June 30, 2008
Dear Friends of The Christian Life Center (Waveland MS),
The heat is on and so is CLC this summer! WOW! What an energized time we are having here in Waveland! We have had incredible youth groups with us – just finishing an awesome week with 75 youths representing 4 different youth groups! I am blown away by their serving hearts for each other and this community. They have painted, cleaned, dug, prayed and represented Christ well as His ambassadors. I want to thank all of these young people for participating in Christ’s mission here in Waveland. They have truly modeled what it looks like to love people with action!
My prayer? Lord, may these kids take their remarkable efforts in bring Christ’s love through service back home to their churches and set their cities on fire for the mission heart of God!
Waveland Thrift Store:
The Thrift Store continues to thrive as the Lord opens tremendous opportunities for ministry to many people who would not otherwise attend a church service. It is a privilege to watch God richly bless this little Thrift Store as He moves in the hearts of local and non-local volunteers joining us in this unique ministry situation.
Christian Life Church (Church Plant):
The Community Development and Relief work is growing and has a strong team to continue its growth. The Church, however, is in its embryonic stage and we are seeking God for workers to help with the Church Plant and the harvest that is here.
Our Youth Ministry is taking off! We have seen a number of the Youth who, even three months ago, were completely uninterested in God. Many of them have now begun to open their hearts to Him! One gal, in particular, has been a part of our community for the past ten months and just recently made a commitment to follow Christ! She has been instrumental in bringing many other kids to the Center to receive encouragement, experience community, and hear the Gospel! Praise the Lord! Shannon and Heather have been integral in ministering to these kids! We have been blessed by their sacrificial service; however, we are concerned as they will be leaving in July to attend Moody Bible College. As I mentioned before, we are in major need for workers for this ripe harvest. The Church is presently seeking a worker who has a heart for youth!
In fact the Church is actively praying about more workers for the harvest in Waveland. We need help with worship and just about everything that comes with planting a church. If you have any interest in church planting in any capacity and feel like the Lord may be putting Waveland MS on your heart, please let us know! We cannot do this work alone and we believe that God wants to raise up missionaries from all over the country to fulfill His mission for this community.
New Workers for the Harvest:
1) Roger Deroot: Roger will be joining the Community Development/Relief ministry of CLC for 6-12 months. Roger has an incredible heart for missions and insatiable passion to follow Jesus wherever He leads. We are thrilled that he will be apart of the mission in Waveland, MS.
2) John Jacoby: John will be joining the Community Development/Relief ministry of CLC for 3 months helping us with the rebuilding effort. John has been down a number of times and we are very thankful that he continues to commit his time to serve God in God’s mission to Waveland.
Difficult Good-byes:
As I mentioned above, Shannon and Heather will be leaving in mid-July to head up to Moody Bible College. Words do not adequately express the impact they have had here.
Shannon has been “poured out as a drink offering” here since just after the storm. His leadership, tenacity, hard work, and faith have gone a long way in allowing CLC to survive and then thrive in a deeply needy community with an ever changing environment. Shannon’s heart of love, mercy and compassion for the individuals of Waveland is an inspiration to us all. It is with both heavy hearts and great excitement that we release them from Waveland and from this work to service in another place. We believe in who God has created them to be and passionately believe in their calling to action.
So, Shannon and Heather, we love you with all our hearts…we release you to God’s future plans…and cannot wait to hear of God’s purposes being accomplished through you.
Amazing Times!
We are in amazing times and now more than ever the Church must pray diligently and act quickly to impact the world for God’s Kingdom. Please pray for the communities in our nation’s Heartland that have been impacted by the flooding from the MS River. Many of you who have volunteered in Waveland know all to well the terrible impact that a flood can have on a community. You also know that God turns terrible things into glorious ones! Pray…give…and do all you can to help our neighbors in the Heartland!
I continue to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for every one of you and your passion for the Mission Heart of Jesus Christ!
Blessings,
Mark Young
CLC Director
On behalf of your team: Mandy Weizer, Melissa Young, Shannon & Heather Lenox, David Bartelt, John & Christy Rohrmayer, Dave & Donna Cornelious.