Wednesday, July 6, 2016
GREEN – Mahout – Mahout Revival Baptist Church
“First off, it’s been a lot of hard work. Everyone on the green team has been pushed to their limits, but we’ve not gotten frustrated or crazy with each other. We sing songs in a bunch of schools and we help clean up where we are staying, Mahaut Revival Baptist Church.. we fixed a road, and had VBS every day. In the very beginning, like on day one and day two, after the concerts I wasn’t really going up to people and talking to them. Now I’m more comfortable with it, like I’m one of the first people to go out and talk to people and lead them to Christ. That’s something I’ve really improved on.”
– Hall Moilanen, team member
RED – Goodwill – Deliverance Baptist Church
“Everyone is still out of jail… KIDDING! The choir has not had a letdown in any of their performances, because they know the value of worshipping first then worship-leading second. Just to see the worship coming from the stage is enough to draw any crowd, anywhere into their worship. Red team has had very long days and most people would have found them to be very frustrating, but these students discovered ways to grab one-on-one time with kids in order to have gospel conversations with them. As a result, many children have accepted Jesus due to their creative efforts.”
– Barry Cook, team leader
BLUE – Salisbury – First Baptist Church Salisbury
“These guys are absolutely killing it! Vacation bible school – killing it. Paint – killing it… Everything – they are killing it. This morning we did VBS from 8-10:30, and from then on we sanded rust off of chairs and painted them to make them new for the church. Did a lot of stuff with the kids today. VBS is from 8-10 every day, we are painting elderly’s houses, going door-to-door evangelism. They’re killing it.”
– Eli Laughlin, team leader
YELLOW – Coulibistrie – Coulibistrie Baptist Church
“We’ve hosted a VBS from 9-12 every day, then repainted the entire Coulibitre Baptist Church. Then repainted the medical center in town, and we’re about to paint the school tomorrow. Every day we were able to tie in the lesson with the importance of knowing Jesus. We are literally telling them the gospel every day, we play with them, and they are all just really excited to learn!”
– Ansley Latting, student leader
We are pleased to report that no one is sick as of right this minute. We are in close quarters, but green team has been able to clean up Camp Radiate each morning and also beautify the church in which we’re staying in the process. Teams are killing spirits of grumbling when they start, and spirits are still just as high to leave in the mornings as they were day two!
Students spent Wednesday – Friday together, then Sunday – Today we have been divided into four Church Ministry Teams of about 13-15 students. Each day we set out in four different directions, then come back together at night for a block party in one of the towns.
These students have gotten to a point where sharing the gospel is a natural progression in a one-on-one conversation. We are so proud of how these guys have matured in their faith even in the last two weeks to boldly approach someone rather than timidly stand around or be challenged to ask key gospel questions. We are so humbled and overjoyed to hang back and watch even some of the most naturally shy students on this trip get into the gospel with total strangers. As a result, many are burdened and super ready to get back home and share Jesus without fear to those in their sphere of influence.
One more update on these guys walking with Jesus… Each “set” when we do an assembly, concert, or block party includes a student (or two or three) sharing their two-minute testimony. Our fan-favorite song is “If I told you my story…” We have heard several stories from students completely pouring their hearts out about where they have been and where Jesus has brought them. Sunday, after our Amazing Race: Church Edition, the students that spoke told of really raw, authentic struggles, which created a sweet spirit of confession among this team. True healing will always begin at the moment of confession. And students have been able to share things with leaders, with each other, and with crowds of people that Jesus redeemed them from – all the while giving glory to the Redeemer!
Revelation 12:11 says of our enemy, “And they have conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony…” We have seen VICTORY in Jesus because of #1 his bloodshed and salvation, and #2 because of the word of these students just testifying to that salvation in their own lives. Tonight Kate Mitchell stood before a huge crowd and made the name of Jesus absolutely famous. She spoke not of “it” or “church” or even “God”, but of the saving power of Jesus, and this team as a whole is beginning to understand the power that each individual story carries.
In that same vein, here is a list of the names of people that have accepted Christ that we have recorded to date..
