Merry Christmas from the HALSETH Family!

We pray you have had a blessed year! Here are a few Halseth family highlights of 2014:

Rachel Rose is three and growing up before our very eyes.  Healthy, energetic, and thriving.  She loves to laugh, and can often be heard giggling with her siblings.  She looks forward to preschool two mornings a week. She can almost swim on her own.  She enjoys playing outside, swinging, puppies, playdates, and of course Elsa from Frozen! We appreciate her bright eyes, kind heart, and sweet spirit.

Joshua is a big 1st grader now going to school all day for the first time. He is somewhat philosophical for a seven year old and we are often intrigued when he speaks his mind.  He isn’t shy and can start up a conversation with almost anyone!  Joshua was a spy for Halloween, which is also his current career goal.  He loves legos, collecting rocks and playing soccer.  He soon starts basketball and wrestling.

Abby is a 4th grader.  She enjoys volleyball, basketball and soccer.  She is a very helpful sister.  We see her giftings as she is able to motivate and organize younger kids easily.  Always our artist, this year she is into loom bands and knitting. In Scotland, she was a face painter at VBS, and loved seeing the sea.  
       

Nathan is a 6th grader now with a school locker.  He really enjoys changing classes each hour. He plays saxophone. Nathan completed hunter safety, and hunted pheasant and deer with Dad this fall.  He loved fishing - both off the pier in Scotland, as well as on a four day SD trip with Grandpa Morse.

Matt enjoyed another summer with his family while working with students in Scotland. He enjoys short getaways with Jenni, or day trips with the kids - especially in nature. He also loves­ his men’s bible study and Jr. High ministry. He is active in sports and is coaching Nathans 6th grade basketball team! Heart Update: We are very thankful to report that all tests came back normal on Matt’s heart!

Jenni is more into a rhythm of managing life as a parent of four kids :)  She has even completed a few home projects this year!  She enjoyed ministry and travel with the family in Scotland, and especially the Scottish people.  She continues to enjoy biking, walking, reading, and Mom’s bible study.

Praying your Christmas shines brightly with many of God’s blessings!

Love, The Halseth Family

ENCOURAGING REAL FAITH

Matt with Robert, one of the only young 

Christians in Dunoon, Scotland. Next 

summer our family and the Royal 

Servants will be returning to Scotland! 

“Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”  – Acts 15:36

Imagine being all alone in your Christian faith. You don’t know any Christians your age that you can identify with. You feel there is no one to show you REAL faith. 

Then one day a group of young passionate believers stroll into town. They want to hang out with you, disciple you and bring you along to tell others about Christ. Can you imagine how that would encourage you to live out your faith in a REAL way?

AN INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT FROM DUNOON, SCOTLAND

Jenni:  Can you tell me a little about your faith background?

Robert: I became a Christian 2 years ago through missionaries at a summer camp. Later on my faith became like plastic. It just wasn’t real. I did not have anyone to look up to. It is really tough. In our town there’s only maybe 3 or 4 Christians my age who are living for God. We are all really struggling because we are so few.

Jenni: Can you tell me how your life has been impacted by our Royal Servants team?

Robert: The Royal Servants have really opened up my eyes on how to live for God. They have touched a lot of lives all around Dunoon already. They have really shown me how to turn my plastic faith into something real. 

Jenni: How have the Royal Servants specifically encouraged you?

Robert: They are really committed to the Bible and trusting in the Bible. They love reading it, which I find amazing because I've never seen that before in my life. I sat in on a Bible study group. For the first time ever I saw students that are joyful about the Bible. It has really opened my eyes. It is not just a boring book. It’s Jesus' word and it’s great!

Jenni: You said earlier that a few people you knew have come to Christ. Can you tell me about that?

Robert: I was overjoyed to hear about one friend.  I did not expect him to, but he became a Christian. I just never believed it would happen. It is crazy because I grew up with him… but I guess God can do great things!

Jenni: Do you have any prayer requests?

Robert: Please pray for the youth in Dunoon to find Jesus because they are crumbling and have no one to look up to. Pray that with what the Royal Servants have done, the younger Christians can build a strong connection in the church. I also just want to say thank you for sending the Royal Servants. They have really changed our lives!

Wow! It is so exciting to see God at work in receptive hearts in Scotland.  We are eager to go back again! Yes, that’s right, for the summer of 2015, our family will be returning with Matt as he leads the Royal Servants Scotland team!

