Merry Christmas from the Halseth Family!

“Silent Night, holy night,
Wondrous star, lend they light! With the angels let us sing Alleluia to our King! Christ the Saviour is here, Jesus the Saviour is here!”

We pray your 2010 was blessed! Here are a few Halseth family highlights of 2010:
 
Joshua doesn’t walk anywhere; he either runs, skips or bounces. He is enthralled with his brother and sister. He had a tractor birthday party when he turned three in November. We all wait to hear what cute thing he will say next. A recent bedtime prayer went as follows, “Dear God, thank you that batman has swords, Amen.”!!! He really is sweeter than words can say, and has a very gentle disposition.
 
Abby started kindergarten this fall and loves school! This year she has been involved with soccer, gymnastics and swimming. When she grows up she wants to be “a Princess Ballerina Mommy!” She is very good at caring for all her dolls and consistently asks why it is taking so long for her adopted sister to get here. Abby is very social and loves to have play dates. She is energetic and also very kindhearted.

Nathan turned eight in October and is in second grade. He keeps busy with all sorts of activities; soccer, baseball, swimming, football, wrestling, basketball and boy scouts! He still loves to tell jokes. He is an excellent reader and whenever he finishes a book he tells Momma that she really needs to read it too, because it was so good. He is an especially good big brother and plays endless hours with Josh.

Matt loves working with students, leading mission teams and serving in men’s ministry. He enjoyed attending 3 Sonlife conferences in Chicago this year. This fall Matt started working on the house to finish new bedrooms for our adopted child(ren).

Jenni has adjusted to the new 4-day school week, and enjoys having the kids home Mondays. We all loved our August camping trip to Madeline Island and swimming in chilly Lake Superior. She also got to go to 3 great women’s conferences this year!
 
Our most exciting news continues to be our Ethiopia adoption as we await a referral for either twins or an infant girl. We hope to bring the child(ren) home in Spring 2011!

Praying your Christmas shines brightly with many of His blessings!

Love, The Halseth Family

GOD'S POWER ON DISPLAY

Students sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Sierra Leone, West Africa
By Matt Halseth

“I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.” —The Apostle Paul,
1 Corinthians 2:3-5

I often get a surprised look when I tell people that my job is to take students overseas to tell others about Jesus. I sometimes think behind that surprised look is a question like; “Are teenagers really capable of telling others about Jesus?”

Yes, I know, teenagers can be energetic at times but when that raw faith and enthusiasm is channeled on the mission field, teenagers can be a powerful force God uses to expand his Kingdom. After all, Jesus himself chose 12 wild and rambunctious teenagers to turn the world upside down for the sake of His Kingdom!

A huge part of our summer is evangelism. Most students fear sharing their faith because they have never done it before. Fear is a natural response to evangelism. We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 2:3-5 that even the apostle Paul experienced much weakness, fear and trembling.

Throughout the summer we tell students to share their faith NOT in their own strength but through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am constantly amazed to see how effective teenagers are when they step out in faith, trust in the Holy Spirit, and experience all God can do through them.

These are quotes I received from our students after a rewarding summer of evangelism in Sierra Leone:

“Royal Servants helped me understand what I believe and got me excited about sharing it with others. I even had the opportunity to share the gospel at a prison to more than 100 inmates! God gave me the words to say.”
--Chad Donnelson

“I strived this summer to not worry about whether my words were perfect. But instead I prayed that the Holy Spirit would work through me, and that the girls in my discipleship group would see God’s love demonstrated through me.”
--Clara Gleason

“In the beginning of this summer I struggled with giving God every area of my life, and trusting Him. Quickly I came to the realization that I could not make it on my own strength, but only through the strength that God provides.”
--Mckenzie Lee

“It is so amazing how God can work through my life. I have never felt anything like this before. I feel privileged to be called a servant of God.”
--Kaylee Hofsink

“In Sierra Leone God gave me more of a heart for street ministry, and one-on-one evangelism; even if it meant being persecuted.”
--Daniel Spelliscy

“I learned how to pray more passionately and earnestly seek what God had for me. This summer also helped me feel more equipped and confident in sharing my faith in Christ.”
--Bekah Basinger

Sharing the gospel with a complete stranger in a foreign land is just one fear to overcome. But bringing our mandated message home to friends and family brings about whole new levels of fear and trembling. Please pray that our students would be bold in their own schools and communities, and that they may continue to see God’s power on display!

