IBC Ministry Team January, 2007

The Ministry Team traveled to Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico this January representing IBC by serving the Lord. We logged 1,334 miles on the white mini-bus while visiting twelve churches and five Christian schools. We were in Native American and Spanish churches, youth groups, and large and small churches. In those ministries we held youth rallies, painted rooms, cleaned auditoriums, organized “back closets,” picked up trash, distributed gospel literature, ministered in church services, and fellowshipped with God’s people. Basically we served in any way we were able.

Though the cost is not small, the rewards of such a trip are incalculable. Not only did we make many contacts with young people (and some not so young!) looking for a place to get training in serving the Lord, but we ourselves grew in the Lord. We experienced God’s grace to sustain us through hard times. We saw Him use us in ways beyond which we could ask or think and in spite of our weaknesses. We learned to be “missionary flexible” to go where God leads and do as He wishes. We learned to “cover” for one another, anticipating the time when we would need some extra support. We learned to be gracious in uncomfortable situations. We learned that sometimes God uses unlikely people and circumstances to accomplish His will. These are life lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom.

We made lifelong memories as we prayed for and laughed with one another. We actually did a lot of laughing. Traveling with the Ministry Team this year are Lyn Bradell, Richard Copeland, Amanda Hollyfield, Sarah Lenzmeier, Joey Merrill, Junior Morillon, and Gwen Struebel.