Merry Christmas from The Halseth Family!

Here are a few Halseth family highlights of 2015:

Rachel is our much adored 4 year old. When she’s not wrestling with her big brothers, she loves dance, dolls, and preschool.  She also has learned how to swim!  Mom is cherishing Rachel’s last year at home before she heads off to kindergarten next fall.

Joshua is an energetic 8 year old who enjoys basketball, soccer, and swimming. He loves all things Lego. He is curious, caring, philosophical, and entertaining. He plans to be a spy when he grows up. He likes packing food at “Feed My Starving Children.”

Abby is 11 and more grown up every day. She loves cooking, babysitting, camp, mission teams, and friends, friends, friends.  She enjoys volleyball and basketball. Mom loves her help at the grocery store. She shared her faith testimony with our church and was baptized in August.

Nathan is our TEENAGER! He’s 13 and is getting taller all the time.
He is funny, kind, and helpful. He is into football, basketball, and camp. He enjoys hunting and got his first deer this year.  He got a real treat to go fishing with Grandpa Morse in Canada this summer!

Matt planned a “spur of the moment” family camping trip to the North Shore of Lake Superior in August. He also enjoyed processing his own venison this fall, making jerky, sausage, burgers, and steaks. Besides our mission work in Scotland, he has enjoyed serving locally with “at-risk” youth.
 

Jenni is enjoying how much easier it is to go anywhere, (Scotland or the grocery store!) now that the kids are a bit older! She continues to enjoy biking, reading, road trips, bible study, and women’s events. She was thrilled to welcome a new nephew, baby Joe, in November (Thanks Tina and Brian!)

Praying your Christmas shines 

brightly with many of God’s blessings!

Love, The Halseth Family

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH REIGN MINISTRIES

"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."  Ephesians 2:10

This fall we celebrated 10 years serving with Reign Ministries! Your partnership over these past years has enabled us to make great progress in training and discipling students to impact the world for Christ! We are grateful for you! 

Our Calling

Sometimes we are asked, “Why do you do what you do?”  Below are quotes from some notes we have received over the years.  We share them with you because they are an encouragement to us as we continue to reach young people for his kingdom.

“Matt, No one would have been a better leader for this mission team than you. God hand-picked you to do this work for the kingdom.  I thank you for choosing to give up the comforts of home, in order to do this work year in and year out. You are a true disciple of Christ and the fruit is evident.”  – Student from a mission team

“Jenni, I support your ministry because of how God used you to deeply impact my life personally, years ago. Students under your leadership are being given a rare opportunity to grow deeply and genuinely in their personal relationship with Christ. And I want to support that.” – Ministry Partner

“Matt, you have been such a great blessing in coaching me since I joined Reign staff. I have been impressed by the humble way you approach life.  You have a way of easily connecting with others in a genuine way that makes people, and especially students feel valued and cared for.”  – Reign Ministries colleague

  

“Jenni, You have let yourselves be used by God to revive, nurture and materialize my dream that would otherwise have been shattered just like those of many other Africa's great leaders who never got to accomplish their God-given potential. Please continue impacting the lives of all those that He brings on to you, just like you have done with mine.”  – African colleague

Thank you for your partnership in reaching young people around the world for Christ!

MENTORING AT-RISK YOUTH

Matt hanging out with 

some middle school boys at the 

fall weekend Timber Bay Camp 

in northern Minnesota. Their 

moto is, “The camp that 

comes home with the kids.”

Hey Friends… For some time now God has been nudging my (Matt) heart to get involved in a local ministry mentoring at-risk youth. Why? While I still love leading Royal Servants mission trips abroad, I also have a missionary heart to reach struggling youth at home. So this fall I began volunteering a few hours a week with a local ministry called Timber Bay.

Who is Timber Bay? (Youth Investment Foundation)

Timber Bay combines community ministry with camping (Timber Bay Camp), to reach troubled youth and help them discover that Christ can bring emotional and spiritual health to their lives. As a mentor, I commit to building purposeful friendships with youth through active community outreach and weekend camps scheduled throughout the year.

Already I have experienced a deep compassion for these troubled youth who often have great potential but struggle with feelings of abandonment and hopelessness due to dysfunctional backgrounds. Though challenging, I’m excited to show the love of Christ to these hurting youth!

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to us in our ministry. We are blessed to serve Him with you!

GREATER THINGS TO COME (A Royal Servants Report on our Summer Ministry Team in Scotland)

“As I scan the spiritual horizon of Scotland, 

I believe that God is on the move! He is 

breaking down walls and stirring in the 

hearts of the Scottish people!”

