February 2012

 How are my donations used in Christian Challenge?


- You are creating a position in ministry that would not be there without you. 


- You become part of a team that reaches students for Christ who are not being reached by a typical church. 


- You allow there to be light on a spiritually dark campus of 15,000 students. 

What type of donations are the most helpful?


- A regular monthly donation helps provide a consistent salary for this huge ministry task.   


- One prompted by God. He is the Provider, and He does so through His people. 
         
- One which you want to see make a difference all over Arizona. 

 Winter Retreat


We took our annual Christian Challenge wide winter retreat in Pinetop. It was amazing as usual. We had students from all over Phoenix. Dallas went too and made a new best friend.


Our group was in charge of worship after the worship leader had to back out due to family illness. A week before we left, we had no one at all for worship, with all of the people we usually ask busy or out of town. After much prayer, God brought together a team. It was by far the best worship experience that we have had in Christian Challenge. 


Since the worship team came together so late, we ended up doing all of our practices when we got there. We must have played for 15 to 20 hours that weekend. It was well worth it when I was playing bass and I looked down in the middle of one of our songs and saw a student that I had never met before, from another campus, with arms raised as far up as they would go, tears streaming down her face, singing her heart out. 
The worship coming together at the last minute was not the only place God moved. We had a speaker, Dr. David Johnson, the president of Golden Gate Seminary, bring so much insight to the Sermon on the Mount. The students were touched by his knowledge and passion, and his story about his son, Jeremiah, who died on the mission field. 


Some of Jeremiah’s last words here in the states were, “I’m all in.” After David shared that, the students began to think about what was holding them back from being “all in.” It became the “all in” trip.     


When students walk away from the winter retreat, they usually talk about how much fun it was, but this time students walked away talking about how they had been challenged. It was because God moved in every part of the retreat. 

New Bible study leader!


One of our students sat down with me and told me how God has been pressing on her about leading Bible studies downtown. This is what we’ve been praying for! Kelsey and Ryan have both been so amazing, but this is my last semester with them. Heather will be a great addition to the team and will be living on campus which gives the girls an opportunity to be with their leader more. 


I’ve also found a freshman guy who I’m going to start discipling and pouring into like I have Ryan. He’s been a Christian for about seven months and comes out of a life of partying. We’ve seen him grow over this last semester in Bible study and I think he’ll be ready next year to be a big help. He has a passion to reach the lost which is refreshing to see.


Be praying for these new students and for Ryan and Kelsey who have a little boy on the way.  

Powers Update


We are halfway through Dallas’ first year of elementary school! What an amazing time! His school only goes through Kindergarten (preschool-K), so we have toured and prepared for his new school. He could not be more excited! At the Open House the 4th graders recited (from memory) how Jesus is in each book of the Bible…from Genesis to Revelation. I (Jamie) got goosebumps and wanted to say “Amen!” over and over. At the end, they passionaltey said Who Jesus is and it was MOVING. I know this is where God has His Dallas for 1st grade and I am SO thankful! 


Hendrix and Colton are sweeter and smarter with each day! All three brothers still (thank God!) adore and love each other. Many kisses, hugs and playing together bless this mommy’s heart. The two-year-olds are soaking up all the knowledge they can. Hendrix “counts to ten.” “One, two, three, five, eight, nine, TEN!!!” They LOVE animals, Elmo, Diego, “choo choo twains,” church, AWANAS, going ANYwhere in the car and so much more. Sweet little boys. 


Support that doesn't cost a penny…


AZ residents, if you have State tax liability, PLEASE consider donating it and getting credit for paying it.  http://www.acsto.org/  If donated by 4/15/12, it can count dollar for dollar against your owed state tax dollars (for 2012) and help us with Dallas’ Christian education (please use his name). 

How God Used You; 

We could not do this ministry without our team:

- “All In” Winter Retreat

- Great trip to Mexico

- New Bible study leader

- Discipling

- Counseling

Thank You for Your Prayers!

Please pray…

- Heather, our new Bible study leader

- Ryan and Kelsey’s baby

- New church!

- Healing with losing Madison Grace 

- Handling two campuses

- Kids in Mexico

- Us to train our boys up in a Godly way. 

- Our support

- Sanctuary Church 

- More salvations

How can we pray for you?