Sunday Feedback June 28

Leadership.
Teamwork.
Prayer.
Position.
Priorities.

Those were some of the buzz words from today's message from Moses' journey.

What did you see, hear or experience today that God used to teach and grow you or make your worship great?

Is blogging a waste of time?

You probably don't think so because you're reading this! But some don't see the opportunity the internet provides to fulfill your mission and share Christ with others.

One of Nathan's blog readers entered this comment.

Hey Nate....I've been following for a long while and I also have CF and a 14 month old little girl. I just starting a blog of my own to document my journey as a reborn Christian. I just wanted to say thank you for having the Lord so deeply rooted into your life. If I hadn't been following for so long, I may never have realized how much I needed God. You and your family have been such an amazing inspiration. Thank you for helping to save my life.

One of the values of NHC is being contemporary without compromising our mission and message. Blogs, Facebook, Twitter and who knows what's next offer us new ways to tell others about a loving God and Savior. So when the opportunity arises, use it for His glory.

The Coming Swell - June 26

Hukilau Surf Camp
The first camp of the season is Saturday. For middle and high school students. Contact Steve@nagsheadchurch.org to see if there's room. The next camp is July 11.

Circus Tent Reunion
See the post below.

The Journey - Start to Finish
"When Leaders and Those They Lead Become a Team" from Exodus 17 and 18. Sunday at 9 and 11.

F1RST Wednesdays
will take July and August off. It will resume in September. We will observe communion Sunday morning, July 5.

NHCU
Discovering Worship - Saturday, July 11 9AM to 1PM
Discovering the Basics and Discovering My Ministry - Sunday, July 12 3PM to 7PM
Discovering My Mission - Sunday, July 19 3PM to 7PM

Single Adults Beach Volleyball
Tuesday nights @ 6:30. Bonnett St. access in Nags Head. Bring your game.

Contagious Youth
Sundays 5-7PM @ Bonnett St. Students 6th through 12th grades.
Parent Pod for Parents same time and location.

Sunday Parking
Please fill up the parking in the rear of the building and along the street first, allowing our guests the front and sides! Also, please observe the "Families with Small Children" zone on the south side.

Get to Church on Time!
It takes a bit longer with all the traffic, so give yourself a few extra minutes. And be safe after church. Try the Soundside Road to Deering Street exit. You'll turn onto 158 at the light.

Kids' Zone Construction Update
Framing will be finished by Saturday! Plumbing has started and electrical and HVAC will begin in the next few days.

Swim near a lifeguard!!
Seriously.

Circus Tent Reunion!

If you came to the OBX back in the 70's and early 80's you probably went to The Circus Tent. This event is free, but proceeds from ice cream, etc. benefits the Interfaith Community Outreach, which is a local mission we support at NHC.

(Click on the graphic to enlarge it.)

Hoffmans' Update

Praying friends

Thank you for your devotion to seeking God on our behalf at this time. Remarkably we are not burned out but keep going strong.

Here are some things to be lifting up as you think about us:

Incoming Students
As of now we have accepted 5 students to next year's Pasadena program. Pray for more students so my budget will be full. Pray for the right students to come in and work hard at learning what God has for them here. Pray for unity and comradery amongst the incoming students and an eagerness to grow

Adam's Role
Pray that someone will SOON be able to come in and take Adam's old admin role away so he can focus solely on directing the program. Pray for wisdom and good conscious as he makes decisions affecting the program. Pray for his endurance and ability to handle all the responsibilities he is juggling.

Melissa's Role
Pray that Melissa will be able to have influence over both incoming students looking to take Insight (national student advertising/promotion) and new host locations (those that are beginning new locations). There is a national student conference (DC/LA) we are going to this weekend.

Dr. Winter's family
This Sunday is Dr. Winter's memorial service. The community is looking forward to a time of celebrating his personality and the work God has done through him. Pray for closure, and healing in the grieving process for his family and especially his wife. They were married after both being widowed so this is her second husband she has lost.

