We have moved our blog and our website to one central location. To read our latest updates, go here:
http://www.christianspeakers.tv/blog/
Thanks!
CJ and Shelley
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Another Transition and a New Season of Life...
by Shelley Hitz
Today is another turning point for our ministry. For the last year and a half, I have been transitioning out of my Physical Therapy job in order to travel and minister together with CJ. Last January, I went part time and then last September, I officially resigned. I still stayed on staff as prn, or on-call status. Well, with several staffing turnovers and two maternity leaves, I still ended up working almost part time hours over the last 10 months.
However, yesterday was my last day...I'm officially done. The staff even had a small going away party for me. :)
And so this marks the beginning of another season of life:
It's hard to imagine that -- at some point -- we will actually be living in a small 20-foot Toyota RV. And yet it's exciting to know we now have the ability to go wherever God leads us.
On this first day of a new season of ministry and life, we were asked to be guests on "Prayer Surge Now." We were interviewed by Dai Sup Han and then several people on the call prayed for us. You can listen to the recording below. I could feel the Spirit moving as they prayed for us and tears began streaming down my eyes.
I have to admit that over the last several months, I've struggled with the sin of worry. How will it all work out? Will we still be able to pay all our bills? And yet, God was reminding me that He is in control and I can trust Him.
This fall, we have speaking engagements locally in the mid-west. Then, near the end of October, we'll pack up the RV and begin our journey. Thank you for your prayers and support!
Prayer Surge Now Recording
Today is another turning point for our ministry. For the last year and a half, I have been transitioning out of my Physical Therapy job in order to travel and minister together with CJ. Last January, I went part time and then last September, I officially resigned. I still stayed on staff as prn, or on-call status. Well, with several staffing turnovers and two maternity leaves, I still ended up working almost part time hours over the last 10 months.
However, yesterday was my last day...I'm officially done. The staff even had a small going away party for me. :)
And so this marks the beginning of another season of life:
- We now have a RV to travel to speaking engagements
- I'm officially finished with my P.T. job and have the flexibility to travel full-time
- A friend of ours will be renting our house for a year and help pay our mortgage...
It's hard to imagine that -- at some point -- we will actually be living in a small 20-foot Toyota RV. And yet it's exciting to know we now have the ability to go wherever God leads us.
On this first day of a new season of ministry and life, we were asked to be guests on "Prayer Surge Now." We were interviewed by Dai Sup Han and then several people on the call prayed for us. You can listen to the recording below. I could feel the Spirit moving as they prayed for us and tears began streaming down my eyes.
I have to admit that over the last several months, I've struggled with the sin of worry. How will it all work out? Will we still be able to pay all our bills? And yet, God was reminding me that He is in control and I can trust Him.
This fall, we have speaking engagements locally in the mid-west. Then, near the end of October, we'll pack up the RV and begin our journey. Thank you for your prayers and support!
Prayer Surge Now Recording
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Selflessness
It's great to know that selflessness is still in fashion. I recently came across the following story and just got a kick out of it. The announcers in the video are simply blown away by this kid and his selfless gesture toward another little boy...Click here
Fads come and go. Selfless acts of kindness will never go out of style
"Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." -- 1 John 3:18
CJ
Friday, May 27, 2011
That there...that's an R-V
After a couple years of thinking about an RV and it's many uses, we're happy to announce it's finally become a reality for us (see our banner pic above). We had many visions of what the RV would look like with so many varieties out there today. After considering many variables, three basic qualities rose to the surface in terms of what we would truly need...1.) Fuel efficiency 2.) Reliability 3.) Does it fit our budget?
Sure, there are bigger RVs out there but they only get 7-11mpg at best. There are also very fuel efficient diesel RVs out there but even a used one will cost over $50k. At one time we even looked at VW Camper Vans but realized we wanted something fully self-contained (stove, shower, toilet, bed, fridge, furnace). That's when we began researching Toyota RVs. Believe it or not, there's a whole culture devoted to these little guys. We scoured places like Craigslist and a few sites devoted to just Toyotas. We finally came across one in Pasadena, CA that looked to be in excellent condition for a 1990 (1994 is the last year Toyota made an RV). When we called the seller, little did we know we would be talking with a TRUE expert on all things Toyota RV.
Marilee proceeded to tell us the RV we were interested in had recently been sold. To be honest, it was a bit out of our price range anyway. She then told us she had another one she and her father had been working to restore for over a year and were ready to sell. We would later find out she's had a hand in "rescuing and restoring" 52 Toyota RVs over the years! This makes her one of half a dozen people around the country with such a passion for these particular RVs. After going through 63 online pictures of this 1986 Toyota EZ-Ryder while talking to us on the phone, we were sold. Marilee and her husband Tom also drive the same year & model and have enjoyed many years in theirs. This gave us some added incentive as we gave her a deposit for this 25 year-old "Toy-House" as they're sometimes called.
