So many questions...and few answers. As we all get closer to our move dates (and the Baums will be right behind the Shipps and Kings, thank God), our emotions quicken and satan and his minions intensify their activity. He raises more questions and our temptation is to try to answer them...and as quickly as possible. BUT...answers are not necessary. What is necessary is this:

• Know the call. God has called us...he has called us to SC...he has called us to move this spring/summer. God provided this verse this morning. I have never seen it before (was it added?) "...for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable." He does not change his mind. The only variable is our hearing clearly.
• Know the mission. Look at Romans 10:9-15. God asks us to send and preach. People respond by hearing, believing, and calling on him. That's it. We can do this...living in wealth or poverty. Joy will be ours either way.
• Know the Word of Christ. A couple of verses later (17) Paul says that faith is established by hearing "through the Word of Christ." That is what we will preach/teach/share/demonstrate. That is all.
• Trust Him to provide. You know the passage: "Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you..." Don't forget the righteousness part. We want to be holy. He will make us that way, if we want it.

By the way, thank you Abby for your great insight on the last entry.

I love you each...right down to Toby and Fifi (or whatever the Baum's poof dog is called). "God had arranged the parts in the body, everyone of them, just as he wanted them to be."

vic/dad/papa

Miracle Report

Wow, what a day.
First, I spread some of Richard's resume's around and though I was just dropping them off, people seemed happy to recieve them. Pray that he will get a response.

God did some great things:

• I now expect an interview for a temporary counseling position for this summer at PSU
• Nittany Christian School is showing interest in Jeremy as a Bible teacher
• I got a lead for Lara on a possible part time job that pays well.
• I saw Grace Prep High School and talked to Kay's future boss, and all looks good.
• The Saint coffee shop will be hiring Baristas this summer (Katie)
• I spoke to a man about Alice's skills who may be looking for an assistant.

Thank God for moving in these things. Pray that he will start to open doors for housing for us all.

WARNING: Kay and I were talking tonight and as we are putting thoughts together, it seems apparent that all of us are getting serious attack from Satan. Sunday was a hard day for both of us, though we didn't put that together until tonight. I felt like I was in a battle for several hours sunday afternoon. I know that the Baum's are getting hit also.

Remember guys...we are not playing defense. We are RUNNING TO THE BATTLE. Let's be agressive. We need to PRAY HARD. Consider fasting and praying through a meal time. Though I don't fully know what God has in mind for us in SC, I think it is very significant and that Hell has been stirred. Let's lean hard into the vision and ask God to embolden us and equip us to stand firm.

HE WILL DO IT.

vic

SNOW!

I woke up to about 2 inches of new snow covering the scenery. Each window of the apt. is a different and beautiful view.

Pray with me today: I am asking the Lord to show me a miracle today on two things...real estate and employment...for someone in our team. Big one or small one, (if there is such a distinction in heaven) it doesn't matter. Is this arrogant of me? I think He wants to show them, if I am ready to see.

It is all about HIM.

Great things ahead!
vic

Today's Miracles...

I am already getting to see God's hand moving and unfolding his plan for us.
#1. The leadership conference today with Reggie McNeal at Calvary was great. Right on target.
#2. The first guy I met is an IT (computer dude) at PSU. He now has one of Richard's resumes.
#3. The second person was a woman that was in line in front of me at lunch. She is an academic counselor at PSU. She talked me through how to check out the possibility of me getting a job doing that. There is a temp summer job doing that that I can apply for...little pay but open's the door to other possibilities. And...she just happens to counsel within the Nursing dept. and remembered talking to a young lady from Texas in December with her tall, bald, military dad. Diane Jankura! She goes to Calvary Baptist! (realize that she works among a sea of non-faith professors)

I am going to a service at Calvary tonight and to the Christian Church tomorrow morning.

I will try to do more real estate stuff on Monday.
I love you all!
vic

Tomlin, Wolf, and Giglio.

I is cold and beautiful this morning in SC. Snow is still on the ground and the skies are clear. Craig and I went to Quaker Steak and Lube for dinner last night and then to a Chris Tomlin Concert. Louie Giglio also spoke a powerful message. There were probably about 4500 people there. Half were college age.

The wolfman is about to go back to York and I am going to a conference going on at Calvary. Dan invited me last night and it sounded good. Should be able to meet some folks.

We discovered that they are opening another Starbucks near campus, but on the other end of College Ave from the current one. Supposed to have two levels...and get this. It opens the end of May. Anyone need a job?

Great stuff! I am humbled to be here.

I love you all and am grateful that God has called each of you to be part of this adventure.

vic

I am in PA!

I am writing this blog from Craig Wolf's office at the YMCA in York, PA. The flight went great and it was good to see snow, though it is melting fast. They had a severe ice storm here, about 8 inches of it a week ago and have not yet gotten dug out. Hard to find a place to park on the street. It is about 50 degrees now, however. May also get to see our old friends the Minariks tonight. They may drive up from Baltimore...however, Bill had a head on car wreck yesterday. He is fine, but very sore today.
I love you all and am excited to see what the Lord shows me in SC when I get there tomorrow. Craig is going to follow me up in his car and stay a night with me.
vic

A Picture of You

Hey Team - Would you each send me a picture of yourself so that I can have a visual of you when I pray for SC and the team? Blessings to you all. Please send the pictures to my email - jws04a@acu.edu

Greetings from Way South

Hello to the team from El Salvador. I am having a good trip and am grateful to get to go one more time. Sonia and Rafael are doing well and have shown much interest in our pa adventure. I am praying for all of you and asking God to give us a surge of faith and courage. We are getting close to the target. Remember our pledge to pray for one another.
I love youns,
v

thanks for the great weekend!

Thank all of you for a great and blessed weekend! I really felt like God was speaking to me the whole time. Travis also wanted me to thank yall. He really enjoyed meeting the team and getting to know everyone better! He's very excited about the trip and will be praying for all of us. Thank you so much dad, jeremy, and Richard for your inspired words of incouregment! I can't wait for all of us to get out there and reach some people! Have a great week!
Abby

Great Weekend & Taking A Little Flak

I just want to thank all of you for a great weekend. It won't be long and well be meeting regularly, perhaps like the first church.

Well, it didn't take long before Jeremy's prophetic statement about being attacked came true. Katie, got hit with a couple of things this morning. One concerning a scholarship, which meant Alice and I would have to cover it if Katie lost it--$500. Our Lord cares for us though and now both issues have resolutions in sight. She seemed anxious and flustered until we remembered what Jeremy said.

Nothing but a little "flak" from the enemy.

God Bless you all!!!
Richard

F-Burg Retreat

Hey Team, I am excited about this weekend. Start praying that God will do great things among us. Let's have our hearts open and our minds set to be bold. We are breathing deep and saturating our little body with the rich oxygen of God's love and faith...his Spirit.

Remember to be thinking and praying about the following:

1. Why is God calling you (personally) to go to SC, PA…at least as far as you know right now?
2. What is appealing to you about this adventure?

Breathe deep, lock arms, run to the battle...

vic