Support Raising
We are in the process of making a last push for support. We need almost $2,000 more monthly in commitments to put us fully funded after our coming raise (whenever we extend our family, we get a raise. Once Baby Hoffman comes, we are allotted more money). Even though we won't have full access to the funds until the child comes, we need to have it raised to prove we can provide to the social worker and birth mother. We really need to finish by mid-August so pray for people to step up and be generous, as always for the purpose of joining in with what God is doing and aligning their priorities with His.

Thanks so much, feel free to send us any updates from your end.

With Love For He First Loved Us,
Adam (& Melissa) Hoffman
INSIGHT a ministry of the U.S. Center for World Mission
www.uscwm.org/insight
http://www.thehoffmans.info
Cell: 919-272-8865
BLOGS:
Missional: http://adamhoffman.wordpress.com
Personal: http://hoffmansinCA.blogspot.com

Hukilau Surf Camp in Florida

Last month Steve Wise (aka the Big Kahuna) took our Hukilau Surf Camp to Florida at the inviation of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Vero Beach's youth pastor, Terry Moore.

Click here to see a slide show of this mission outreach of NHC in Florida.

God wants to use all of us in mission. Steve started Hukilau because Matt Glock asked a question: "What are you passionate about? How can God use that passion to connect with others with a similar passion to share Christ with them?"

Way to go Steve! Thanks for allowing your heart to be open to God's vision for using surfing to reach students to discover life in Christ.

Steve has also conducted Hukilau Camps in other places such as Ecuador.

Welcome Home Dale!

Dale Hamilton arrives home today from Iraq for a short break.
His blog is listed on the right.

Below is a post with a letter from his chaplain about how to pray for our servicemen/women.

How You Can Pray for Our Troops in Iraq

I'm posting a letter I just received from Dale Hamilton's chaplain, David Chapman, in Iraq. Dale will be home tomorrow for a couple of weeks R&R. Please read the letter and take his requests to our Father's throne on behalf of our heroic men, women and their families stateside.

Pastor Rick,

I saw Dale Hamilton just before he left today to begin the long journey home to NC and take a break from a very hot Iraq. He's quite a character and encouragement in these parts amoung the troops to me as well. The next time I see him, it won't be long till we are leaving for home.

Rick, it has been a long time since I last sent you an update on how things are going here. It changes day to day, as people always do because they are amoung the living and the world we live in is dynamic by nature, by the sustaining providence of our Creator. But men also have their eyes on the horizon and want the promise of something better to come quickly and begrudge the fact time will not bend to our will. Not only for our Soldiers here in the exile from our land we love, but more so spouses are under pressure and longing for comfort in the arms of the one they cherish.

In the last two weeks, I have been helping Soldiers who's wives did not fare too well under the strain and did things out of character for them. I have talked with two distressed wives and got the distinct impression they are under much more stress than we are over here. In reality, our lives are much simplier than in the US but the seperation is not something men ignore or can go on as if it doesn't matter. We plenty of good men doing so much to keep the home fires lit but it is the young pups I worry about.

Besides relational strains, the death of loved ones, and others losing touch with is having an affect on the hearts of these men. I have had incredible times of private counsel with many of these men and am grateful they frequently stick their heads in the office when they are heading to the computer lab- for a quick greeting, share something new in their lives, or varifying the details on the latest ridiculous rumor going around. Its like any other war.

I am grateful this one seems to be winding down and we can go home. But what kind of homes are we going home to? Some have expressed fear that they are returning to an empty house that once was filled with laughter and little ones scurrying around. Others are excited about moves to new posts for new jobs and time to stay home a bit long this next time. I rejoice with them as well.

In May, I returned to Colorado to see my family and my girlfriend came to visit. Now she and I are engaged to be married, with the date set for Nov. 27, 2009, in our home town of Decorah, Iowa. It is something special to know God brought the cheerleader who had a home room locker next to mine in junior high school back into my life after 25 years of seperation, in answer to both of our prayers. She's happy but I know all the credit goes to our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Ask Dale about this and watch the goose bumps show up!

