Happy spring! With the changing of the seasons it has felt like our schedule has changed significantly as well, with March and April becoming much busier than January and February (hence the late March update!).
We hope your Easter weekend was a time of reflection on the love of Christ and His sacrifice for us, that we might have life by belief in Him. This is good news and people must know!
The picture above is from a NAMB Replant Conference Sarah and I were able to attend in Atlanta with our friends Ben and Jess early in March. It was a special time of collaborating with pastors who have a passion to revitalize dying churches. We were able to connect with several pastors, learn new approaches for helping churches, and worship the Father with hundreds of other Believers from across the country.
The youth pastor job at RFBC has started well. The teens are always fun to be around, and we are so thankful for the volunteer workers that help make youth ministry possible. We have been doing a Wednesday night series with the teens in which they are invited to ask questions about the Bible, the Church, and Christianity in general. It's been a profitable time and a fresh reminder of what our teens face and struggle with each day. Soon we will meet with our other leaders to plan out youth events for the summer months.
I have also had more preaching opportunities, two with RFBC and another with a church in Whittier, NC, called The Peaks Church. I have been able to fill in there once before, and it is always a joy to return to churches and see how they are learning and changing. You can watch the sermon here. The sermons at RFBC are part of a continued, year long study on Godly wisdom, with the first message in Proverbs 6 (check it out here!) and the second on Jesus' parable of the minas in Luke 19 (here).
At ETM, we are busy preparing and managing the property for the summer season. Grass is growing, roads need maintaining, and wood needs to be cut. We are also in the process of moving several households here on property to get ready for the new president, Vali Tent, to come on board.
The end of April and beginning of May will see several different guests coming to ETM for study and training in discipleship. We are excited to host and facillitate their learning, and to see how the Holy Spirit is leading us and them.
The busyness of the season has provided a fresh reminder for myself and Sarah of the importance of guarding a quiet time of study and prayer with the Lord. It's amazing how an intentional start to the day with the Father can be so impactful for the rest of your day. Choosing to walk in the Spirit is an intentional action and must be done as we start the day, or we will often find ourselves operating in the flesh by default.
Please pray for us, to manage our time wisely and to be receptive to the Holy Spirit's moving in our lives as we seek to think God's thoughts after Him. Pray for ETM as the ministry prepares for the presidential transition in June, for our new president and his family, and for God to provide more opportunities for ETM to helpl churches in need. We are so thankful for our support and prayer team, and know this ministry could not happen without you partnering with us. Thank you. If there are any ways we can be praying for you specifically, please let us know.