After flying out to LAX, I (CJ) was able to stay with Tom & Marilee and get a day and a half tutorial on how everything in the RV works. Marilee also tells all of her buyers that they'll continue to get customer support if we ever have any questions. I told her she'll most likely be getting calls from us since we're newbies in the RV scene. After giving her the remaining balance (selling our Chevy Colorado helped) and signing the necessary paper work, I couldn't believe I was driving down the road in our own RV! Anytime you envision something for any length of time and it finally becomes reality can be a surreal feeling.
After speaking at two different southern California schools, I began the nearly 2500mi drive back to Findlay, OH. What a way to break in a vehicle! And this RV is certainly still in the "breaking-in" stage with only 22k original miles on the engine (4cyl Automatic). I was able to average over 16mpg which is what Marilee said it would get. This is one of the primary reasons these used RVs are in such high demand with gas prices the way they are.
My route took me through Barstow, CA where I took I-40 eastward through Flagstaff, AZ (where it was snowing!), Albuquerque, NM, and Amarillo, TX. Once in Oklahoma, I took I-44 through Tulsa until reaching St. Louis, MO where I took I-70 all the way to Dayton, OH before taking I-75 the final 100 miles home. The day after arriving home, I would read about the devastating tornado that hit Joplin, MO. I had to count my blessings since I had stayed in a Sam's Club parking lot in Joplin a mere 30hrs before the tornado hit. It's sobering to think of those who lost their lives and the families grieving that loss as I write this.
As for any issues with the RV, I noticed a couple minor leaks after going through a fairly lengthy rain storm between Barstow & Flagstaff. Fortunately, I was able to have some guys in Albuquerque do some sealing that kept things dry the rest of the way. Part of routine maintenance with any RV, regardless of year is having the roof sealed every 6 months to a year. These houses on wheels take a beating between roads & weather. Engine-wise, the RV drove very well and gave me no problems in that area.
One of the primary reasons for getting this RV is to use it in ministry and ease the travel expense burden for schools & churches who want to bring us in to speak. By traveling in an RV, we'll be able to plant ourselves in various regions for an extended period of time and minister in those areas before moving on to another region. This will maximize our time to allow schools, churches and camps to invite us while we're in their area. With the possibility of renting out our house in Findlay, we would truly be considered "tramps" for the Lord.
I leave you with this...
Sure, there are bigger RVs out there but they only get 7-11mpg at best. There are also very fuel efficient diesel RVs out there but even a used one will cost over $50k. At one time we even looked at VW Camper Vans but realized we wanted something fully self-contained (stove, shower, toilet, bed, fridge, furnace). That's when we began researching Toyota RVs. Believe it or not, there's a whole culture devoted to these little guys. We scoured places like Craigslist and a few sites devoted to just Toyotas. We finally came across one in Pasadena, CA that looked to be in excellent condition for a 1990 (1994 is the last year Toyota made an RV). When we called the seller, little did we know we would be talking with a TRUE expert on all things Toyota RV.
Marilee proceeded to tell us the RV we were interested in had recently been sold. To be honest, it was a bit out of our price range anyway. She then told us she had another one she and her father had been working to restore for over a year and were ready to sell. We would later find out she's had a hand in "rescuing and restoring" 52 Toyota RVs over the years! This makes her one of half a dozen people around the country with such a passion for these particular RVs. After going through 63 online pictures of this 1986 Toyota EZ-Ryder while talking to us on the phone, we were sold. Marilee and her husband Tom also drive the same year & model and have enjoyed many years in theirs. This gave us some added incentive as we gave her a deposit for this 25 year-old "Toy-House" as they're sometimes called.
After flying out to LAX, I (CJ) was able to stay with Tom & Marilee and get a day and a half tutorial on how everything in the RV works. Marilee also tells all of her buyers that they'll continue to get customer support if we ever have any questions. I told her she'll most likely be getting calls from us since we're newbies in the RV scene. After giving her the remaining balance (selling our Chevy Colorado helped) and signing the necessary paper work, I couldn't believe I was driving down the road in our own RV! Anytime you envision something for any length of time and it finally becomes reality can be a surreal feeling.
After speaking at two different southern California schools, I began the nearly 2500mi drive back to Findlay, OH. What a way to break in a vehicle! And this RV is certainly still in the "breaking-in" stage with only 22k original miles on the engine (4cyl Automatic). I was able to average over 16mpg which is what Marilee said it would get. This is one of the primary reasons these used RVs are in such high demand with gas prices the way they are.
My route took me through Barstow, CA where I took I-40 eastward through Flagstaff, AZ (where it was snowing!), Albuquerque, NM, and Amarillo, TX. Once in Oklahoma, I took I-44 through Tulsa until reaching St. Louis, MO where I took I-70 all the way to Dayton, OH before taking I-75 the final 100 miles home. The day after arriving home, I would read about the devastating tornado that hit Joplin, MO. I had to count my blessings since I had stayed in a Sam's Club parking lot in Joplin a mere 30hrs before the tornado hit. It's sobering to think of those who lost their lives and the families grieving that loss as I write this.
