BACK 2 BACK

HONDURAS 

Matt will be joining our Kairos Discipleship School students, serving the poor on a mission trip to Honduras, February 15—March 3.

In Honduras we will work with very poor villages in the Southern Opalaca Mountains.  The Lenca Indians are an unreached people group who have a history of superstition and tribal religion, but the Gospel is starting to take hold.  Our team will serve with local missionaries who are working to plant churches in this remote region.  We will use mules to haul our luggage and will have to hike five hours through a “cloud forest” to reach the people!  Once we reach our destination, we will have the awesome opportunity to teach Bible classes, as well as meet practical needs through construction projects.  We will also use soccer ministry, kids’ Bible programs, and evening church services to share the Gospel.  

MACEDONIA

Matt will be leading a Reign Ministries mission trip to Macedonia in response to the Refugee crisis in Europe, March 18—27.

 

In Macedonia we will be partnering with SEND Int’l to serve those affected by the Syrian refugee crises, arguably one of the worst humanitarian crises of our time. Just this year, over 500,000 refugees (half of them children), have made their way across Europe looking for safety from war-torn areas in the Middle East. These people are tired, scared and desperate. And with many disillusioned with their religion, for a short window of time, they are open to the gospel in ways as never before. We will be making daily trips to the border, passing out food, cleaning up litter, and caring for the different needs of the refugees. We will have the unique opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to them in a real and tangible way.

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!