– Denise
– Emily
– Philip
– Alisha
– Elneta
– Median
– Rosemary
– Juan-jon
– Nayisha
– “a girl we gave a bible to”
– Devine
– Nia
– Anelta
– Tonica
– Nahim
– Tyrell
– Krison
– Kevin
– Ciwara
– Sierra
– Alissia
– Ashely
– Greg
– Everston
– Glen
– Courtney
– Olan
– Yama
– Kean
– Zagaan
– Umar
– Dalaton
– Baldon
– 11+ others whose names have been lost in translation
- Credain
- Faith
- Shakie
- Shawn
- Helen
- Saja
- Maleah
- Romario
- Jahson
- Juliana Casavana
- Lester
- Birkins
- Bill
- Rosette
- Nayla
- Miguel
- Oakland
- Kian
- Ricky
- Adriano
- Nathan
- Florian
- Lejuan
- Kewan
- Cameron
- N’Ameli
- Dion
- Liquan
- Mike
- Ricky
- Dante
- Leroy
- Jeniah
- Jevan
- Melika
- Curtis
- Gabrielle
- Thea
- Akisha
- Zimrel
- Emily
- Jaihyda
- Jaden
- Maria
- Nadisha
- Chanel
- Neroy
- Janiah
- Karis
- 7 named lost in translation
So far, we have exactly ONE HUNDRED recorded names of people young and old from all over the island that have accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and hope to report many more by the time we get home!
Just as a reminder, Instagram is the very best way to keep up with pictures of your students and this team. Follow @bh_radiate and @mbpetty1
Thank you for your prayers.. Please continue to pray for us. Tomorrow is our last full ministry-oriented day. We have had the pep talks, implemented accountability for students to remain complain-free, and are ready for the fourth quarter! Pray that we leave it all on the table and truly can rest sweetly at the end of the week knowing we gave 200% all 12 days we were here… and that we would live our lives with that same excitement, urgency, and invigoration.
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Good evening! We are a tired, sun-kissed group that has left it all on the table. These students sang their hearts out, got quicker at transitioning between ministry activities, and were encouraged by one another’s testimonies. When it was all said and done, we participated in EIGHT services in seven locations! Y’all should be so proud that the name of the Lord has been proclaimed and the believers all over this island have been encouraged.
Saturday, July 2, 2016
Our “free” day was a beautiful break from the go-go-go that has been the past four days. On these trips we like to “work hard, play hard”… meaning we will work as hard as we can for 15+ hours in a day, but then we like to allow students the ability to rest, process, and play, enjoying the beautiful parts of the world that we travel to, and stoping to give praise to the God that we are serving for all that he is doing. We started the day in our four colored ministry teams planning out Church Ministry Week (Monday – Thursday next week) planning and getting to know one another even better. Then we headed to an open-air market, went whale watching, snorkeled, and ate a hamburger for dinner.
Let us leave you with this… Tomorrow is Sunday, so please spend some time in your LifeGroups tomorrow praying for us. Please also pray over this list of the names of people that have already given their lives to Jesus because of personal, face-to-face conversations with Radiate students.. Praise Jesus!
– Denise
– Emily
– Philip
– Alisha
– Elneta
– Median
– Rosemary
– Juan-jon
– Nayisha
– “a girl we gave a bible to”
– Devine
– Nia
– Anelta
– Tonica
– Nahim
– Tyrell
– Krison
– Kevin
– Ciwara
– Sierra
– Alissia
– Ashely
– Greg
– Everston
– Glen
– Courtney
– Olan
– Yama
– Kean
– Zagaan
– Umar
– Dalaton
– Baldon
– 11+ others whose names have been lost in translation
HALLELUJAH!
Friday, July 1, 2016
Today we went to the town of Bagatelle, a rural French-Creole speaking village on the other side of the island. We did pretty much the same drill in this town as the previous two… and y’all would be so proud! Students are being such troopers. Whatever they participate in, whether concert, canvassing, or Camp of Champions, they are encouraged to engage in a gospel conversation. That means at least THREE times each day, students are challenged to engage someone for the name of Jesus. Students are growing more and more confident, and we are seeing many people come to know Jesus for the first time!
Tomorrow we will spend some time at the market and go whale watching and snorkeling. We are excited for a day about 1/2 way through the trip to relax, reflect, and spend some time enjoying one another’s company. Please pray for rest and safety tomorrow, yet still opportunities to share Jesus with people.
For more pictures, please check out @mbpetty1 and @bh_radiate on Instagram. We are posting pictures as we speak… and we will post more on the Facebook in the morning as wifi allows. In the meantime, enjoy this picture Eli took while going door-to-door this afternoon.