You are a vital part of our ability to follow His calling to serve. We want to echo Roberts words, “Thank you for sending the Royal Servants.” We remain grateful for your prayers and partnership in bringing the message of REAL faith around the world! 

FIGHTING EBOLA ON THE FRONT-LINE (EBOLA CRISIS IN SIERRA LEONE)

Matt with Abu Stephen Conteh, 

the National Director of Youth 

For Christ in Sierra Leone, in 2010.

In a culture where shaking hands, hugging and kissing are ways to show love and care, not being able to do so is painful but necessary for our Sierra Leonean friends. Currently, about five people every hour in Sierra Leone are diagnosed with Ebola.

Over the past 5 years, Reign Ministries has had a strong ongoing partnership with Youth for Christ in Sierra Leone. After having been to Sierra Leone twice in 2010, my heart is grieved for our friends experiencing turmoil and crisis in their nation. 

While there, our team served alongside our friends to reach unwanted children in the streets, the unemployed in trash filled over-crowded slums, the hungry neglected children in under-staffed orphanages, the juvenile delinquents in detentions centers, and the hope-filled teens of under-funded schools. The thought of what the conditions are like now in these places is very difficult for me to comprehend.

Yet I pray with expectation that God will answer the prayers of his people and continue to offer his plan of salvation through the courageous and dedicated Youth for Christ staff. Please take a moment to pray for our friends and ask God to pour out His love and mercy on those who are currently suffering in Sierra Leone. 

“As our nation grapples with the pandemic of the Ebola virus that has claimed hundreds of lives; we look with hope to our soon coming King! For this reason, we remain steadfast, unmovable, always willing to expend ourselves for the salvation and transformation of our young people. We can only tell the full scale of the damage when this is over, this is why we are asking our friends to stand in the gap with us for God’s intervention in our land. Ebola is no respecter of age, status or profession; we are all at risk.”  –Abu Stephen Conteh 

MY LIFE IN HIS HANDS (EMERGENCY HEART PROCEDURE)

A few weeks ago I (Matt) went into our local clinic because I was experiencing some irregular heart beats and slight pressure in my lower chest. My visit turned into two ambulance rides to a nearby hospital and then to the U of MN cath lab for an emergency angiogram, which cleared me of any heart attack. Praise God! Two days prior to the event, I ran a hilly half marathon which could have triggered an existing irregular heartbeat because of a shift in electrolytes and excess adrenaline in my body.

I am currently wearing a small heart monitor and ask for prayer to find out more answers. We are grateful for God’s protection and for the awesome friends and family He has blessed us with. We are again reminded how our lives are really in His hands. 

PERSPECTIVES BIBLE COURSE (A LOOK AT MISSIONS FROM A BIBLICAL, HISTORICAL, CULTURAL & STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE)

YOU HAVE AN EPIC ROLE TO PLAY

Get threaded into the biggest story of all time. Join thousands of believers this Spring and experience God’s heart for all peoples and encounter the momentum of the World Christian Movement. Perspectives brings fresh knowledge and understanding of God’s unchanging purposes and why they’re relevant to your life.

WHY PERSPECTIVES?

God has a "world-sized" role for every Christian in His global purpose. Whether people go to distant countries or stay at home is a secondary issue. The primary issue is what most people are hungry to discover: vision to live a life of purpose. Discovering that vision makes this course valuable, and perhaps crucial, for any Christian.

WHAT IS PERSPECTIVES?

Perspectives is a fifteen week course designed around four vantage points or "perspectives" — Biblical, Historical, Cultural and Strategic. Each one highlights different aspects of God's global purpose.

The Biblical and Historical sections reveal why our confidence is based on the historic fact of God's relentless work from the dawn of history until this day.

The Cultural and Strategic sections underscore that we are in the midst of a costly, but very "do-able" task, confirming the Biblical and Historical hope.

WHO SHOULD TAKE PERSPECTIVES?

The short answer is anyone who wants a closer walk with the Lord, who is serious about gaining a deeper understanding of His ultimate purpose in the world. It's for anyone who wants to learn how to strategically invest their lives in seeing God glorified; for anyone who wants to gain insight and direction that will help them to impact their generation.

If the above describes you, no matter what your age or position, Perspectives is for you!

