I am so sorry it has been so long since we have posted on our blog. I am trying to do better and have no excuse. It has been on my to do list for like a week but everytime I have had free time, I choose sleep or quality time with my hubs instead of blogging. I will attempt to do better because I really do believe that you guys praying specific things, greatly affect the ministry that God is doing over here! And I want to relay those specific requests to you.
Anyways, I cannot fully update you on all that has happened since I last blogged but I can assure you that God has been so faithful throughout our time of silence on the blog :) Jay and I had a week of us not feeling good and being drained but God sustained us through it. Small groups have now met 3 times and have been so great! Jay is teaching a study on Biblical Manhood and I on Womanhood. Another leader is teaching on the character of God and we have about 20-25 students show up! God has really blessed it and we pray that it continues to grow in number and in depth!
This past week we had Mike Licona, a well known apologist, come to speak at a bunch of different events. This guy has studied unto a PhD, propelled by a pursuit for Truth, in trying to decide which world view was correct and held substantial evidence. Through his 585 single space, paged dissertation that he had to write for his PhD, Licona came to the conclusion that there IS substantial and overwhelming historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and therefore proved the authenticity of Christianity! He has searched for Truth his whole life, and continues to study and research for more, but has come to the conclusion that Christianity is what is real and True above all other religions or world views. He follows Christ diligently and God has called him to take on debates against top scholars throughout North America. He has debated many top notch scholars that are Muslim, Free-thought, Atheist, etc. Anyways...our supervisor pastor, Gary, got him to come to Maui and on Wednesday he spoke to our youth and then on Thursday, a normal night for Critical Mass on campus, we asked him to speak as well. He shared his "journey" to Truth and to Christianity and then we had an open forum for Q&A for the students that came. God moved in a HUGE way by bringing about 80 college students to this event!!! We average about 35-40 on a normal Thursday night but through prayer, lots of promotion, and most of all God's miraculous power, 80 students showed up! Despite that, the discussion and questions were great and really exalted the Word of God as Truth and Christianity as the only way! Oh man it was so good and Jay and I are just so in awe of what God did that night.
Throughout the week that Licona was here, we got to hang out with him and learned sssssso much from him. He has given us such a desire to study apologetics and to be obedient to 1 Peter 3:15 "...but sanctify Christ as LORD in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense ("apologian" - to make a RATIONAL defense) to everyone who ask you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverance..." Anyways Licona challenged us with some really good stuff and we are really excited to see how God will use all that we learned and are hard pressed to learn through apologetics. Especially within sharing the gospel with those who are skeptics of the Christian faith. If you guys want to check him out more, go to 4truth.net or arisenjesus.org. GOOD STUFF!
Before this past week, we have been busy with a huge spaghetti dinner on the apartment grounds, doing a star gazing trip up on Haleakala, having a One Love Surf event at Lauinipoko, doing "See You At The Pole" with the youth, and having another youth lock-in with Lanai, a neighboring island. And then of course all the normal weekly youth and college events. So we have been busy but so incredibly blessed to get to see all that God is doing here on this island!
Here are some specific prayer requests that you guys can be on your knees for:
* Valley Isle Fellowship - that God would continue to unite the church in pursuit of the pastor He desires to lead and shepherd us. That God would ignite hearts to hear God-exalting Truth and nothing else...that we would not desire a "us"-exalting gospel! And that God would rise up a head pastor that would ensure Biblical, sound teaching and who's utmost concern is God's glory!
* Youth and College leaders - that God would rise up parents and others to be burdened for the youth and college of this island and that they would help with one of these ministries. Pray that God would provide a desire for mentorship to take place within both ministries! Also pray that God would give Jay and I clarity on our role in the youth...and discernment of where our direct focus needs to be!
* Young Adults - that God would give Jay and I guidance and wisdom on how to reach the young adults of this island and that we would be sensitive to how He would have that look. That He would give us His vision and His way and not be distracted by our own desires or preconcieved ideas from the main land and our past.
* Discretion on what a potential partnering relationship looks like between Critical Mass and a church plant that will be launched in April 2010. Bind Satan from our minds, that we would have no room for deception.
* Small groups TONIGHT - that God would continue to create community within these groups and that we would grow deeper into His word. That we would be conformed to the Truth in all ways!
* Thursday night - Jay is teaching...pray for guidance and clarity and strength. That God would be exalted and heard...not Jay, not Critical Mass, but God alone!
* Our marriage - has been incredible...man God is way too good to me in giving me the SERVANT leadership and love that Jay continuously shows. He must have had some good role models :) But you can pray that we would ensure that we make time for just us and not have ministry consume us. You can pray that we would be diligent in proclaiming the gospel through our lives, specifically through our marriage. And that God would continue to grant us patience during times that can be potentially stressful!
* Oahu - God has given us the incredible opportunity to go to Oahu for the weekend to meet with our state director, Shaun Lathorp, and also to see Brother Greg and Mrs. Susan! We are so excited for a little vacation/date and super excited to see someone "from" Mississippi :) Can't wait! Pray that God would make this sweet time, were we would gain strength and would be rejuvenated for the ministry He has called us to!!!
Thank you guys so much for your continuous prayers. And even though we haven't updated this in a while, we can tell that people are praying for us and we are incredibly indebted and grateful!
Here are some pictures of Thursday night Critical Mass, group of us fellowshipping at Jacks after worship, one of the college students getting baptised this past Sunday, and some of the surf event! We are planning to upload some pictures and/or video of the thing with Licona either on here or our Critical Mass website soon! Will let you know when we do so!