As for any issues with the RV, I noticed a couple minor leaks after going through a fairly lengthy rain storm between Barstow & Flagstaff. Fortunately, I was able to have some guys in Albuquerque do some sealing that kept things dry the rest of the way. Part of routine maintenance with any RV, regardless of year is having the roof sealed every 6 months to a year. These houses on wheels take a beating between roads & weather. Engine-wise, the RV drove very well and gave me no problems in that area.
One of the primary reasons for getting this RV is to use it in ministry and ease the travel expense burden for schools & churches who want to bring us in to speak. By traveling in an RV, we'll be able to plant ourselves in various regions for an extended period of time and minister in those areas before moving on to another region. This will maximize our time to allow schools, churches and camps to invite us while we're in their area. With the possibility of renting out our house in Findlay, we would truly be considered "tramps" for the Lord.
I leave you with this...
Monday, January 24, 2011
Eye-Openers
For anyone interested, we've created a little nook on our website known as "Eye-Openers". The purpose is to expose some false teaching from time to time among various religions of the world. Our focus in the beginning has been on the Roman Catholic Church with other religions to follow in the future. Most of us can say we have some Catholic friends we care about. Hope these nuggets are helpful to you over time. Here's the link...
http://www.christian-speakers.org/eye-openers.html
CJ
http://www.christian-speakers.org/eye-openers.html
CJ
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Encouragement Cards...
We received some "encouragement cards" in the mail from Xenia Christian School where we recently spoke at their spiritual emphasis week. As you know, encouraging words can make your day...and it did brighten our day.
Who can you encourage today? It may only take a moment for God to use you to brighten someone's day!
Encouragement Cards from Xenia Christian School...
I would like to personally thank you for coming to our school to speak for spiritual emphasis week. I think that you really opened our eyes to how much media we consume and how little time we spend doing anything else.
Sincerely,
Peter
Thank you very much for coming and speaking to our school! It was a very good sermon that you both spoke to us and you inspired me to go on a media fast. I'm going to fast TV, texting and facebook. Thank you so much, both of you, for showing me and helping me to do the right thing when it comes to media.
Love,
Mallory
Thank you very much for speaking to our school. I enjoyed it all very much. The 3 days you talked were very eye-opening and I now realize how much our media can affect us and influence us.
Thank you,
Faith
Thank you for coming to our school and really making a huge impact on all of us. Your messages really make me realize how to become closer to God and love Him and myself more.
Abby
Thank you so much for coming to our school and sharing amazing things with us. I loved the messages! You have blessed and encouraged our school to grow in a relationship with God where He is first. I hope that God continues to work through you both. Thank you also for keeping us in your prayers!
Savannah
Thank you for speaking to all of the girls on Wednesday. YOur message spoke a lot to me. I wanted to say I loved the illustration of the cars. I hope that you and your husband will get more chances to talk to teenagers. I will pray for you and your husband to keep working in people's lives and showing/helping people walk on the path to Jesus.
Praying for you,
Cheradyn
It was truly our privilege to have both of you on our campus this week. Many students have mentioned the spiritual change that we felt here as you brought God's Word to Xenia Christian. May the Lord continue to bless both of you on your trip out west and throughout the coming years. Your ministry has truly touched hearts here.
Thank you,
Joe
Who can you encourage today? It may only take a moment for God to use you to brighten someone's day!
Encouragement Cards from Xenia Christian School...
I would like to personally thank you for coming to our school to speak for spiritual emphasis week. I think that you really opened our eyes to how much media we consume and how little time we spend doing anything else.
Sincerely,
Peter
Thank you very much for coming and speaking to our school! It was a very good sermon that you both spoke to us and you inspired me to go on a media fast. I'm going to fast TV, texting and facebook. Thank you so much, both of you, for showing me and helping me to do the right thing when it comes to media.
Love,
Mallory
Thank you very much for speaking to our school. I enjoyed it all very much. The 3 days you talked were very eye-opening and I now realize how much our media can affect us and influence us.
Thank you,
Faith
Thank you for coming to our school and really making a huge impact on all of us. Your messages really make me realize how to become closer to God and love Him and myself more.
Abby
Thank you so much for coming to our school and sharing amazing things with us. I loved the messages! You have blessed and encouraged our school to grow in a relationship with God where He is first. I hope that God continues to work through you both. Thank you also for keeping us in your prayers!
Savannah
Thank you for speaking to all of the girls on Wednesday. YOur message spoke a lot to me. I wanted to say I loved the illustration of the cars. I hope that you and your husband will get more chances to talk to teenagers. I will pray for you and your husband to keep working in people's lives and showing/helping people walk on the path to Jesus.