WHERE CAN I FIND A CLASS?

Since 1974, more than 80,000 believers in North America and 20,000 more around the world have taken the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course. Each year, about 200 classes are hosted in churches and community centers around the country.

Perspectives instructors are professors, missionaries, ministry experts and pastors from all over the US, in addition to local missions experts and pastors. Each local class will post up a list of scheduled instructors on the local class web site.

For a Twin Cities Location (Minneapolis or St. Paul)

First Evangelical Free Church of Maplewood
2696 Hazelwood Street, Maplewood, MN 55109
Thursdays, 6:30—9pm, January 22—April 30, 2015

Stadium Village Church
501 SE Oak Street Minneapolis, MN 55414
Tuesdays, 6:30—9pm, January 20—April 28, 2015

Other Locations Across the Country or Distance Learning

With over 200 classes across the country each year, there is a good chance that you can find class in a city near you. Or, take the course for distance learning online. Please visit www.perspectives.org to find the best option for you.

WHAT IS THE COST?

The costs vary depending on your enrollment option and location. Every class web site has a page for displaying the current fees for the local class. Please refer to your local class site. Enrollment Types are as follows: Certificate level, Undergraduate credit, Graduate credit, and Key Reading.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

All students must register online, although they have the choice of paying online or in class. Students can pre-register or go to the first class and register on the spot. To register, please visit www.perspectives.org and find your local class.

NOVEMBER PRAYER & PRAISES

· 2015 ROYAL SERVANTS MISSION TRIPS RELEASED!
Recently, Matt has been working with our website services team to update the Reign Ministries website. Upon the release of our 2015 mission teams we received over 3,200 hits to our website in the first 12 hours! Check it out! www.royalservants.org

· COACHING NEW STAFF
I (Matt) am coaching a few new Reign Ministries staff members. Please pray for new Reign staff members Andrew Cederleaf and Scott and Nichole Anderson, as they begin the support raising process.

· GOD’S PEACE
I am thankful that during my heart procedure God’s peace rested on me the entire time. The fear of death had no grip on me because my eternal destination is secure in Jesus Christ – Praise God!!

AN UNDENIABLE PRAYER (A Royal Servants Report on our Ministry in Dunoon & Glasgow, Scotland)

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything  according to his will he hears us.” 
-- 1 John 5:14

Tanner paused, and then prayed for Keir, “God, reveal yourself to Keir, prove to him that Jesus is real.”

Even though 17 year old Keir was not a Christian, he enjoyed hanging out with our team and showing us around Dunoon, a quaint seaside Scottish town just an hour and half west of Glasgow.  Many youth in the town come from broken homes and have turned to drugs and alcohol.  In fact, the pastor we worked with said he knew of less than five or six Christian teenagers in the entire town of 8,500 residents.  We knew God had led us to Dunoon for a reason.

Tanner Blake, a staff discipler on our team, took an interest in reaching out to Keir. So, he invited him to join his small group of guys discussing the Bible. Kier said, “Sure!” He even rearranged his schedule (which meant getting up before noon) to come back each day to meet and talk about the Bible.

Over the course of a few days, Tanner’s friendship with Keir grew and they started having deeper conversations. Tanner learned that Keir was heavy into hardcore drugs and alcohol. Keir admitted, “I am not happy with the way I am living.” Tanner understood. He was able to relate with Keir because he had also went through some of the same exact struggles before he knew the Lord.

Tanner explained, “No matter how good the drug is or how cool the alcohol makes you feel, there is nothing greater than experiencing God’s love!” Tanner, sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit asked Kier, “Can I pray with you and ask God to reveal His love to you?” Keir nodded his head in agreement.

After praying, Keir seemed a little “out of it,” so Tanner asked him, “Are you okay?” And Keir replied in hesitant amazement, “I lost my legs, I feel something is here!”

In excitement Tanner said to Keir, “Dude, that is the Holy Spirit!” They both began to weep and praise the Lord! Right before their eyes, God answered Tanners prayer and revealed Himself to Kier. The Lord proved to Keir that He is real, and still working in the world.

Tanner then asked Keir, “Do you want to accept Christ into your life.” After a very vigorous head nod, Keir prayed to receive Christ and is now walking with the Lord!  