A NEW TRAINING CAMP FOR ROYAL SERVANTS

Developing a New Training Camp for Next Summer—2011

In October the Royal Servants mission trip leaders met to work and pray over the development of the new training camp land near Portage, WI.

This is a very exciting stage in the history of Reign Ministries. For the 28 years Reign Ministries has been leading Royal Servants mission trips, we have begun each summer by preparing our students at Training Camp.

Each year we have conducted our student missions Training Camp on rented grounds. But several years back, Reign Ministries started planning and looking ahead and decided to purchase our own property. Three years ago we found the right spot near Portage, Wisconsin. Now is the time to make the move. Next summer, God willing, we will be holding Training Camp on our own new ministry property.

Training Camp is not just a good idea; it is an integral part to our entire mission trip experience. Many of our alumni, often years later, report back to us that Training Camp changed the direction of their lives.

This fall our Royal Servants staff came together to work for a week on the existing storage barn. We leveled out the main floor, built new stairs, poured concrete in the basement and added tons of new storage shelves throughout the barn. It was an awesome week of working hard and dreaming about the potential of the new training camp for the sake of spreading the gospel around the world!

No doubt it will take years to completely develop the land. But our prayer is that in the first year we would be able to have the main infrastructure completed. In order for that to happen, a lot of details and work must come together. Please pray!

We are all very excited to see what the Lord will accomplish in the lives of students and the impact that will be made on the mission field because of this new land!

Before full-time ministry, Matt worked in the Building industry. He was able to use some of these skills in practical ways, like building the new stair case in the existing storage barn.

ETHIOPIA ADOPTION UPDATE

The most predictable thing about an international adoption is… it is unpredictable! While we do not have a “due date” to plan for, we are thankful for the perfect timing of our heavenly Father!

The most major delay we have experienced thus far was last spring. Not by international bureaucracy, but by the State of Minnesota! Eventually, our paperwork did make it safely to Ethiopia, to begin the next wait. :-)

We expect to receive a referral anytime between December and March. We have requested infant twins or a single infant girl. We covet your prayers as decisions are being made by our agency about which child or children we will receive. Once we have a referral, we travel 10 weeks later. We are required to either take two separate trips or one longer trip to Ethiopia.

NOVEMBER PRAYER & PRAISES

STUDENTS
Praise God for the incredible evangelism efforts we had in Sierra Leone with students. Continue to pray for the impact that has been made on students lives as they live for Christ in school this year.

NEW TRAINING CAMP
Praise God for the new Royal Servants training camp. Pray for all our staff involved in the development and that we make our goal of training students on the new land next summer!

SONLIFE TRAINING
Pray for Matt next week as he meets and networks with 20 other youth pastors and ministry professionals to study disciple-making. They meet 6 times over 2 years.

ADOPTION
Please pray for the adoption process and for our future adopted child(ren). We are hoping to have a referral by Christmas. Please pray for our family and for patience.

WHAT'S NEXT?

- Planning Next Summer
- Creating 2011 Royal Servants Brochures
- Recruiting Students via Web / Church Speaking
- Reviewing and Archiving Thousands of Reign Photos for Website and Marketing purposes

TURNING HEARTS TOWARD HIM

Changed Hearts on our ministry team to Sierra Leone, West Africa
By Matt Halseth

"I will set my eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart.” -Jeremiah 24:6-7

As the afternoon faded into dusk I sat, listening to Karim, a shy yet confident 15 year old orphaned boy tell his story.

“So, how old were you when all this happened?” I asked, “I don’t remember my exact age but I was just a young boy.” Karim explained.

We both stared off into the horizon overlooking some fields where farmers worked before sundown.

Karim continued, “After seeing my father slaughtered by the rebels, my mother and I fled into the bush and wandered for several weeks looking for a safe village to take refuge. Eventually we made it to a village where one of our distant relatives lived.”

