studying now at CEF

Studying at the CEF centre

In Switzerland, near the CEF center a month before the snow >

Hello, from the European base of CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship). It is snowing outside while I am doing my homework. I am training for the Children's Ministry Leadership Course.

All this is to teach and equip me more to reach children with the Gospel. I still have a desire to go back to Peru to reach kids and young teens who would need care and support. I want to provide them with a children’s home.

By studying here I get excellent teaching from the world's biggest mission reaching kids with the gospel.

A few subjects so far.

Biblical basis ____

Evangelism of Children ________Interpreting and Teaching Scripture

Doctrine ________Teaching a Bible lesson ________Child study & pre-school child ___________Devotional Life________________Camps Muslim Child
Roman Catholic Child __________Ministries to reach and Teach Children ________Open air ______________________Building a Ministry _______________Building Good News Clubs __________Building 5-day Clubs___________Building Prayer ________________Share the vision _______________Victorious life ____________Galatians

A verse that spoke to me, written by Paul to Timothy a young man:

I am half way through the three month course here and again have really been uplifted within about the idea of reaching unreached and unloved kids for God.

In many areas of my life I thank God that I am growing as He teaches, encourages, molds and motivates me. I thank God for reminding me of the importance of service to Him with out self-will, self-trust, self-seeking and self-pleasing. I am learning more fully about prayer life, devotional life and a yielded life to God - Spirit filled.

I know that if I ask you for prayers I have to pray likewise as much. Can I thank you all for praying for me so far and encouraging me!

• Pray with me that in all my studies I will do well in remembering all I’m taught. So that I can use it in future with whatever ministry follows next.

• Pray with me as I continue to grow in my life with God.

• Pray with me for the future in reaching boys and girls for Christ.

• Pray with me about the boys and girls that need care and love in Peru. That in some way I can help. For the vision of setting up a children’s home with a team of people that have a vision also.

'here i am'.. 4 months on.

"Here I am, I don't want to forget the things You've planned for me.

The dreams You gave, I'll achieve for You.

You don't have to search for anyone else, I want to go,

Here is my time, here is my hours."

Song by Jesus Adrian Romero.. ' aqui estoy yo'

Thank you for all who have been praying for me..!

Many know that I had a great time in Peru and Colombia, and know what is my suited ministry - working alongside Children's Homes.

Before I say more I want to say a bit about what is happening with me and my project.

When you are on a high, doing a mission trip, you get so close to God. For me I knew that this ministry was where I was called. But now, not able to get involved in the ministry that is suited to you, you can feel down......

God has a plan for you.. and when you are shown it.. you want to get stuck in straight away.....

I prayed about God's plans and purpose for me. He has shown it to me.. now somehow, in some way, I want to move on.

Things I will do:

• Pray- For staying in God's will
• Seek - Seek God for the stages of His plan.
• Find - Find God first in all things.

As I do this blog I nail my colours to the mast.

I don't now what will happen in the coming years. But I know He knows the plans He has for me.

This message was passed on to me.. It really helped me understand things a bit. It is by Paul Washer. (see bottom of page)

He believes the Word (Bible where God's Word is spoken) is true.

Then what impact can it have for kids in a children's home?

The message is for many. And the children's homes where they live day and night most of their lives is a great place to get alongside them, showing them Gods love, to walk with them on this discovery and to disciple them! Not that they get to be just a cultural Christian but to look at the Word of God, and see that that they can be changed. (This thought is expanded at the end of the message.. )

I think I would like many people to see that they can get in to these special places of children's homes as a real opportunity to reach and mentor new Christians in their hard, difficult lives to go onward with Christ. Let us not dash in and out of kids' lives but let us be an example like Christ that we are there for them all the time..

Please pray as I go on this journey, either to set up or work alongside a Children's home..

Yours again in Christ,

J-D

This is the message by Paul Washer. (below) sorry i have now update this to the sermon.

“Good, thanks!”

I’m back now 2 months from my trip in Peru and Colombia. I have found good support and encouragement about the children’s home project in Arequipa. Thank you for your interest. For some it’s still not clear what they are supporting....and in reality sometimes I don’t even know myself!

I have said that this blog will continue till I reach one of three options:

· Set up a children’s home myself.

· Or, join an existing home and take things from there.

· Or plan ‘C’......What ever that is?

In this post I want to inform you where this project is at, in the context of a few thoughts on “Good, thanks”.

Life is often presented as doing well at studies, getting a job and being happy, so that when people ask, “How’s life?” you just reply, “Good, thanks!”

However, what have I been doing? I have been to many small courses, from suicide prevention to youth ministry weekends where there’s seminar after seminar about youth and our role in their lives; I have had many conversations about the whole vision of a children’s home; I have asked questions to directors; I have been finding out everything about charities and children’s homes; I have drawn up a list of books to read........

Why am I not just thinking about “getting on with what my life has dealt me with so as to be able to say, Good, thanks”? Rather than thinking of where I’m going or what I’m doing.

Post-Modern culture has brought us up to think , “what ever”,, and , “have it our own way”.. we have an “if it feels good, go with it” attitude and in all this we are,, “good thanks” The world goes by and often we don’t stop to understand what it’s all about! We don’t take time to think what’s going on, why we do what we do, or whom we do it for....unless, one day, we find things are “not that that good”!

My thing is, don’t just “get on with living” - take a step back and think what it’s for. Whatever we do in the future will be determined by the stand point we take now.

· Think about what the Trinity is about and how this will impact how we live our lives.

· Think about the cross (Forgiveness of sins, Christos Victor, Reconciliation, Redemption) and how this will impact how we live our lives.

· Think about God Incarnate (God took on flesh) and how this impacts how we live.

· Think about a call to mission and how this impacts what we do with our lives.

· Think about empowerment by the Holy Sprit, the tasks of Word, prayer and spiritual direction. And how our lives could be with this?

· Think about our role in the Church and how this impacts our lives.

The relationship we have with these truths will guide our interaction with what we do. Let’s not just coast and keep saying, “Good, thanks”.

So this is what I’m doing at the moment...trying to:

Don Browning “action-reflection model”.

- Understand (what’s going on?),

- Reflect: (what am I doing?)

- Detect and Evaluate: ( putting down commitments in my life)

- Project: ( Strategies, on how I can live my life for GOD)

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HOW CAN YOU BEST SUPPORT ME?

- Please pray: for the vision to set up a children’s home. May it be a God-inspired venture. Pray for God’s leading - I don’t have the answers and need to be lead forward.

- If you know of people who have gone thought setting up a charity, I would love to talk to them about what they think.

- Also if you know of any children’s home around the world, I would like to contact them.

- If you know a good book about youth or children at risk, even parenting, leadership books.. Subjects that can help me think about this project more and get more understanding.

- If you know any courses out there that are relevant to this work let me know.

- I want to start getting a list of people who will dedicate themselves to pray for this with me. So please if you want to be part of this, it would be an encouragement if you would let me know - even write your name on the comment box at the bottom. THANKS!