Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Life in His Name, Happenings . . .


This has been a year of transition for our family.  Eileen homeschooled our children Josiah, Evie and Luke for 5 years with some amazing help from her Mom and Patti Bozman!  It was a wonderful season!  Last Fall the children went to public school; for Evie and Luke it was their first time in public school - 5th & 4th grades at Northern Shores Elementary.  They are both doing very well.  Josiah attended kindergarten and 1st grade at the same elementary school and is now at John Yeats Middle School as a 7th grader, also doing good!  Eileen jumped right back into teaching 4 year-olds at Kinderprep as well as catering some events at the local Hilton Garden Inn.  It has been a good transition for us all.  There is certainly the challenge of what the children are exposed to in school.  It’s not easy for any parent to navigate, but we’re keeping open lines of communication and trying to disciple our children as followers of Jesus.
Summer fun on a fishing trip on the James River.
Devon, Chiereme & Korinda were 
with me at a District Youth Event

Being full time at Virginia Wesleyan College is a good thing!  There are open doors all over to share Christ with the students.  Our emphasis on Jesus’ method of small group ministry in order to know and understand His teachings and to embrace His life, His death and resurrection are central.  
We have more than a dozen different offerings during the week for students to connect with and our worship gathering: SOAR on Sundays.  I continue to serve as an Evangelist and take students with me.  They are often sharing testimonies, words of encouragement, singing or sharing  ‘spoken word.’  There is good time for mentoring and discipleship on these trips.  Marlin Ministries, the name of our campus ministry at VWC, has a vision to evangelize and disciple students who in turn reach out off campus as well.  College students have a lot of energy and passion – when they embrace Jesus and His good news it is powerful! 
Myles loving life at Camp Hope Haven!
We can go out without hiring a babysitter!

A great example is Myles Shipp, who served as an intern with me at the College.  He grew up in the church, but didn’t know the love of God in and through Jesus.  It was awesome to see him grow in his understanding and then receive Christ as Savior and Lord.  Myles served at Camp Hope Haven in Virginia Beach this past summer.  It is a Christian camp for children who cannot afford camp – a tremendous ministry!  Now Myles is beginning his second semester at Denver Seminary!  God is amazing and specializes in changing people’s destinies!  We actually had 7 VWC students go on to seminary last Fall!      

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

We are gearing up for another trip to Nicaragua over Spring Break, March 25 - April 1.  We have 14 students going, 7 are returning from the previous trip.  In addition, I'm thrilled that I have two wonderful friends and partners in the Gospel going: Robin Jones, a registered nurse, who has served in mission in Afghanistan, Africa, Jamaica and in country.  Alex Fanjul will be with us as well.  Alex and his wife Judith served for 8 years with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Nicaragua and other parts of Latin America.  
This will be the 3rd VWC trip.
Jonathan Burke with precious cargo!
 The VWC ladies with the women of Masachapa
We will spend 3 days at the House of Hope, a ministry to women and children coming out of prostitution and human trafficking. More info about this amazing ministry can be found at their website below: www.houseofhopenicaragua.com   
Piñata time in Tipitapa
We do a lot of manual labor at the House of Hope – our goal is to be servants, helping wherever needed.  April Havelin, the founder of House of Hope spoke at VWC this Fall to a packed room of students.  We welcome your prayers as we go!  The Elizabeth River District of the United Methodist Church has some set aside some money to help us, which is wonderful!  I do have some students who want to go, but will need some financial help.

Finally, I want to share about an amazing family on their way to the Democratic Republic of Congo as missionaries with Mission Aviation Fellowship.  Timo and Laura met while attending Averett College in Danville, VA.  Laura was the pianist and choir director of Stokesland United Methodist Church, which was the first church I served out of seminary.  Timo came to worship at Laura’s invitation and got connected with our Men’s Discipleship Group.  Jesus worked through us all to make Himself known to Timo.  Timo was diligent in seeking the LORD in the Scriptures and other Christian books.  He often came to the Men’s Group with a copy of notes  and an outline for each of us, from the latest book he had read!  Timo is from Finland.  He is saddened that only a small fraction of the Finnish people know Christ.  He says that people go to church for baptisms, confirmation, weddings and funerals, but it isn’t a living faith. 
Timo, Laura and Janey & Richard
Laura, unlike Timo, grew up in a Christian home and on a mission trip to Zimbabwe as a teenager, she felt a call to be a missionary pilot.  Now that dream is coming true as they fly out in faith.  Timo graduated  from Asbury Theological Seminary (where I went) and they served Unicoi UMC in Tennessee – Timo as the Youth Pastor and Laura choir director.  They adopted Janey, 13 and Richard, 11 from Brazil.  They share that their family is from 3 different continents and going to a 4th!  Eileen and I gladly support them.
They are close to 90% in their support needs for Africa.  If you, your church or someone you know has a heart for Africa and would like to help them, you can find out more about them at: www.maf.org/harkonen

On behalf of the Board of Life in His Name, Pete Kovalcik, Laura Houck, Brian Sixby and Michael Senecal, I thank you for your gifts, prayers and love. 
Greg West ~  gregwest120@gmail.com

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