Karim paused for a few seconds… “after we had arrived my mother got sick and within a few days she was gone. My heart was broken… there I was with no father or mother and now living with distant relatives who cared very little for me.”

I sat in disbelief as I listen to Karim’s story and tried to grasp the reality of what this boy has seen in his short 15 years.

Believe it or not, Karim’s story is not an uncommon one in a country ravaged by a decade of civil war. All too often our team of 27 students and staff heard similar stories from other orphaned children and displaced families in Sierra Leone.

One may be tempted to ask, “Where is God in the midst of these tragedies?” However, I experienced the presence of God in Sierra Leone unlike any other place. As Corrie Ten Boom puts it, “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still.”

We felt the depth of God’s love; amongst the stench and narrow trash filled alleys of the slums, while holding neglected children in an orphanage, when praying for those tormented by disease in hospitals and during our visits with ignored inmates at local prisons.

Many of these circumstances were tragic and heartbreaking, and yet I was often reminded of the goodness of God to redeem what was lost and to turn hearts back to him. We had the amazing privilege of partnering with Sierra Leonean believers through Youth for Christ (YFC) and with Jonathan’s Child Care Ministries (JCCM) who are doing just that.

Karim is only one of those who have been redeemed. Once lost, not just physically but also spiritually, JCCM found Karim and rescued him from a life that would have ended up on the streets. And though he was raised a Muslim, he has now been found in Christ and one day desires to bring the message of salvation back to the outer villages where he was born.

Throughout our time in Sierra Leone we were frequently reminded that though God chooses to use broken people like us, He is ultimately the one who turns a human heart towards Himself. The Lord continually brought me back to the words of Jeremiah, “I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord, and they shall be my people and I will be their God...” —Jeremiah 24:7

Your prayers and gifts to this ministry have played a huge role in turning the hearts of hundreds of lives in Sierra Leone and beyond. Thanks for being a part. We are blessed and grateful!

5 REASONS WHY I LOVE MY JOB!

Without your prayers and gifts to this ministry it would be impossible to accomplish the work we have set out to do.

1. Training and Discipling the Next Generation
Before we even head overseas, we spend 1 to 2 weeks training students and staff disciplers in the basics of the Christian Faith as well as learning how to share Christ with others.

2. Reaching the Lost
Just as Jesus and his disciples went from village to village proclaiming the good news we had the opportunity to share with more than 1550 people in Sierra Leone.

3. Grounded and Rooted in God’s Holy Word
Students spent up to two hours reading, studying, discussing and memorizing the Bible every day of a Royal Servants summer.

4. Relationships that Last
As the saying goes, “There are only two things that last for eternity; Gods Word & People.” It is so rewarding to invest your life in relationships around the world that will last for eternity.

5. Fulfilling the Great Commission
Jesus said to “Go into all the world and make disciples.” We have the awesome privilege to do just that not just in the summer but throughout the year!

Thanks again for your investment in God’s Kingdom.

Give Thanks to the Lord... Great Things He Has Done!!

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” 1 Chronicles 16:8

After a long and rewarding summer Matt is finally home from leading a Royal Servants team of 26 students/staff to Sierra Leone! Next month we’ll share a more detailed report on the summer but for now we wanted to send out a quick report to rejoice over what our great God has done through our team:

* 27 street ministry performances and gospel outreach
* 40 teens involved in a 5 day youth club outreach
* 75 children involved in a 5 day Vacation Bible School
* 225 presentations of the gospel (mostly door to door)
* 1550+ people hear a clear presentation of the gospel
* 650+ people indicated a decision to surrender to Christ

Wow! We praise God for his faithfulness and mighty hand in all that our team accomplished this summer. Thanks for being a part through your prayers and gifts to our ministry!

Prayer Points for our Family this Summer

Please pray for us & our Royal Servants team as we share the Gospel in Sierra Leone this summer.

PRAYER POINTS FOR OUR FAMILY

An extra amount of strength and spiritual wisdom for Matt as he leads 30 students this summer. Pray that the students would grow deep in their faith and many people in Sierra Leone will come to know Christ!

Traveling safety and mercies for Matt, the team abroad, and our family as we travel within the US.

