Impact Appalachia MICRO MISSIONS

On November 19-20, Impact Missions Adventure welcomed over 30 volunteers to help
prepare and organize donated items for the Impact Appalachia Missions Adventure. That sentence
sounded “nice,” didn’t it? Do you know how this “nice” sentence becomes extraordinary? Out of
those 30 volunteers, the majority were kids!

Joplin Family Worship Center, Oasis Worship Center (Joplin, MO), and Solid Rock Family Church (Jefferson City, MO)
recruited their young leaders to give up their weekend to help make an Impact in Appalachia. Kids and teens
willingly gave up their Saturday morning “sleep-in time” to organize over 200 boxes of clothes for families living
in Hazel Green, KY, Craigsville, VA, and Pineville, WV.




The weekend was full of laughing, singing, connecting, sharing, and giving of self. It was humbling to see
Christ-followers coming together to make a difference, coming together to do their part, and coming together
to share the love of Christ to communities they may never step foot in. What a great example this team has
shown.

We are so thankful for Messenger College, as well. They opened their doors
to the missions team and allowed them to stay in their dorms, meet in their cafeteria, and accomplish
the project in their gymnasium. Messenger College students, Kayli Price, Caleb Smith, and Jada’ Tanoh
organized the entire weekend. They are believers in our young leaders and know the importance
of raising a mission-minded generation.





On December 9-10, over 100 people (kids, teens, and adults) will be taking a missions trip to the
Appalachia region. We will be giving blankets, shoes, socks, food, and healthcare products to 600
Families. It takes all of us working together to make an impact!
Our heart goes out to the donators, collectors, organizers, transporters, and the givers…we do it all
In the name of Jesus and for the receivers.

For it is more blessed to give than to receive. Acts 20:35

For more information or to make a donation, please go to www.impactym.com.

What is a ILD Regional Encounter?

So what takes place at an ILD Encounter? Is it just for those who have went through the ILD curriculum? Is it simply a youth event? Is it simply another conference?


The vision of the ILD Encounter is to create an atmosphere in which young leaders can connect and network with each other, and in which older leaders/mentors can inspire and encourage them in their pursuit of God. The encounter is not an event exclusive to young people or to those who have went through the ILD curriculum. Rather the goal is to have leaders, bring a young leader, who also brings another young leader. We must begin to place an emphasis on our “next generation” and this weekend is our moment to do that. Here is a “snap-shot” of what we are looking for:


We must begin to place an emphasis on our “next generation” and this weekend is our moment to do that. So what should I “expect” for the weekend?

-Do not expect just another conference or workshop.

-Do not expect just to hear another good sermon

But instead…

-Expect to connect with other leaders in your region that share like passions & desires.

-Expect God to inspire you with fresh vision for the next generation.

-Expect to worship God with other followers of Christ with all of your heart & soul.

-Expect God to challenge your heart as a leader.


Make plans today to attend your regional encounter:

MIDWEST/EAST COAST
January 14-15
Solid Rock Family Church
Jefferson City, MO


WEST COAST
January 21-22
Higher Vision Church
Valencia, CA



Registration is FREE for the encounters! Register online today at www.impactym.com

Impact Ethiopia

Wow! Is the only way to describe the experience of seeing 150,000 thousand people press in with an intense hunger for God to touch their lives.

It was an honor to take a team of eight to serve with the Joshua Campaign in Ethiopia. We had representatives from Missouri, Arizona, Michigan, and Montana unite for this trip. Everyone left from their perspectives airports to meet in D.C. Monday night November 1st. A long layover in Frankfurt gave us an opportunity to celebrate Quinika’s birthday (one of our team members), and enjoy a little bonding time.



Upon arrival in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia we met up with the Joshua team, a group of seven from Kentucky, a couple from Sweden, and three men from California. These amazing men and women of God would become our family and co laborers for the next several days. From Addis we took an 8½ hour bus ride to Shambu. It is interesting how this ride seemed so rough at the beginning of trip, but was not quite as bad on the way back after several days immersed in the reality of the people.



Our first morning in Shambu we broke into teams and traveled to smaller villages in the surrounding area, to preach the gospel, pray for the sick, and invite people to the crusade. We saw close to 100,000 come out the first night of the crusade and God was ready to move on behalf of these hungry people. Many came to Jesus and the healings began. Our second day was very similar, but the numbers increased. The third day was powerful. Many people had traveled so far they were camping on the field, and we were asked to do a second crusade that day. We did one in the morning and the evening one. A highlight from that morning was a tumor the size of an orange was completely gone from an elderly gentleman’s stomach. We dubbed the service that night as kids night, because the platform was full of children that had been healed. A lame boy walked, blind eyes were opened, deaf ears heard, the mute spoke, and many more amazing miracles took place. They estimated around 150,000 people were at the crusade that night. On Sunday we again had 2 crusades, with many more salvations and miracles. Karl Hargestam spoke a word for the nation of Ethiopia and challenged the people to press in with hunger for the Holy Spirit. When you have the opportunity to stand on a platform in the midst of a multitude of people that are hungry for God it does something in your Spirit that is life changing.


