AN UNDENIABLE PRAYER (A Royal Servants Report on our Ministry in Dunoon & Glasgow, Scotland)

“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything  according to his will he hears us.” 
-- 1 John 5:14

Tanner paused, and then prayed for Keir, “God, reveal yourself to Keir, prove to him that Jesus is real.”

Even though 17 year old Keir was not a Christian, he enjoyed hanging out with our team and showing us around Dunoon, a quaint seaside Scottish town just an hour and half west of Glasgow.  Many youth in the town come from broken homes and have turned to drugs and alcohol.  In fact, the pastor we worked with said he knew of less than five or six Christian teenagers in the entire town of 8,500 residents.  We knew God had led us to Dunoon for a reason.

Tanner Blake, a staff discipler on our team, took an interest in reaching out to Keir. So, he invited him to join his small group of guys discussing the Bible. Kier said, “Sure!” He even rearranged his schedule (which meant getting up before noon) to come back each day to meet and talk about the Bible.

Over the course of a few days, Tanner’s friendship with Keir grew and they started having deeper conversations. Tanner learned that Keir was heavy into hardcore drugs and alcohol. Keir admitted, “I am not happy with the way I am living.” Tanner understood. He was able to relate with Keir because he had also went through some of the same exact struggles before he knew the Lord.

Tanner explained, “No matter how good the drug is or how cool the alcohol makes you feel, there is nothing greater than experiencing God’s love!” Tanner, sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit asked Kier, “Can I pray with you and ask God to reveal His love to you?” Keir nodded his head in agreement.

After praying, Keir seemed a little “out of it,” so Tanner asked him, “Are you okay?” And Keir replied in hesitant amazement, “I lost my legs, I feel something is here!”

In excitement Tanner said to Keir, “Dude, that is the Holy Spirit!” They both began to weep and praise the Lord! Right before their eyes, God answered Tanners prayer and revealed Himself to Kier. The Lord proved to Keir that He is real, and still working in the world.

Tanner then asked Keir, “Do you want to accept Christ into your life.” After a very vigorous head nod, Keir prayed to receive Christ and is now walking with the Lord!  

What this unforgettable experience revealed to our team is that prayer is undeniably the most powerful blessing that the Lord has given us. It is what gives us confidence in our God when we ask anything according to his will—we know that He hears us! (1 John 5:14)

For Tanner and our team, saying goodbye to Keir and other friends left behind in Dunoon was very difficult. We know that there are so few believers to encourage them. His heart, along with ours is burdened to continue to pray for the youth of Dunoon and those we met in Glasgow. Especially for the few teenage believers like Keir to remain strong in the faith.

This work does not happen without you! Please pray for the Holy Spirit to continue to be at work, revealing himself to the students we are working with.  If God is not in this we are ineffective. And if we are not sent, they are not reached. More than ever, the need of your prayer is undeniable! 

SEPTEMBER 2014 PRAYER & PRAISES

· STUDENTS
Praise God for yet another incredible summer we had in Scotland. Continue to pray for the impact that has been made on students lives as they live for Christ in school this year.

· NEW BELIEVERS
We shared Christ with many Middle Eastern Immigrants and Scottish teens. Please pray for the Churches we served with; for effective follow-up and for encouraging new believers.

· NEW STAFF MEMBERS
This year Matt is helping with our Mobilization Department
to coach a number of new staff members joining Reign Ministries. Please pray for coaching wisdom, and for these new staff raising their support!

· OUR FAMILY
Please pray for our children as the new school year has begun (Nathan–6th grade, Abby–4th grade, Josh–1st grade & Rachel–Preschool). Pray that we maintain a healthy & Godly focus in our parenting.

PRAY FOR SCOTLAND

Though church steeples dot the 
horizon of this once missionary 
sending nation, Scotland is 
now officially an unreached 
people group with less than 
3% in church attendance.

“Pray all the time...Plead with him... keep praying earnestly for all Christians everywhere.” 
--Ephesians 6:18 (TLB) 

Hey Friends… By the time you receive this post-card we will be on our way to Scotland! Please pray for our July weeks of ministry!  

· Week 6—Ministry in Glasgow

· Week 7—Ministry in Glasgow

· Week 9—Ministry in Dunoon

· Week 9—Debriefing in London

· Week 10—Final Debriefing & Departure Home & REST!

There is a great need for missions work in Scotland today. The church in Scotland is no longer able to reach its own people with the gospel. Pray for the effective re-evangelization of Scotland. Pray for our church partners, for our team unity, spiritual growth, physical strength, safety in travel, wisdom and guidance, faith and courage in sharing the good news of Jesus, and changed lives in our outreach & service! 

After traveling on last years team, Jenni and the kids are excited to go again this year!  Our kids enjoyed participating in the Vacation Bible School last year and met some fun Scottish friends.  We stay in a very diverse community in Glasgow, and really enjoy learning about the immigrant cultures as well. Living out of duffle bags in Sunday school rooms - it's all worth it when we get to see God at work! 

EXCELLENCE IS WON BY TRAINING!

