March 01, 2017
February has been such a sweet month for us here at Camp Barkeley! We have had so much fun meeting with local friends and church family. We have been so blessed that God would provide a place for His sons and daughters to put some time aside and to seek Him. Along-side those staying at the land, we have also had group meetings, and have been involved in some awesome community events!
JOHN 17: 20-26
20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. 26 I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
This year we have been reading and meditating on John 17 (above) and how God is for us, and wants to be with us. If Jesus is the very nature and expression of Father God, then God must also be God’s heart for us! Jesus in this specific part of scripture is asking God to make us one with Him as Jesus is one with the Father… “In Him we breathe and have our being.” He wants us to walk in the world, but not of the world. As we are being empowered by the Holy Spirit, the world may see Him through us and turn to Him. We are called to be His hands and feet. His tangible voice. His love demonstrated to a lost bride. What does love look like for you? How have you seen Jesus through others? What about Him captivates you?
We get the privilege of collaborating with Global Samaritan resources which is a non-profit in Abilene dedicated to helping people. They gather resources, then disperse those resources all over the world. They facilitated an event called Food and Hope this month about an hour away in Sweetwater, TX. We gathered in a church building with a couple hundred elementary school kids around the area and shared a presentation. This presentation was all about the Refugee families in Iran and how we believe God is calling us to love. Together with the kids, we drew symbols of hope, love, and joy on 1,200 boxes filled with thousands of servings of food that will be sent to the refugee camps in Iran. Sometimes the small things, speak louder than anything. For all of us involved, it was an INCREDIBLE time of serving, and being part of the grander plan of God, and heart of God.
Angel and Norm along with some friends went to Houston Texas to attend a conference called Mobilizing Medical Missions, and then one directly after in Lubbock about all the different ways that are available for helping missionaries raise funds for the mission field. We can trust God to provide all that we need to walk in what He calls us to walk in, but we at the same time, are called to take steps of faith. Both meetings were so encouraging in every way, and really empowered us to dream big and pray big!!
We hosted a community Encounter night at the Worship Center at the end of this month and we had close to 100 people attend. We had local artists, worship leaders and TSSM students giving prophetic ministry throughout the night. We have heard some incredible testimonies of people encountering Jesus in life- altering ways that have brought healing to bodies, hearts, and minds. We look forward to when we will all meet again and lift up the name of Jesus! We are praying for even more people to come next time!
We have some incredible events coming up in the next couple of months so please stay tuned for more soon!