STEADFAST AND IMMOVABLE

“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord 

your labor is not in vain.”  1 Corinthians 15:58

Fixed, unchanging, steady, firm, loyal, constant, unyielding to pressure, solid, strong, sure, determination without wavering… I scoured the dictionary for words to deepen the meaning of this verse to me. The Apostle Paul reminds us of the type of commitment needed to serve the Lord in everything that has eternal significance. In doing so, God will
bring results to our labor that will last forever!

Recently, I was blessed with a clear example of this.  I led the 2010 Royal Servants Sierra Leone team.  This team all recently exchanged Facebook messages. Amazingly, by God’s grace, nearly half of the students on our mission team have gone on to pursue world missions and or ministry of some sort.  And equally amazing, the other half of students have remained passionate about their pursuit to follow Jesus where ever that leads them in their work, school, church and communities.

MEET DANIEL

Daniel Spelliscy was one of my team members who returned that summer and caught a vision for how God could use him in the mission field. For two years he planned and prepared for another mission team to return to Sierra Leone with his friends from Millar College of the Bible in Saskatchewan, Canada. As I write this, Daniel and his team are on the ground in Sierra Leone ministering to the poor and hurting with the love and grace of Jesus Christ! God is so faithful to continue the work he has started and bringing it towards completion (Phil 1:6)!

We feel totally privileged to be part of what God is doing in the hearts and lives of students like Daniel, and in those we seek to serve around the world. For we know that this work of the Lord is not in vain! Thanks for standing firmly by our side!

MINISTRY UPDATE

Praise God! Royal Servants Training Camp is going to be held in Wisconsin this year!  For the first time ever, students will train at the new WI site owned by our ministry.  What a huge blessing!

In order to make this possible, this spring Matt has worked many days and countless hours in Wisconsin.  Setting up the new site for 300 students to start in June is no small feat!  Our work project teams were a success and many volunteers came alongside to serve with us in April. Yet, with all that was accomplished, there is more work to do and we still need to pass State inspections. Please pray!

Due to the amount of travel to the WI training camp these past months, Matt will not be traveling internationally this summer.  Instead, Matt’s crucial role for Royal Servants in this season has been in preparing the new training camp site.   This benefits all the teams this year, and for years to come.   Not leading an international team this year allows Matt to continue staying focused on the development of  the new Training Camp and to lead the camp Barnabas Team.

In the end, we believe this was God’s plan all along.  For several reasons, the Ethiopia team has had to be postponed.  Matt is excited to once again lead the Barnabas Team this summer, and to serve all the international teams as they train to bring the Gospel around the world! 

· Pray for the remaining work to come together to complete our new Training Camp.

· Pray for wisdom for Matt as he coordinates work projects at camp and for his leadership of the Barnabas Team (This team is made up of Alumni students who come to serve all of the needs of training camp).

· Pray for God to continue to move in the hearts of students as they prepare for their Royal Servants mission trip!

RISE UP AND BUILD!!

“The God of heaven will give us success, and we his
  servants will rise up and build…”   Nehemiah 2:20

One of Matt’s primary roles over the past year has been managing the construction and development of our new missions Training Camp in Wisconsin. Every summer hundreds of student missionaries are trained, equipped, and sent out from camp on our Royal Servants mission trips across the world to share the good news of Jesus Christ!

In less than three months we will be holding Training Camp at the new land! We have our new administration building and several out-buildings up, yet there is much more for us to do to be ready for the state inspection and student arrival in June.

Matt will be coordinating work project teams in April. We are praying and asking God to raise up his people in helping us with the final push to completion. If you or someone you know want to serve God’s kingdom in a “hands-on,” practical way please contact Matt or register online. Registration deadline is April 2!

· Pray for many volunteers to rise up and help us in our final push to complete our new Training Camp.

· Pray for wisdom for Matt in coordinating work project teams and ordering materials to complete the work.

· Pray for God to protect our volunteers from injury and to have strength/joy in service!

· Pray for God to continue to move in the hearts of students and call them to serve on a Royal Servants mission trip!

MINISTRY TRIP TO LOUISVILLE, KY (LIVE 2:6 CONFERENCE)

This month I will be heading down to Louisville, Kentucky for four days to attend the final LIVE 2:6 conference. As I have mentioned in the past, the LIVE 2:6 conference is organized through Sonlife Ministries. This is a group of youth ministry professionals (from across the country) that simply come together to study the life of Jesus and to learn how to create disciple making movements as He did. 

I will be attending these training sessions at Southeast Christian Church, which is a church driven by a disciple making process, and is now one of the fastest growing churches in America.

