Summer of True Delight

My summer story began a few hours before Acts 1:8 officially started. The Sunday we were to arrive, I was crying in the car with my friend. “I am really giving up my summer,” I quietly said through my tears. Thoughts ran through my head. “Will I miss out on fun times in Nashville with my friends? How will I make enough money without a full-time job this summer? Is this really what I am supposed to be doing?

I doubted my decision to dedicate my summer to the Lord. My friend reassured me that he was proud of me and that I would love this summer, that is what I was banking on – that my friends and family would be proud of me. I started out this summer full of pride.

On that same day, when I was trying to figure out if Acts 1:8 was actually my calling or not, I started to feel some anxiety about it. This was the last thing I wanted to experience, because it had been so common during the semester. It is normal occurrence for my breathing to speed up and my heart to race when there is something that I cannot control. With a summer full of rules and team time, I would definitely be limited to controlling any situation. I started out this summer full of anxiety.

When I got to my room I wondered how two people could live in a place so small. A few days passed and we would have meetings every day and they would always last longer than they were supposed to. Didn’t everyone know that I had things I had to do and didn’t want to sit in a meeting all day long? I started out this summer full of selfishness.

By the second day of 1:8 I was already wishing that I was moving into my apartment, going to concerts, opening my coffee shop, starting my job, planning events for BCM and attending classes. I was wishing away my summer, this was not a good sign. I told one person, “I can’t wait to get back to Bowling Green and start the fall semester.” He replied, “Don’t wish your whole summer away, enjoy the time you have. I didn’t realize that my subconscious was speaking. I started out this summer wishing it would end.

Fortunately, this was just the beginning of the summer. My heart changed as I let the Lord take hold.

This summer experience taught me many things about myself. I learned a lot about studying the bible, discipleship, pursuing my relationship with the Lord. However the most important things I will take away from this summer are the relationships and the lessons about who I am and most important that I am not done growing in my relationship in Christ and knowledge of Him.

One thing I learned is that I have to have my alone time to recharge. Contrary to previous thoughts, this is not something that is negative, we all have to recharge in our own way. For me this could mean either journaling in a quiet place where I can get all my thoughts on to paper or spend time in prayer and in the Word. There are many people that get there energy from groups of people, and I wish I was one of those types, but I am not. This summer I became comfortable with who I am.

Another thing that I learned was confidence. Before the summer started my discipleship leader from WKU asked our D-Group to pick out a verse that would sum up what we were hoping to experience or learn from this summer. My verses were Hebrews l0:35-36. “So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.” This has been a verse that I have been trying to apply to my life. On May 31st, when I drove onto Southern’s Seminary Campus I was trying to grab a hold of all the confidence that everyone else had in me. But it was empty without the confidence that I had in Christ. It has been extraordinary to start applying this verse in my life. I am not going to say that I am the most confident person on the team (that is by far a lie). I am only saying that I am making an attempt to live like the daughter of God He has said I am. This summer I learned to find my identity in Christ.

I have learned how much of a free-spirit I am, and that this can be a good thing. I enjoy doing things on my own, but there is more to life than being on your own all the time. My favorite church that we attended while in Louisville was Sojourn. The pastor said one night that we need to be astonished by our relationship with God and also with our brothers and sisters in Christ. I took major advantage of the fact that I was forced to live with these 21 other people for a few months. I was in close proximity to people who were just waiting to pour into me and love on me and I didn’t realize that until a few days ago. This summer I learned to appreciate the blessing of relationship in my life.

After the loss of a relationship, there were many girls who, when they heard the news, hugged me. I didn’t know if I was willing to accept this, I was fine, right? No. Through a situation, I was able to grow closer to my sisters who wanted to share in my joy and in my pain. I had experienced that before not to this extent. I was forced to grieve the loss of a friend and accept that it is okay to not be happy all the time. I was forced to take off my mask in front of people that I had lived with for 6 weeks, it was the first time. This summer I learned the definition of community through action.

There are so many times that I want to portray myself as a strong, Christian, wise, healthy, understanding girl. But I am not and that is okay. Jesus died on the cross to offer me grace and a relationship with His sovereign Father. I am starting my journey in this relationship and it is the most beautiful thing I have experienced. The process will be long and I will never be finished, but this is the journey entitled, life one day at a time for Christ. It is exciting and I hope that after hearing my story you will desire to dive deeper into this love relationship that the creator of the universe wants to have with you. This summer I learned what it means to delight and trust in the Lord.

Trust in the Lord and do what is good; dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. – Psalm 37:3-4

This post is by Emily McGuire, a BCM student who spent the summer serving with the Acts 1:8 Mission Team in Louisville & the Dominican Republic.

I hope that you enjoy this piece are are encouraged by Emily's story.

