Warm Lake Camp

Here's the High School campers & leaders from Warm Lake Conservative Baptist Camp this past week!

Each day we have a "Missions" hour from 11:30-12:30. It's been fun interacting with these high schoolers & supporting God's work in their life to be people who proclaim the Gospel (to the ends of the earth).

Volleyball will keep you on your toes! Just like the Christian Life - never boring!

This is our camp mascot, Octavian! Doesn't he just make you feel like going to camp?

(He's watching you...)

This was our last big rapid on the N. Fork of the Peyette River, "Howard's Plunge!" Shannah was a little bit concerned when I told her I was going white water rafting...again!! (got to go last week in WV) Ya know, all those things you're extra cautious about when you're about to get married...you don't want to take as many risks. Well...the campers made me do it.

And while we only had 4 campers get lost in the river...

...I made it back safe & sound (oh, and so did those other 4 campers).

IFCA National Youth Convention (June 21-26)

What a privilege it was to be a part of the IFCA National Youth Convention this year! (IFCA stands for Independent Fundamental Churches of America)

On behalf of New Tribes Bible Institute, I got the opportunity to represent unreached tribal people & challenge the students to Discover their Role in how they could be a part of reaching tribes with the Gospel. As a missions rep. at the convention, I taught 2 breakout sessions on missions. Had a good response from those who came!

As I counselor, I got to spend the week with these six delegates (Michael, Zach, Trevor, Kyle, Nick, & Matt). Part of their week (& all the students) was intensive Bible quizzing - they've spent all year studying for this! They also participated in other Ministry Training Areas, such as singing, preaching, etc. These guys are from Washington state & Illinois.

I really enjoyed getting to know students like Ryan, who is desiring to go into full-time medical missions. Please PRAY for Ryan & others, that God would raise up laborers from this group to take the Gospel where it's never been.

The Convention was hosted by Appalachian Bible College in Mt. Hope, WV.

What a bonus to be able to join a couple excursions into the New River Gorge!

We had just repelled over a 120 ft cliff!

I got to run a 5K with 2 of my guys (Zach & Trevor). This is an annual event at the IFCA Convention. Trevor did it in under 20 minutes!! Zach & I finished together at just over 21 minutes! I was aiming at under 30 min, so I was happy (staying fit for the mission field)!

Thank you for those of you who prayed for this event! What a joy it has been to see God work in the lives of these students & to encourage them in their pursuit of Him. Some have already expressed a desire to serve Him on the foreign mission field!!! Praise the Lord!

NTM Enrichment Conference - June 15-19

The NTM Enrichment Conference was a highlight for this year! God opened a door for me to go to the conference this past month (for New Tribes Missionaries), held in Roach, Missouri at our Missionary Training Center. I was able to help out with the high school group (about 90 of them!). Greg Speck was the speaker for the youth - he did a great job challenging our hearts as we seek to walk with God & live out the Christian Life.

I had the privilege of leading the Music (worship/praise) times for the High School group with my good buddy, Ben Brown. Thanks Ben!

On Thursday night, everybody gets together for a youth & family service. We put together a youth band & led the music for the whole group. Oh was a beautiful thing it was to be drowned out by this crowd of missionaries!! You should've heard it.

Here's the group (about 350 of them). Some of these are missionaries home for the year on furlough, some are US Missionaries serving at our training centers & headquarters. And then there were some who are still in the process of finishing training & heading overseas.

The last morning (Friday), it's customary for the worship leaders to wear an apron. I used mine as a cape.

It was also special to see some of my guys from Camdenton First Baptist Church who I got to know when I served their youth group back in 2005-06. (Curtis, Jaron, & Sam)

Another annual custom for the youth is to have a flour fight. Don't know what year it started, but it's just as messy every year!

So why do I share this crazy conference week with you? Because many of these teens will be taking the gospel to the ends of the earth - many of them are sold out to Jesus Christ & are already committed to taking the gospel where it's never been. These missionary kids have my respect & my prayers as they finish high school & continue to pursue God's direction for their lives. Will you pray with me for them -that they would grow to be spiritual champions?

June Newsletter (click on letter & it will expand)

I'm Engaged!!! Here's the story - May 23rd, 2009...

After breakfast at Goldy's...

...and a quick stop at the Rose Garden...

...I took Shannah out to the place where we first met back in 2006.
(Can you tell there was someone hiding in the bushes? Haha.)

Her (belated) one-year present, called "The First Chapter" was a photobook that told the story of our relationship up to the present.

About to start a new chapter.

Shannah just made me the happiest man I've ever known!!!
(I actually proposed with a STRING ring...)

(...then suprised her with a real one.)


Talk about suprises! Just discovered the hidden camera -our friend, Ronda.


BEFORE: This was at breakfast...notice her BARE ring finger? hehehe...

...and AFTER!

Here's the string ring I actually proposed with. 'Course, it's not as sparkly as the real thing.


THE RING: For you ladies...I know this is all you really want to see.

From the side.

The Pollard House

Hmmm...what lies ahead???

Lots of goofiness I'm sure!

AND NOW SOME FUN PIC'S:

(I still remember standing in this very spot & praying, "Oh Lord, please!")


Well, He certainly blew me away, that's for sure!

Thanks so much Ronda for all your help!!!

April 2009 Newsletter (Just click on the picture to enlarge)

Summit 2010 in St. Charles, IL

Some of you might be wondering where next year's Awana Summit will be held. In case you didn't get the memo....it's in St. Charles, Illinois (just West of Chicago). Hope to see you there!

What a Weekend!! Thanks for Praying for Awana Summit 2009!

Thanks for those of you who have prayed diligently for us! The college & ministry fair went great! Doug & I had the opportunity to share with so many teens & adults what God is doing around the world amongst unreached tribal people & how they can help reach them. We shared a lot about NTBI (New Tribes Bible Institute) & about what tribal missionaries do. I was blown away at how many people stopped by with great questions & genuine interest!

All I can figure is that God answered your prayers!

This team is from Grace Bible Church - Charlotte, NC. Two graduates from their Awana Group are now students at NTBI! Lane (gray shirt) is planning on attending our campus in Jackson, Michigan this fall! It was so cool to meet him before he comes up.

These students are from Evangelical Community Church - Jackson, Tennessee. I've gotten to know them over the past two years and it was really great visiting with them this year again! Two of their students won First Place overall in various fine-arts competitions! Way to go Page & Emily!!!

The last event was the Platinum Round of the Bible Quiz. They narrowed it down to the top 10 teams from all over the nation...

All the teams did great! Our friends from Grace Bible Church, Charlotte, ended up winning! The top 3 teams recieved nice scholarships for college & the champions recieved a $500 scholarship from Awana to use for the college of their choice!!

Finally, we finished out the weekend with our final closing session. Kevin White from Awana gave the final message & really did a phenomenal job at wrapping up the weekend. He had me come up & share how God led me to New Tribes Mission & how Awana had a huge part in all that. Again, THANK YOU for praying!! I was able to share with the whole group about the thousands of unreached people groups in the world & challenge them to discover their role in Expanding the Reach of the Gospel. Your prayers were answered! There was a great response from the students! Hundreds have begun praying specifically that God would send out laborers into His harvest field (Matthew 9:37) & take the gospel where it's never been before.

Praise God! Let's continue praying to this end...until every tribe is reached!!!