Rick, I will leave it at that for now. I will aim to get another message to you as we draw near the time to return to the US. We greatly appreciate your congregation's prayer support during this long deployment. It isn't over yet but we know we are much off because of the faithful who are praying for us.

Take care, Rick.
CH David Chapman.

May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance. II Thessalonians 3:5 (NIV)

Sunday Feedback Father's Day

David wasn't perfect, yet when he fell he learned to get back up and pursue God. He made sure to pass it on to the next generation.

What was it about Sunday at NHC today that God used to teach and change you? Was it a song? Seeing someone serving others in ministry? Being able to serve in your ministry? A thought in the message? Share with the rest of us how Father's Day touched your life.

Happy Father's Day!

Thanks to God for men who are leaving a legacy of faithfulness and commitment to God, marriage and family.

Update from Matt and Sylvie Glock in France

Some quick bullet points...

Happy Birthday Sylvie! We had a great day of celebration yesterday. To make Sylvie's birthday even more special, we celebrated with Jillian, my niece, who was spending a few days with us.

We're busy finishing the school year, lots of activities for Anastasia, Pascal and Juliet. I've finished teaching at the University and there are just two more Sundays.

This Sunday (June 21st) will be a special on at the CEP. We will be celebrating two baptisms! Then next Sunday the CEP will be sending Anne Girod-Roux off on a two-year mission trip.

Anastasia has her two day comprehensive exams for the end of middle school on June 30th and July 1st.

On July 2nd we fly to the States to spend the summer months at my parent's place!

With love in Christ,
Matt

(The Glocks will be with us at NHC most of July and August. They'd love to meet with your family or Connection Group to tell you about their work in France.)

Kids' Zone Check-In

To improve our security and attendance tracking we are launching our new check-in system tomorrow.  All NHC guests will still go to the big blue kiosk to check in their children, infant through 5th grade.  All of NHC's regular attenders and members will go to the self check in kiosk located on the west wall at the south end of the big lobby.  A very simple procedure:

1.  On the touch screen you will type the last 4 digits of your phone number

2.  Select the child or children you are checking in

3.  Select "Check In"

4.  Take the name tag and place it on the front of your child (back if nursery)

5.  Keep your parent security tag to use after the gathering to pick up your child

6.  Nursery parents will use the same system but there will be an extra sticker printed out for diaper bags, etc.

A Kids' Zone staff member will be at the kiosk the next couple of weeks to help walk you through this transition.  All children, regular attenders and guests, will now have name tags which helps the Kids' Zone team.   Kids' Zone staff will point parents back to the kiosk tomorrow AM to check their children in should they forget to stop by.

See you at church!

Ocean Baptism Video

Not only did we get a great response about this video and song on Sunday from our own people, we had several guests as us if they could get a copy to show in their churches back home. Enjoy!

Click Here to Watch
("Carried Away" by Sonic Flood)

Impact Outerbanks

You can be involved in this great mission week.  We need team leaders and project coordinators to serve with students during this week of local missions.  July 27-31.  More details are also on the youth web site www.obxstudents.com

Contact Andy for more details on how you can be involved in this mission week, andy@nagsheadchurch.org

The Coming Swell - June 17

Lifeguard Dinner!
Every third Thursday night of the month this summer we host and feed our Nags Head Ocean Rescue lifeguards. Most of these young people come from out of town (as far away as Nova Scotia!) and miss home cooking. It's a covered dish affair and you're encouraged not only to bring a dish, but to stay and interact with the guards.

Our next dinner is this Thursday, June 18. If you want to participate and didn't sign up Sunday, please call Diana Wise at 441-1696. This is our 4th year of this outreach. The meal begins at 7PM in the Lobby. You can also hang out in the auditorium and sit in on a MP 13 Band rehearsal.

Framing Continues!
Last Saturday our volunteer crews finished about 75% of the framing. This Saturday we need to complete the job. If you have framing skills, come join us at 9AM. A half day should finish the task, then the subs can come in and get started with wiring, plumbing and HVAC.