Praying for you,
Cheradyn
It was truly our privilege to have both of you on our campus this week. Many students have mentioned the spiritual change that we felt here as you brought God's Word to Xenia Christian. May the Lord continue to bless both of you on your trip out west and throughout the coming years. Your ministry has truly touched hearts here.
Thank you,
Joe
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Get REAL inC Missions Trip to Abacos Island in the Bahamas
by Shelley Hitz
I had the privilege of going with a team of teen girls and women from Get REAL inC (in Christ) to Marsh Harbour and Dundas Town on Abacos Island in the Bahamas. I've been on many mission trips and we even lived in Belize, Central America for two years doing mission work and therefore have such a huge heart for the people of the Caribbean. And once again, I fell in love with the people!
Why the Bahamas?
Katie Wolfe of Get REAL inC met Bertlyn Linden on a vacation to the Bahamas this past year. Bertlyn had just put up a flyer of her girls ministry called Gifted Girls in her bakery and it caught Katie's eye. They ended up meeting and kept in touch. Bertlyn then asked Katie to bring a team of women/girls to share the message of safe use of technology (social networking, sexting, etc.) through the Get REAL & BSMRT conference. I had just helped speak at Findlay's event on Real Beauty and so Katie invited me to come. The rest of the team is from Indianapolis, Indiana where Get REAL inC ministry begun.
Should I Go?
I really sensed that I was supposed to go on this trip but wasn't sure how it would all work out. CJ and I were planning on being on a ministry trip out west at the time and Katie wasn't sure if they would have the finances for me to go. One night I felt very strongly that I was to tell Katie that even if they didn't have the money to pay for my plane ticket, I sensed I was supposed to come on this trip and we would trust God to provide. She wrote back and said it was a relief for her because they just had a meeting that night and realized that they wouldn't have enough money for my ticket but really wanted me to come. Within the next week, God provided! I received a check in the mail that would cover my ticket to the Bahamas. Thank you Lord for providing!
God at Work...
God did amazing things while we were in the Bahamas. The short story is that we were able to speak in 6 schools to about 800 kids as well as present the Get REAL & BSMRT conference for about 100 teen girls. I've shared more details from each day of our trip below...
Tuesday October 19:
I had the privilege of going with a team of teen girls and women from Get REAL inC (in Christ) to Marsh Harbour and Dundas Town on Abacos Island in the Bahamas. I've been on many mission trips and we even lived in Belize, Central America for two years doing mission work and therefore have such a huge heart for the people of the Caribbean. And once again, I fell in love with the people!
Why the Bahamas?
Katie Wolfe of Get REAL inC met Bertlyn Linden on a vacation to the Bahamas this past year. Bertlyn had just put up a flyer of her girls ministry called Gifted Girls in her bakery and it caught Katie's eye. They ended up meeting and kept in touch. Bertlyn then asked Katie to bring a team of women/girls to share the message of safe use of technology (social networking, sexting, etc.) through the Get REAL & BSMRT conference. I had just helped speak at Findlay's event on Real Beauty and so Katie invited me to come. The rest of the team is from Indianapolis, Indiana where Get REAL inC ministry begun.
Should I Go?
I really sensed that I was supposed to go on this trip but wasn't sure how it would all work out. CJ and I were planning on being on a ministry trip out west at the time and Katie wasn't sure if they would have the finances for me to go. One night I felt very strongly that I was to tell Katie that even if they didn't have the money to pay for my plane ticket, I sensed I was supposed to come on this trip and we would trust God to provide. She wrote back and said it was a relief for her because they just had a meeting that night and realized that they wouldn't have enough money for my ticket but really wanted me to come. Within the next week, God provided! I received a check in the mail that would cover my ticket to the Bahamas. Thank you Lord for providing!
God at Work...
God did amazing things while we were in the Bahamas. The short story is that we were able to speak in 6 schools to about 800 kids as well as present the Get REAL & BSMRT conference for about 100 teen girls. I've shared more details from each day of our trip below...
Tuesday October 19:
We made it safely to the Bahamas today! We are staying at Marsh Harbour on the Abacos Island. I had a really interesting encounter/conversation with a 27 year old girl from the Bahamas in the Nassau airport during our 2.5 hour layover...I think we talked almost about the entire time. We did talk about spiritual things and gave her my card with the website. She says she's a Christian and was raised Baptist, but is not a "strong one." Pray for her - her name is Samantha.
Wednesday October 20:
We are speaking in the schools today giving the Digital Demon presentation about sexting.