What this unforgettable experience revealed to our team is that prayer is undeniably the most powerful blessing that the Lord has given us. It is what gives us confidence in our God when we ask anything according to his will—we know that He hears us! (1 John 5:14)

For Tanner and our team, saying goodbye to Keir and other friends left behind in Dunoon was very difficult. We know that there are so few believers to encourage them. His heart, along with ours is burdened to continue to pray for the youth of Dunoon and those we met in Glasgow. Especially for the few teenage believers like Keir to remain strong in the faith.

This work does not happen without you! Please pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to be at work, revealing himself to the students we are working with.  If God is not in this we are ineffective. And if we are not sent, they are not reached. More than ever, the need of your prayer is undeniable! 

SEPTEMBER 2014 PRAYER & PRAISES

· STUDENTS
Praise God for yet another incredible summer we had in Scotland. Continue to pray for the impact that has been made on students lives as they live for Christ in school this year.

· NEW BELIEVERS
We shared Christ with many Middle Eastern Immigrants and Scottish teens. Please pray for the Churches we served with; for effective follow-up and for encouraging new believers.

· NEW STAFF MEMBERS
This year Matt is helping with our Mobilization Department
to coach a number of new staff members joining Reign Ministries. Please pray for coaching wisdom, and for these new staff raising their support!

· OUR FAMILY
Please pray for our children as the new school year has begun (Nathan–6th grade, Abby–4th grade, Josh–1st grade & Rachel–Preschool). Pray that we maintain a healthy & Godly focus in our parenting.

PRAY FOR SCOTLAND

Though church steeples dot the 
horizon of this once missionary 
sending nation, Scotland is 
now officially an unreached 
people group with less than 
3% in church attendance.

“Pray all the time...Plead with him... keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere.” 
--Ephesians 6:18 (TLB) 

Hey Friends… By the time you receive this post-card we will be on our way to Scotland! Please pray for our July weeks of ministry!  

· Week 6—Ministry in Glasgow

· Week 7—Ministry in Glasgow

· Week 9—Ministry in Dunoon

· Week 9—Debriefing in London

· Week 10—Final Debriefing & Departure Home & REST!

There is a great need for missions work in Scotland today. The church in Scotland is no longer able to reach its own people with the gospel. Pray for the effective re-evangelization of Scotland. Pray for our church partners, for our team unity, spiritual growth, physical strength, safety in travel, wisdom and guidance, faith and courage in sharing the good news of Jesus, and changed lives in our outreach & service! 

After traveling on last years team, Jenni and the kids are excited to go again this year!  Our kids enjoyed participating in the Vacation Bible School last year and met some fun Scottish friends.  We stay in a very diverse community in Glasgow, and really enjoy learning about the immigrant cultures as well. Living out of duffle bags in Sunday school rooms - it's all worth it when we get to see God at work! 

EXCELLENCE IS WON BY TRAINING!

Perfectly aligned student tents
in military fashion communicate
excellence in everything we do
at Training Camp! Please pray
for our students in those tents
preparing for the mission field!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”  --Colossians 3:23

Hey Friends… This week Matt heads to our Missions Training Camp for the month of June. At Training Camp, we strive for excellence in everything we do to best glorify & honor God! Our mission teams prepare ahead of time so when we storm the gates on the mission field, we hit the ground running!

· Week 1—Packing & Final Prep

· Week 2—Reign Staff setting up

· Week 3—Assistant Team Leaders Training

· Week 4—Staff Disciplers Training (College-age Students)

· Week 5—Student Training (about 300 HS students)

Wow, we are so excited! Pray for wisdom and team unity as Matt trains our Royal Servants Scotland Team for ministry abroad. Please also pray for physical, spiritual and emotional strength for our family as we all prepare to serve in Scotland and England July 1—30. Lastly, pray for extra funds in order to make our ministry possible. Thanks for your partnership through prayer and giving to our ministry—we appreciate you!

ONE SUMMER TO CHANGE A LIFE

Kaila is returning on Royal Servants
for her 6^th summer and will again be
reaching the unreached in Nepal.  

“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

Do you believe that it is possible for the life of one person to be radically changed over the course of just one summer? I do! This is one of the reasons I love serving with Royal Servants. For if it had not been for our 2009 Ireland Royal Servants team, Kaila Yim’s life may be totally different today!