East Asian Summer

Hi All!  My name is Kelsey and I am the Missions Coordinator at the BCM for 2009-2010.  This summer I have been in good ole BG, but a couple of our BCM students have been in East Asia serving our Father and today I am giving an update on what they are doing there.

Megan and Ryan have been in East Asia since the middle of May.  The are serving in a small town there, they are living and interacting day to day with locals and the college students who are there.  They are building relationships with the people they meet and hopefully through getting to know them are able to share with them about the love of Christ our Savior.  

On June 16 Megan e-mailed me saying that things were going well and that they were getting busy.  She also said that one of the girls that she had grown close to had chosen to accept Christ.  This is a big step for someone here.  It is against their law to be a Christian and everything they do has to be in secret.

Yesterday i received this picture from Megan's sister.  Megan and Ryan got to have their pictures taken while they were there and this is one of the pictures that they kept.

I also received news yesterday that all is still going well and that two more girls accepted Christ.  We now have three new sisters in Christ overseas.

Prayer requests:

-For the new believers, that they are able to grow strong in their faith and stay safe.

-For Megan and Ryan, that they are able to grow close to the people there, make relationships, and share the light of Christ with them.

-For the missionary families that live there and the work they are doing there

-The other summer missionaries serving alongside Megan and Ryan

-Safety for all both in country and in travel

peace & praise,

Kelsey Diane Barber

BCM Missions Coordinator

ending life vs. finding life

With my laptop stolen, I only get 30 minutes at the library to make this post and do other errands on the internet, so this note may be even sloppier than previous notes! Here's what I want to update on in this note: What happened with the robbery, why it happened, and any other random small things.Last week once the last game was over, an employee of the church went to put fans away in his office (it gets hot in that gym so we have fans everywhere)... he came back up and informed me that his office was broken into. People enter through the parking lot and they have three options of where they can go... right into the gym, up one more flight of stairs to the viewing room, or downstairs to get to the bathroom. Whoever broke in, went through the downstairs doors during the last game and went toward the back of the building and used a crowbar to break into one room to steal 9 computers and that was all we really knew at that point. So we called the cops and waited, and waited, and waited... finally, Mary and I had decided that while waiting we would go on up to our bedroom and get some clothes together to sleep with friends. If you had been reading this blog from the beginning, you would know that this happened last year as well--12 computers were stolen while I was sleeping in the church. What I never mentioned was that they tried to crowbar their way onto my floor (you can see the damage done to the metal door). Luckily, the way the doors are made, it's impossible to break in and the elevator requires a key to get up. This gave my wife comfort, and as we were waiting on cops to show, she told her dad "I still feel safe sleeping up there if we had to." Not 20 minutes later as Mary opened our bedroom door did we realize that our door had been kicked through (they stole my laptop and $600 cash--Bridge of Hope reached out their arms as a church body and gave us 200 the other day! The beauty of the Body of Christ). At this point, I really don't want to discuss the next 30 minutes. Her one sense of protection she had, was shattered at that moment, and not knowing if the intruder was still in the building (and possibly still in our bedroom), she was terrified. I ask that you pray for her, for peace, comfort, sleep, etc.. as she continues to have occasional nightmares related to that event. I mentioned last year how God had protected me because it was the one night all summer I decided to wait till morning to shower. He did the same for my wife. Mary had planned on skipping all the games and going to bed early (those of you who know her, knows she likes to get to bed by 9 if she can!). I praise God that 4 volunteers were unable to make it, and because of that Mary had to keep score. Never underestimate the minor ways in which God protects us. Unfortunately, two nights ago after league was over, they broke in again and stole the church's 300 lb safe and petty cash from another office. They had clipped several wires to the alarm system and appears as if they entered by climbing through a window. I feel like the church has gone through a makeover. There were already lots of security protocols, but now we are doing anything and everything to prevent this from happening again. I even have to search out extra volunteers so we can have guards at the entrance for league games and guards at the viewing room to make sure people aren't wondering all the way upstairs! But we are getting loads of support from players in the league. Many of them upset that people would steal from the church and from us after all we have been giving them. Many shocked that we haven't closed the league, as they figured it was expected. And now this is why I think it has happened:Just the week before we had amazing salvation reports. Derrick came into my gym office during an open gym night and asked if we could talk. We had never met, but he was a player on the Street Kings (he had come to me because he had heard from others in the streets all that I've been doing for the area). "I know you don't know me, but could we talk in private?" We sat in my office and he began to cry--just wanted me to say a prayer, that's all... so I began praying, then stopped... "Is it confidential or can you tell me what I'm praying for?" It was his girlfriend, she no longer had a home and was living on the streets and he couldn't pay for a room until his next pay check came (he works as a security guard at Pathmark). "How much is a room?" $75 for one week--so I gave him $100, then asked if he knew Christ. He said he believed in God, but was not a Christian. As I explained the $100 gift, I explained the gift of the cross. He decided to accept that relationship that night and then he came to my first bible study, and now we are meeting one on one. But it gets better....4 days later, Cumba leaves open gym... then he comes back with a girl. The girl had pulled up next to him in her car, offering $50 (and had up to $3,400 she was willing to pay) for him to take her somewhere she could get killed. She drove 40 miles to Kensington to end her life! Instead, Cumba (who had been at my open gym since last summer) brought her to me. "Listen to him, he'll help you... he helps all of us, listen to whatever he says" (I still kind of chuckle at that). Next thing she says, "I don't know why I'm here." "I do," came my response. What followed was a 2 hour chat, then my wife came out and chatted and then we prayed over her at the foot of the cross and she invited Christ into her life. She came to Kensington to end her life and left finding true life (she kept saying "I ran into the wrong person!"). Well as she was leaving, she refused to leave without giving us a gift. From her $3,400 stash, she gave us $200. So four days earlier, we gave Derrick 100, and then we got 200 back. We have been in touch with her by phone, and she is doing great. Hopefully we will get together for lunch.So, as Major Wittenberg said, "Satan saw a lighthouse in a very dark neighborhood, so he ordered an attack." Plain and simple: I think that's why the robberies happened when they did. After league games, I do a walk through with Joey and a baseball bat in my hand. "Who would have thought it would come to this?" "I don't even think Satan did." Because I think Satan expected us to close everything down by now. Bottom line is, light is shining, people are being helped, being reached, being saved, and no matter what counter attack there is, we will just fight back harder. So continue praying for His good work... I only have five minutes left, so gotta jet.
Jeff Bracken