Joy, strength and wisdom for Jenni as she single parents while Matt is apart from the family for 6 of the 9 weeks of summer ministry travel.

Pray for us as we continue our adoption process and send our dossier to Ethiopia soon!

We praise God for his provision for the financial expenses involved with our summer ministry!

Prayer Points for Sierra Leone, West Africa

RELIGION— Sierra Leone was the first West African country to be evangelized. Yet after over 200 years of effort, under 12% of the country claims to be Christian and 70% remain Muslim.

THE SIERRA LEONE CIVIL WAR— began in 1991 and lasted for about 10 years. Tens of thousands died, more than 2 million people were displaced as refugees and thousands of children were kidnapped, drugged and forced to kill. Pray for restoration of the government and for committed Christians to be a vital part of the leadership.

POVERTY— Sierra Leone is the 7th poorest country in the world, and ranks last on the United Nations Program’s for Human Development Index list. Pray the shattered economy be renewed.

UNREACHED PEOPLES— There are a total of 31 different ethnic people groups in Sierra Leone and 12 of them are considered unreached (have had little to no access to the gospel.) Pray for renewed vision among Christians to effectively reach these people groups.

10 Weeks of Royal Servants (May 30 - August 7)

Week 1— Packing & Final Prep for Student Missions Training Camp - Final Preparation, Packing Equipment, Driving to Training Camp in Lewistown—Central Illinois

Week 2 — Reign / Royal Servants Staff Week - (setting up camp for 400+ staff and students) Unpacking Equipment, Setup Tents, Big Top, Office Trailer, Electrical/water/phone hook-up, etc.

Week 3 — Assistant Team Leaders Training -
Team meetings, Planning, Training, Finances, Medical and Food packing for all teams.

Week 4 — Summer Staff Training - (about 50 Discipleship Group Leaders—ages 19 and up) Training & Assigning Discipleship group leaders—3 to 5 students per adult.

Week 5 — Student Training - (about 300 students—ages 13 to 19) Students learn Unity, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Love, Discipline, Forgiveness, Grace, Purity, etc.

Week 6— Travel & Begin Ministry for all Royal Servant Mission Teams - Teams will be serving in China, Costa Rica, Europe, India, Ireland, Israel, Nepal, and Sierra Leone.

Week 7 — Ministry in Freetown, Sierra Leone - Working with local Youth For Christ staff who are partnering with pastors, and churches, to reach out to this predominately Muslim country.

Week 8 — Ministry in Freetown, Sierra Leone - Students doing ministry and sharing Jesus in the streets, slums, schools, parks, detention centers, handicapped homes and orphanages.

Week 9 — Ministry in Makeni, Sierra Leone - Students doing ministry and sharing Jesus from village to village, church to church, door to door, hut to hut, in streets, parks and schools.

Week 10 — Debriefing in London & Depart for Home - Reflection on summer of ministry,
looking ahead & goal setting, planning ministry back home in church & community. Travel Home :-)

The Royal Servants Summer Ministry Prayer Guide for 2010

MISSION TRIP: Sierra Leone (West Africa)
DATES: June 26 to August 7, 2010 (6 weeks)
PEOPLE GROUP: Temne and others
RELIGION: 70 % Islam, 18 % Ethnic Religions, 12 % Christian.
OUTREACH: We will work with local Youth For Christ staff who are partnering with pastors, churches, and missionaries to strategically reach out in this predominately Muslim country. We will develop relationships and share the gospel of Jesus Christ with people in the streets, slums, schools, parks, detention centers, handicapped homes, and orphanages.

TRAINING “...train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” –1 Timothy 4:7b-8

Before we even set foot on foreign soil we train our students and prepare them for the ministry ahead. During Training Camp, students experience team teaching, Bible study, small group discussions, Bible memorization, prayer, team building, and leadership training.  They also practice in a skill group to help present the gospel overseas.  Skill groups include dance, drama, music, and puppets.  In addition, some teams specialize in sports, language camps, or other activities relevant for the location. 

PROTECTION “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:9

Over the years God has called students to give up their summer and invest their time in serious kingdom work. We are very thankful for each student that God has called our way. We take very seriously the safety and protection of our teams. God has entrusted us to care for each students specific needs. We are grateful to the Lord for providing protection in the 29 years we have been leading mission trips around the world. Please continue to pray for protection of our teams and wisdom for our leaders serving our students.

