Year-End ERM Report

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:56:27 -0800

COME JOIN US TO IMPACT THE WORLD

“Call unto Me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things,
which thou knowest not.” Jeremiah 33:3

HYDERABAD, INDIA
As we look ahead to the New Year, it is exciting to know that 2300 children in Hyderabad, India will be cared for, protected, educated and taught to honor and obey the Lord. In a culture where children are abandoned, neglected and abused, it is refreshing to know that the children at the Banjara Tribal Ministries campuses are being blessed by gifts and sacrifices of many here in the states. As we look to the future, the plans are to complete the housing structures to adequately care for the children and provide clothes, text books, food and other basic needs. What a joy to know that if our Lord should tarry, literally thousands of young people are being trained to go back into their world and share the Good News of the Gospel!

ZAMBIA, AFRICA
In a dark and desperate land, a light of help and witness in the form of the African Encounter Revival Ministries teams is shining. Under the direction of a dedicated national Christian evangelist, these teams of young people are joining together to minister the truths of God’s Word through song, testimony and preaching.

However in the months to come, the ministry will be broadened to meet the physical needs of poor, needy and the hungry. Through the outreach of the Mission of Mercy, the African Encounter teams will have the facilities and farm animals to provide eggs for needed protein and hogs and cattle for meat. As these food items are provided at a very reduced cost, the starving and undernourished children will have some necessary food items. Along with this outreach, the Food Distribution center in town will be open daily to provide case rice, maize meal, milk, meat and vegetables for those in great need.

DISCIPLESHIP
Encounter continues to have great numbers of college-age young people apply for a year of ministry and training on the Encounter team. Traveling from state to state, the team members are involved in church, youth and Christian school ministries. Along with these opportunities, the young people are taking classes. The reading and teaching in these courses includes apologetics, missions, life management, developing godly relationships, marriage, finance management and other studies related to being a more productive and effective Christian with the goal of impacting the world with the truths of God’s Word. Adding unique exposure and ministry opportunities, the team travels to another country to share the goodness of God and the joy of the Good News.

YOUTH CAMP
Hundreds of teens and junior age children continue to make Mt. Lou San Bible Camp their summer experience for fun, activities, great food and spiritual challenge and help. The attendance continues to grow, and the days ahead will surely be the same.

I trust that you are blessed to get just a glimpse of what God is doing through this ministry and that you will join us in prayer and financial investments to continue impacting the world with the Word of God. In these days of challenge and darkness, it brings great joy to see souls liberated by the Gospel and refreshed by serving and obeying the Lord.

Please consider joining us to impact the world. I remember what was said about commitment. “I am just one. I can’t do everything, but I can do SOMETHING.” Would you prayerfully consider joining us to impact and change the world with God’s Good news?

Thank you so much for considering Encounter in your praying and giving.

Year-End Camp Report

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 13:23:12 -0800

Recently in my reading, I was reminded by Warren Wiersbe that the greatest need a person has is to be rightly related to Jesus Christ. If a person is lost, he needs to repent of sin and receive the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. If a person has trusted Jesus as Savior, he needs to make sure his life is in tune with the words, will, and way of Jesus.

Mt. Lou San Bible Camp’s greatest function is to assist children and teens in becoming rightly related to Jesus. Allow me to relate a couple of brief stories from 2008 to encourage you.

A seventeen-year-old girl had been attending Mt. Lou San for 5 years. This young lady came from a very difficult home situation; she had very little church background. On Friday night, this girl stood up in front of all the campers and shared that after 5 years of fighting the decision, she had trusted Christ as Savior. She also indicated her desire to attend a Christian college, so she could be rooted in God’s Word.

A sixteen-year-old boy approached his counselor after one of our evening services. The message that evening had related to cleaning out your mind and keeping it clean. This young man admitted that he was addicted to pornography. For over three years, he had looked at magazines and visited websites that had enslaved him. What an unbelievable experience to witness this young man gain forgiveness for his sin and then take steps for accountability and victory!

These are just a few examples of how God used a week of camp to bring young people into a right relationship with Christ. Not only were campers testifying in this way, but staff members also shared how God challenged them to live in obedience to God’s Word. As we rejoice in God’s goodness in the past and consider how God would have us minister in the future, we realize there are some very specific things we need to do to be good stewards of what God has given us.

HOT WATER HEATER
When we upgraded the shower house in our cabin circle last year, we installed Rinnai hot water heater systems. These have been extremely effective and efficient, using propane instead of fuel oil and heating water on demand instead of all the time. In order to bring the dorms at the Drake and the Lodge to the same level of effectiveness and efficiency, we are trusting God for $9,000 to install 6 tankless water heaters. To help financially, click here and select 'Water Heater' from the drop down list.

WOOD-BURNING FURNACE
Two of our staff housing units use fuel oil and propane for hot water and heating. By installing a central boiler wood furnace, we will eliminate the fuel bill for these buildings (which was $8,800 in 2008 and will certainly rise in the future) and more effectively heat the buildings. To make this furnace a reality, we are trusting God for $11,000. To help financially, click here and select 'Furnace' from the drop down list.

I hope you can see how beneficial these upgrades will be for the camp ministry in the long-term. While there is some upfront expense, thousands of dollars will be saved annually, allowing us to invest in direct ministry to youth. Would you consider joining us in the effort of leading people to a right relationship with God by giving toward these necessary improvements?

I appreciate your prayer and concern for the ministry. We look forward to an incredible year at Mt. Lou San in 2009!

For the work of the ministry,

Jimmy

ERM team launches Fall tour with new bus!

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:06:27 -0700

The ERM team's departure to Roanoke, VA on September 20 was very special. It was their first trip in the new bus. The previous bus was no longer mechanically or economically sound, so it was necessary to make this transition. To find out how you can help in this project, click here.

New Team Hits the Road

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 06:00:40 -0700

After several weeks of rehearsal and training, the 2008-2009 ERM team began ministry in local churches September 14 at Bressler Bible Church in Bressler, PA. Please keep them in prayer throughout the fall as they travel to Virginia, New York, Indiana, Michigan and various locations in Pennsylvania to bring the message of revival and spiritual renewal in church and school settings. We encourage you to follow the team's progress throughout the fall on our blog and photo gallery.