Looking Back While Looking Ahead
- carlenmr
- Dec 26, 2023
- 3 min read
Dear Friends and Family,
We hope this letter finds you well! It’s amazing that our greatest desire in coming to YWAM Discovery Bay was to staff a DTS (Discipleship Training Program) and now the lecture phase just completed. Each week there was a different teacher who taught on different subjects and all of them have been tremendous.
It started with the fundamentals of the faith, explored the glory of God, intercession, church history and evangelism, the Father Heart of God and the true Heart for Missions. An advantage of being staff leaders in the school is that we get in on the teaching with the students. As a group, we have been doing regular outreaches in the area and it has been good to see different styles of presenting the Gospel. Since it is the Christmas season, we tried “carolizing” - an evangelistic caroling that includes scripture readings and reflections. Even though it was a cold, rainy day, people stopped and listened. While the city of Port Townsend is mostly closed to the gospel, a young man accepted Christ in one of our outreaches.
Aside from April and I doing some teachings, leading worship and intercession, media, cooking, and individual times discipling students, we have led in work duties on the campus, attempting to show the worship side of work while doing our best. One might think that a school with 4 students would be easy, but we have been surprisingly busy through it all.
Now that the lecture phase has completed, the team is focused on travel prep and planning outreach ministries. It has been a lot of fun helping and watching the team prepare skits and other performances. Bones, our school leader has done an amazing job leading - preparing the team for Outreach and we are honored to serve with him.
After prayer and consideration, April and I felt led to stay back from the overseas outreach and do ministry here in the states. It has been difficult to help plan the outreach and not be going but we trust the Lord’s wisdom in this. One particular part of the overseas outreach the team will be hosting and sponsoring a border camp for young people from a country that is closed to the gospel (Due to the nature of the outreach, we can only provide specifics to those of you who request them). Their third destination in the 2-month outreach will be Mongolia.
As we remain state-side, we are seeking opportunities to lead worship and speak in churches, continue serving at our church in Port Angeles as well as other ministries we have been involved with. In addition, we will be maintaining the campus and preparing things for the team’s return. We also have a trip to Colorado planned for January.
It has been a joy to have E’Lon back, listening to all she learned and experienced in Mazatlán. We appreciate her desire to be faithful and serve here on campus and ministries we are involved with while she waits on the Lord for her next step. To see her newsletter, click here: free-3881703.webador.com/
Light, Joy and Hope for what is to come
In thinking about the light of the world, I was made aware of Isaiah 60:1-6.
Seemingly referring in part to the magi / wisemen who came to see young Jesus, the glory of the Lord shone out of deep darkness for the world to see. Like many prophecies, it refers to two different events. Out of deep darkness, God’s glory will again shine and kings will again bow to our Savior.
Hebrews 12:2b (NLT) says, “Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” I thought of the “Joy” that Jesus saw in the distance. That “Joy” is spending eternity with each of us who trust in Him.
Ephesians 1:18 (NLT) says “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people
who are His rich and glorious inheritance.” Do you see that? We are His inheritance! We are more precious to Him than anything! We are His riches! Don’t ever think you are unimportant, worthless or have nothing to offer. You and I are all He wants. So what can we give Him? Our gratitude, love and more riches – More people trusting Him as savior!
How wonderful to know and love the Prince of Peace!
It means so much to us to hear about your lives, allowing us to pray for your concerns. We couldn’t do what we do without your prayers and support, so we’re grateful for you!
Mark and April
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