Public School Ministry Update!!

This week I have had the opportunity to engage several students with the word. Several of these students have been branded has hopeless or impossible kids. Some of these kids simply have a bad family life, and with the current economic problems it places extra strain on their parents.

Yesterday I worked with the intervention department. This is the schools equivalent of a police station. They bring all the kids that get into fights, disrupt class, harass the teacher, harass other students etc.. Policy states that no student shall violate another students right to learn.

I was called to pick up two kids from music class yesterday that got into a fist fight. It's funny how the aggressor is the one that always claims to be innocent. Just like our kids at church eh. Once brought in to IR you have to interview the student...and many times you find out that most of these kids have some major things going on in their lives. If you don't mind being branded as a cop then its really a great place to minister.

Sometimes I find my self really feeling troubled at all the obstacles facing these kids. Nevertheless many of the teachers feel that angels fly around this school. You know I agree.

Please pray for this school. I can't mention it by name,because I don't want to blow my cover. If you would like to know you can email me at keithandcornelia@gmail.com.

God bless you all!!!!!

We're Back!!!

Hello everyone! Well it's been a while since we last blogged you. We have been so busy that we just have not had time to do the blog.

Since we last talked we were surprised with very cold weather and SNOW! Hey you know how unpredictable that March weather is here in Georgia.

This video was taken off my back porch. Man isn't that just beautiful?

This is our daughter Kaitlyn (pictured above)...She was really enjoying the snow. Just look how large the flakes are.

Unfortunately we were not able to visit our mission on Monday, but we did get there today.

Snow was a huge topic at homework help today. We herd all about it today as we returned to our regular schedule.

We were able to finally get our newsletter out today, so if you have been wondering what happened to it you should have in your box tomorrow.

I am going to try to get on track with the blogging thing, so stay tuned for more tomorrow.

Two Great Days!!!

Man the last two days were great. I spent the bulk of Thursday riding with my partner-supervisor Tim Cummins. I always love it when I get the opportunity to spend time with him. His energy is so contagious it makes you tired. Friday I spent time in the field with my lovely wife Cornelia. Boy it sure was good to have her working with me.

Our first stop Thursday was at a pastors conference at Clarkston International Bible Church. All these international congregations serve the community from one common building. Scheduling is strict but organized. Lunch was provided by Chik-fil-a.We left Clarkston to meet up with our partner in the Peachtree Corners Matt Johns. Last Fall, with the help of our partners from Perimeter, Matt and Tim started new work at Sturbridge Square apartments off of Howell Bridge. Yesterday we met the apartment manager and her staff to firm up a start date for the new mission. They are really strong Christians and are fired up about getting the help. This place is loaded with potential and I am sure that Matt will really be able to advance the Gospel here.

We prayed for the manager and her staff and practically had church in the leasing office. It was really good stuff.

We ended up our day helping Ian and Ruthy North with legistic regarding their ministry site. They are our newest team and serve in one of the more dangerous areas inside the perimeter.

Yesterday Cornelia and I spent all day working in the field. Last Wednesday I was late arriving at the mission. I could hear kids in the mission room loud, wild, and out of control. As I approached the door it was closed and locked. That's never a good sign. I could hear kids saying put it in your book bag man!!!...so I began to bang on the door. The door opened and the look on the kid's faces was that of "we have been caught." The ring leader was a kid named Oscar. So after talking to him, I told him he could not come back to the mission for one week. Tough love I know, but with these kids you have to be tough sometimes. Unfortunately it looks like they had been coming in the room regularly on days we are not there. Most of our school supplies were gone along with toys and part of our library books. But let's be reminded the reason we are there is because kids and adults like this need Jesus!So Friday morning we went to Home Depot and bought a new dead bolt lock to install on the door. Now we can keep it permanently secured so they can not enter at their will. While I installed the lock and placed the room back in order, Cornelia reorganized our storage space and restocked the shelves with supplies that we store at home. We will try to get our books back, but it might take time to get the guilty kids to fess-up.

Today we have Youth Outreach United, one of our partner organizations, coming to do recreation ministry with the kids. One thing you learn quick in this business is that you can not do it alone. It takes many approaches to win a community to Jesus.

We appreciate all of you that continue to track our progress through this blog. Please pray for us as we continue to serve in a difficult community.

The Mission

Monday we showed up at the mission a little late. The management had let the kids in to the mission room, and they were tearing the place up. We have a lock on the door, but the management wont give us a key. I had a great conversation with the kids about that being there room and how important it is to take good care of all God as in trusted us with. I ended up having to send Isaid home because he had gotten a chair and was handing out candy from the treasure box on the very top shelf of our storage shelves. I sent him home and told him he could not come back for one week. That's just the way it is with these kids. We love them,but occasionally we have to give them a little tough love as well. I'll let him come back next week.

We went by today to check on the kids. It was early release day from school, so most of the kids were already in their houses. We have an event scheduled for Saturday. Our partner, Meghan, will be bringing a group from Youth Outreach United to play games and share the Gospel with the kids.

Sunday me, Cornelia , Kaitlyn and friends went to the "Winter Jam" concert. I had the opportunity to go back stage and meet Toby Mac.