Father's Day
Don't forget to honor Dad this Sunday! And Sunday's message "The Legacy of Your Footprints" from the life of David will is especially to and for fathers. If the dad in your family doesn't normally come to church, this is a great time to bring him. Then take him out to eat! (He doesn't need or want another tie.)

Hukilau Surf Camps 2009 is our 10th anniversary, making this our 11th year of teaching OBX youth the art of surfing while sharing the Gospel at the same time. Registration is online. This camp is for middle and high school students only. An adult camp is scheduled for later this summer!

Outer Banks Bear Factory Gives to NHC
Larry and Helen Czernik own the Outer Banks Bear Factory next to Kitty Hawk Kites. They want to use their business to give to the Lord. It's a "build your own" teddy bear store!

Here's how it works. On 19 July 2009, the Outer Banks Bear Factory will donate 40% of that days gross sales to the church. The hours of the store are from 1pm to 7pm. If you have any questions or need to contact me please feel free to do so.
Helen and Larry Czernik
480-0450

NHCU
Our next NHCU classes will be taught July 11 (Discovering My Ministry and Discovering Worship) and 12 (Discovering the Basics. Discovering My Mission will be taught on Sunday, July 19). If you're "on first base" - you're already a NHC partner - you can continue and finish the remaining four classes. Sign ups will begin June 28. If you're not on "first base" yet, you need to take Discovering Nags Head Church, which will be taught again in August.

Sunday Parking and exiting!
Here are a few reminders to be great hosts on Sundays:
Please observe the "Visitor Parking" and "Families with Small Children" zones. We've reserved the front spaces for our guests. If you're on a Sunday ministry team please park along the street if possible. And if you head north from church, it is simpler and safer to go west on Soundside Road, turn left on Deering St. and enter 158 at the light.

Attic Sale
On the balcony at the top of the stairs you'll find an assortment of items we no longer use or need here at church that need to find a new home. Everything from office supplies to vhs tapes and lamps and telephones. Please take what you can use and kindly make a donation for what you take. All items left by July will either be disposed of or donated elsewhere.

A monthly calendar is also included on our church website along with the monthly newsletter NagsHeadLines.

Devotions for Fathers

This week The Purpose Driven Life devotionals are written for fathers.

Check 'em out, Dad.

Framing up the Kid Zone

Sunday Feedback June 14

Carnality Vs. Holiness.
Leadership lessons.
Strike the Rock. God came down and took the place of a servant.
Awesome baptism video and song!
Progress upstairs in the new Kid Zone!

Chances are God used something - a song; a thought; an opportunity to serve; someone you met for the first time - to make Sunday the great day it is at NHC. Share it with us!

Outrigger Kayak Camp

 NHC partner Pam Landrum has a passion for using her skills and equipment for ministry and mission.  Next Saturday we will host another Outrigger Kayak Camp.  Space is very limited (due to the number of kayaks).  We will meet at 8:30 and give instruction on kayaking then load up and paddle a few hours.  We stop in the middle of the morning and hook all our kayaks together and Andy  shares a devotion out there floating on the water.   Outrigger is an outreach of NHC's youth ministry for students in grades 6 thru 12.  Kayak Camp is from 8:30 to 12:30.

Register Here

The Coming Swell - June 12

Framing Begins
Saturday we will have our first work day in our construction of our new Kid Zone upstairs. It will start at 9AM and end sometime in the afternoon. Lunch is being provided by our "Lunch" team. The focus of this work day is to get the framing started. Yesterday the framing lumber and sheetrock were delivered. If you have framing skills, bring your tools and be a part of something big! If you signed up for "clean up", you can come at lunch and start working then.

Lots of teams are forming to help get the job done. To know more, email Rick.

The Journey - Start to Finish: The Battle that Never Ends
Moses' story continues Sunday from Exodus 17. Once again they're out of water and once again the complaints begin, even to the point that Moses fears for his life. What makes God's people act like they don't know Him. We'll talk about that Sunday at 9 and 11.

We'll also see a slideshow from last Sunday's baptism and welcome nine new partners to NHC!

