It’s hard to believe that 2008 is almost over. It certainly has been an exciting year for us and our family! The first six months of the year were busy with Heidi teaching (3rd grade) and Brian driving a school bus and leading Vision Nehemiah. The summer months were filled with planning, planning, and more planning while we prepared for the Legacy Conference and a trip to Zambia. What a blessing both of those events were to us!
Legacy update: This past August 14-16, 600 youth and young adults from 27 different states gathered in Chicago for the 2nd annual Legacy Disciple-Making Conference. The mission of the Legacy Disciple-Making Conference is to assist youth and young adults to grow as disciples of Christ and in making disciples for Christ. The Legacy blends urban culture, hip hop music, sound biblical teaching and great fellowship. Conference attendees participated in workshop tracks such as Hermeneutics, Basic Bible Doctrines, Biblical Manhood, Biblical Womanhood and Evangelism. As a result, people leave hungering for more truth.
Zambia update: Thank you so much for being faithful to remember us in your prayers while we were in Africa! God truly did open a door for us to speak the mysteries of Christ in many different ways. First, we were able to equip Zambian pastors and their wives to minister to their congregations through solid, Biblical teaching. Second, we were able to share our testimonies and our lives with the people of the village. Brian's best memories: “We were all amazed to see the book of Acts lived out in these pastors. Some of them had only been saved a few years, but they were already planting churches in neighboring villages, looking for faithful men that they could train to be pastors in that town. We also got to be a part of a strategy session in which they were planning where to take the gospel to next. We were so impressed with the faithfulness, perseverance and commitment to the gospel by these men.” Heidi: "One of the most vivid memories I have is the day that Dan did a teaching on being Biblical husbands and wives and he asked the families to sit together. This went against the cultural norms as the men and women usually sit separately. I will never forget the joy I saw on the women’s faces as they were allowed to sit next to their husbands and encouraged to be affectionate and to serve one another.”
Church update: As many of you know, we left Judson Baptist Church this last February to find a church home in our neighborhood. After months of searching, we were impacted by the Legacy and our trip to Zambia to start a house church (Legacy Fellowship) that gives 100% of its tithes/offerings to missions. We meet in our home on Sunday afternoons and have grown to about 30 people. We have been blessed by the tremendous fellowship and family atmosphere that has developed through it.
Family update: All of our young men are a part of the church as well. We currently have five boys staying with us and a dog (which we are dog-sitting for a friend...indefinitely).
Matt (23) – Matt is working at a warehouse full time and recently started volunteering at By the Hand Kid’s Club. Matt is very gifted in computer graphics and has been designing flyers for Vision Nehemiah. Matt also joined us in Zambia.
TJ (22) – TJ is working at Breakthrough Urban Ministries and Starbucks. He keeps very busy ministering through rap at various churches and volunteering as an MC at The House (Hip-hop church) in Lawndale.
Paul (20) – Paul is working full time at By the Hand Kid’s Club and is also involved at The House. He is a gifted dancer and singer. Both he and TJ are working on putting out their own CD’s.
Caleb (19) – Caleb (Brian’s youngest brother) just moved in with us. We are looking forward to getting to know him better as he has spent most of his life in Oklahoma with his family.
Justin (18) – Justin is a junior at Kenwood Academy. He is doing very well in school and made the honor roll in the spring. Justin’s greatest interests are basketball and the dog, Coco.
Thank you all for your faithful prayers and support over the past year. Your partnership in the gospel is making an impact world-wide! Merry Christmas!
