Calvary Union Church
Indiana—Cornfields sweep past in harvest yellows and browns, the sky dotted with clouds fluffy enough to sleep on. Native team members Amelio Lopez, Matt Moon and Jessica Witvoet were ecstatic to see their home state again; they know the scenery all too well. What an amazing joy to be coming home—not just for native team members, but for us all. Before we could even get off the bus, we were surprised by Encounter Alumni Jonathan Villanueva and Ethan Sherer standing by the side of the road to meet us! What an awesome treat! It was truly a joy to see our brothers once again and have a few days to spend with them catching up, fellowshipping and worshiping. It reminded us—especially for the second year team members—of what an awesome privilege it is to be on the team, and what amazing relationships God allows us to develop while we are here. On the first night, the team had a great time fellowshipping with the church family at a harvest party—with great food (we can't escape it!) and a good concert from a duet named Crossway. The night capped off with a hayride in the semi-darkness to showcase the stars. What an awesome, fun time! The team girls were excited to make their annual visit to the Stow house for an awesome afternoon with Tiffany—some enjoyable girl time and relaxation was had by all, the good times continued by a girl's sleepover on Thursday night with some great girls from the youth group. Tiffany—we love you so much, and are praying for you as God continues to draw you ever closer and closer to Himself. Girls—it was great to hang out with and get to know you—we praise God for you and hope his work continues to thrive in your lives each and every day! A week in Walton, Indiana, how can it be described? Maybe it is the sound of the wind, or the brilliant Indiana sunrises. Perhaps to get a glimpse, you would have to stand in the sanctuary and realize you can hear people all over the building talking, laughing, studying, and singing. Perhaps it is walking by Kevin and Toni Price with one of our team members, knowing they are having a great conversation. Maybe it is coming down to lunch or class and seeing any given member of the Stow family serving, talking, counseling, teaching and otherwise blessing them team. Better yet, perhaps it is hearing dear Merlin interject on Pastor Stow yet again, or seeing the love in his eyes for us all. Perhaps it is the easy laughter and responsive nature of the church family to dramas, songs and sign language. Whatever it is, we know it was a great week! Hearts were touched, lives were changed—congratulations to our new brother in Christ, Jimmy!—and what an honor it was to attempt in our feeble human bodies to honor our Lord and Savior. click on the following link to see photos from Calvary: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/calvary-union/[/url]
Rochester, New York
"Ready…Set…Go!" You could almost hear those words as the team bus pulled into First Bible of Rochester, New York. The excitement for the awesome opportunity of ministry with both the church in school was definitely tangible from the very first moment. If asked, each team member would give you a bright, slow smile and pleasant look when asked about the week. Our time in Rochester was jam-packed with amazing ministry opportunities and fun events. From ministering onstage at First Bible on Sunday for their large, enthusiastic crowd during the services to pulling out to head to Indiana Friday afternoon, the week was a blast, and we will all miss it—and the dear people—very much. Sunday began our ministry in Rochester, worshipping in the sanctuary and then heading off to the Cove with the teens for service. What a blessing to be able to share in small groups with the teens and get to know some of the youth group personally for those brief but sweet moments. The following day brought an adventure for the team—school was out, so we took the opportunity to visit the beautiful Niagara Falls, a sight that one can only leave in awe of the mighty Creator. A great picnic lunch on the grounds amidst the beautiful fall foliage with the distant rumbling and mist around us capped the day off beautifully. Our God truly is amazing in all that He does and has done! Wednesday night we again had the opportunity to minister to the church body of First Bible, and it is always a blessing to see them and worship with them. It was also an amazing thing for the team to be able to do sign language in this church, as First Bible has a great ministry to the deaf. It was amazing to watch their interpreters sign—and to sign ourselves—for the songs and services so that the deaf and hard of hearing have the opportunity to see the messages presented. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the team at the awesome privilege to get involved at Northstar Christian Academy, holding chapels in the morning with the high school students and on Wednesday and Thursday holding chapel for the elementary youngsters. It was great to get in touch with the students there—some of the team members had the joy of getting in touch again with those kids they had been small group leaders to the previous year or had the pleasure of having in the cabins over the summer. Each day was filled with worship, drama, and the Word of God preached by Tim and Ardy. Each night during the week, the team once again made short trek back to First Bible, where nightly Bible studies were held with the teens that came out each night. It was great to study the Word with them and have praise and worship each evening, not to mention hold bits of friendly competition each night between teams themed by countries where the church supports missionaries. Thursday night the team had an amazing, fun and faith filled evening at Northstar where they helped to host a youth event where teens had the opportunity to both have a great time and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. The event was held Olympic style, with each team participating in events to win points that eventually decided which team's missionary would receive a financial gift provided by the event. It was awesome to be involved in such an exciting, rewarding activity. Overall, Rochester once again stole our hearts, and as we pulled away we breathed a sigh—or maybe a yawn… but it was the yawn of the good kind of tired that people in ministry know, the tired that is a blessing and encouragement to feel—that perhaps because of your efforts Christ could impact and change lives, touch hearts and free minds. Rochester—God bless you, as you have blessed us. click on the following link to see photos from Rochester: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/first-bible-baptist/[/url]