Lifeguard Dinner!
Every third Thursday night of the month this summer we host and feed our Nags Head Ocean Rescue lifeguards. Most of these young people come from out of town (as far away as Nova Scotia!) and miss home cooking. It's a covered dish affair and you're encouraged not only to bring a dish, but to stay and interact with the guards.

Sign up for bringing food Sunday at the Welcome Center or email Barbara. This is our 4th year of this outreach. The meal begins at 7PM in the Lobby. You can also hang out in the auditorium and sit in on a MP 13 Band rehearsal.

Hukilau Surf Camp!
Our first surf camp, aimed at reaching middle and high school students in our community by teaching them to surf, will happen on Saturday, June 27. Go to the Hukilau web site for more info, dates for future camps and registration info.

This is an outreach that began in the summer of 1999 and continues on strong. Thanks to Kahuna Steve and his great team of volunteers who make it happen.

Kid Zone!
Tina Hodgson, our Kids Ministries Coach reminds us that on the first of every month there is a newsletter posted on our Jr. Waveriders website. The newsletters are packed with wonderful ideas of how you can continue the discipleship of your child. June’s edition is attached to this email for you.

Also, do not forget to get in touch with Andy or Tina if you are interested in planning some extra kids activities beyond their Lil’K or Kidmo Sunday gatherings. We would love to see the kids hang out more to start building deep Christian friendships that will give them the fellowship and support we all desire and need to grow in our faith. Thank you for allowing us to minister with you to your child!

NHCU
Our next NHCU classes will be taught July 11 (Discovering My Ministry and Discovering Worship) and 12 (Discovering the Basics and Discovering My Mission). If you're "on first base" - you're already a NHC partner - you can continue and finish the remaining four classes. Sign ups will begin June 28. If you're not on "first base" yet, you need to take Discovering Nags Head Church, which will be taught again in August.

A monthly calendar is also included on our church website along with the monthly newsletter NagsHeadLines.

Spreading the Word on the sand

Something many of us not know is that three of our men from NHC are being used to preach in other churches and outreaches here in Dare County and elsewhere.

Two of them are young guys cutting their preaching teeth - Buddy Overman and Buddy Newell. The third guy isn't named Buddy but has many years of preaching experience. It's great to see Sam Knight using his well-honed giftedness once again.

I hope that you'll pray for these men as opportunities open for them and when you see them at church give them an encouraging word. As a pastor I'm excited to see God's call in their lives at work. And I hear from other pastors that they're doing an outstanding job!

Baptism - raised to walk in newness of life!

Down by the ocean in a North Carolina* town
Sunlight on the water as the people start to gather 'round
The breeze is easy and the ocean water spray
Cools and refreshes in the warm Carolina* day

The sound of the surf and the children as they play
Add a pleasant touch to the already perfect day
The atmosphere is heavy with the feelin' of expectancy
Smiling faces showin' joyful hearts
As the people gather 'round for the sight that they came to see

The full immersion ocean water baptism by the sea
Welcomin' the people who are new to the family
People singin' praises as they watch from the sandy shore*
Singin' in the spirit makin' joyful noises
Shoutin' hallelujahs at the top of their voices
They're gonna keep on until the sun come's round again

They walk into the ocean 'til the water's up to their knees
Buryin' their past at the bottom of the sea
Resurrectin' life flowin' through em when they breathe again
Their old lives buried and their new life flows
Their hearts are full and their faces show the change

The full immersion ocean water baptism by the sea
Welcomin' the people who are new to the family
People singin' praises as they watch from the sandy shore
Singin' in the spirit makin' joyful noises
Shoutin' hallelujahs at the top of their voices
They're gonna keep on until the sun come's round again (

(c)1975 Dunamis Music
Words and Music by Chuck Girard

*Orignal words are "Southern California", "California" and "harbor wall"

Good News from May

Your prayers, faith and obedience have joined hands with God's provision in our church's finances to see a great improvement last month.

Hopefully this is the beginning of our own economic recovery! We still have a long way to go, but this is encouraging. We're seeing that God provides. But we have to do the gathering.

