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!!