May 12th, 2010

Well, this is my last week with the guys here at Long Beach. It has been an amazing experience meeting with the Bereans, and I am really proud of all of them. This week I have been sharing with them some closing thoughts and encouragements. It has been bittersweet.

Would you be praying for their summers? All of them are doing different things, and my prayer for them is that they would continue to grow and prosper this summer. Summers can be difficult times, but they can also be opportunities. Here is what each of them is doing this summer:

1. Andrew-- Staying in Long Beach, helping to lead the Navigator summer Bible study, a short STP in June.

2. Jordan-- STP to start the summer, then summer school in Sacramento

3. Cavin-- Russia with me! And at home outside of Sacramento

4. Ben-- Boy Scout camp for most of the summer, he'll be an archery instructor (awesome!)

5. Jaime-- STP to start, then work in San Diego

6. Rudy-- STP in San Antonio/Mexico

Would you pray the following?

1. That they would remain close to Jesus this summer

2. That God would protect them from spiritual attack

3. That they would return in the fall excited and eager to grow!

I thought you might enjoy a truly awesome photo of us (minus Jordan)

May 5th, 2010

Just wanted to update you on how Men of the Beach went. 

I could tell that people were praying over it because of the sweet spirit of fellowship and earnestness that the guys showed throughout the month. Every Monday morning at 6 AM 25 tired but eager guys showed up, paid attention, and surprisingly, did not fall asleep. It was a joy to hear them not only listening, but later talking over what they had heard and applying it to their life.

I think a lot of the growth happened during the small groups. I gave them discussion questions to talk over, but they quickly moved beyond my suggestions to discuss every aspect of the talk. I heard about one group whose discussion time lasted 3.5 hours!

Another great thing was seeing God bring to the surface some deep sins that had never been shared. In week two, we talked a lot about hiddenness and the power of sin when it is not brought into the light. That week, lots of things came to light as the guys deeply shared with one another. Awesome!

Finally, our all-night closing ceremony was a great way to end things. We ended the night of introspection and fellowship by sharing communion.

Of course, the goal was to lay a foundation of Biblical Manhood in these men's life, not to once for all solve all their manhood related problems. I am continuing to pray that God would use the things that we discussed to build these men up into strong and might Men of God!

Praise God!

April 28th, 2010

Thank you again for your prayers.

Let me start to give you some insights into where God is leading with USC. I want my praying friends to know what God is telling me about this new season. I have some ideas of what God wants me to aim at.

I want my time at USC to be used to produce lasting fruit. That phrase ('lasting fruit') really resonates with me because I want the students I work with to be still walking with God 50 years from now. I want to influence students not just for the four years they are at the university, but for their whole life. I want them to be like the seed that produced a crop 30, 60, and 100 times what was sown.

Pray for USC:

Pray that through my work, God would raise up lifetime laborers for the kingdom.

Pray that God would produce lasting transformation through the Navigators at USC!

April 21st, 2010

Men of the Beach is really going great! I am so excited with the responses I am getting from the men that are going through it. Praise God that he is using this program to shake things up in the hearts of the guys!

Would you continue to pray for this event?

1. Pray for me this weekend as I plan our final talk.

2. Pray that God would use this to raise up lifelong leaders.

3. Pray that God would create lifelong friendships amongst the guys through this.

I am so thankful for your prayers.

April 14th, 2010

Tomorrow is not just my birthday, it is also my first time traveling to my new campus! 

I will be going to USC tomorrow to pray over the campus, spend some time with God in his Word with the question "What vision do you have for the Navigators at USC?" in mind, and meet up with a student and a staff member with another ministry.

I am really excited to go. Would you pray for a few things connected to this?

1. Pray that God would continue to give me vision for the ministry.

2. Pray for contacts at USC.

3. Pray that I will be able to fill out the necessary paperwork to become an official campus ministry.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

April 7th, 2010

Update on Men of the Beach:

I am leading a month long Biblical manhood program entitled "Men of the Beach."

Monday morning at 6 am, we had 22 guys gather to hear me speak on the Biblical foundation of our identity as men. It was exciting, and I think has potential to cause some ripples in our ministry. The guys were attentive, teachable, and eager to apply what the Bible said to their lives. I am really excited about this!

Would you pray?

1. That God would continue to speak through me and the other leaders as we share from the Word.

2. That these men would have the courage to share deeply with one another

3. For transformation in the lives of these men!

March 24th, 2010

Want to see some pictures from our ministry?

Here is our Russia team. Pretty awesome group of people!

Praise band from the recent "Truth Conference"

So, this coming week is our Spring Break trip, and we will be taking a group of about 25 students to the central coast area of California. We are going to be spending a lot of time in the word, serving the homeless in San Luis Obispo, and camping at a beautiful national park.

Would you pray for this trip?

1. Pray that God will meet us in the word. Last year, God used this trip to get a number of our students excited about the Bible. It was exciting to see.

2. Pray that God would put together all the details of the trip and be with Emily and Josh as they continue to plan.

3. Pray for a good spirit of unity and a family atmosphere.