Here are the stats:
In May our General Fund Giving (which supports our ministries and missions) was $50,576.46. That comes to a weekly average of $10,115.30.

Compare that to our budget needs. Monthly our budget requires $40,582 or a weekly average of $9365.07. Thanks for doing your part!

All this comes when the Lord has added nine new partners to our fellowship and yesterday we baptized about a dozen new Christ-followers. It's so great to see all the ways God continues to work in and through us. And Andy reports that "Kids' Zone crew ministered to over 100 babies, children and their parents yesterday."

Give Him praise!

Kurt Beach's story

Twice in the past few months Lt. Kurt Beach of the Smithfield, VA Police Dept. has worshipped with us at NHC. I first heard about Kurt watching the news and reading follow up stories in the paper.

The first time he was with us was on Palm Sunday. Then he was back, literally a new man yesterday. And I watched with amazement as he sang with unrestrained joy, "I'm alive because You're alive in me. It's all because of Jesus I'm alive."

Read this story from today's Virginian-Pilot and do the happy dance with Kurt.

Sunday Feedback June 7

Was it just me, or did anyone else sense God's Spirit in charge this morning?

How long does it take to get your fear factor to overcome your faith? What does it take? And if God sends manna your way, will you obey His directives or try to cut corners.

Whether it was in a way you served; someone you saw serving; a song; the most awesome baptism or in the message, what did God use Sunday to move you along in your journey?

(If you have baptism pictures, please send them to us!)

Congratulations Rich and Lauren Coleman!

What appeared to be a gray cloudy day for a beach wedding turned out picture perfect for Rich and Lauren.

I thought it was pretty amazing that God opened up the sky so that Sabrina, Rich's mom, could watch.

And what an amazing church. Thanks to all of you who volunteered to help out with the affair. Your attitude of serving shines!

F1RST Wednesday Feedback June 09

The last F1RST Wednesday until September (and yes, we have every intention of bringing it back!). We heard about the "under construction" Kid's Zone upstairs and were challenged to get on board with helping to expand our ability to reach children and families to discover life in Christ!

Whether is was a song, communion, fellowship, the message, the prayer walk or something else, tell us about your worship experience this month!

Ministry Opportunity for You!

Serving each Sunday at NHC?  

We have room for you on the kiosk team, we now affectionately call it "Big Blue".  Each week we have guests lined up at Big Blue to check their babies and children into the Kids Zone.  We have ministry opportunity for you to serve.  

Time requirement: 25 minutes on Sunday morning before the worship gathering begins.

Must be a partner of NHC.

Need to know how to smile and be friendly. 

The ministry is rather simple and can be done by anyone who fits the description above.  Simply hand the little clipboards to guests in line and help them fill the form out so they can check their kids in when they make it to the front of the line.  Then walk guests to the rooms where they will be dropping their kids off.  

If you would like to serve each week we have a spot for you.  If you serve somewhere else but not during the time before the gathering begins this could be another ministry opportunity for you.  If you are free some Sundays before the gatherings you can be quickly trained and roll up your sleeves and serve.

For more details about this awesome opportunity to reach our guests give Andy a shout, andy@nagsheadchurch.org or call him at 441-7548.

F1RST Wednesday! Tonight!!

This will be our last F1RST Wednesday of the summer. We'll pick it back up in September.

So if you haven't been or haven't been regularly attending FW, this is the time to find out why it is such a great worship gathering.

(In July and August we'll be celebrating communion on a Sunday morning each month.)

Deharts Update

Dear Nags Head Family,

Summer ministry days are coming more quickly than we are ready for them. We could not even begin to engage these ministry adventures without faithful ones like y'all covering us in this battle. It is becoming increasingly evident that we are indeed in a spiritual war in the vision we follow. The events we are engaging this summer are clearly tearing at the works of darkness lurking in the Harvest Fields among Native Americans.

Recently at a Native Leadership conference in Chicago, we discussed ideas around a double-blindedness over our land attempting to hold back the church among Native Americans. Historical spiritual injury has blinded Native eyes to the true Gospel of Jesus Christ with generations of pain from religions and government oppression in "trying to take the Indian out of the Indian"...thus blinding Native America to the freeing truth of Jesus.