Amazing Stories Will Have To Wait

Amazing Stories Will Have To Wait

This is Jeff's mom blogging for Jeff via the telephone.

"Though there are amazing stories to share from the past week, I am sorry to report that during games last night, several rooms throughout the church were broken into, including ours . My computer, along with 9 others were stolen. I will be unable to post a detailed blog until I can get access to another computer. We are ok. We have moved out of the church into temporary housing. More details to come. Please be praying. Grace and Peace...Bracken"

"You're always doing bible studies"

Salvation League has kicked off! The jerseys look incredible and the guys love them (thanks go out to Gregg Farrell and Greg Lindhart for all their help with that)... After one night, here's the update (sorry I don't have scores with me)DBB lost to DynastyRebels lost to Next LevelDeep N Pack lost to Too EasyThe overall attitude and sportsmanship was FAR better than last year. Myself and some others volunteering had a meeting last week to discuss how we can limit arguments/anger/anything that could escalate to fighting, etc. and so far it seems to be working. Our first night of devotion was given by Joey Rodriguez, pastor of Bridge of Hope (he came up with the verse for the league so we thought it appropriate that he give the first devotion over that verse). The league verse is Joel 2:32--"For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." He talked about how they did not have to pay anything for the jerseys, they were all paid for. In the same way, we do not pay for our salvation; it was paid for by Jesus Christ himself on the cross. Amen to that message! The next set of games for the other 6 teams are on Thursday; then it's every Monday and Tuesday after that. We are currently in the process of getting a banner made to hang in the gym; once we get that we will take team pictues under it and I will post them on here!

Open Gym is back to having 30-40 guys a night and back to being open until 1:30 AM--not all guys who come to open gym are in the league either! Some of these guys from open gym even came early yesterday to help me set everything up, and when I had a malfunction with the new basketball I just bought, one guy let me use his for the night. New relationships are developing--they appreciate what is being done for them (one guy even commented how the people "beg" for things like this). In the midst of these new relationships, I am finally reconnecting with old ones I have not seen in a while. Kenny and Elvin are two Puerto Ricans that I considered good friends and they confided in me last summer. I've talked about Elvin before (his brother was shot and killed over a year ago)... Well Kenny called me out of the blue a couple nights ago--he said he had forgotten that I left my phone # inside a bible I gave him (which he confessed was buried under things). Kenny's brother has also been going to Joey's church these past couple months, so I talked to him about how he needs to READ his bible, and should check out Joey's church with his brother. I look forward to continuing conversations with him. I've also reunited with some PUC guys (though there are still many I have yet to see) and that's where the title for this blog comes from. I was sitting in the gym office when I heard someone yell "BRACKEN!" It was Ken, from PUC... we got to talking and when he asked about the gym schedule, I mentioned that bible study would be starting on Friday... "You always doin' bible study," was his reply... that's nice to know.