Here's the schedule for today:
S.C. Bootle High School (entire school assembly) - 9am (Michele, Brianna, Paige)
St. Francis (6th-12 grade) - 9:30am (Kelly, Laura)
Central Abaco Primary (5th and 6th grade) - 10am (Sarge, Taylor)
Abaco Central High School (entire school assembly) - 10am (Katie W., Shelley, Katie P., Kayla)
Every Child Counts (school for people with disabilities) - 11am (Kelly, Laura)
Today was amazing! I can't even explain in words. As we were all sharing a recap of the morning with each other (4 teams in 6 different schools) some of us had tears in our eyes. It was only God that could be opening the way before us! Can I just say that this message is sooooooo relevant to these kids? Almost all of them raised their hands saying they have cell phones and Facebook accounts. And the guidance counselor at the high school where my group shared said she deals with these issues of sexting/social media, etc. almost daily and was so thankful we came.
There were probably 300-400 at the high school and in all, we probably spoke to about 800 kids plus staff. And we were able to fully share the gospel, scriptures, etc. which was great! The kids were very engaged, attentive and responsive. I did end up doing some of the speaking at the high school to help Katie save her voice and loved it! It felt like I was in Belize again...the people are very similar and so friendly and open.
There were probably 300-400 at the high school and in all, we probably spoke to about 800 kids plus staff. And we were able to fully share the gospel, scriptures, etc. which was great! The kids were very engaged, attentive and responsive. I did end up doing some of the speaking at the high school to help Katie save her voice and loved it! It felt like I was in Belize again...the people are very similar and so friendly and open.
Unfortunately we weren't able to show the DVD in any of the schools, but fortunately God prepared us because we talked through last night what we would do without the DVD and were all prepared for it...plus I think it may have actually gone over even better because we told the stories of Hope and Jesse - real teen girls who committed suicide after sexting/bullying. At the high school we handed out flyers for Saturday's event after we spoke saying, "Do you think you'll be able to come?" Most of them said yes or that they would try. Boys even asked for the flyers to invite their sisters and family.
One of our groups even got invited to a school spontaneously this morning after they spoke in their assigned school. Someone called over to the other school saying, "You have to have this group come and speak to your students" and they changed their schedule at the last minute to allow the group to speak to their 6th graders for about 20 minutes!! PTL!!
One of our groups even got invited to a school spontaneously this morning after they spoke in their assigned school. Someone called over to the other school saying, "You have to have this group come and speak to your students" and they changed their schedule at the last minute to allow the group to speak to their 6th graders for about 20 minutes!! PTL!!
I feel so blessed to be here!
Thursday October 21:
Today was another amazing day! We took the boat to Hope Town and planned on "sightseeing" but I knew that God would use that time to open up divine appointments...and He did! On the ferry ride over, I met Marie - a pastor at the Methodist Church on the Island and Leah - a youth leader in another church. I was able to share with them about what we're doing and our event and they both were excited to invite their teens.
In Hope Town we ate at a restaurant right on the beach which was so fun!! We met one of the cooks on the boat. He ended up connecting with us and we found a piano where he and one of our teen girls played and sang together. It was such a God moment because he came back to talk to us and sat right by me. As we talked earlier I asked him if he attended a church and he said he grew up in church but wasn't living it right now. He said he likes to be honest and doesn't like it when people try to be something they're not. We said we were glad he was being "real" with us...that we value that because that is what our ministry is called, "Get REAL inC" :) Well, I felt prompted before we left to ask him if there was anything we could pray for him. He said his health and getting back on track with his relationship with Christ. So, I prayed for him...afterward he said he was really thankful for the prayers. Keep praying for him because he has a God-given gift for music that I believe He will be using again for God!!
On the way home I met a man who does tiling and was returning to Marsh Harbour from a job at Hope Town. He just happens to have 4 girls and one of his girls attends Central Abaco High School where I helped present yesterday. He said he would encourage her and her friends to come and come up and meet us! (It was a neat moment when I was able to meet his daughter at the event on Saturday!)
Friday October 22:
I continue to be blown away by what God is doing. Today we were interviewed live at the local Christian TV station (well, Katie, Taylor - one of the teens and Bertlyn - our Bahama connection were interviewed!). It went great. Then we took a tour of their new church being built...almost finished (around November, Thanksgiving). We had a really powerful time of prayer for their church and Pastor Mills.
While there we were talking about how they do baptisms and they do them in the ocean :) Well, two of our girls, Brianna and Kayla, wanted to be baptized and asked the pastor if he would baptize them while they were here and he said YES! Brianna's mom, Michelle, is also here and she started crying...therefore we all started crying. She had talked with her daughter about being baptized for a while and had been praying for her to make the decision on her own. So, they are going to be baptized in the Bay of Abaco right outside our condo tomorrow by the pastor after spending about one hour with him. How amazing is that?!?