Steelton Mennonite Church
Steelton is always a favorite for the Encounter team. The crowd was warm and encouraging, and they provided good food and even better fellowship. The team was only there for a Sunday morning service, but the day was enjoyed by all. The services were very God honoring, and it was a pleasure to see so many smiling faces in the crowd. We as a team had the pleasure of getting to know the congregation better during the afternoon meal, and many a team member came away with a sweet story to exchange and an encouraged heart. Our sincere thanks must extend to the church-goers who spent their time, energy and money to provide such a feast for us, and we pray God's blessing on their lives for their servanthood. click on the following link to see photos from Steelton: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/steelton-mennonite/[/url]
Bressler Bible Church
Bressler Bible Church was the Encounter team's first church for night services. It was a joy to spend time with the congregation each night, whether it was singing for them, caring for their children in the nursery or holding the kid's club meetings downstairs. It was evident the church had a welcoming, genuine spirit, and there were so many smiling faces in the crowd, it was often times hard to keep from smiling myself. A highlight of the week for the team was to meet Mrs. Laura Rhodes, a guest invited to the church who is deaf. The team had the awesome privilege of ministering to her through sign language and putting into practice the things learned. All of us rushed to introduce ourselves to her through sign, ask her how she was, and answer her questions. It was a joy, and many of the team members realized the amazing depth and opportunities that sign language presents both as a way to communicate and a way to make new acquaintances to glorify Christ. Bressler was a blessing, and the lingering presence of the Holy Spirit was an incredible comfort and encouragement. Our hearts go out to the congregation that left such an impact on us with the servanthood, sweet smiles and teachable spirits. click on the following link to see photos from Bressler: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/bressler-bible/[/url]
Shenandoah Baptist Church
In Roanoke, VA, Shenandoah's school and church were quite a blessing to the team. As our first church outside of the Harrisburg area, many team members were experiencing for the first time what it was to entrust themselves to a completely new family for their lodging. The experience was pleasant to all, and the atmosphere of the entire place was one of welcome and encouragement. It was a pleasure to have Philip Drake and Jimmy Van Dyck with us, both of which assisted the ministry at Shenandoah through chapels in the school and evening services. Their presence with us on the road was something similar to taking a little bit of camp with us, and not just in our hearts but real enough to say 'good morning' to each day. They certainly blessed us and we miss them still, as we miss all of our staff at home. Their ministry to us and to churches all along the East Coast cannot and should not go unappreciated. They are the structure we lean and depend on. The team was also privileged to hear Mr. Ernest Clark share his burden for the deaf of the world, during which many of us were challenged for deaf ministry and began to understand the gravity of the fact that there are 70 billion deaf in the world who need to hear the gospel. Mr. Clark's presentation was an intense challenge to look for people—any kind of person—who desperately need to hear the Gospel of God's love and sacrifice for them. Morning chapels at Shenandoah were definitely an event to remember. Each day we were greeted by the smiles of the students, and it was a wonderful sight to see so many students begin to develop relationships with their respective Impact Group leaders and other team members alike. Lunch became the time to fellowship, laugh a lot and ask those "getting-to-know-you" questions, whether it was at the end of Junior High lunch or at the beginning of Senior High lunch outside in the warm sun at the picnic tables. These special times made Saturday's departure more than difficult. Evening services were great, sweetened by dramas performed for perhaps the first time, new songs and the opportunity to meet more and more new people as the week went on. The congregation was receptive to the teaching of the word, as were their children and teens. Both clubs saw a great number of returning kids each night and were immensely blessed by their responses to the teaching. It was our joy to walk out into the parking lot at night and hear children trying to persuade their parents to bring them back again the next night so that they wouldn't miss time in Kid's Club. Overall the week was a very enjoyable one, and one that impacted—by the grace and to the glory of God—many lives for His name's sake. click on the following link to see photos from Shenandoah: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/shenandoah-baptist/[/url]
New Buffalo Alliance Church
The team was very encouraged to be in Josh Simmons’ home church for the better part of a week, fellowshipping with and ministering to the church family in New Buffalo, PA. It was an awesome week, and the church is well loved by many a team member. Sunday night was an exciting time for the team as they enjoyed the hospitality of the Frymoyer family, who opened their home for the team to come and have an activity with the church's youth-group and their host families. It was a delight to have the time to get to know the youth group members better, to have fun through games and water-sliding—a muddy but extremely exhilarating experience to those who participated—and to have a relaxing evening with church family. Each day before service, we had the chance once again to have necessary rehearsal time with Philip Drake, allowing the team to continue to polish their songs that they might more effectively minister through song. Then the team had the chance to use those songs to minister to the church body. Night services in New Buffalo were a pleasure, and each night seemed to carry with it a special blessing of its own—whether kids, teens or adult ministry. Glory to God for His work in our hearts each and every day. click on the following link to see photos from New Buffalo: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/new-buffalo-cma/[/url]
