In the late 1700's, an English missionary (and keep in mind the English weren't popular during that time) named Francis Ashbury traveled an estimated 250,000 miles on horseback and preached some 45,000 messages about the good news of Jesus Christ. He brought Christianity to the frontier and recruited and organized a band of selfless and radical riders who the world was not worthy of that would in fact change America’s future forever. With nothing but a horse and a Bible they traveled the country. More than half died before the age of 33. When Ashbury arrived in America there were a few hundred Methodists. By the time he died there were over 210,000 and 4,000 preachers.
So what does that have to do with us today? A few years ago God directed a handful of leaders in Youth With A Mission to start a training school based on the ideals of the circuit riders. Jesus' love for us is a simple message and we're all as Christians called to bring the message to the world. The first school in 2011 had 300 attend and lasted six weeks. The next year they ran four schools, and realizing that most American's can't take six weeks from their lives, the school is now only a week long.
Fast forward to Lancaster, August 2013. Having been offered locations by many churches the team turned them down feeling God calling them to the centre of Lancaster. They chose instead to have the training school at the Lancaster County Convention Center which is also a Marriott hotel and the tallest building in the city. The evening sessions were kept free and many, many people attended.
Standing room only in a very large room. During the day about 500 people learned in groups of 12-15 to break off fear and preach the good news. We prayed for each other and encouraged each other and stood on chairs proclaiming the love of Jesus. It wasn't confined to the convention center. Twice these 500 took the streets to bring the Gospel to the people. Probably the most fun I've had in a long time. It's such a great feeling to see people become become encouraged. Myself and Kent had one guy talk to us for two hours. We hardly said anything. He preached to and encouraged himself. Afterwards though his entire countenance had changed. He took us to meet his wife and in front of us he promised to be a better husband, to talk to her and not at her and to listen and read the Bible with her. So good.
Then Friday my parents came down with a church in Belleville to see Noah at the Sight and Sound theater so I got to spend the day with them which was nice. Went for an Amish buggy ride driven by a former Amish who I really liked. He talked about the pros and cons of the Amish and fear of man vs. fear of God. Really interesting ride with an interesting commentary.
Which leads to Saturday. A member of Cornerstone church here in Lebanon, which happens to be the same church the base leader and his wife attend, had organized a worship event a block and a half north of the convention center. It was a little park with this weird covered steps that made a perfect stage. I really have no idea what it's actually for. It looks like it's supposed to be a grand entrance to a building, except there is no entrance. Just a wall of windows. It also didn't escape us that it happened to fall on the day after circuit riders ended. I was privileged enough to be part of the worship team along with three others from our base. I got a little excited and tore my knuckle open on my guitar strings. Bled everywhere, and it was completely worth it. Some others of our base staff had our Prayer Station table up and running and were around talking and praying for the various folk who showed up. Lots of fruit and a solid evening.
This week we finish the carpeting and painting at the base and then Wednesday and Thursday Nick Savoka and his wife are coming down from YWAM Metro NY to speak to us. Saturday we have our second summer missions seminar with Paul Michaels who heads up a ministry in Harrisburg geared toward Nepali refugees who've recently come here after spending 17 years in a refugee camp in India. The preparation begins for the three schools starting in September. Busy, busy are we.
God Bless,
Christopher
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