Category Archives: prayer

Church VBS

Ok. Life happens and some things don’t seem “worth” blogging about…but then when all the adventures happen there doesn’t seem time to share it online.

Thus has been our summer so far. We just came off a three-week busy-ness marathon. So now with a little bit of time before our next “big thing,” I am attempting to report on some of the latest happenings.

So, three weeks ago…the first Vacation Bible School for the summer at church. A college group from the University of Minnesota came up to run it. After we met them on Sunday, we knew it was going to be a good week. These people love Jesus and were excited to come share the gospel with the children.

And I’ll let the pictures pretty much take it from here…

the stage was transformed into a foresty campground

the stage was transformed into a foresty campground

there were lots of action songs!

there were lots of action songs!

craft-time always tied in with the gospel message

craft-time always tied in with the gospel message

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outdoor games are always fun

we had good weather for outdoor games

the last day they set up a mini carnival and invited families for Korean barbeque

the last day they set up a mini carnival and invited families for Korean barbeque

prayers

prayers

the amazing Korean barbeque

the amazing Korean barbeque

We praise the Lord for the many children and even some adults that heard the gospel during the week. Several children made professions of faith…pray that God will grow them and protect them from the enemy. There is still so much that needs to be done. So many people to reach. So many lives to touch. So much prayer that needs to happen. Will you pray?

It was such an incredible blessing to be able to help this group. Their love and humility was encouraging and challenging. We’re glad to have made some new friends!

prayer at the end of the week

prayer at the end of the week

Sara and friends...deflating beach balls...

Sara and friends…deflating beach balls…

Jonathan, Franky, Daniel, Linus

Jonathan, Franky, Daniel, Linus

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 1:5-6

In the Prisons

P1263431 (3)Chain link fences. Razor wire. Officers.

Prison.

We were incredibly blessed to be here.

Last week we were involved with prison ministry for the first time as a family. The organization we served with is called We Care, and each year they organize a huge prison outreach in Alabama.  With over 400 volunteers this year, 27 prisons were reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ during this four-day crusade called ReNew Hope.  We heard about this outreach from our friends, the Wissmanns.

We arrived Saturday, registered, and enjoyed a great evening of fellowship with long-time-no-see friends, and also some new ones. Sunday morning found us bright and early at the worship service to start off the week. During the day we went through training, fellowshipped over lunch, watched our brothers play football, regrouped for another worship service, and later that night played volleyball.

Durocher family sang in the morning

Durocher family sang in the morning

Michael Randle gave the message

Michael Randle gave the message

enjoying the "spring" weather

enjoying the “spring” weather

football

football on green grass in January… must be in Alabama

we enjoyed meeting Lynda Randle

we enjoyed meeting Lynda Randle

Monday…it was finally time to enter the prison! The officers were very friendly, which definitely helped to put us at ease. Monday night we were in a women’s facility, a different one on Tuesday, and a mens facility on Thursday. Wednesday we were scheduled to go into a mens facility, but the service was canceled because the prison was on lock down. Each day volunteers would go into the prisons to witness, visit, and invite the inmates to come out to the service that night. The same volunteers would go into the same prison every day, but the music groups and speakers went to different prisons each night. Each speaker we had was a blessing to us.  Being able to share Jesus in the prisons was another blessing.

A lot of prayer went into this week of ministry, and it was evident that God was working. Quick story: Photo ID is absolutely required in order to get into the prison. Well, Sunday evening we noticed that we couldn’t find my ID. We weren’t too concerned, since it shouldn’t be hard to find, right? Monday morning it became more concerning…and Abigail’s passport was nowhere to be found as well. We began to pray and asked others to pray. After the morning worship service, we went back to the hotel and tore our room apart, rather confused and concerned and hoping and praying they hadn’t been stolen. We had looked just about everywhere we could think of when Mom unzipped a pocket on a duffel bag and there they were! Thank you God! Thank you to all who prayed about this!P1100888 (2)

