Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Aneho Youth Camps

The last two weeks have been filled with youth camps in Aneho. We used the local high school sports fields that are not far from our home. Both camps went extremely well. Five trusted Christ the first week and 10 trusted Christ the second week.

 

Plans were forced to become flexible, but it all turned out for the best. I was most excited about the decisions the campers made on their own.

One guy named Moses went and apologized to his father after trusting Christ.

One little boy trusted Christ then went the same day and asked his father's forgiveness for stealing something.

A 12 year old girl trusted Christ then called her friends over and asked forgiveness for their fight.

We could see one guys entire demeanor change over the course of a few days.

Another orphan girl made the decision to stop all her relationships with boys. She is an abandoned girl who has kept the relationships in order to be able to eat. She decided that she would rather stand with Christ and starve than keep the immoral relationships.

The amazing part is that we did not talk about any of this. God is truly changing lives. Thanks for your prayers. God is at work.

There are five young people from the camp that are still contemplating their decisions to choose Christ. Please keep them in your prayers.

 

 

 

Burning idols and Baptizing

We have been able to enjoy a few great victories in ministry recently. There is a family that was reached originally through Courtyard Kids. The family of six has been very faithful since both parents have trusted Christ. Simon has been going through discipleship courses with Jonas and Louise has been working with Naka. We normally work with each person about 6-8 weeks before they are baptized to make sure they truly understand their decision to follow Christ. Simon approached Jonas and told him he had some things in his home that he needed to get rid of. Jonas, Melissa, Taylor (summer intern) and myself went over to their home on Friday morning to burn their idols. It took the help of some gasoline because of the pouring rain, but we were still able to get them to burn. My favorite part was the fact that his two daughters were watching the whole event. They will be able to always remember the day that their dad burned the family idols.

Sunday afternoon I was privileged to baptize both Simon and Louise. He told me that he has great peace knowing that he has cleaned house and has freedom to move forward in his Christian life. It has been amazing to watch God change their entire family tree.

Greetings to all!

I hope this email finds each of you staying cool in this heat but more importantly I hope you find yourselves in the grace of our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  How spoiled we are to enjoy so much undeserved blessing from our God.  Humbling.

We are mid way through our busy summer.  God has been gracious to the Sullivan’s in providing for our daily needs.  What a faithful God we serve.  Kyle Jr. has finished his 9th grade year at Apex High successfully and is working a bunch of hours at Camp Bow Wow and has been baby-sitting these past few weeks.  Zak and Cory get ready to finish their 7th and 4th grades respectively.  All will be going to camp next week (July 5th). Kyle and Zak to The Wilds and Cory to The Anchorage. Be in prayer for these young men as they will be exposed to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word in a unique setting.  Cory has it the worst though as his speaker will be his father!  Thank the Lord for the Anchorage’s ministry.  I look forward to presenting the Word of God to these young boys and girls.  I covet your prayers for this week as well.  Christina and Drew will be joining us at the Anchorage which will make the time extra special. 

Last Thursday I returned from a Missionsports trip to Brazil.  We ministered alongside Joel and Melissa Johnson, veteran missionaries in Fortaleza.  God watched over the team of 24 (18 youth and 6 adults) and gave us all wonderful opportunities to share the Gospel in several public schools and to the teams and crowds at 4 different venues.  God was honored and we were able to see several come to Christ and to know the Gospel went out to many, many others. 

Praise the Lord for the power of His Word and the opportunity to expose young people to the mission fields that are white to harvest.  My ministry on this trip was to meet one on one with the team members and get to know them and help them in their spiritual walk on a personal level.  I also led the team devotionals where we walked them through principles on daily walking with Christ. 

I came home a day before the team to perform a wedding for a fantastic young couple.  I am glad that plans were made for me to return a day early as the team was held up in Fortaleza due to an airline issue.  They came back 24 hours delayed but in one piece. 

Next week we have a speaking opportunity at the Anchorage camp in Lake Wacamaw, NC.  Then I will prepare to leave to Hong Kong with another Missionsports team of 14.  We have some great opportunities for evangelism and training through the ministry of Camp and Basketball.  Please be in prayer for that team as we minister from July 15th through the 29th.  My wife will need extra prayers during this time as I will be gone for a bit longer than normal.  Thank you for doing this for us.

I am starting to book some speaking opportunities but that is slow going.  I will be doing two school retreats in August.  One in South Carolina and one in North Carolina.  Pray for these as they will be great chances to help young people grow in grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior. 

Once again – Thank you for your partnership with the Sullivan’s and Missionsports.  What a joy to serve the King! 

Gladly His - Kyle

Dear Friends and Family,

This past week was a reminder to me of the blessing it is to be a member of the body of Christ. I was able to spend the week in NC with my girlfriend on Monday and Tuesday and the rest of the week with my church family at Bethel Baptist Church in Cary, NC. My two friends Eric and Victoria were joined together in marriage. I am rejoicing in their union. I am excited to see two of my best friends striving to please God in their marriage and serve Christ together. Friends are called to serve in different regions and countries, and I delight that I have family in almost all corners of the globe all because of Christ making us sons and daughters together. The week prior to this week was a great week of ministry in Minneapolis. On Tuesday we began a basketball outreach that we are looking forward to using as a means to share the gospel with others and make new contacts. Wednesday through Saturday we took some inner-city children to camp. They received free sponsorships to be able to have fun and hear the gospel.  Tyler (my partner intern) and I were able to develop some great relationships with these kids that prayerfully will bud into greater redemptive relationships. The regular children’s church and ministries were a blessing and are going well by God’s grace working, strengthening, and sustaining. I fly back to Minneapolis for the rest of the summer. Pray for strength as I have developed a cold and that if it is God’s will it would subside. I love all of you and thank you for your prayers and encouragement.

In Christ,
Mike Watt