The next morning we began our journey back to Addis. Dave and Etheleen Reed, an amazing couple set apart by God for His good works, have moved to Ethiopia and started a flower farm with the vision of supporting the ministry of Joshua campaign. We had the privilege of visiting this amazing operation and these sacrificial servants. What a huge blessing they are to the Kingdom.
That night back in Addis we had a family dinner, celebrating all that we had seen God do that week. The next day we had a chance to visit a deaf school, tour the city and Joshua’s offices. Joshua has an awesome outreach for women in Addis called the Mercy Project where we had a devotional and some very tasty coffee(yum!). They offer women the opportunity to learn trades and find the healing love of Jesus while taking care of their children. From this ministry they run a coffee shop that provides employment for some of the women. The stories of hope that emerge from this ministry are incredible.

So as you can see we are back to WOW! This trip is a life changing, perspective rattling, heart humbling experience.

starting the REVERSE...

Kid’s Ministries: Evaluating How We “Do” Children’s’ Ministries
by Carrie Underwood, Indiana District Youth Director

After beginning our first term as Indiana District Youth directors in fall 2008, we began to seek God’s heart about the way we as leaders “do” youth ministry. Not just teen ministry but, more specifically, the way we impact our children. In a world where our culture constantly attacks the attention of parents and kids, it was our passion to see God to awaken the dormant spirits in our children and equip them for the work of the ministry NOW.

In the most perfect season, we witnessed the fruition of that prayer at our 2010 Kids Excel Expo. God established a foundation in the hearts and minds of our leaders and kids throughout the Expo, and by the conclusion of the Encounter session, the Holy Spirit had sealed and impressed into our Spirits the heartbeat of “The REVERSE.” KUEST for Excellence leaders, Tom and Kathy Toney, brought forth a unique ministry session that combined a challenging word of God to leaders, while awakening the spiritual gifts in our kids, empowering them to lead NOW, serve God NOW, and do the work of the ministry NOW!

We encourage leaders all across the country to take a break and really evaluate with us how we are “doing” children’s ministry. Is it effective? Are we equipping and empowering our children to win their friends and families for Christ? Or have we slipped into “entertainment” mode? It’s time to start the REVERSE, and Indiana is shifting gears!

Student Ministries Making an IMPACT

Teen Ministries: 74% of Crowd Receives Christ as Kentucky Drama Team Ministers

On September 25, 2010, the Senior High drama team from Church of the Living God in Winchester, KY had the opportunity to reach out to a group of juvenile inmates ranging in age from 13 to 18 years old. The event was held in Morehead, KY at the convention center. The drama team, known as Maranatha, ministered with two dramas to the 71 juveniles in attendance. There were also performances by Tanya Crevier, the Guinness Book of World Record’s best basketball handler, and Jenn Harris, a Nashville singer/songwriter. By the end of the event, 53 juveniles (74 percent of the 71 attending!) made a profession of faith.

IMPACTING your local community...

As a church that strives to live outside the walls, House of Praise has committed to monthly service projects in our River Valley community. Just in the last couple of months, we have put kindness into action through such events as:

-Assisting in a privately owned, new start-up restaurant remodel
-Two “Camp Neighborhoods” where we bring “VBS” to the neighborhood
-Block Party, with another coming up this weekend
-Susan G Komen’s Paint the Park Pink on the Green (breast cancer awareness and fundraiser)
-Alzheimer’s Association Memory Walk
-Free café night for the local University
-Remodeling the teachers’ lounge at Pike Elementary

Pike Elementary is one of 18 Elementary Schools in the Fort Smith district and one of 7 Elementary and Secondary schools within a ten mile radius of House of Praise. The north side of town is noted as having generally lower income households, extreme cultural and racial diversity, and experiencing the greatest need.

As a function of my secular job, I have been assigned Pike Elementary as my school-based station for providing therapy services. So, as the “Missions And Placement Services” Director of House of Praise, it was natural for me to look at Pike for opportunities to serve.


Pike was part of a district wide school remodeling project last year. They received a “new” lounge, but it was never fully finished. Over the last year, they have replaced the refrigerator and microwave as they were using older models that were not of high quality. Even the replaced microwave was over ten years old. The lounge consisted of a small, square room with a few folding tables, hand me down chairs, and blank grey walls. Hardly a relaxing and rewarding place for our educators to enjoy their short lunch breaks.

So, House of Praise worked with the school district to have the project approved. On 10/23/10 twelve House of Praise-ers sacrificed their Saturday to minister to the teachers of Pike Elementary. We painted, cleaned, stocked their cabinets, provided a new microwave, brought in auxiliary lounge seating, and decorated in a refreshing and relaxing beach motif. It was a complete transformation.

The first day back to school, 10/25/10, all I have heard are shrieks of glee coming from down the hall as teachers open the lounge door to be surprised by their new space. What a rewarding experience to see the bliss and thankfulness on their faces. Such a small gift for the ones who serve our community every day.

Summer Camps

What an INCREDIBLE Summer we have experienced this year as we have heard reports rolling in from all across the globe on how God touched teenagers at Youth Camps! Below is an excert from a report we recieved from Youth Camps in Oklahoma!

"We had an exciting summer seen many things happen. God is truly moving in the lives of our students here. At our youth camps this year we seen God deliver teen students from alchohol, drugs, pornography, sexual addictions, depression, suisideal thoughts and homosexuality. We truly serve an awesome God! Then to top it off we baptized over 200 students in water during our 3 weeks of youth camp. There is an excitement and stirring in our land!"

We INVITE you to email us YOUR stories as well as pictures to impact@pcg.org