“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.”  John 4:35

“I want to believe, but there are just too many barriers in the way.” earnestly exclaimed Alec (name changed), an inquisitive Scottish teenager.

“I consider myself a believer in science…” Alec paused to gather his words, “But I guess I’m still searching for that ‘one thing’ to convince me otherwise.”

This summer in Scotland, our mission team encountered several “spiritually famished” young people like Alec. Students who are starving for truth and still searching for that “one thing” that can only be found in the good news of Jesus Christ.

Pastor Alan Wright, or “Arf” as the Scottish teens call him, explained that their youth club at Dunoon Baptist Church has grown greatly over the past year. Less than a year ago there were only a handful of teens attending the weekly youth club. Today there are over 60 regular teens who come to hang out and hear about God. This is huge because Alan has learned that basically none of them have Christian parents.

Another Scottish teen named Abbey (name changed) approached one of our students, toting her brand new bible in hand, which she acquired through the youth club. She said she recently became a Christian. She had been fed up with her home life. She wanted something different than the way her parents were living. While admittedly she might be rebelling against her parents in her own way, she is opening herself up to the “one thing” that is missing in her life.

On one occasion our students hosted a drop in youth event for all the areas teens called “Grill em!” And no, it was not a BBQ! For two hours we sat around tables with Scottish teens who “grilled” us with all kinds of deep questions they had about God! The event was so successful that even after I had dismissed the teens, they stayed a couple more hours just to hang out and ask more questions! Our American students were able to talk more in-depth and ultimately point the Scottish teens to the “one thing” missing in their life—Jesus Christ!

On our final night in Scotland we had a wonderful celebration with the local teens that we had gotten to know and love. We prayed and sang worship songs atop Castle Hill which overlooks the city of Dunoon. Before departing the next day I was given a handwritten note along with a strong bear hug by Pastor Alan. Later I enjoyed reading the note to the team to encourage them with what God had done through them:

Matt,

I just wanted to say thanks for partnering with us in the Gospel and bringing the team over. It makes such an impact in Dunoon and I hope that as you return year after year you’ll see growth here and young people changed. As you guys were standing at the top of Castle Hill praying for Dunoon and singing “Greater things have yet to come” and Build your Kingdom here,” it’s now our guys who are trying to hold that vision and make it happen in difficult times. It is also hard to find solid partners here. I usually have to train them, and so your team is greatly appreciated and so valuable to me. Thank you for your faithfulness.

Alan

As I scan the spiritual horizon of Scotland, I believe that God is on the move! He is breaking down walls and stirring in the hearts of the Scottish people – and the fields are ripe for harvest (John 4:35)! Thank you for investing in our ministry! Please keep praying – greater things are yet to come!!

MORE LIFE!

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” --Jesus (John 10:10) 

When referring to this passage, the famous Scottish author and Christian minister, George MacDonald, put it this way;

“In a word, He (Jesus) came to supply all our lack—from the root outward; for what is it that we need, but more life?...More life!”

As I reflect on our summer of ministry, I am struck with the fact that when we step out past what we are able to offer, Jesus comes to supply all we lack, and in the process, we discover more life! At the same time I am also keenly aware that the “thief” is not far behind to snatch life away from us.

With that in mind, I simply ask you to pray that our students, the new believers, and ministry partners in Scotland, would continue to accept Jesus’ offer of MORE LIFE!                                                                        

To pray the “Life” Prayer, go here: www.ransomedheart.com/prayer/life-prayer

PRAYER POINTS FOR SCOTLAND

Christianity—  Scotland was once a missionary sending nation, but now is no longer able to reach its own people with the gospel. The country is now on the level of an unreached people group, with less than 3% in church attendance. Pray for effective re-evangelization.  

Immigration —  We will be serving in a district of Glasgow that is extremely diverse, with over 50 languages spoken and many of them being from the Muslim faith.

Social Issues—  Alcohol, drug abuse and teenage pregnancy is high among young people. Scotland is among the worst preforming Western European nations for economy, employment, heath and education. (Operation World, 2010)

Church Partners— We will be serving with four different churches this summer. Please pray for unity, wisdom, guidance, faith and courage in sharing the good news of Jesus, as well as changed lives in our outreach!

SUMMER PRAYER POINTS FOR OUR FAMILY

Please pray for us & our mission 

team with Royal Servants as 

we share the Gospel in 

Scotland this summer. 

An extra amount of strength and spiritual wisdom for Matt as he leads 30 students this summer. Pray that our students would grow deep in faith and boldly share Christ in Scotland!