UNITY “...May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” –John 17:23b

If our relationships with team-mates and those on the mission field become strained we can badly damage our witness for Christ. We need to be honest and open with each other, show real repentance, and allow God to break our stubborn pride. It is NO easier for us to admit we are wrong than for anyone else! Pray that we will surrender “our” plans to God, be unified with our fellow Christian workers with agape love and seek the highest good rather than claiming our rights.

BOLDNESS “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.” –Ephesians 6:19-20

Some of you may think that people going on a mission trip don’t fear sharing the gospel. But even the apostle Paul, bold as he was, still struggled with fear in proclaiming the gospel. That should not only encourage us to know that we are not alone in our fear but to pray that we too would follow in Paul’s example and be a bold witness for Jesus. Please pray that God would give our students boldness like Paul, as they open their mouth and proclaim the message of Jesus Christ fearlessly!

VICTORY “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” –1 Corinthians 15:57

Though there is not much talk these days about Satan, he is very real and desires to destroy us and our work for the living God! Please pray that we would have victory over his schemes. Pray also that each student would personally have victory over their own worldly and sinful desires. And pray that we would be in a constant state of thankfulness for our Victor, the Lord Jesus Christ!

WORKERS Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” –Matthew 9:37-38

Ultimately our work at Reign Ministries is to disciple the next generation of world changers for Jesus. Statistics show that MANY, MANY believers receive their calling to missions/ministry or will support the work of the Great Commission from their involvement in a short-term mission trip. Please fervently pray with us that God would do a mighty work among the next generation and send forth workers into his harvest field!

LASTING FRUIT “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” –John 15:16

We believe it is impossible for Christians to mature in their walk with Christ if they are not willing to speak for him. Unless we share our faith with others, we may never see any lasting fruit in our lives or in the lives of others. This is a top priority for our Royal Servants teams as we travel abroad and the reason we are seeing lasting fruit in the lives of the students and in the lives we serve overseas. Please pray that we will continue to make this our “top priority” in the work he has called us to. Pray that God will continue to work through us to “bear fruit” and “fruit that will last!”

A Call to Missions

We have two passions that drive us in our CALL to MISSIONS;
1. The Great Commandment: Teach students to love God with ALL their heart, soul, mind and strength. – Mark 12:30
2. The Great Commission: Go and make disciples of ALL nations… teaching ALL Jesus commanded. – Matthew 28:19

It is one of our greatest joys to see students we work with during the summer whole-heartedly embrace these two passions in a call to missions. In 2008 Stephanie served with us for a summer in Northern Ireland and England. We have kept in touch with Stephanie and followed her journey with God over the last couple years. I asked Stephanie to share how Royal Servants was instrumental in her call to missions:

"When I signed up to go to Ireland in 2008 with Royal Servants, I could not have imagined the impact the experience would have on me and my future. That summer I was changed and challenged in remarkable ways. I knew that I would never be the same.

My second summer with Royal Servants I served in Sierra Leone, West Africa. Not only did I continue to grow spiritually, but I further discovered and developed my passions in missions. My time with Royal Servants taught me how to share my faith with people who are lost, give myself, and serve in a way that no other experience could have.

As I move forward, I plan to follow the Lord wholeheartedly into the mission field. This summer, I'm moving to rural Tanzania in eastern Africa to teach primary school at a Christian development center and medical clinic for one full year. My long-term plan is to attend nursing school when I return to the United States next year and then pursue medical missions.

I am so blessed to have been able to serve overseas for two summers with Royal Servants. The organization, passion, and growth associated with Royal Servants provided preparation for me and gave me indispensable experience in the mission field. It confirmed in me the calling the Lord has placed on my life and impacted my heart for reaching the world."

Hearing Stephanie’s story is just one of many stories that keep us going year after year. This summer will be Matt’s fifth year leading Royal Servants mission teams and we are excited to continue serving.

Please be in prayer for the significant work that is ahead this summer in Sierra Leone. Pray also for the Lord to be working on the hearts of our students as they experience first-hand their call to missions!