And on the other side, dominant Christian society has almost no awareness of Native presence... or seeing them as a investment worthy mission field, or part of a viable mission force Jesus declared them to be in His Gospels..."all nations" (ethnicities) as part of His missionary force. Yet, we send great missionaries and resources all around the world...and rightly so... as part of the Acts 1:8 command...but we so often don't see our "Samaria" in the indigenous people God perhaps put here for redemptive purposes long before white Europeans ever came to these shores.

NAIM's First Nations Partnership vision is to dispel this darkness by bringing Native colleagues into service alongside us as ministry partners here and abroad. The evil one will not sit quietly by and watch his lies dissolve without a fight. We need your intentional warfare praying to cover us and to break down theses doors of resistance. We have several Native colleagues desiring to go into ministry currently asking God for funding not yet forthcoming. Will y'all pray mightily that these barriers will be destroyed...and right soon?

One such emerging Native missionary just phoned me today with the good news that a church in her home area has agreed to cover her with financial support this summer as she works alongside one of our Native staff in a camping ministry. Will y'all praise our Lord of the Harvest with us and ask Him to open wide His treasure chest of resources to help launch this generation of Native ministry colleagues?

Red Soul Rising Youth Camp is in it's 11th partnership year in Mt. Currie with two churches coming together alongside Native believers to host this annual 15 day assault on the darkness among our Native youth. Many Native adults will increasingly join in as we engage this exciting growing ministry this summer. Please pray for financial provision as we move 40 miles into the bush without any amenities in a remote community by invitation...that alone is a break through. Never have we had such an invitation by elders to bring such an event into traditional territory. And pray of protection, spiritual and physical, for clear understanding as we tell the chronological Bible story nightly around the big camp fire and kids discuss these stories in their tents daily with their leaders.

This weekend we are marrying a young woman from Mt Currie with a young non-Native man from one of our Red Soul Rising partnership churches. Both have been involved in the Red Soul Rising ministry...this is taking the concept of "partnership" to a whole new level. God be praised.

We remain grateful to our Great Commissioner for His kindness in giving y'all to us in this partnership ministry adventure we pursue together.

Alongside,
Don and Mary

From Taylor Edmonds in Rome!

Hello from Rome, Prayer Partners!!

I hope that this email finds you all well and rejoicing in our Lord! Let me just start by apologizing for falling behind on updates. I've definitely let too much time slip by...I can't believe it's already been 7 months that I've lived in Rome!

These have been some busy months, and a lot of great things are happening here. The cool, wet days of winter and spring have passed and Rome has welcomed weeks and weeks of sunshine (and 90+ degree weather!). Our school semester is drawing to a close, so working with students to improve their English has transitioned into "crunch time" before exams. Everyone seems like they want as much practice as possible before their oral exams, which are basically all that makes up their grade.

Some news: Two new team members joined us to reach out to university students in Italy! Josh and Amber are both also journeymen who will be here for 2-3 years working with Intercambio to do language exchanges and build relationships with young Italians. Josh will also be helping in the videography department at Roma 3 (our university in Rome) to make connections with media-minded students, while Amber (who lives in Milan) will use her photography skills to connect with the artistic community in her city.

Team Rome also recently had a group of pastors from about 10 different churches visit the city for about a week to see firsthand what ministry in Rome looks like and to see how they can get involved. It was such a blessing to meet leaders from churches back home who share a passion for Western Europe and Rome! We were able to brainstorm ideas on how to reach Italians and where volunteer teams can join in.

PRAISES/PRAYER REQUESTS:

Please pray for Florence, who just accepted Christ after hearing the gospel for the first time from a group of believers who were visiting Rome. She worked as a tour guide for the group (one of whom was a girl from my college in Wake Forest). My partner Heidi and I were able to meet her the day after she gave her life to Christ, and now we're hoping to help her with discipleship and growing in the faith.

Pray for Josh and Amber, who are currently in language school that they stay positive and encouraged through these challenging days of learning Italian.

