi, who is new to SV wrote, “[This] was a great first experience. The other day I was listening to my iPod. The song, We Will Stand by Avalon was playing…It talks about how we need to break down walls, we need to stand for God. Listening to this reminded me of the Student Venture meeting and how we are united to share our beliefs and stand. Thank you.”

This gathering is simply God at work. Just 12 weeks ago I learned that our SV teacher sponsor was assigned to another school and our other leader was no longer available. But God moved and raised up a new volunteer ministry team of two men, two women and two high school age assistants!

Please pray for the ability to get these new students plugged into groups where they can begin and develop their relationship with God. Please pray for Kristie as she leads the leaders. Pray for her ability to keep the team on the same page, provide the appropriate materials for growth, and to be able to encourage and build into them.

Family Stuff

• Pray for a successful year for Ethan as he has begun Kindergarten. We are working closely with the school. Please pray that God would proved a good friend for him.
• Wisdom in what to say “yes” and “no” to this year.
• We celebrated our 16th wedding anniversary on August 29. What a fun treat is was to go away for a day and night while Hannah and Ethan stayed with their special friends.
• This year, Kristie and I celebrated 16 years with Campus Crusade for Christ. So this summer we got our picture taken with the President, Steve Douglass, and his wife Judy.

GREETINGS from the Campus Crusade for Christ biennial Staff Conference!
Here’s a couple of ways you can pray:

• As we seek Him, we desire to hear from the Lord through His Word and through His people.
• Kristie and I need to pause from a busy year and have some meaningful, uninterrupted conversation!

As always, we appreciate you!