I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of training nearly forty staff and volunteers from Missouri in the M:28 ministry paradigm with team members Derrah Jackson and Peter Sample in St. Louis. It was a real blessing for us as many said this was the very thing they were looking for at this time in their ministry. It was a blessing too to spend projected time with Peter for the first time. He is one of our new young part time staff and he is quite a teacher and and man of God. We were also blessed as we witnessed all the great things God was doing in Missouri to reach international students. It is amazing how prayer transforms as they shared how much more they have been praying and as a result God has been been doing so much more in the area.

In addition the time with Derrah was timely as we all faced a significant loss in our national ministry as one of our long time national office team members resigned and we both were sad to see him go.

Some quick hits:

• The training in St. Louis went well as I mentioned above. Peter and I drove up and we met Derrah who was on the road already doing Regional director things in the area. We really felt the presence of the Lord in that place. Thank you so much for praying! The staff were much encouraged as were we. Praise the Lord for talking through us and helping the people there to hear us in the Spirit.
• Both the UTA Friday Night Planetarium and Starbucks groups met as usual, both having a good group of students there. Praise the Lord. The group we are directly involved with, the Starbucks group had quite a few of the newer people return. It was a great blessing. Praise the Lord for the Phillips who hosted again this year and their love for and involvement in the students’ lives. Pray for a spirit of unity and a passion for moving people closer to Jesus in these groups.
• Roy met with as Southwestern Baptist Seminary student who once did international student ministry full time and who is interested in helping at TCU. We’ve been praying for workers for the harvest there. Pray that he and his wife will take the next step to help.
• I met with Ray & Laurie Cotton who are our campus directors at UT Dallas. Ray is in his 70’s but moving very strongly in doing ministry. In fact it can be argued, there is more happening at UTD than ever before. He has been a faithful and effective leader and I was encouraged by our time together.
• We had a few blows to our ministry this week:
  •  First, one very dear friend and long time member of ISI’s national office resigned this week. We were so shocked and surprised because he has an important role up there. I know I was reeling as were several other of us. We know God is sovereign and there is a reason for all this. Pray for perspective for us and God’s hand for our organization. Pray for some of us who will be grieving the loss of this brother. (Okay he is alive and we will still be in touch… but he will be missed)
  • • • Second, Rockin’ C Ranch, where we are planning to have our Tejas spring break retreat, had a fire in its lodge. While no building was destroyed there was much damage. They have been hit hard with spiritual warfare this year. Pray that God will make things go smoothly in terms of repair and them getting back on their feet. Pray also that the camp will be ready when we go out there March 8-10.