From That Time Forth

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Hello dear friends and family, We are T-minus 72 hours away from the whole Beltway team arriving here, all 46 members of them, for our SuperKids and Teen Camp! This means that James and I, along with our pastors and Diane Monteith (our oh so helpful Beltway missions admin.) are in full out camp prep mode. That means long and full work days that make me feel so utterly productive, which is my favorite way to be.

All that to say, I was thinking of all of you and how I wanted to you to be praying for us this next week. I ran across a quote that a friend of ours had given us back in the winter for our last 6 months here. It's a quote from C.S. Lewis' book The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, it says...

"It would be nice, and fairly true, to say that from that time forth Eustace was a different boy. To be strictly accurate, he began to be a different boy. He had relapses. There were still many days when he could be very tiresome. But none of those I shall notice. The cure had begun."

The whole of the Chronicles of Narnia series is this incredible imagery of what it means to live the life of a Christian. The first time I read this book when we had just moved to Ireland, the imagery of salvation and sanctification screamed at me from this quote.

But then I read it again a few months ago in that letter, and what jumped off the page to me was the realization of how that so honestly describes us and our journey in Ireland.

It's fairly true to say because of the past 2 years in Ireland we are different people, but more accurately we have begun this journey which has transformed us into the people we are today. It's been one of the most incredible transformations I've ever gotten to witness in my own life and in James' life. One that's not been easy or smooth but has been full of challenges daily, enough challenges and pressure to make for one epic refining fire.

Along with giving you a sneak peek into that side of our time here, I do want to ask you a favor.

  • If you could this week, be praying for our kids, teens, and their families to have that experience through our camps. That after this week they would choose Jesus as their Lord and Savior and begin this faith journey. That this week would catapult them into a different life entirely, an abundant life, that God created for them to live.
  • I ask that you would pray it over the Beltway team that is coming and the team from our church as well. That after this week a hunger and thirst for missions and the global church would be stirred up that could never be quenched or cured. That this week people would step into their giftings and callings in greater ways than ever before. That they would fully partner with God in everything he's doing through them to bring his kingdom to earth in Enniscorthy, Ireland.
  • We ask that you would pray for this camp to be a "from that time forth" moment in Alive Church. That many families who are seeking community would find it here. That leaders would be raised up and equipped during this week. That camp would be a catalyst for our church's growth and influence in the local community.

This week, these are the prayers that are on my heart. I believe with each of you partnering with us in interceding for camp this next week that the impact and influence will be far greater than we could ever dream or imagine.

We love you guys and can't wait to share with you the testimonies to come!