Called to Serve,

Matt & Jenni

P.S. To read Stephanie’s full story, please visit the Reign Ministries website at: www.reignministries.org/stephanie-lyon

IMPRESSIONS OF SIERRA LEONE - AN EXTREME MISSIONS JOURNEY

Planes, Trains, Ferrys, Boats, Mini Buses, Automobiles and Motor Bikes... using almost every mode of transportation, Jeff and I successfully made our journey all the way to Sierra Leone and back! Our adventurous trip was a success and our time with the Youth for Christ staff (YFC) rocked. Plans are now underway for another exciting Royal Servants mission trip to Sierra Leone this summer!

After seeing it for the first time, here are some impressions that Sierra Leone made on me:

1. "You've gotta see it to believe it!"

Sierra Leone is really not a place you can fully describe in words—sights, sounds, smells, etc. One of the phrases that often came to our minds was, "You've gotta see this to believe it." I've traveled around the world and been in some pretty hairy places, but I was surprised to experience a fair amount of "culture-shock" in Sierra Leone. At the same time, I was not debilitated by what I saw, but eager and excited to serve. The warm, friendly and hope-filled YFC staff are truly a light in the darkness, and I am thrilled to partner with them to continue making a difference in Sierra Leone.

2. Crowded and Chaotic

Imagine traveling to any major world city and NOT seeing a single traffic light to bring order to the busy streets. Then imagine taking the majority of the people throughout the country and placing them along the streets of that city. Such is the everyday crowded and chaotic capital city of Sierra Leone, Freetown. There are over 1 million people who live in Freetown. Most are "refugees" displaced from the civil war that took place in the 1990's. Many of these people now reside among the three major slums within the city. This influx of people has created countless needs and overwhelming challenges to overcome.

3. Religion NOT Relationship

Though the majority of Sierra Leoneans profess to be Muslim, you might also get the impression that they are deeply Christian. After all, gospel music on the radio and Christian slogans on vehicles and billboards like "God will provide" are common place throughout the country. Yet, you don't have to look far to see that Christianity in many cases is simply just another religion to accept so that you may be "blessed" by God. One street vender even commented to me that the "gospel of Jesus" was his favorite religion, in hopes of earning some business from me. It breaks my heart to see Sierra Leone embrace religion and not a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is just one of the challenges with sharing the gospel in Sierra Leone.

4. Poor In Possessions But Not In Hope

The country of Sierra Leone is ranked the seventh lowest on the "Human Poverty Index." Most people live on less that two dollars a day and have very little possessions. Despite their poverty, they do their best to go about their lives as normal as possible. And though I saw hurt, I also saw hope in their eyes. I believe that is a God-given grace that all humanity shares. No matter what the situation is, there is always hope. I saw it in the school teachers as we passed through the slums, I saw it in the children playing in the orphanage, and I saw it in the eyes of YFC staff, who love their country. I thank God for the hope that he has planted in all our hearts - a longing for love, peace, and justice. The hope for Sierra Leone is only found in Jesus Christ and in his Kingdom. Pray that their eyes look upon Jesus for the hope that is in their hearts.

These are just a few impressions we experienced while we walked the streets of Freetown and traveled to the outer villages of Sierra Leone. All in all, we are stoked to be taking another team to Sierra Leone this summer. Whether working in the slums, loving on kids in orphanages or sharing Christ in remote villages; the ministry opportunities in Sierra Leone abound and lives are ready to be changed!

MATT IN SIERRA LEONE—PLEASE PRAY!

Preparing for Royal Servants Mission Team—2010

“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” —Jesus

By the time you receive this letter Matt will be on the ground in Sierra Leone. Matt and his colleague Jeff Bell will be meeting with ministry partners, such as —Youth for Christ.

God has been using the Youth for Christ ministry to penetrate Sierra Leone with the Gospel for many years. We plan to visit orphanages, schools, hospitals, and the slums to meet with the key leaders who are helping to make a difference among the hurting and hopeless.

The Youth for Christ staff in Sierra Leone are looking forward to again partnering with us as we help meet many of the overwhelming needs in their communities. We will be spending time devising strategic ministry plans for our up and coming student mission team this summer.

