February 2014

It’s a new semester! 

Usually the spring semester is about discipling the students that we were able to reach in the fall semester. By this time, students are pretty set in their routine until summer. We are gaining new students like crazy, though. Here is one that posted on Facebook about Christian Challenge. 

"It has been over a week now since I moved on to the campus of GCU. I was VERY nervous because I did not know what to expect… I am still trying to meet new friends to hang out with, but that is not as easy for me as it sounds since i am not that out going, but God had his hand in that situation. Yesterday afternoon as my friend Vincent and I went to get some lunch we ran into a friend of his who runs this thing called GCU Challenge, which is basically a group of college students from my school getting together and hanging out and having Bible studies and thing like that. I got Invited to the one of their Bible studies last night and afterwards we played Ultimate Frisbee , and when and at dinner at Thunder Alley, which was fun. Today we all met up and had lunch together, and tonight we are going to do another Bible Study. I am glade God has brought me some friends that I can hangout with and also have Him hangout with us.... This is going to me an awesome semester for me at GCU."

After knowing Robert for two days, I was walking by him as he was talking to two people and he asked me to come over and explain what Christian Challenge is. As a self proclaimed not outgoing person, he has already been reaching out to others. 

His passion has already spread to others in our group and has sparked a desire to reach more students. Pray that we can keep these students because right now we have a group filled with very strong personalities. 

Please pray that the new students coming in will help balance our group out and that the new students going to the winter retreat will connect.       

Overturning Temple Tables

Over the years, I’ve worked with a few students who, to put it nicely, were difficult. I am working with one difficult student right now who at the very end of last semester, I felt called to be very forward with him. (To put it nicely. I was pretty harsh and combative, but not without reason.)

This student has made it a goal to make life miserable for his Christian roommate for his beliefs even though he claims to be a believer himself. He was swayed by the atheist who was also a roommate to double team him.   

He was in the lunch area, so I sat down and started talking to him, after building a relationship with him for a semester. He started talking about how he didn’t like reading the Bible because he felt like he knew it all. He talks like this because he thinks it will make me mad, which he likes to do. I asked when he stopped reading, and he said junior year, so I just launched back, “So, you have the equivalent of a high school dropout’s understanding of the Bible?” I haven’t let him get under my skin, but I will joke and jab him like he tries to do me. He had no real answer for that and we continued talking. I went on tell him since he found the Bible boring that he might not have the Holy Spirit, and on the spectrum of his super Christian roommate and his atheist one, he was far closer to the atheist one in his thoughts in actions. 

After the Holy Spirit started convicting him, we got to a point where I could ask, “Wouldn't it be a good thing to desire God more?” He couldn't disagree, and so I asked, “Would you be willing to give an hour a week to try to get there by going through some Scripture with me?”

I felt like I threw over his temple table, but he is now coming to Bible studies and we have a time set up to meet together once a week. Pray for “S” that he will follow through and meet with me and that he won’t try to shut God out.    

 Powers Update: Colton and Hendrix Ask Jesus to Forgive Their Sins

Well, we were blessed with a day that we have prayed for since God created Colton and Hendrix.   Sweet Colton bowed his head and said, "Jesus, please forgive me of all of my sins." And then his face LIT UP and he said excitedly, "ALL MY SINS ARE FORGIVEN!!!" Dallas and Hendrix came in and celebrated with us and then Dallas shared the whole Gospel w/ Hendrix and asked if he wanted to. He said, "Not now." Dall said, "well, when you're ready, tell us." 3 or 5 minutes later, he did.

Then we had a party!!! (That was really more like a laid back dinner, including homework for Dallas, but DID involve DQ icecream!) They were yelling, "We are CHRISTIANS!!!"

Colton asked me (Jamie) to "show me Jesus Christ" on an Evangecube that Dallas has and I did and walked him through the whole Truth and when I said, "He died so that our sins could be forgiven," he said, "But not ALL of my sins. I still have some." I said, "No, Baby.  ALL of our sins." and he said, "All of grownups sins, but not kids'." I said "ALL sins for ANYONE who asks Him." He bowed and asked Jesus to forgive him. 

Support that doesn't cost a penny: Choose Where Your State Tax Dollars Go

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 4/15/14, it can count dollar for dollar against your owed state tax dollars and help us with Dallas’ Christian education (please use his name and email for his school's name (jamiempowers@yahoo.com). 

All about what God did at Winter Retreat next newsletter, but here are some pictures: 

Bryan (with some of the band) sporting his “Winter Retreat mustache” (which made for endless jokes)

We took the boys for the first two days 

Pastor Byron Banta preached and God used him to speak into the hearts of students and leaders, convicting and inspiring

How God Used You; 
We could not do this ministry without our team:

- Making disciples who are making disciples  
- Great worship community
- Students’ roommates getting involved 

Thank You for Your Prayers!

Please pray…

- Colton and Hendrix surrendered to Christ!
- Brian at ASU Downtown
- Sarah at South Mountain CC. 
- Hallams serving in Alaska
- We need a new roof and new AC unit.
- Our guys group 
- The strong personalities to be soft to God and new people.
- Ryan as he comes on staff 
- Orphans in Mexico 
- Us to train our boys up in a Godly way. 
- Our support
- Sanctuary Church 
- More salvations

How can we pray for you?