Pray also for Josh, who is having some visa trouble and may need to return home in August to wait for them to be resolved.

Pray for our friends Francesco and Emanuele. Heidi and I have been able to have some really exciting spiritual conversations with them and we can see how the Lord is working in their lives to draw them nearer to Him.
Francesco is very open and curious about our faith, and he has expressed a desire to learn more about our beliefs. Pray for opportunities to share and that God will continue to open Francesco's eyes and heart to the joy of life in Him!
Emanuele is a professing atheist who says that his greatest fear is death because he is terrified of the thought that he'll simply cease existing if there's no God. He can see that there is something different about the hope Heidi and I share in Christ, but he is still at the very beginning of his journey to faith. Pray that he will diligently seek out the truth and hope that can only be found in Christ!

Thanks again so much for all your thoughts and prayers! I'd also love to hear from you guys how things are going in your lives and how I can pray for you too. Also, if you have any other questions or would like to hear more don't hesitate to drop a line!

Taylor

(Taylor is serving a two year missions term in Rome. She is the daughter of NHC partner Carol Edmonds.)

June Update from the Glocks!

Dear friends,
I'm having a hard time getting my brain around all that needs to be shared. Since I'm writing this introduction at the end I can tell you I decided to focus on one story...

We are living in very exciting times here in France. It is a privilege for Sylvie and I to let you know what God is doing among us and how your partnership through prayer and giving is making a difference.

On March 26th I ended my formal relationship with the CEP. I used the phase, "I am no longer your missionary.", to summarize what was happening. The transition has gone very well. Jean-yves is doing an excellent job as pastor of the CEP. Please continue to pray for the church as Jean-yves leads them.

One of the questions Sylvie and were was asking ourselves before the meeting on the 26th was, "Do the folks as the CEP understand what's going on?" Through God's grace and mercy the CEP had been able to call a French pastor. We came to the CEP 8 years ago to help them get to this point. And over the last three years we had seen God work in ways that we could have never imagined to make this a reality.

What I was really asking is will they thank us for what we've done? And that question is tricky for a missionary. Should we expect them to say thank you? The 26th passed and little was said. And so I told myself that we should leave it with God...

On April 5th the CEP and the ICG held a bilingual service. On the 5th we had held a seminar on mercy ministries and the speakers we're going to preach at the bilingual service. I remember waking up on the 5th knowing that it was going to be a special Sunday because of the character of the men who were going to speak. God had spoken through them in the seminar and I sensed that He had something for us (the two churches) that morning. The service was organized in such a way that my only job was to play the electric bass. Being a part of the worship band at both churches is one of the great joys for Sylvie and I and with the building filled to overflowing the singing was powerful.

After about 20 minutes of worship and praise it was time for announcements. Henri, an elder at the CEP, come to the front to say something. I'm sitting behind him thinking this is unusual, I don't remember us planning for him to give the announcements. Then I start listening to what he is saying. 8 years ago Matt and Sylvie arrived at the CEP... I see Marie-Claude from the CEP walking to the front with a bouquet and a gift bag... They're thanking us... Tears are streaming down my face and the burden was lifted. Closure is the right word to describe what happened. Everyone agreed that the job was done.

And that was not the only moment of grace during the service. God was present in a mighty way. The message we received was a clear and compelling challenge to proclaim the Gospel in word and deed to the poor and needy, "to the least of these." The blessings continued after the service. The first Sunday of the month the CEP holds a pot-luck meal. The ICG was also invited and over 70 people stayed. That was so cool! God is doing wonderful things in the life of both churches drawing us closer to Him and to each other.

Sylvie and I thank you for helping us finish the job with the CEP. You have carried us with your prayers through the good times and the hard times.

With love in Christ,
Matt and Sylvie
--
Matthew and Sylvie Glock
2 rue Champ Rochas
38240 Meylan
FRANCE
tel 04 76 04 84 06
Matt's blog: http://www.endirect.blogs.com/endirect
International Teams: http://www.iteams.org

(The Glocks will be with us at NHC in July and August!)