WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO SERVE GOD?

“Over the last two years Reign Ministries has had a monumental impact on my life. In fact I now want to become a full-time missionary in the Middle East.”
 – Nick R.


Dear Friends,

Meet one of our students, Nick! He is twenty years old and lives in Canada. Matt meets with Nick regularly over Skype as he prepares to serve on the mission field in the Middle East.

Nicks journey into missions all began with one pressing question. From there God slowly revealed the path for him to take. Hear from Nick in his own words;

“What are you doing to serve God?” This question challenged me. Even though I had thought about serving God, I had no motivation to seeing my intentions through. My Missions Pastor then suggested that I look at a Royal Servants mission trip.

So off to Nepal I went! Besides the incredible outreach I got to be a part of in Nepal, I was also a small group leader to four young men throughout the summer.

I saw God work in unbelievable ways through all of us. The experience left me wanting to grow more in my faith. So I then applied to Kairos, an 8 month discipleship training school
through Reign Ministries.

Kairos is a very small, humble and personal school. It taught me the importance of honesty, determination and reliance on God, all of which I would need later on.

After eight months of Kairos, I set out on my second mission trip with Royal Servants, this time in Uganda, with Matt as my trip leader.

It was a growing experience to be sure, my small group presented much more of a challenge. I found I needed to go out of my comfort zone to effectively lead them. However, God used the difficulties I faced. He grew me towards Him and furthered my heart for his global Kingdom.

Over the last two years Reign Ministries has had a monumental impact on my life. In fact I now want to become a full-time missionary in the Middle East. That would not have happened had Reign Ministries not discipled me and given me a vision for what God wanted to do through my life.”

As you read about Nick’s journey, know that many more students like him are being equipped to minister to the world because of your partnership. We are so incredibly grateful for you and your willingness to be part of our team. We pray you continue to serve Christ in all you do.

CLOSE TO THE BROKENHEARTED

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”   Psalm 34:18-20

I will never forget her name, “PEACE-PATIENCE.”  She was a shy, yet determined 16 year old girl.  She attended a well-known, “A level,” girls boarding school just outside of Kampala, Uganda.  She was just one out of the 300 girls that came to our outreach that morning.

I could tell that our message of Christ’s forgiveness had touched a nerve by the way she anxiously approached me.  When I asked her what she wanted she hung her head and struggled to speak.  She just stood there. She gripped her rolled-up notebook as her eyes filled with tears.  Sensing her heavy burden I quickly motioned five of our students over for prayer.

She slowly opened up and shared her heart, “When I was just 8 years old, I was sexually abused by my cousin.  At that time I was also introduced to pornography.  Since then I have been trapped in this sin and I can’t stop myself.  I want to be free.”  She then threw her hands over her face in shame and burst into tears.

All six of us huddled around Peace-Patience and placed our hands on her to pray.  Instantly, she dropped to her knees out of complete brokenness before the Lord.  While each team member passionately prayed over Peace-Patience, I began to sense an overwhelming presence of the Fathers love and that deep wounds were being healed in our midst.  Romans 8:1 came to mind as we prayed, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

As we prayed, the Holy Spirit impressed on me the need to speak to her as if Jesus himself were speaking.  I spoke the words, “You are my beloved daughter and your sins are forgiven!”  Immediately, Peace-Patience fell to her side and began to sob uncontrollably—tears of joy mixed with pain.  At that very moment, the rest of us began to weep with her as the love of the Father engulfed us all.  “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15

After sometime of shedding tears, we introduced Peace-Patience to one of the female staff of our partnering ministry who will be available for ongoing follow-up and counsel. Her willingness to share brought freedom from the enemies tactics to keep us in shame. We rejoice that the Lord heals the brokenhearted and the power of the cross is greater than our sin!

SUMMER MINISTRY PRAISE POINT...

Our summer mission trips are engaged in serious kingdom work in order to maximize the gospel impact and to be good stewards of the gifts that are contributed. Here is a recap!

· 17 Schools Ministered to

· 5 Community Outreaches

· 2 Slums (Widows & Children)

· 2 Sudanese Refugee Camps

· 2 Orphanages (Serving)

· 5000+ Gospel exposures

Thank you for your support!

ONE FAITH, ONE LORD, ONE MISSION

“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”  Ephesians 4:4-6  

Every summer we have students who join our mission teams from various churches all over the US and even the world! Now I am sure you’d expect it to be quite a challenge to unify such a diverse group of students to have a singular focused mission? However, I am continually amazed at the fact that even though we have different backgrounds (and may even talk a little different), JESUS is the common bond that brings us together for we are all ONE under him. It is a beautiful picture of harmony and unity within the body of Christ—unlike anything this world can offer.