The kid's ministry is exciting and depressing. Last week an incident happened right around the corner from the church. A man followed an 11-year old girl on her way to school, pulled her down an alley and raped her. Surveillance footage caught who the man was, and when his identity was released, the father quoted, "I hope the neighborhood finds him before the cops do." He got his wish... hours later the suspect was beaten so badly by a group of men that he was in critical condition in the hospital for a few days. As a result, some parents are not allowing their daughters to leave the house. At our first Kid's Bible Club, I asked an 11-year old boy why his girlfriend didn't come, that was his reply: "Parents won't let her out." If there is a kid that needs to go home and does not have a group to go with, Mary and I will walk that child home. The other depressing part is the fact that Mary and I have to clean the church playground every week--not just because of trash, but to make sure there are no needles or drugs lying around. In our first sweep, we did not find any needles/drugs, but we did find a bullet shell casing. It really reminds you of the power of the ministry we have to these kids now. The fact that they can come over to the church and have somewhere safe to play and be kids and GET ALONG, is a wonderful ministry for welcoming kids to the Kingdom of God. I thank God for Mary every day because of the service she is providing these kids; I could not have done it on my own. I thank God that he gave me a woman to marry who was willing to make sacrifices and live a place of potential fear/danger--but we trust in God's protection. Before we left KY, her mom took her out to buy a pair of sandals that had thick soles. I told her of the importance of this because she could potentially step on a needle--at that point, I knew that my wife was something special. This has been God's plan from the beginning, and Mary has grown much in her strength and courage being here since day one. Please pray for protection and for love for all. Also pray for the daily homeless people who come by for food and help--pray that God protect them.

Well i'm having problems posting pictures... guess it will have to wait

Jeff Bracken

¡Hola! from Honduras

Hey everyone!

We have been in Honduras for a little over a week now, and everything is going wonderful! My mom, dad, and I are staying here at the orphanage, and on Thursday Lindsay Tucker will come to join us. It is especially fun to stay here because from the time we wake up to the time we go to sleep, we get to spend time with the kids.

It is always such a blessing to come back and re-connect with the kids, to grow in both old and new relationships. I can always see the Lord working in their lives when they open up about their past, or about how they are feeling. Please pray that God would give them healing, because many have a lot of hurt inside.

My parents are doing well--tomorrow they will start Spanish classes with their new teacher, Dina. She is so sweet--she and her husband got married last year, and they are going to have a baby in October!! I think she will be a great friend for my mom. It has been really cool to see God put people in my parents´path who will be able to help them. We went to the phone store the other day and met an American woman from the U.S. Army base here, where my parents will be going to church. She was very nice and said that she goes to the church there as well. I pray that God would build a support system around my parents, and He already is!

Thank you all for all of your prayers. Please continue to pray for my parents to learn Spanish, and that we would be able to get their new apartment ready in the next couple of weeks.

Love,

Emily Brewster
Honduras

Little something from good ole Tennessee :)

Hey Everyone!!! :)

I hope y'all are having fantastic summers so far! I know I am! I am interning at my home church, Long Hollow Baptist in Hendersonville, TN, this summer and so far it has been a blast. I started work May 29th and have been going non-stop since then. The week right after I started we had Vacation Bible School, and with me being the preschool intern...we had ALOT to do. I ended up working about three 13 hour days that week..but since it was all for the Lord it was okay :) Also, for those of you who don't know, Long Hollow is huge. We are one church, with 3 campuses. We have the main campus here in Hendersonville, one in Gallatin, and one in White House. Since we have these 3 campuses, that meant 3 VBS'. We had one at Hendersonville from 9am-12pm, White House from 1pm-3pm, and Gallatin from 6pm-9pm..all in one week, June 1-5. And you may be asking, "did she have to go to all 3 that week?" The answer: Yes I did. To be honest, I was super tired and starting getting sick that week, but it was one of the BEST weeks of my life!!! From watching the 3-year-olds sing their songs and listen to bible stories to watching an 8-year-old com to know the Lord, it was all so amazing and I saw God work in so many ways! I have also been working a little bit with a few of the other interns helping them prepare for our youth camps that are coming up in just 2 short weeks. So far we have about 500 middle schoolers and about 525 high schoolers going with us...and thats not even including all of our wonderful VOLUNTEER adult/college counselors! (I told you LHBC was huge!) Alright, I have to get back to work now, but if you could just pray for all of us interns here that we can have energy and to keep up with our own spritual lives, that would be GREAT! We are all working LONG hours and will continue to until July 22 when the internship ends. Also, pray that God melts the hearts of all going to camp and that He works wonders in all of our lives. He is one amazing God!

Here are the names of all the interns here at Long Hollow:
Rex, Jason, Kyle, Laura, Rachel, Andrew, Anna, Pharris, Mary, Cody, Jamie, Aly, Greg, Reid, Kellye, Gillian and Josh. We also have one volunteer intern: Teresa.

Thanks for all of your prayers!!

In HIS Love,
Aly Kuhn :)

Ps. If you would pray for our staff here at the church as well they would all really appreciate it! :)