The end of another school year here in Bozeman has allowed time to reflect on all the Lord has done. It has been four years in Bozeman as of May 22 since the Lord brought me here as a summer missionary. FOUR YEARS! Over that time God has brought so many different experiences, challenges, and platforms to share His love and grow deeper in my walk with Him, not to mention the opportunity to do life with some of the neatest people on the planet …
As I have been spending time in His Word recently I was impacted by 2 Timothy 3:4 that says,“No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” There are so many distractions in this world that can easily derail us from our pursuit of Christ, but may we always be found faithful in keeping our focus on Him and advancing. In a sermon that included the same passage, the pastor remarked, "Be faithful to Jesus Christ. Hold fast. Be strong in His grace. Endure hardship as a good soldier. Focus on pleasing your Commanding Officer. Be diligent. Pursue righteousness with others who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Stay true to the Word." He followed this exhortation with the following question - "Are you fighting a good fight and running a good race?" ... May we never get complacent in our walk with Christ and instead allow Him to stretch and grow us each step of the way...
As I have been spending time in His Word recently I was impacted by 2 Timothy 3:4 that says,“No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.” There are so many distractions in this world that can easily derail us from our pursuit of Christ, but may we always be found faithful in keeping our focus on Him and advancing. In a sermon that included the same passage, the pastor remarked, "Be faithful to Jesus Christ. Hold fast. Be strong in His grace. Endure hardship as a good soldier. Focus on pleasing your Commanding Officer. Be diligent. Pursue righteousness with others who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. Stay true to the Word." He followed this exhortation with the following question - "Are you fighting a good fight and running a good race?" ... May we never get complacent in our walk with Christ and instead allow Him to stretch and grow us each step of the way...
EPIC
Youth Ministry
The EPIC youth ministry focused on reaching youth for
Christ through outdoor activities started in February 2015. This past year we
have seen SO much spiritual growth through the middle and high school students
as the three of us leaders have also grown closer to Christ and relationships
within the group have bonded tighter and tighter. With the high school group,
it took us the greater part of a year to go through the book of Hebrews, which
can really be summed up in three words: JESUS IS BETTER. He is a better high
priest, better than the angels, better than Moses, and a better sacrifice. He
is worthy of our praise. The sweetest part of the group is the chance for so
many life on life opportunities – through school, traveling, sports, camping
trips, ski trips, a mission trip, dinners, etc. – there are no words to
describe the love that has grown from doing life together.
With the middle school we have gone through the book
of James and are now in 1 John. This group has grown immensely in their ability
to study the Word and truly handle it accurately, a big step from just spouting
off the typical church answers so many of them have been taught growing up. I
cannot wait to see what the future holds for each of the students involved –
may they all grow to walk wholeheartedly after Christ and have their foundation
firmly and forever rooted in Him.
HERITAGE
What a year at HCS! Words could never possibly express
the joy it is to do life with the families and staff involved at the school. So
thankful. Between teaching 10 classes (K-7 PE, 7th grade computers
and journalism and yearbook), while also serving as the Athletic Director and
traveling all over Montana for different games and tournaments, it has been a
whirlwind and one great big bundle of fun! This year saw our soccer team win
the school’s first State Tournament title, our boys basketball team match the
best showing in school history at the State Tournament (3rd), our
girls volleyball team have its highest finish in school history (4th),
our second year golf team go undefeated at the high school level, and our track
athletes take many first place finishes throughout the season. Most importantly
though, it is such a blessing to see what a platform sports can be to be a
light for Christ. I am so thankful to serve with families and students who are
capturing and living out the vision of using whatever gifts they have been given for His glory. Worldly success will fade away, but
what we do for the kingdom eternally is what really matters.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
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| HCS High School Golf Team |
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| Middle School Team |
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| Middle School Tourney |
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| Heritage MCAA Invitational Tournament |
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| :) |
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| Team Champs |
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| Love this team! |
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| Practice ;) |
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| Great Falls tourney |
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| Great Falls tournament champs |
SPORTS
MISSIONS WEEK
One of the greatest blessings of serving as the
Athletic Director the past three years has been the opportunity it has brought
to forge relationships with the other Montana Christian Athletic Association schools. This summer, from July 25-28 we are hosting a summer sports camp at
Heritage in partnership with families from Foothills Christian (Great Falls). The
goal of the camp is to use sports as a platform to share Christ with kids
around Bozeman while also training high school athletes to use the gifts God
has given them in athletics for His glory. The goal is to start here in Bozeman
this summer while training the Foothills families to take it back to Great
Falls next summer.
Please be PRAYING for this week and all those the Lord
would have to be involved both in serving and in attending the camp. This is
truly a God-sized task and I am excited to see what He will do!
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| Great Falls sisters in Christ - can't wait to serve together this summer! |
SEMINARY
I am currently taking my sixth seminary class in the Global
Studies program from Liberty University online. I started this time a year ago
and it has been such a good opportunity to grow deeper in my knowledge of the Word
and love for my Savior. I have been able to study overviews of the Old and New Testament, evangelism, world missions, unreached people groups, what Scripture says about pain and suffering in the Christian life, and so much more. The late nights and early mornings studying around
everything else going on out here has definitely left me more dependent on
Christ moment by moment in pressing into Him and relying on His strength each
day.
In addition to personal study, I have also had the opportunity to study with a few sweet sisters in Christ as well – I am so grateful for the authenticity,
transparency, realness, accountability, prayer and time in the
Word – it has been such a blessing. We need each other in the body of Christ – we aren’t
meant to travel this journey alone. Do you have iron sharpening iron relationships in your life?
UPCOMING
NASHVILLE TRIP
To all my Nashville people – I will be in town for a
visit June 2-14. CANNOT WAIT!!! My heart could just burst from excitement!
PICTURES
Here are a few Bozeman pictures that are truly worth more than words
can express. Just blessed beyond measure by such tangible reminders of God's faithfulness!
"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:3-6