MEET KAILA

Kaila Yim was one of my team members who was with us that summer in Ireland. Listen to the amazing work that God did in her life as she recalls her experiences with Royal Servants;

“God began to show me who He was; He painted a beautiful picture for me of His unending grace and that is something I have never let go of. During that summer in Ireland, I sensed the Lord leading me into full-time ministry. After a lot of praying, I applied and was accepted to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL.

While also serving with Royal Servants, Kaila found herself loving trekking through rice paddies and mud through  the Nepali mountains in order to rub lotion on lepers' hands and feet. Their outreach touched the hearts of the unreached Nepali people with the Gospel of Christ.  Her summer in Israel further convinced her of God’s calling.

“As God began to break off pieces of my old self that couldn’t be in my life anymore, I began to desire nothing but Him, His work, and His Kingdom… I would not be where or who I am today if God did not give me the opportunity to go on mission trips with Royal Servants.”

This spring Kaila graduates from Moody Bible Institute. God has led her to join full-time staff with Reign Ministries. This will be her 6th Royal Servants summer reaching the world for Christ. Kaila’s journey reminds us how God continues to appoint His people to go forth and bear fruit in the lives of others around the world.

Jenni and I are thrilled to be part of that yet another summer! In just a couple weeks, I’ll be heading out to serve at our missions training camp for the month of June. Jenni and our four children will again be traveling with me and our mission team for the whole month of July as we share the love of Christ in Scotland.  We’ll partner with the same church we served in last year as we reach out to the Asian immigrant community of Glasgow.

We look forward to how God will once again provide for us as we continue to empower and send out students like Kaila to reach the world. Thank you for your part! 

A TRUE SERVANT OF CHRIST (ROYAL SERVANTS ALUMNI)

Elizabeth has served on three
Royal Servants Mission trips,
including this past summer. 

Elizabeth has served on three Royal Servants Mission Trips. This includes last summer where she served as our family nanny in Scotland. Recently she shared with the Reign Ministries staff how her Royal Servants Mission Trips have impacted her life. Here is what she had to say;

Hello Reign Staff!
Thank you so much for your work with Royal Servants and all of the other ways you minister throughout the rest of the year! I am a Royal Servant alumni, and to this day I still use lessons I learned from my summers with Royal Servants.

My first trip was to Ireland in ’08 and it was led by Matt Halseth. From the first day at Training Camp until I came home, I learned who I am in Christ and that He has equipped me to do His will.

The next summer I was invited to go on the Nehemiah team (Alumni Leadership Team) led by Louie Inks. Thank you Louie for your incredible leadership! That summer, I learned the meaning of worship, leadership, and servant-hood. I learned more about the Bible than I ever had. Even after those two summers there have been multiple times that I've been able to use the lessons that I have learned on my summers as a student. 

Since my Royal Servants Trips, Galatians 2:20 has now become my life verse:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”   —Gal. 2:20

So again, thank you for teaching and training youth and young adults to be true servants of Christ!! -Elizabeth

We feel privileged to be part of the lives of students like Elizabeth. Through stories like these we are again reminded of the importance of this work. Thank you for the part you have to make it happen! We pray for God’s richest blessings for you!

“MEGA-FUN” WINTER RETREAT (FOR 3RD-6TH GRADERS AT CAMP LEBANON)

Last month Jenni and I organized a winter retreat for the 3rd-6th graders in our local church—Northbrook Fellowship.  We feel it is crucial for even younger children to have times away with their peers. This helps establish deeper Christian friendships, as well as being challenged to live their lives for Christ. The 25 participants all had an amazing time and came away challenged by the retreat theme of “Gratitude.” The only complaint was that the retreat was too short as everyone had MEGA-FUN!!

FEBRUARY 2014 PRAYER & PRAISES

· 2014 ROYAL SERVANTS MISSION TRIP BROCHURE— 
Matt has completed the new 2014 Royal Servants brochure. The brochure will go out to thousands of students across our nation as our staff are actively out recruiting students for next summers mission trips. If you know a teenager or college student who is interested in a mission trip this summer, please direct them to us if they have questions!

· RECRUITING STUDENTS—
We are seeking students to join our 2014 mission teams by sharing in churches and through our website. Please pray for Matt as he is speaking in churches and recruiting students these months.

· THANK YOU—
We were blessed by those who contributed towards our 2013 year-end short-fall in medical and office expenses. God provided for many of our year-end needs. Thank you for your generosity!