While there we were talking about how they do baptisms and they do them in the ocean :) Well, two of our girls, Brianna and Kayla, wanted to be baptized and asked the pastor if he would baptize them while they were here and he said YES! Brianna's mom, Michelle, is also here and she started crying...therefore we all started crying. She had talked with her daughter about being baptized for a while and had been praying for her to make the decision on her own. So, they are going to be baptized in the Bay of Abaco right outside our condo tomorrow by the pastor after spending about one hour with him. How amazing is that?!?
This evening we went out on the streets by the only stoplight in the town and handed out invitations for the event tomorrow. It was so different from the states because the people are so friendly and being a small area (only 20,000 people on the entire island of Abaco) people are more open to us handing out invitations. Many people said they were coming or would try to come. Some had already heard of it on the TV, radio or were from the church.
Saturday October 23:
Well....tonight's the night. I feel the normal nervousness but also a spirit of heaviness...sensing the spiritual battle. I've especially been feeling attacks of insecurity and doubting what I should say. I did change my presentation slightly after talking with some people here and realizing the girls struggle with different things in body
image than we do.
Today has been a turning point for our team with deepening conversations and relationships. I've had several really deep conversations with the girls and also several of the women.
I can't wait to see what God does tonight!
image than we do.
Today has been a turning point for our team with deepening conversations and relationships. I've had several really deep conversations with the girls and also several of the women.
I can't wait to see what God does tonight!
Sunday October 24:
Wow...I almost feel numb (in a good way) from all that God is doing here in Abacos Island, Bahamas! Yesterday afternoon two of our girls got baptized by Pastor Mills of Friendship Tabernacle Church in the ocean...Pastor has a Christian TV station here and wasn't going to film the baptism but said he realized that most people come to the Bahamas to get married, honeymoon or vacation and yet here are girls getting baptized in the Bahamas. Both of these girls were already Christians, but took the step of getting baptized...one of them had been thinking about it (and her mom was praying for her to take this step). Brianna is an amazing worship leader at only 13 years old and Kayla told me that she feels called to me an evangelist. I sensed yesterday that God was annointing them for ministry...how cool that they were getting baptized on a mission trip while they are ministering in those ways!!
Last night was amazing. The event was to start at 6pm but at some places was advertised at 6:30pm. Well at 6pm we had maybe 20 people and were feeling fearful, disappointed, etc. So we prayed and surrendered it to God. We waited to start until 6:30pm and girls kept filtering in until we had almost 100 girls!!! And it was an amazing night. We didn't know if they were fully understanding us, but when we read the reflection forms, we realized they did. Here are just a few:
- Do you feel your relationship with Christ changed tonight? "Yes. Because sometimes I felt closed to him but now I feel open...like a new person." Grade 7 "Yes. I feel like I don't have to be ashamed to come to Christ anymore because old things have passed away." Grade 11
- "Tonight I learned how to be a real girl and how to give my life to Jesus not to a boy and I really gave my self away to God." Grade 10
- "Tonight I learned about sexting and to give your heart to Christ. I learned that you should not impress your friends and to not let people tell you what to do and say." Grade 6
- "I have real beauty and no need for makeup or any other things that the world sees. I have to look up to God's eyes." Grade 8
- "I learned that God loves us the way He made us. I feel like I have a closer relationship with Jesus." Grade 8
- "Jesus can be your friend no matter what happen you can get forgiveness. You can give him all your troubles." Grade 8
- "To choose friend wisely. Never do the sexting, because in the end it may ruin my reputation and my life. Put away my phone sometimes. Be careful who is add on Facebook and who I talk to on the internet." Grade 12
- "That my body is the temple of the Lord and my beauty inside determines my relationship with God." Grade 7
And they went on and on. It is simply God! We can't take any credit for what He is doing here in Abacos!
Then, this morning we had a great church service. The pastor presented baptism certificates to Brianna and Kayla and then performed communion for them as well as the rest of the congregation. At the end of his sermon, he told the story of speaking to two teen girls this week that have been suicidal here in Abacos - one attempted suicide two weeks ago and one a year ago. Both came to Christ this week!! So, he gave an altar call for anyone to come to Christ or rededicate their lives and 11 youth came forward - 6 girls and 5 boys.
Katie Wolfe and I as well as Brianna and Kayla went back to help counsel the girls. All of them had been at Get REAL last night!! The woman from the church, Norma, prayed with them and then Katie asked if they all had bibles. Two of the girls didn't and the church didn't have extra bibles so I went to go get mine and one of our teens offered to give her bible to the other girl! What a privilege to be one small part of what God is doing here. In talking to Norma, it sounds like it is difficult for the church to get bibles, so Katie is thinking about collecting Bibles to send to Abacos.
Katie Wolfe and I as well as Brianna and Kayla went back to help counsel the girls. All of them had been at Get REAL last night!! The woman from the church, Norma, prayed with them and then Katie asked if they all had bibles. Two of the girls didn't and the church didn't have extra bibles so I went to go get mine and one of our teens offered to give her bible to the other girl! What a privilege to be one small part of what God is doing here. In talking to Norma, it sounds like it is difficult for the church to get bibles, so Katie is thinking about collecting Bibles to send to Abacos.