Perfectly aligned student tents
in military fashion communicate
excellence in everything we do
at Training Camp! Please pray
for our students in those tents
preparing for the mission field!

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”  --Colossians 3:23

Hey Friends… This week Matt heads to our Missions Training Camp for the month of June. At Training Camp, we strive for excellence in everything we do to best glorify & honor God! Our mission teams prepare ahead of time so when we storm the gates on the mission field, we hit the ground running!

· Week 1—Packing & Final Prep

· Week 2—Reign Staff setting up

· Week 3—Assistant Team Leaders Training

· Week 4—Staff Disciplers Training (College-age Students)

· Week 5—Student Training (about 300 HS students)

Wow, we are so excited! Pray for wisdom and team unity as Matt trains our Royal Servants Scotland Team for ministry abroad. Please also pray for physical, spiritual and emotional strength for our family as we all prepare to serve in Scotland and England July 1—30. Lastly, pray for extra funds in order to make our ministry possible. Thanks for your partnership through prayer and giving to our ministry—we appreciate you!

ONE SUMMER TO CHANGE A LIFE

Kaila is returning on Royal Servants
for her 6^th summer and will again be
reaching the unreached in Nepal.  

“You did not choose me, but
I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”  – John 15:16

Do you believe that it is possible for the life of one person to be radically changed over the course of just one summer? I do! This is one of the reasons I love serving with Royal Servants. For if it had not been for our 2009 Ireland Royal Servants team, Kaila Yim’s life may be totally different today!

MEET KAILA

Kaila Yim was one of my team members who was with us that summer in Ireland. Listen to the amazing work that God did in her life as she recalls her experiences with Royal Servants;

“God began to show me who He was; He painted a beautiful picture for me of His unending grace and that is something I have never let go of. During that summer in Ireland, I sensed the Lord leading me into full-time ministry. After a lot of praying, I applied and was accepted to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL.

While also serving with Royal Servants, Kaila found herself loving trekking through rice paddies and mud through  the Nepali mountains in order to rub lotion on lepers' hands and feet. Their outreach touched the hearts of the unreached Nepali people with the Gospel of Christ.  Her summer in Israel further convinced her of God’s calling.

“As God began to break off pieces of my old self that couldn’t be in my life anymore, I began to desire nothing but Him, His work, and His Kingdom… I would not be where or who I am today if God did not give me the opportunity to go on mission trips with Royal Servants.”

This spring Kaila graduates from Moody Bible Institute. God has led her to join full-time staff with Reign Ministries. This will be her 6th Royal Servants summer reaching the world for Christ. Kaila’s journey reminds us how God continues to appoint His people to go forth and bear fruit in the lives of others around the world.

Jenni and I are thrilled to be part of that yet another summer! In just a couple weeks, I’ll be heading out to serve at our missions training camp for the month of June. Jenni and our four children will again be traveling with me and our mission team for the whole month of July as we share the love of Christ in Scotland.  We’ll partner with the same church we served in last year as we reach out to the Asian immigrant community of Glasgow.

We look forward to how God will once again provide for us as we continue to empower and send out students like Kaila to reach the world. Thank you for your part! 

A TRUE SERVANT OF CHRIST (ROYAL SERVANTS ALUMNI)

Elizabeth has served on three
Royal Servants Mission trips,
including this past summer. 

Elizabeth has served on three Royal Servants Mission Trips. This includes last summer where she served as our family nanny in Scotland. Recently she shared with the Reign Ministries staff how her Royal Servants Mission Trips have impacted her life. Here is what she had to say;

Hello Reign Staff!
Thank you so much for your work with Royal Servants and all of the other ways you minister throughout the rest of the year! I am a Royal Servant alumni, and to this day I still use lessons I learned from my summers with Royal Servants.

My first trip was to Ireland in ’08 and it was led by Matt Halseth. From the first day at Training Camp until I came home, I learned who I am in Christ and that He has equipped me to do His will.

The next summer I was invited to go on the Nehemiah team (Alumni Leadership Team) led by Louie Inks. Thank you Louie for your incredible leadership! That summer, I learned the meaning of worship, leadership, and servant-hood. I learned more about the Bible than I ever had. Even after those two summers there have been multiple times that I've been able to use the lessons that I have learned on my summers as a student. 

Since my Royal Servants Trips, Galatians 2:20 has now become my life verse:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”   —Gal. 2:20

So again, thank you for teaching and training youth and young adults to be true servants of Christ!! -Elizabeth

We feel privileged to be part of the lives of students like Elizabeth. Through stories like these we are again reminded of the importance of this work. Thank you for the part you have to make it happen! We pray for God’s richest blessings for you!

“MEGA-FUN” WINTER RETREAT (FOR 3RD-6TH GRADERS AT CAMP LEBANON)

Last month Jenni and I organized a winter retreat for the 3rd-6th graders in our local church—Northbrook Fellowship.  We feel it is crucial for even younger children to have times away with their peers. This helps establish deeper Christian friendships, as well as being challenged to live their lives for Christ. The 25 participants all had an amazing time and came away challenged by the retreat theme of “Gratitude.” The only complaint was that the retreat was too short as everyone had MEGA-FUN!!