Traveling safety for our family and our students on the team, as we all travel by planes, trains, boats, automobiles and coaches to various cities within Scotland, England and within the US.

Joy, strength and wisdom for Jenni as she single parents while Matt is at training camp and for our Nanny, Angie Hall as she serves our family in Scotland this summer. 

Our oldest son Nathan (age 12) will be apart from us in July attending a Christian boys camp, a basketball camp and a fishing trip with his Grandpa.

Thank you for your partnership through prayer and giving to our ministry. We appreciate you!

“ROYAL SERVANTS CHANGED MY LIFE!”

I (Matt) recently attended a “Perspectives on the World Christian Movement” class at one of our partnering churches. While there I ran into Kim, a former Royal Servant student, who is taking the class to broaden her passion and interest in missions. I asked Kim how Royal Servants had personally impacted her and she said, “Royal Servants changed my life!” Even though Kim grew up in a Christian home, she admitted she was not a true believer in Christ before her first Royal Servants experience. She said, “On Royal Servants I became a follower of Christ and he healed some very old and deep wounds… and I learned he has a greater plan for me.” Kim (pictured here) has served three summers with Royal Servants which have taken her to Nepal and Israel. Kim currently attends the University of Northwestern and hopes to major in intercultural studies.

MOBILIZING MORE LABORERS FOR THE HARVEST

Over the past couple of months, I (Matt) have had opportunities to share about missions and have encouraged students to get involved in what God is doing around the world. Recently I spoke to 150 senior high students from 10 different churches who attended a Youth Winter Retreat at Camp Lebanon (pictured here). Students who attended the retreat were challenged to step out and live for Christ in their communities and around the world. Please pray that the LORD of the harvest would mobilize more laborers into His harvest!
—Matthew 9:38

KAIROS DISCIPLESHIP SCHOOL RETURNS FROM HONDURAS

Every February the Kairos Discipleship School (a division of Reign Ministries) has served an unreached people group in the mountains of Honduras. Recently they returned from another successful mission where they joined hands with Mercy International on the ground. Their focus is equipping Hondurans to become missionaries in countries around the world, while also impacting the lives of unreached locals though unique ministries, such as educating impoverished students. God faithfully provided  many ministry opportunities for our Kairos students, including sharing the Gospel and personal testimonies with the Honduran youth (pictured here).

NEW 2015 ROYAL SERVANTS MISSION TRIP BROCHURES!

I’ve completed the new 2015 Royal Servants Brochure (you can check it out online at the link below). This new brochure has gone out to our staff and into the hands of thousands of students across the US and Canada. Even with the internet, we still find that a visually appealing brochure in the hands of a student goes a long way to our recruiting efforts. A brochure can give the opportunity for God to work on the hearts of those he is calling to the mission field. Please pray God would use this brochure to accomplish his purposes. Also, if you know any high school or college-age student wanting to go on a mission trip this summer please let us know. We'd love to talk to them about Royal Servants!

http://reignministries.org/royal-servants/students/

“MEGA-FUN” WINTER RETREAT 2015

In January, Jenni and I organized a winter retreat for 3rd-6th graders in our church. This was our second year in a row to bring students to the popular Camp Lebanon event. We learned about Daniel, memorized scripture to a dramatized skit and were encouraged to begin “Holy Habits” such as daily prayer and bible reading. For some, this was their first overnight retreat experience.

THE ART OF MARRIAGE RETREAT

Two years ago Jenni and I attended a FamilyLife marriage retreat called, “The Art of Marriage.” If you have never had a chance to enjoy a FamilyLife “Weekend to Remember” marriage conference or other event, then I highly recommend checking it out! (see link below) 

We had such a great experience at the retreat we thought; “Why not bring along other couples with us next time?” And so, we recently promoted and organized a group from our church who will be attending the event February 27– March 1st at Inspiration Point Christian Camp and Retreat Center. We are praying that we and these couples fully experience God’s design for marriage and expect a stronger relationship with Lord and with each other! 

www.familylife.com/events

MEN’S ADVANCE 2015 (COMING IN APRIL)

If there is one thing that is lacking in the Christian community, it is the need for more Godly Men to be strong in the Lord, to serve their families, churches and communities. That is why I continue to be involved in local Men’s ministry. I am excited to see that we now have three different groups of men from our church meeting each week for Bible Study. Coming this April, we want to bring all these men together to attend a Men’s Advance retreat. Please pray for a number of men to join us so we can continue to grow together in community and in our roles as Godly men!