It's been really neat to see the role God has given me here - I thought I was coming to speak for 15 minutes last night and He has done so much more!! Immeasurably more than I can think or imagine!
Monday October 25:
Today is our last day here in the Bahamas. We'll fly out early tomorrow morning and have a long day of travel and layovers, so pray for our safety as we travel home. It's been amazing to be part of a team and something so much bigger than myself joining Get REAL inC for this trip to the Bahamas! Thank you again sooooooo much for your prayer support! It means more than you realize!
Friday, October 8, 2010
A View From The Road...
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Blinded to the Future
by Shelley Hitz
As I sit in a hotel in Broomfield, Colorado (outside Denver), I think again, "What are we doing?" The enemy bombards me with irrational fears and doubts. What is ahead? Will we be able to pay our bills and our mortgage? How will this all work?
And I don't have a clear answer. I just have a sense from Jesus to trust Him with what's ahead.
In the last few weeks I've had many powerful times of prayer with friends. And during those times I've had different friends say they sensed the same thing...that God is blinding us to the details of the future so that we'll be completely dependent on Him.
My friend Bethany said she saw a veil over our future to force us to depend on God and not on our own strength. Whereas my friend Melissa said she was reminded of Saul (later renamed Paul) who was blinded on the road to Damascus. When you are blind, you are in a position of humility and dependence on others. Saul had to depend on others to lead him by the hand to the city.
Acts 9:5-8 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
Thankfully, I am not physically blinded as Saul was. But, I do feel blinded to the details of the future and what God has for us in ministry. This forces me to depend on Jesus to lead us by the hand to our next destination. I am so used to planning, problem-solving and doing. It's hard to be led. And yet God is teaching me so much. Most of my life I have not needed to live by faith. I knew when the paycheck would be coming in and my schedule was planned out for me. I'm not saying it is wrong to live like this. But, God is leading us into a different season of life where I don't know these things. I don't have control. And I have to exercise my faith muscles.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Did you catch that? Certain of what we do not see. Blinded.
What areas in your life do you feel blinded? I believe God is asking each one of us to trust Him and allow ourselves to be "led by hand," so to speak, to our next destination. Hand in hand with Jesus, following Him.
Will we choose the path of faith or the path of control?
Lord, please help me choose the path of faith to the next destination you have for me. Help me to live for you and follow you during these short years I have on earth. Help me to fully surrender my control and my way of doing life. Thank you for being so patient with me. I love you. Amen.
As I sit in a hotel in Broomfield, Colorado (outside Denver), I think again, "What are we doing?" The enemy bombards me with irrational fears and doubts. What is ahead? Will we be able to pay our bills and our mortgage? How will this all work?
And I don't have a clear answer. I just have a sense from Jesus to trust Him with what's ahead.
In the last few weeks I've had many powerful times of prayer with friends. And during those times I've had different friends say they sensed the same thing...that God is blinding us to the details of the future so that we'll be completely dependent on Him.
My friend Bethany said she saw a veil over our future to force us to depend on God and not on our own strength. Whereas my friend Melissa said she was reminded of Saul (later renamed Paul) who was blinded on the road to Damascus. When you are blind, you are in a position of humility and dependence on others. Saul had to depend on others to lead him by the hand to the city.
Acts 9:5-8 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.
Thankfully, I am not physically blinded as Saul was. But, I do feel blinded to the details of the future and what God has for us in ministry. This forces me to depend on Jesus to lead us by the hand to our next destination. I am so used to planning, problem-solving and doing. It's hard to be led. And yet God is teaching me so much. Most of my life I have not needed to live by faith. I knew when the paycheck would be coming in and my schedule was planned out for me. I'm not saying it is wrong to live like this. But, God is leading us into a different season of life where I don't know these things. I don't have control. And I have to exercise my faith muscles.
Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."
Did you catch that? Certain of what we do not see. Blinded.
What areas in your life do you feel blinded? I believe God is asking each one of us to trust Him and allow ourselves to be "led by hand," so to speak, to our next destination. Hand in hand with Jesus, following Him.
Will we choose the path of faith or the path of control?
Lord, please help me choose the path of faith to the next destination you have for me. Help me to live for you and follow you during these short years I have on earth. Help me to fully surrender my control and my way of doing life. Thank you for being so patient with me. I love you. Amen.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Do You Believe in Divine Appointments?
by Shelley Hitz
What do I mean by a divine appointment? I believe a divine appointment is an encounter or meeting with someone which was inspired and led by God. As I was flying to a recent speaking engagement in North Carolina, I prayed that God would open up divine appointments for me.
I had to drive, park and get into the airport by myself that day as CJ was also traveling and speaking in Connecticut. So, as I was parking and figuring out where I was going and what I was doing, I was NOT thinking about a divine appointment. The only thing I was thinking about was getting to my gate on time.
