This summer has been a whirlwind, as most of them are. In May, we took the youth group of Robbinsville First Baptist Church on our annual retreat. This year, we stayed in the mountains, at a camp in eastern Tennessee. For three days, we built relationships through play and over good food while also facillitating worship through a study on the book of Psalms. We pray the study will be profitable for years to come as these teens continue to learn what it looks like to grow their personal relationship with the Lord through prayer, solitude, and intentional relationships.
We have continued the work with the youth through the summer, while also collaborating with our team of volunteer leaders to plan out our studies and events for the next school year. Our major theme is Jesus as the Great Philosopher, and many of our series will be on how to live the way Jesus describes as the best life. Please pray for our leaders as they continue to teach and build relationships with the teens.
I have had the opportunity to preach a few times throughout the summer, with two coming from Robbinsville First Baptist Church, and one opportunity at Immanuel Baptist Church in Kinston, NC. You can see all of these sermons by heading to our "What We Do" page and scrolling down to the "Speaking Opportunities (or just click here).
In addition to these ministry opportunities, the summer brings added responsibilities at Eternal Truth Ministries' property. This summer, we have had the blessing to be able to pay someone to manage the bulk of our weed eating and mowing - freeing up a significant amount of time for me to study, continue education through seminary classes, and serve the local church. The time commitment has also been important as general maintenance has required me to coordinate with an electrician, air conditioning company, and a gravel company throughout the summer months.
Finally, my meetings with the Albanian models cohort continue, and as of the end of July, we have completed through Model N: The Non-negotiables. We are also in talks with an Albanian translator to finalize our Albanian Models for Disciple-Makers. So far, the response has been encouraging, and we are hopeful to have a disciple-making team in Albania soon. I also continue to go through ETM's ordination training material with two men who are committed to discipleship. We are closing in on the homestretch of this extensive study.
As with each update, looking back over the past few months Sarah and I are humbled by our supporters who continue to pray and give to our ministry so that we can continue to serve Christ and His Church in these ways. Thank you. If there are ways we can join you in prayer or help you in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