He seemed to be a very Godly man focused on getting the gospel message to the kids. It was a big thrill. Unfortunately Kaitlyn was a little upset because she has always dreamed of meeting him. Maybe one day she will get her opportunity. Unfortunately I left my camera behind with Cornelia and was not able to get the photographic proof.

I also had the opportunity to meet my hero "Toddie Funk" the bass player for the Diverse City Band (Toby Mac's bass player). From one bass player to another we talked about music styles, gear, and the types of bass guitars we like to play. It was a great conversation. Cornelia said that I was trying to relive the glory days back when I stood in Toddie's shoes. Hey and I did not forget my camera this time. Oh yeah...the photo is courtesy of Kaitlyn my daughter. She was excited too.

Tomorrow I get to to spend the day with my partner Tim Cummins. It's been awhile since we have seen each other and I am look forward to the days activities. I will blog again tomorrow to let you know what we did.

We Love You All!

Feeling Blessed

It's good to know that our Lord is in total control of every aspect of our life.

Recently we have had great ministry happening at Villas Nueva. We continue to work hard to share Jesus. We also wanted you to know that we plan to expand our days of ministry to four or five days instead of two. Our homework help program is going well and we plan to expand the days of operation to Monday - Thursday. We have added an additional ministry. We are now providing art and craft lessons to the residents in combination with a bible study and sharing of the Gospel.

Our public school ministry continues to develop. Currently we have shared the Gospel with over 100 students. We have also built an allegiance with several teachers as well. So far we have not had any substantial objection from school administration and the Lord continues to shield us as we discreetly do our work.

Other items of interest is a Saturday rec programs provided by Youth Outreach United and Parkview Christian Church on alternating Saturdays. We are so grateful to have substantial partners to help us minister.

Please pray that the Lord will bless use spiritually and He will give us the go ahead to expand into the community.

Much Love

2009 and Beyond

I hope you are doing well and dwelling in the love of our awesome God!

It’s easy these days to get caught up in all the trappings of negative thoughts. We are being virtually drowned by negativism, but bare in mind that despite everything we hear and read, our God is still in control. It's not uncommon for life's hard times to be portrayed in Scripture as storms. And that's appropriate because storms are often situations where you have no control over your outcome. Maybe like the situation you're in right now: medically, financially, or in your family, your business, maybe your ministry. It's "out-of-control" time. It's storm time.

This brings to mind a scripture from the Word of God in Nahum 1:3. It’s a wonderful anchor verse buried in one of those often-neglected Minor Prophet books in the Old Testament. "The Lord has His way in the whirlwind and the storm." Out of control? Yours, yes. His, no.
Maybe the winds in your life are intensifying right now. You can't find the things that you've always navigated by and the flood of your frustration and fear is rising. Listen, everything is under control. If you relax and you let God navigate, you are in for a wonderful surprise when the storm passes. The storm that blew you around so violently was actually blowing you home.

We have had the opportunity to be involved with some really wonderful partners in 2008. Many individuals gave time to our ministry work. Sunday school classes, youth groups, college students, and adults came and ministered providing food, crafts, games, love and gifts. But above all they came in the name of Jesus to share His word. We received donations of Bibles and New Testaments. Over 40 families received God’s word into their home in their own language. We were blessed after speaking to a women's group, when they all gathered around us and laid hands on us and prayed for the Lord to bless our ministry. God sent us a donation of a car that we gave to a man who had no way to work except mass transit. He also sent us computers, toys, clothes, musical instruments and much needed school supplies as well as monetary gifts and most of all precious time.

Thank you partners for your support. Your notes of encouragement and interest in our ministry means so much to us. Please remember to pray for us in 2009 as we look past worldly fears and expand our ministry. We are relying on Him to provide even in the storm. What a blessing it is to know you will be praying for God to help us work out the details.

Family Day!!

Today we made plans to have a family day outing. We have not done that in quite awhile. I decided to take Cornelia, Jaime, and Kaitlyn to Amicalola Falls hiking. Jaime and Kaitlyn had never been there before so it was fitting that we show them something new. Amicalola Falls is the highest water fall west of the Mississippi. It is also the approach point of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia.

Jaime and Kaitlyn catching a little rest break as we approach the half way point of a really steep climb!Here is a picture of Jaime at the Half-way platform. And the picture below shows you the view that we saw.

Finally we made it back down to the bottom...boy the view was really something. We sure had a good time!!!

To update you on our ministry work. Lately we have basically been down to doing everyday ministry. The homework help outreach has been running around 15-20 kids and sometimes 25 kids and we have been able to share Jesus with several individuals.

We are working hard right now to plan for 2009. We want to do and be our best for you as we continue to build relationships with immigrants. Our goal is to share Jesus with the lost of all ages.

The public school ministry is going great. I had the opportunity to share Jesus with six older kids last week. The kids were really receptive and want to hear more. Unfortunately I just can't let my efforts disrupt school or they my ask me to leave. Please pray for people to be made ready by the Holy Spirit as we share the Gospel.

Thanks you for reading our blog. We appreciate you dropping by. Our news letter will be coming out soon with more detailed information.

We Love You All!