The airport shuttle van stopped to pick me up and the driver was talking on her cell phone as she picked up my bags to put them in the back of the van. One of my bags was full of books and pretty heavy, so she struggled to get it inside. After she hung up, she turned and asked me, "Girl...what do you have in that bag? It's HEAVY!!" I hesitantly told her that it was filled with books my husband and I wrote and proceeded to tell her that I was traveling to North Carolina to speak to teen girls on God's perspective of sex.
As I started sharing with her, I felt prompted to ask her if she had any spiritual belief. She asked what I meant by that. I said, "For example, do you believe in God, Jesus or are you a Hindu, Buddist..." Immediately she said, "Oh no, I'm not any of those things. I believe in God!"
She then asked me what I thought of the Jehovah Witnesses. At that moment, my mind went blank and I honestly told her, "You know, I'm not really sure right now. If my husband was here, he could tell you." She said that her co-worker gave her one of their bibles. Immediately God brought back to my mind the difference! I proceeded to explain to her that Jehovah Witnesses don't believe Jesus was God and so they have changed their bible to reflect their beliefs. She said someone else had talked to her about that as well and that she didn't want that bible...she wanted the real thing. And so she had found another bible to read.
I found out her name is Jennifer. As she pulled up to drop me off at the airport, I asked her if she liked to read. She said she did and so I asked her if she'd like to read one of our books. She enthusiastically said yes and I proceeded to pull out one of our "Mathematics of Jesus" books for her. As I did she showed me a tract about Jesus that someone had given her earlier that day.
I told her that she must be on God's radar for Him to send two people in one day to talk to her about Jesus. She agreed and smiled brightly. She asked when I would be back and I told her the next day. She said she wouldn't have the book read by then but she would definitely read it. As I walked away, I glanced back at Jennifer as she was enthusiastically showing the book and re-telling the story to one of her co-workers.
I prayed for a divine appointment and yet when I was least expecting it and NOT looking for it, God opened one up for me! How about you? Have you been praying for and looking for the divine appointments with people that God places in your day? Are you willing to start spiritual conversations with those around you? I encourage you to ask God to lead you and He will!
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8
What do I mean by a divine appointment? I believe a divine appointment is an encounter or meeting with someone which was inspired and led by God. As I was flying to a recent speaking engagement in North Carolina, I prayed that God would open up divine appointments for me.
I had to drive, park and get into the airport by myself that day as CJ was also traveling and speaking in Connecticut. So, as I was parking and figuring out where I was going and what I was doing, I was NOT thinking about a divine appointment. The only thing I was thinking about was getting to my gate on time.
The airport shuttle van stopped to pick me up and the driver was talking on her cell phone as she picked up my bags to put them in the back of the van. One of my bags was full of books and pretty heavy, so she struggled to get it inside. After she hung up, she turned and asked me, "Girl...what do you have in that bag? It's HEAVY!!" I hesitantly told her that it was filled with books my husband and I wrote and proceeded to tell her that I was traveling to North Carolina to speak to teen girls on God's perspective of sex.
As I started sharing with her, I felt prompted to ask her if she had any spiritual belief. She asked what I meant by that. I said, "For example, do you believe in God, Jesus or are you a Hindu, Buddist..." Immediately she said, "Oh no, I'm not any of those things. I believe in God!"
She then asked me what I thought of the Jehovah Witnesses. At that moment, my mind went blank and I honestly told her, "You know, I'm not really sure right now. If my husband was here, he could tell you." She said that her co-worker gave her one of their bibles. Immediately God brought back to my mind the difference! I proceeded to explain to her that Jehovah Witnesses don't believe Jesus was God and so they have changed their bible to reflect their beliefs. She said someone else had talked to her about that as well and that she didn't want that bible...she wanted the real thing. And so she had found another bible to read.
I found out her name is Jennifer. As she pulled up to drop me off at the airport, I asked her if she liked to read. She said she did and so I asked her if she'd like to read one of our books. She enthusiastically said yes and I proceeded to pull out one of our "Mathematics of Jesus" books for her. As I did she showed me a tract about Jesus that someone had given her earlier that day.
I told her that she must be on God's radar for Him to send two people in one day to talk to her about Jesus. She agreed and smiled brightly. She asked when I would be back and I told her the next day. She said she wouldn't have the book read by then but she would definitely read it. As I walked away, I glanced back at Jennifer as she was enthusiastically showing the book and re-telling the story to one of her co-workers.
I prayed for a divine appointment and yet when I was least expecting it and NOT looking for it, God opened one up for me! How about you? Have you been praying for and looking for the divine appointments with people that God places in your day? Are you willing to start spiritual conversations with those around you? I encourage you to ask God to lead you and He will!
"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul." Psalm 143:8
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