I will be driving down and back with another pastor from MN and look forward to the fellowship we will have.  Also, I’m excited and look forward to being challenged and encouraged by my fellow ministry peers. Please pray for a safe trip and a fruitful, refreshing time. 

Merry Christmas from the Halseth Family!

We pray your 2011 was blessed! Here are a few Halseth family highlights of 2011:

Rachel Rose is much loved by all.  We love cuddling Rachel and enjoy watching her giggle! At 9 months, she is thriving. Her weight has tripled since we met her! She started at 6.5 pounds in July and is now 19 pounds!  She does something new each day. We are so grateful to God for giving our family the gift of Rachel.

Joshua started pre-school this fall. He is filled with curiosity, and maybe a little mischief :) Joshua is very energetic, and loves to help Dad “work” by moving dirt piles or stacking fire-wood! He wears a superhero costume half the time. If he could actually be a super-hero it would be a cross between Batman and Spiderman!

Abby is a sweet first grader. Her teacher says Abby loves to learn & received the “Most Helpful” award. She is in dance, soccer, basketball & Awana. She is artistic & can’t wait for her next play-date. Abby enjoys dancing around the house to worship music.

Nathan is a third grader involved with scouts, basketball, football, soccer and Awana. Nathan is an avid sports fan. He must be growing up because instead of toys, he wants professional sports game tickets & jerseys! We esp. appreciate his sense of humor.

Matt loves leading a student Bible study, serving on our church board and working on the new Royal Servants Training Camp. Matt has adapted his hobbies to include four active young children… in other words, he loves doing what they love doing! :-)

Jenni is very very happy with the family God has blessed us with, and maybe a little tired w/a baby still awake many nights. :) Jenni esp. loves watching the older kids adore Rachel. Her goal is to keep all four clothed, fed & to the places they need to go!

As is already obvious, our most exciting news of 2011 has been receiving our precious adopted Ethiopian daughter. God is so faithful. Rachel Rose’s story continues to amaze us. We look forward to all that God has in store for her and for us as a family. Praying your Christmas shines brightly with many of His blessings!

Love, The Halseth Family

DANA'S STORY

Dana served as a student in India this past summer. She attends one of our supporting churches, where Matt has been speaking and recruiting students for many years. We want to share Dana’s story with you.

“We took a rickshaw ride through the Redlight District of New Dehli. There are tons of fake storefronts. But inside the “stores,” you can see the staircases leading up to hidden rooms. You can’t see the rooms and you can’t see behind the walls. But when you saw a man with a little girl, you just knew. It broke my heart. 

I have a heart to see sex trafficking ended. I remember those children and women who have, and are going through it. I want to be a part of bringing hope for their future. I am currently studying Bible and Psychology at Bethel University. If God should so lead, I am interested in serving internationally in a safe home for those recovering from the sex trade. Going on Royal Servants was definitely one of the MOST LIFE CHANGING things I have ever done. After going, I KNOW for a fact that overseas missions is what I was meant for. I love it so much.” 

It is because of students like Dana that we are committed to serving with Royal Servants. God is at work transforming and calling students into ministry around the world.

Royal Servants 2012 mission teams will serve in: China, Costa Rica, England, Ethiopia, Europe, India, Ireland, Israel, and Sierra Leone. Our work throughout the calendar year is also very intentional to empower the whole of all the teams. We are committed to see each of the 300+ students grow, in Christ and in sharing Christ. Matt will be leading one of the Africa teams in 2012.

You are a vital part of our ability to follow His calling to serve. We continue to be grateful for your partnership in bringing the message of hope all over the world!

WALKING AS JESUS WALKED

“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

I (Matt) just returned from an exciting three day ministry training in Chicago. This is the fourth time in a year and a half that I have joined this small group of youth ministry professionals. Why? Simply to study the life of Jesus and to learn how to create disciple making movements as He did. The ministry training is called, LIVE 2:6 (from 1 John 2:6).

What is a LIVE 2:6 group?
LIVE 2:6 groups are learning communities of 3-12 ministry leaders who study, train, and evaluate the life of Christ using a strategy developed by SONLIFE. Over 40 organizations globally (including Reign Ministries) and 750,000 ministry leaders have been through ministry training by SONLIFE.

I have loved being challenged and encouraged by my LIVE 2:6 group as I have learned to “walk as Jesus walked.” My ministry skills have been sharpened and I know that will translate to more students coming to know the Savior!

Thank you for your commitment to our ministry and the walk Jesus has called us to!