Being in the prisons was different. Different than normal life, definitely, but also different than how we probably imagined. The people in there have life.  They are real people.  Some are trusting Jesus.  Some have joy, some have smiles, and they were so grateful that we came.    They clapped to the music, smiled, cheered for Jonathan’s “I’ve Never Been This Homesick Before.” They “Amen!”ed the preachers, raised their hands to praise God, let tears flow from their eyes. During our team’s worship service on Tuesday morning we were challenged by the speaker, Troy Walker, who was saved in prison. He implored us on behalf of the prisoners, “I am worth it! I have a soul too!”  Everyone needs the Savior… no matter who we are or what we’ve done.

thanks to WeCare and photographer Miss Abbie for these in-prison photos

what a privilege to do this!

they were trying to entertain us during practice

they were trying to entertain us during practice

We had such an amazing time with them. God was obviously working in people’s hearts as many came forward in response to God. And singing Amazing Grace with them…they sang it how I imagine the persecuted church would. At the top of their voices, from the bottom of their hearts. One song we did ends with the line “Lord I need You all the time.” The second women’s prison we were in they were following along with us on the song, and by the second chorus or so Dad pointed at them to sing that line. They almost just exploded into it! “LORD I NEED YOU ALL THE TIME!”  We were also touched by things people said…one song we do asks, “Where will you be one hundred years from now?” Someone came up to us after and said, “I will see you one hundred years from now.” A lady stood up to give a testimony before one of the services, and she said, “I didn’t make parole, but God’s got me.” Pray for the saved in the prisons, for strength and joy. And pray for the ones whom God still has yet to get.

Thank you for standing with us in prayer. We saw God so some amazing things… and not just in the prison system, but also in our hearts.  There is more to the trip but that will have to wait. We arrived home Saturday and are preparing to leave today for Canada for a week of ministry there. Maybe we’ll keep you posted, if time and internet permits…?

so many people came to be a part of this

so many people came to be a part of this

may inmates find hope in Jesus

may many inmates find hope in Jesus

Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Psalm 103:1

And We’re Off

Well, I didn’t give you any warning, but we are currently on the road again. Our three-week trip started in Illinois and will conclude in Alabama…and of course, we will be going home to Minnesota.

Last weekend we were at Lombard Gospel Chapel, our sending church, to give an update on our work. Saturday night was Missionary Study Class, so Dad gave an update to the adults while the rest of us shared with the children about one aspect of our ministry, kids club on the reservation.

showing the kids a pictures

showing the kids a pictures

singing

singing

Sunday we were excited to fellowship again at Lombard, seeing so many people that we haven’t seen in almost two years. At Awana it was missionary night so we had fun teaching the kids to sing “Oh How I Love Jesus” in the Cree language. We also did a little skit about a Native man whose life was transformed by Jesus, and the boys sang.

happy to see friends

happy to see friends

our skit..."Joe" being arrested

our skit…”Joe” being arrested

singing "I Would"

singing “I Would”

Our friends (more like family) the Carricks are always so hospitable in opening their home to us. We also enjoyed visiting with other friends.

jamming

jamming with friends after dinner

Wednesday we went to Believer’s Bible Chapel in Rockford to give an update and sing there. It was nice to see friends again and get to know some of them a little more. Saturday we skipped over to Wisconsin to visit some friends and fellowship at a chapel there. We are currently staying with a couple from the Rockford chapel. They were planning to host us just Wednesday night, but Dad’s grandmother ended up in a nearby hospital and this morning passed away, so we are staying in the area longer than planned. We are so grateful for their graciousness and willingness…and wonderful breakfasts they have made!

our wonderful Rockford hosts

our wonderful Rockford hosts

Mom has some family down here so we were able to visit with some of them this week. It was nice to see them all again and also meet some cousins from her side of the family.

Mom and family

Mom and family

And on Dad’s side of the family, we have a brand new cousin we have been able to see! Such a beautiful sweetie!

adorable

adorable

This week is the funeral for Dad’s grandma, so we would appreciate prayer for unsaved who will hear the gospel. Last week we had no idea this was going to happen while we were down here, but God obviously has a reason. Next week we will be in Alabama ministering with We Care prison ministry. Please keep us in your prayers. Specific requests:

  • that we would be prepared spiritually and musically
  • hearts of the inmates and guards to be softened to the gospel
  • Jesus Christ would be glorified and Satan would have no power during this ministry
  • we would pour ourselves out for Jesus
  • that God would do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think (Eph. 4:20)

Thank you so much for your prayers!