Summer discipleship program
We have finalized our plans for the summer "Blaze" discipleship program. Together with our team here in Iowa we have decided to divide the program into three modules. Modules 1 and 2 will be identical and held here in Dubuque. The third one will be an intense missions trip to Peru. A student can choose to come to only one of the modules or any combination of the three. Our goal is to walk in discipleship while trying to impact the head, heart and hands...... Head: We want to study the Bible, Church history, Missions and Apologetics.... Heart: We want to have rich times of worship, reflection, rest and prayer.... Hands: We want to take what we are learning to the world while doing evangelism in a variety of ways. The "Blaze" program is for single people 18 years and older. Module #1: June 4-23 in Dubuque IA. Cost: $750.... Module #2: July 9-28 in Dubuque IA. Cost: $750.... Module #3: July 30-Aug 15 In Peru. Cost: $1500.... Those prices include travel costs and room and board. To apply or get more information please go to www.EmmausInternational.com/blaze
Spark Florida
Ten days ago Amy and I were in sunny, beautiful Florida at "Camp Horizon" near Orlando. We didn't have any time for Sea world or Disney world but that doesn't mean that we didn't enjoy ourselves! We had a blast being part of our third LIT discipleship event which we called "SPARK Florida". It was an intense time of ministry with lots of teaching, discussion, prayer, worship and evangelism. Brethren came from Miami, Tampa, Augusta and even Boston to learn, be encouraged, and to talk about discipleship. It was a tremendous time as a bunch of "Sparks" came together with the goal of catching each other fire for the Lord. We are really grateful for what God is doing!
Evangelism
One of the things that we did at Spark Florida was some one-on-one evangelism at a nearby mall. It was an impacting and memorable time for everyone! We had some really great conversations, handed out a lot of tracts and even had a profession of faith when one of the evangelists shared the gospel with a lost soul whose heart the Holy Spirit had obviously prepared before hand.... The devil was at work too though, and after about 45 minutes we were kicked out of the mall by the security guards. They claimed that it was against the law to talk to people that we didn't know, irregardless of the subject....????.... We didn't argue with them but rather gave the mall-cops some gospel tracts and then politely left. The evangelists were actually quite encouraged by the kick-out.... It kinda felt like persecution for the cause of Christ (what a small thing compared to what Christians suffer in other places around the world).
Quichua Follow-up
Some of you have been praying for Umberto (the Quichua man that I was able to share the gospel with a few weeks ago). We have been meeting twice a week to study the Bible together! Please keep praying for him as the Lord is really working on his heart. I have since found out that he is part of a Quichua community that lives in Chicago. Umberto drives the three hours to Dubuque every Monday and stays through Friday to sell his "artesenia" goods in his storefront at the mall. He told me that if his fellow Chicago-quichuas knew he was reading the Bible with me they would mock him relentlessly. Apparently he has a reputation as a tough guy, leader and drinker.... Not too hard for the Lord :) .... He plans to shut down his business at the Dubuque mall in the next few weeks and as soon as it warms up he will begin traveling to different "festivales" in the midwest to sell his Ecuadorian imported goods (this is what the whole quichua community from Chicago does from May to September). I need to make the most of our time studying the scriptures together before he leaves town!
Missions quote for the day by Oswald J. Smith:
“The church that does not evangelize will fossilize.”
Micah for the Tuttle's
