June/July Update
Dear Friends and Partners,
First of all, thank you for your support and prayers. You are a part of everything that has happened, (and there have been some incredible things happening)! Our faithful God has been amazing!
TEXAS AND BEYOND
+ After a great meeting the first week of June with our National Network staff in Cincinnati, I had the privilege of leading a Sports Camp at Great Oaks Church in Richmond, Texas, working with volunteers from three local churches. We saw 2 children saved and 3 families reached as we worked to help revitalize the church. I also served as Volleyball Pastor at Declaration Church and their Sports Camp. There were around 250 participants and at least 75 children who responded to the gospel.
+ We had a tremendous team lead our training at the Cotton Bowl “Together 22” event in Dallas where we trained 185 leaders and students in sharing gospel conversations, networking, and a Prayer/Care/Share strategy for the upcoming year. Over 10,000 were trained during the large event in the stadium and we distributed 850 network/resource bags for ministries to use in preparation for the school year. A network partner, Jadon Sherrill, led music for our event and also led worship at a number of camps this summer, promoting NNYM and building relationships with youth pastors.
+ In July, I led a team from Declaration Church and Chambers Creek Baptist in Grandview on a mission trip to Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, working with 4 church plants. We worked along with National Network leader, Phil Ball, to train students from one of the Portland churches for a 9-Month Mission Trip and gospel sharing on their campus. We also worked with Crosspoint West Church in Vancouver with their sports camp, worshiping with them and sharing with some Muslim children in the neighborhood. Our team also shared our testimonies and taught Bible lessons with Zomi Bethel Church in Portland at their July 4th play day, and facilitated an outreach the following day. Our last project was prayer walking and park outreach with another new church plant in Portland and we were able to build relationships with more than 150 people. The 4 pastors want us to return next year. At the end of that week, I had the privilege to baptize 3 new Christ-followers at Cannon Beach, Oregon. (Wet suits were a great idea!)
+ At 220 Camp in Waxahachie with Declaration Church, I served, invested in leaders, taught, and led some worship in Bible study groups. God moved in a powerful way during that week, and lives were changed forever. There were many new or fresh commitments to Christ.
+ The last week of July, I served as a missionary speaker for the Paisano Family Camp in Marfa, Texas. I also got to lead a bit of worship one night. The people were very responsive as I shared about my mission involvement over the years locally, nationally, and globally, and about my current position. While there, I met an FCA leader from Fort Davis. He is coming to Houston in mid-August, and I get to train him (along with key leaders in Montgomery) in Jesus-Focused Youth Ministry (JFYM). He will help us develop strategic networks in West Texas as well.
INTERNATIONALLY
+ I met a new friend on Facebook through mutual friends; Pastor Arif Ashiq from Pakistan back in June. He saw the ministry I was doing and invited me to train his people on zoom. He is with the Hope Network there and works with 500 churches. He came to the U.S. in July and our JFYM/NNYM team introduced him to our JFYM strategy, which he will take back to his churches. His organization also works with micro-businesses, freeing those enslaved as brick workers, medical ministry, water wells, and disaster relief. My son-in-law, Jason, also met with him on zoom, connecting him to Links International for possible future ministry.
Again, thank you for partnering with us as we work to make a lasting and eternal impact on our world.
Blessings,
Rick
PRAYER PARTNERS: Please continue to pray for:
My investment in Declaration Church and leading worship part-time at Calvary Baptist in Rosenburg.
See You at the Pole, increasing the number of networks and leaders, and promoting the 9-Month Mission Trips in schools as we get ready for the fall.
Movement DFW is doing ground-breaking work. We will meet with 150 leaders globally in September for a strategic meeting to see a spiritual awakening around the work and prevent the next generations from leaving their faith. Please pray for students, educators, and leaders as the school year begins. Our goals this year: a Healthy Network within reach of every youth leader, a prayer/care/share ministry on every campus, and spiritual revival globally.
