Thursday: Make Disciples of All Nations

I've included these pictures (above), but they are from my camera phone, so not the best. Tomorrow I'll work to remember to bring our actual camera and hope to have some better ones to share with you.

TODAY'S REPORT:

Yesterday I reported that we had planned for a max turnout of about 70 kids, and were excited to see approximately 135 on our first day. I neglected to mention that planning for 70 was expected to be overkill, as the largest turnout before this week had been 44 kids. The nature of the population is such that even over a three-day program, some kids come and go. Today we had about 110. Tomorrow could be more or less. Either way, God has blessed our work here beyond anything we could have anticipated.

Today's Bible story for the children was the story in John 21 of Jesus appearing to the disciples when they were fishing and telling them to throw their net on the other side of the boat (after fishing all night and catching nothing). Following the miraculous catch of 153 fish, the disciples recognized Jesus and ate with Him. Our Lord asked Peter three times if he loved Him, and each time Peter affirmed his love, Jesus responded by directing him to "feed my sheep."

Accordingly, our memory verse for the children today was the gospel of Matthew's account of the Great Commission: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:16). Rachael put together an activity for the children where they constructed a map of the world and marked places on the map where they knew people. They keep the maps as a reminder that Jesus has called us to make disciples of ALL nations, and to share the love of Christ with their loved ones no matter where in the world they are. Many of these children have family in Asia, Latin America, or Africa, so that message was especially meaningful to many of them.

PRAYER NEEDS:

Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement. We have so many praises already to report. Not the least among them has been the performance of the Elliott and Morrow children (as the youngest members of this mission trip). They really have been champs. The older kids are taking active part in the VBS activities with the local children. The younger ones are cooperating better than we could have expected (Alex today for the second day in a row napped through two of the four Bible story sessions - sleeping on a mat on the hardwood floor in the classroom!) Daily, new opportunities for prayer support become clear. As you continue to pray for our efforts, today please pray especially for:

• Receptive Hearts. Several of the children we are working with seem to really soak up the lessons we are teaching. Many have memorized key Bible verses. Eighteen have expressed interest in coming to know Christ personally as their savior. Please pray that all the children would come to VBS Friday in their very most sensitive and receptive state. Friday will be our last chance to share with them, and we don't want to miss the opportunity.
• Parents of the children. Friday night will be our parents' night. All the kids will come with their parents to show their crafts and VBS projects. We will be there to meet their parents and to share God's love with them. Pray that God will present opportunities for us to share our own testimonies, His gospel, and the salvation He offers with these parents. God may well have pre-ordained that some of these very people will become the core membership of City South Church as it begins its important work here in Chicago. More importantly, He may have marked Friday night as the night some of these parents come to know Him personally as Lord and Savior.
• Needs of our loved ones at home. Primarily to members of our Sunday School class: in your constant prayer for our efforts here, please do not forget one another. Reggie shared this week's prayer list via email a couple of days ago. Please remember, for instance, that Mendie's important doctor's appointment & echo are Friday. Pray for God's protection over her and for an encouraging prognosis. "Pray without ceasing" for one another.

I cannot begin to tell you how encouraged we are here to know that you are lifting our efforts to the Lord in daily prayer. We feel the strength of your prayers daily. Today was a critical day and there can be no explanation for how well things went except that the Lord delivered us and answered your prayers on our behalf. In addition to the immeasurable power of your prayers, I'm so grateful for your constant encouragement. Jeff Kallenberger called me yesterday to see how things were going and to encourage our efforts. Naomi called Rachael the day before that. I got a text from Greg Chadwell (from Dublin - by the way, we are convinced Greg doesn't really work for a video game company, but that his "vocation" is merely an elaborate cover for his double life as a secret agent for the CIA). This week we've received emails and facebook notes of encouragement from many in our class (many were mentioned in earlier blog posts). I am personally overwhelmed by the work God is doing in our Sunday School class - by the powerful sense of Christian community He has built among us in such a short time. I am so grateful for each and every one of you.

One side note: There are stories from this trip that simply must be told in person. A blog would never do them justice. Some just because they are funny (ask Jim to tell you about the nickname he was given by a little girl he helped across the monkey bars today, for one). When we return, Jim, Heather, Rachael and I promise to share stories with you. We so look forward to being back with our cherished brothers and sisters in Christ.

Once again, please share these posts with others you know who will pray along with all of us for a succesful mission trip. We want to lift God's name and to share Him with those who do not yet know Him. Sign up at http://ourabfclass.blogspot.com (upper right hand corner) to receive this blog via email. You can also share it on facebook, twitter, or just by plain old e-mail via the links that appear at the bottom of this (and every) post on this blog.

We love you and thank God for you. Please know that you remain in our prayers daily as well.

Blessings,

Matt