Honesdale Gospel Tabernacle
This week at Honesdale was one filled with sweet fellowship and great ministry. It was a pleasure for the team as we traveled the short distance between Harrisburg and Honesdale to see the amazing craftsmanship of our Creator—trees resplendent with color and the sun streaming down through the clouds to give the scenery a golden glow. God had certainly clothed that corner of the world in exceptional beauty, which added to the sweetness of arriving at Honesdale, which is for many—not only Honesdale native Stefanie Beals—like coming home. Our welcome is always warm and extremely encouraging to the team members. The team was extremely blessed by a member of the church supplying one of the days for our lunch at an amazing local restaurant, and we all enjoyed great pizza and time to be together. It was enjoyable time on all counts, and our sincere thanks go out to the one that made it possible to enjoy ourselves in such a way—it was certainly a great ministry to our hearts. On Sunday the team ministered at a retirement center in the area, and there was no end to the stories and handshakes and smiles we received that day. It was absolutely our privilege to get to hold the hands of those dear people and sing songs pointing them to our Lord. Some of those faces will be ingrained in our memories forever, as God used them to impact us in such a way. Nothing could replace that time with such dear people, their eyes aglow with the presence of "So many young people!" as many of them exclaimed when we went out to greet them. While at Honesdale, the team had the opportunity to catch up on several classes, such as the Disciplined life and Priorities. Both classes were extremely challenging. Our days also held promises of other ministries, such as being able to help in the Extension outreach of the church, which called for the team to minister to the children in the local school. It was a lot of fun to meet the kids, do a chapel with them, watch them delight in puppets and listen intently to Christopher St. Clair's teaching and then to head back to school with them for their final brief moments of the day. We also had an amazing time at a lunch with the widows of the church and community, experiencing even for just that short time a little bit of their lives, gleaning from their wisdom and fellowshipping with them over an amazing feast. They were truly a blessing to us. Services at Honesdale were also a great blessing. The church body's great responses made singing and ministering such an easy task; the atmosphere was one of worship. Kid’s Club was a great time for the team members and an immense thank you must go to the dedicated children at HGT for their amazing fund-raising skills. They raised a good deal of money for Banjara Tribal Ministries—and their efforts were rewarded by a surprise at the end of the week that must remain nameless but which was enjoyed by all! Teen club was enjoyed by both team members and teens alike, and it was amazing to see the interaction between HGT teens and the team members, especially those teens that had come to camp and known their respective counselors or other team members. Overall, the team's visit to Honesdale was an amazing one. If the beauty of God's creation at the beginning of the week could be any kind of foreshadowing, then the prediction was spot on. With God's glorious character in mind, we press on knowing there was sweet fellowship behind. click on the following link to see photos from Honesdale: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/honesdale-gospel-tabernacle-2//[/url]
Global Games Extension
Olympians Showdown with Titans at the Global Games Coliseum By Philip Drake Global Games Resident Professional (which means absolutely nothing!) The Olympians brought it strong in the latest showdown with their fierce competitors, the Titans! The contest was stretched out over 3 days and involved many grueling events such as Big Ball Bonanza, Extreme Frisbee, Big Ball V-ball, and the most heated of all events – Torch It! On October 1 at 5:30pm, competitors from Leesburg Christian School in Leesburg, VA stepped onto the property of the Global Games Village at Mt. Lou San at the base of Blue Mtn. for the first time as they began their 3-day quest for gold. The events at the Global Games Village, which many thought were over in early August, were extended for this 3-day matchup. The Encounter members once again assumed their roles as “coaches” to facilitate this epic scenario, as they quickly bonded with their “athletes” for maximum effectiveness. Apart from the rivalry, the athletes enjoyed spending worthwhile time with their coaches at the Global Games Chapel learning more about God’s pattern for their lives. They learned lessons on teamwork and unity in the body of Christ at the Low Ropes Training Course. Through the sport of geocaching, the coaches were able to help their athletes understand how God’s Word is like the GPS tracker that guided them through the woods to their treasure. And through a time set aside for personal devotions, the athletes were able to cultivate their relationship with their heavenly Father – many for the first time in a long while. Certainly, the highlight of this episode of the Global Games was the fireside testimonies shared by coaches and athletes alike, where it was evident that the events between the Olympians and the Titans took backstage to the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all those who attended the games. To the readers/subscribers of this issue of the Lou San Times: We thank God for this time with Leesburg Christian School and ask that you would please remember these students in your prayers. Many have made life-altering decisions and need the courage to stand up for those decisions, and the perseverance to carry them out. Thank you for your prayers and commitment to Mt. Lou San. We would encourage you to look for the next issue of the Lou San Times in the near future! God bless!