As we have said before, Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world with a population that is 70% Muslim. There are also 12 people groups in Sierra Leone that are considered “unreached” —those who have little to no access to the gospel.

As you can imagine, we are sure to encounter difficult conditions as well as spiritual opposition.

Jeff (who lead the Sierra Leone mission team last year) said that his experience was unlike any other mission trip in his 20+ years of ministry.

“The opportunity for the gospel to shine in Sierra Lone is unprecedented. They are so open and ripe to receive Jesus.”

Please pray for protection and safety for Matt and Jeff as they travel. Also pray for wisdom as they plan out their summer ministry.

GOD’S PROVISION IN TIMES OF NEED

Update on Matt and Jenni’s Support Development

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” -Phil. 4:19

As you know, we raise our financial support for 100% of our involvement in Reign Ministries. This year, we have been working hard to raise up some needed funds due to a short-fall in our support. God has been absolutely faithful to provide, as step by step he has honored our efforts to re-raise these lost funds.

This is a long and stretching process, but we are very encouraged by God’s provision through the people he has placed in our paths. So far we have raised over 50% of our monthly need to replace our short-fall of support. Praise God!

At the end of 2009, we needed to raise $15,000 in order to finish the year strong. I’m here to testify about God’s faithfulness as he completely provided for this need. Praise the Lord!

Words can not express our grateful hearts at how people have been receptive to the Lord when he has lead them to commit to our financial & prayer support team!

Please keep us in your prayers as we work diligently to raise the remaining monthly support in order to continue faithfully serving him!

NEW 2010 ROYAL SERVANTS BROCHURE

The new 2010 Royal Servants brochure (one of Matt’s many projects) has gone out to thousands of students across the US and Canada. Our hope is that this brochure will encourage teenagers and college students to step out and serve on the mission field this summer.

Recently, at a Prayer Summit for the Zhuang unreached People group of China, we reconnected with Andrew. Andrew served amongst the Zhuong on the China Royal Servants team, and shared about his experience;

“My summer with Royal Servants changed my entire life. I am here to pray for the Zhuang today, and my hearts desire now is to serve long term. I am planning to sell everything, get Bible training and go to serve amongst whatever unreached people groups that God specifically leads me to.”

We are so encouraged to see God working powerfully. Please pray God would use this brochure to accomplish his purposes in students like Andrew.

FEBRUARY PRAYER & PRAISES

Sierra Leone
Pray for Matt as he travels to Sierra Leone to set up ministry opportunities for the summer mission team. Pray for health, safety and protection. Also pray for solid relationships with our ministry contacts and for a good productive trip.

ADOPTION!
Our homestudy is almost complete. We hope to have our adoption “dossier” sent to Ethiopia within the next few months. Pray for God’s sovereign hand on this process as we take steps of faith to adopt a baby girl.

New Monthly Ministry Partners
We praise God for new monthly supporters and are very encouraged by God faithfully meeting our needs. Pray for the on-going work to re-raise needed funds.

Brochure & Recruiting
This is our busiest recruiting season. Matt is working hard to contact interested students and respond to those pursuing our mission opportunities. Please pray for God to call the right students to join our teams!

A PRAYER FOR HAITI

The Below prayer was sent to us from a friend so we thought we would share it with you. Jenni's very first international mission trip was to Haiti as a 14 year old (see picture to right). It was a life-changing experience and part of her heart is still very much there today.

LORD,

I just want to say THANK YOU, because this morning I woke up and knew where my children were. Because this morning my home was still standing, because this morning I am not crying because my husband, my child, my brother or sister needs to be dug out from underneath a pile of concrete, because this morning I was able to drink a glass of water, because this morning I was able to turn on the light, because this morning I was able to take a shower, because this morning I was not planning a funeral…

But most of all I thank you this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti. Lord I cry out to you, the one that makes the impossible, possible; the one that turns darkness in to light, I cry out that you give those mothers strength, that you give them peace that surpasses all understanding, that you may open the streets so that help can come, that you may provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all that they need in a blink of an eye. For all those that have lost family members, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue to go on! Protect the children and shield them with your power.

I pray all this in the name of Jesus!!!

AMEN