Thursday, June 30, 2016
We just finished ministry day TWO! We are so proud of these students, and the hard work they have put into these days so far.
This morning we did a song/skit/sharing concert at a Primary School in Soufriere… Then we took a little trip to the Titou Gorge – that place is nearly indescribable! We floated through a little waterway between cliffs through the rain and jumped through waterfalls. Then we drove to Scott’s Head (you can imagine Scott Maycumber enjoyed that!) which was a strip of land where you can experience the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean at the same time with a gorgeous view of these LOST-like mountains. It has been so cool to experience the beauty of God’s creation – there are unbelievable sights here – but as Matt described at our concert tonight, we are here for the Creator!
After this, we spent the afternoon doing a Camp of Champions, and our students rocked the house! They were so flexible, bold, and ready to serve the 75 kids that showed up to this modified version of VBX. We played, sang, and shared the gospel in a valley between gorgeous mountains with a rainbow over us!
Took very few pictures today, because we were wet a lot ha! Please enjoy these pictures from today and see specific prayer requests below…
Please pray for our students… we have experienced that “peace that passes understanding” and joy of celebration from knowing we are putting it all out there for the sake of the gospel. Please pray that that peace just continues and becomes a habit for these guys.
Continue to pray for good health, kindness, boldness, and God’s protection.
Wednesday, June 29, 2016
Good afternoon, friends and family! Today has been a super eventful first day of ministry. We began bright and early at 5:00 AM, ate breakfast, packed lunches, and headed out for the day to Portsmouth. Here is a map of Dominica….
We are staying in Roseau and drove to Portsmouth on a beautiful drive up the entire coast of the country. We did our deal at two schools (singing, skits, sharing the gospel), leafleted in two communities, did two MORE “concerts” at very different venues (one beachside for community members and one Wednesday night prayer meeting). Students have been working so hard, encouraging one another, meeting new friends among the team, and sharing Jesus with people left and right… a few girls have even had the privilege of leading some other high school girls to Christ!
Tomorrow and Friday we plan to structure very similar to today, just in two other cities across the nation. Then next week we will be on our ministry teams stationed at four different churches across Roseau for the entire week.
Please continue to pray through the prayer guide below… also pray that students and leaders would be BOLD to share the good news of Jesus. We have been encouraged by testimonies and a talk from Matt Petty at the prayer meeting this evening. We each have a story to tell of how Jesus has changed us and given us new life, so pray that we would be always ready to tell it! Also, it is HOT, and students have been drinking LOTS of water and staying hydrated and cool. Attitudes have been great, so please just pray that students continue to stay positive and not complaining.
Here are some pictures from today:
Students singing at the secondary school this morning.
Another cool shot of students sharing Jesus through song today.
Group shot at Fort Shirley today… a “short” hike to an old English fort built on the side of a mountain on the beautiful coast.
A view of the beautiful coast with Eli, Matt, Katie, and Barry… we love these students and serving the Lord with them!
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
We are here! Thank y’all for your prayers… Please continue to watch the Instagram @bh_radiate and hashtag #radiatedominica. Pics to be uploaded soon!
Monday, June 27, 2016
As of last night, ten members of our team (Matt Petty our Student Pastor, Eli Laughlin our High School Associate, and eight Junior and Senior Guys) are on the ground in Dominica! We have a great group down there setting up camp, doing some food and ministry prep, and already engaging in ministry in Roseau, Dominica. 61 remaining team members will meet at the airport at 7AM tomorrow to fly to St. Lucia, then board a ferry to Dominica tomorrow afternoon.
Keep up with us on our travels by checking back to this site, watching the hashtag on Instagram and Facebook (#radiatedominica), and following @bh_radiate on Instagram for photos.
Please be in prayer for safe travels for the team, as well as continued blessing on the ministry that the advance team is doing. Below, you will find a prayer card. There are several throughout the church, and some of you received cards Sunday morning. Here are some specific ways you and your families can be praying for us! We can’t thank y’all enough for your support over the past two years, and continued prayer support over the next two weeks.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Teams are getting ready to head out to for our 2016 International Mission Trip to Dominica. Please keep all the students & chaperones in your prayers as they travel and hit the mission field. Check back here for updates during the trip. Thanks to BHBC for all your support!