June Newsletter

I hope that this Discipleship Inc newsletter finds you well. For the last 3 weeks our ministry has been sending out the summer update to 65 high school and college students. The goal is to get them to read the Bible daily.

In these emails we are going through the gospel of Mark, reading two chapters each week. I am so excited about this 8-week reading plan; it is now posted on our website. Click on the ‘Summer Reading Plan’ tab and the ‘day by day’ verses will pop up. My prayer is that those visiting our site will read Mark’s gospel with us.  

We had our first summer apologetics study on June 4. The students attending are all tennis players. The goal of every meeting is to make these young adults more confident in their faith and more desirous to share it.  

Recently I received a phone call from a good friend and ministry supporter. He revealed that he would be in town in a couple days to have dinner with former tennis players. I joined them and was able to see many ‘long lost friends.’ What a blessing this time was. 

On a sad note one of my friends is having numerous health issues. I was told that he may not live into the new year. His wife attended the dinner and sat next to me. As we parted she told me how I could pray for her husband. 

The next week Christ laid it on my heart to go visit him. We set up a time for me to read God’s Word and pray over him. I was unable to communicate with him, but the Power of the Word of God is unlimited. Through it He can do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think”. 

June is the month that many students celebrate their graduation from high school. This spring I have been invited to 6 graduation parties. Throughout my life it has been my desire to attend as many of these celebrations as possible. 

Each student receives a personal note as they head off to college. My desire is to encourage them in Christ to remain faithful to the Lord during their college days. They are also presented with a Christian book titled ‘Gentle and Lowly’ based on Matthew 11:28-30. What a blessing these opportunities are.

The Holy Spirit continues to bring numerous people across my path both young and old. His calling upon my life is to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to observe all that I commanded you.”  

May the grace and peace of Christ be yours in abundance this month.

Steve   

I hope that this May newsletter finds you well. The PFW ministries ended for the school year on May 1. In this newsletter I would like to highlight all that happened this past month, as well as preview my plans for the upcoming summer. 

We had over 20 students attend the apologetic studies that I led this winter. The Intervarsity study was on Wednesday afternoon(s) and we held the Campus Ministry one on Thursday afternoon(s). 

What a blessing it was to teach these young adults how to define, defend, and declare the gospel of Jesus Christ. The key word that we focused on throughout the winter was truth. Absolute truth is the foundation upon which the Bible was written. Even more it is the key to defending and declaring the gospel to lost souls. 

April marked the start of my ‘one on one’ meetings with board members. We have spent time reviewing our ministry along with discussing where we want to go in the years ahead. I am so very thankful for each board member and their commitment to making a difference in the lives of young adults. 

Looking ahead to the summer months my focus will continue to be on teaching apologetic studies. I will be introducing this study to past tennis players that are home for the summer. They have not had the opportunity to participate in these studies. Beginning in June this same study will be offered to these students. 

Another change coming this summer will be modifying the Friday Update. It will be geared towards helping students grow in their faith over the summer. I will design a special summer update to encourage students to read their Bible daily. We will also focus on regular prayer and Scripture memorization. 

I approached the PFW ministry directors with this idea. They were both fully in support of it. Therefore, at the end of April this plan was presented to both ministries. I was overwhelmed by the response—39 PFW students signed up to receive this weekly update. Praise God!

Heading into this summer I have great hope for what the Lord Jesus Christ will do. It is His Gospel that we preach and His truth that we defend. “But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” What a glorious gospel we proclaim!   

May the grace and peace of Christ be your abiding portion.

Steve 

PS I have added some new pictures from the past month to the website. There is also a new tab called ‘That’s a good question.’ It is designed to help visitors ask the most important questions in life. I encourage you to visit our website at www.discipleshipinc.org