This summer, our Uganda mission team represents participants from fourteen US states and four countries. Yet, we all have ONE faith, ONE LORD, and ONE mission this summer!

7 WAYS TO PRAY FOR OUR UGANDA TEAM

I realize that it can be a daunting task to pray regularly for us during the summer but please know that it makes all the difference! Missions is more than God’s people serving him. Missions is all about God at work. If He isn’t working in and through our team to accomplish His purposes, than nothing eternal is getting done.

With 7 days in a week, here are 7 ways you can pray for our Uganda Team!

Day 1—RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD—Loving and studying God’s word, Strong prayer life, Filled with the Holy Spirit, Maturing spiritually, Progress over sin.

Day 2—PHYSICAL/EMOTIONAL—Adaptation to climate and culture, Health in the midst of disease, Safety in danger, Victory over negative emotions.

Day 3—TEAM RELATIONSHIPS—Team leadership to staff disciplers to student participants, Team unity as a witness to nationals, Unity with ministry partners.

Day 4—ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE—Language barriers, Interpreters, Cultural adaptation/understanding, Value for nationals and long-term ministry.

Day5—EFFECTIVE MINISTRY—Teaching, Preaching, Witnessing, Boldness, Open doors, Prepared hearts, Fruitfulness, Follow-up.

Day 6—VICTORY OVER DARKNESS—Satanic or demonic oppression, sinful and worldly desires, eyes to spiritually see the schemes of the enemy.

Day 7—UGANDA—Government–national and local, Political situation, Continued open doors, Outreach in Kampala, surrounding villages and beyond.

I hope that this short list will help give you some ideas because it is easy to resort to “God bless so-and-so in Uganda. Amen” Ask for God to help as you pray intensely, intelligently and with His Spirit’s power! Your prayer and partnership mean so much!

FROM HEAD TO HEART

Pictured Top Center; SEND missionaries and missionary kids (MKs) with Matt at our Royal Servants Training Camp in 2017

Over the past few years we’ve had a handful of MKs join us on a Royal Servants mission trip. This year we’ve increased our effort to recruit more MKs! Why? Besides the challenges of cross-cultural life and ministry, every missionary family has a goal of raising up their children to serve and follow Christ. Most MKs can quote scripture and know—at least in their heads—all the “Sunday School” answers. But no matter how much they know, every single child has to at some point in time take all the teaching they have had and make it their own… not just know it in their heads, but really claim it and apply it to their own heart and lives.

Tenna Embaugh (MK Care Coordinator of SEND International) had this to say; “Growing up as an MK myself, I had the opportunity to be very involved in the ministry my parents were doing and it was great to be able to do that.  But, it was when I had my first opportunity to “DO” it for myself on a short term summer missions trip, that I really started to apply what I knew in my head to my own life.”

When MKs really begin to own their faith and beliefs for themselves and apply them to their hearts, it is absolutely remarkable what can take place. MKs have tremendous potential in that they are familiar to adjusting to new cultures, learning languages, and developing friendships quickly. These are all amazing qualities for future candidates for the mission field to help reach the nations! Please pray!

THE CHANGED LIFE OF AN MK

MEET TOMMY  

“I grew up as a missionary kid (MK) in Poland. In 2012 a Royal Servants team came to work with my church in Poland. I noticed an excitement about Christ in the students that I had never experienced before myself. So in 2013, I decided to go on the China mission trip. God used Royal Servants so powerfully in my life. Not only did I come to accept Christ, but he also used this great missions trip to build in me a very solid foundation for my faith that still affects me today. Honestly, I could see so clearly God using all these amazing experiences that set my life in a Christ-centered direction and for that, I am so grateful.”

MN, WI, IA Speaking Blitz

For the past couple of months, Jenni and I have shared about missions in churches and Christian schools throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa. A highlight for Jenni was sharing about the revival that took place in the early 90’s at the Central College Intervarsity chapter. With prayer and a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit, God grew the ministry from a small group of students to more than 200! 

KAIROS—HONDURAS & COSTA RICA

Kairos Minneapolis and Kairos Seattle have both recently returned from serving in cross-cultural missions in Honduras and Costa Rica. Both schools emphasize the importance of serving in the local church and in the community. Some of their ministry included orphan care, church construction, hosting a soccer camp, teaching English classes in local schools, leading seminars in churches, and sharing personal testimonies.

UPDATING PRINT MATERIALS

One of Matt’s roles at Reign is coordinating all the print material needs for the ministry. For the past couple months he has been updating a number of ministry materials, including brochures, banners and the Royal Servants Sponsor’s Guide (pictured here). The Sponsor’s Guide goes in every support letter our student participants send to their supporters!