I traveled to Southern a couple weekends ago to interview staff for the mission trips. Joe Reeves of the SALT evangelism school (now of the Michigan conference) helped me connect with several friends and students.

I am pleased to announce that Katie Hickman and Amir Davis will be joining the program as deans/outreach leaders. Had great interviews with them, and the mission trips are a great fit for them, as they are good fits as staff. I’m looking forward to finding out who our last two deans will be!

God also set up a divine appointment for me. I pulled up to Red Robin with Joe and Doug Houghton. The Mount Vernon Academy bus was in the parking lot outside the mall. Doug encouraged me to go see if I could talk to anyone. I was able to introduce myself, make some small talk, and then meet the principle, who is interested in hearing more about the mission trips! I’ve wanted to recruit there, and I hope this opens the door.

I had a meeting with the pastors from the Centerville SDA church, and they opened up the door for the mission trip to be housed at the church. I’m so glad that we were able to find a solution! That’s really good news. The facility will work great.

We will have our application up for our summer programs shortly.  This year we will have a program in upstate NY to choose from (we will be choosing our site in the next couple weeks), like normal, as well as a new site in Dayton, OH.  Tremendous things have been happening to line up this summer’s activities!

We hope that you can come join us for Operation: America 2012!

Besides being a blessing to the city and its inhabitants, the participants of the trips are blessed just as much. In a way they are even twice as blessed. The mission trips prove to be a blessing to not only those out in the city, but to the participants themselves. They get to experience the joy of winning souls for Christ as well as Christian fellowship, training, and atmosphere. Daily are they saturated in a practical Christian lifestyle. Early rising, morning devotions, exercise, vegan eating, group worship, cleanup, evangelism training and outreach, music evangelism training and outreach, as well as health evangelism and outreach. All of these aspects of the trip give students a taste of complete and wholesome Christian principles and living. It’s a busy schedule, but spirits for the most part, are always on a high.

Outreach is always a blessing. Those who leave hesitant about going out into the heat or rain, or not feeling well,always return praising God that they pressed on didn’t give in to the Devil’s trap of discouragement. Everywhere, there are people wistfully looking to heaven, and everyday a few are found.

This week as a group went out, two girls on one of the outreach teams got to an old, large house near the end of a street they were working on. They surveyed the people on the first floor at the front entrance of the house. They were about to leave when they realized there were more apartments on the second level. They went around back and stopped at the bottom of the rickety staircase, looked at each other, and each knew by the expressions on the other’s face that neither of them were crazy about going up. They talked about skipping the second level, but finally decided to just do it. That, as they discovered later on, was the Holy Spirit’s doing. It was kind of an intimidating porch, enclosed, and slightly shady. After they knocked on the first door, a young man opened the door and asked what they wanted. When they said they were doing a community religious survey, he welcomed them inside his kitchen area where he was eating his birthday cake all by himself. He told them he was a changed man because of the Bible and would love to help them out with the survey. As the girls went through the survey, the young man answered all the questions in knowledgeable ways that showed he had been studying the scriptures. They got off topic of the survey for a while when the man mentioned that he had been studying the Bible for a while since he’d been out of rehab, and learning to just take the Bible for what it says without adding man’s opinions to it. He said He truly believed the Bible was the inspired Word of God and that He had recently been feeling the desire to be baptized as Christ was and so follow His example. In His enthusiasm he pulled out His Bible and showed it to them. It had been his grandmothers. After the survey, one of the girls pulled out her Bible and showed him some of her markings and topical studies and notes she had marked in Bible. Impressed, the man enthusiastically agreed to get together and do in home Bible studying with them. He also stated once again that he would like to prepare for baptism. When signing up for studies he told us to go next door and get his neighbor to sign up. He said to tell the neighbor that he was taking studies and he should do it with him.  By now the girls wanted to scream in excitement. The Lord had truly laid this out for them. They went next door and quickly did the survey and then cut to the chase. They told him that his neighbor was going to be studying the Bible with them and had suggested he join their small group study. Without hesitation the man was like “sure! Sign me up and I’m there!” The girls left that rickety, old, dark, enclosed, porch feeling completely different from when they first went up the stairwell. They had risen insecure, nervous, and unsure but left excited, full, and praising the Lord for giving them the courage to climb up that stairwell and survey the two apartments on the second level. Had they not climbed the stairwell, two souls may have been left in want of the Spiritual food they were craving. Praise the Lord for letting His Holy Spirit work upon the hearts of our young people, and those they come into contact with!

Please continue to pray for our efforts. The last trip has almost come to a close, but there is still a great work to be done.

“Divine and human agencies are combined in the wok of saving souls. God has done His part, and Christian activity is needed NOW. God calls for this. He expects His people to bear a part in presenting the light of truth to all nations. Who will enter into this partnership with the Lord Jesus Christ?” (Christian Service pg. 83) May each of our answers be “Lord here am I. Send me.”

Below are a few short testimony synopsis’s from the many dozens we could share:

- A few young people were extremely hesitant about attending the first trip. Yet as the trip progressed, they young people found themselves eager to go out and do outreach, door knock, and follow up on leads. They came back with testimonies of how God had worked through them that day, and looked forward to more days of outreach. As the trip came to a close they expressed their desire to stay on for the second trip! These young people are a testimony themselves of how God can change our perspective on things and of how nothing can bring more joy or fulfillment than being immersed in the work of the Lord. God can change our motives, attitudes, and our hearts.

- A young girl was invited to come on the mission trip by one of her friends. She had been going through a lot in her life, but had recently taken interest in the Bible Studies her friend was holding for a group of young people. The young man leading out in the studies and who had invited her on the trip, had just recently accepted Christ himself and had a turn around of his life. The young girl saw something in him, and was excited about attending the mission trip after hearing what good it had done for him. Little did she know how much of an impact it would have on her life. After the first few days of insecurities and wariness, she really started grasping onto everything going on around her. After being strongly impacted by a sermon preached by our evangelism trainer (Justin Howard) one Sabbath, she began questioning people how to make steps towards real change in her life. A few days later it was announced of her decision to be baptized! She wanted to stay for the second trip but had many issues keeping her from coming back. We had group prayer with her asking God to make a way for her to stay if it was His will. Second trip has started and God provided her a way to stay. The whole story is amazing. One young man invited to attend the trip was changed by God. He began his own ministries and bible study groups and invited another young girl to attend the trip. This young lady has now been accepted Christ and is on fire for God and hopes to take over His Bible Study group when he leaves for evangelism school this fall. Praise God for young Christian friends, disciples, soul winners, and witnesses. What an impact one person can make!

- Two young ladies on outreach came across a group of young male teenagers in a rougher part of the city. One of them was slightly hesitant to approach the group while the other boldly walked toward them. After beginning the survey all the guys started walking away except for one. Long story short, the young man of 18 years was excited to study the Bible with someone. He said he didn’t care who he studied with as long as he got to study with someone. Tomorrow at 6pm he will begin his first study with a couple young people. Please pray for Him as begins His journey in discovering Christ!

As always, please continue to keep us in your prayers as we continue moving forward!

“Divine and human agencies are combined in the work of saving souls. God has done His part, and Christian activity is needed now. God calls for this.”

Yesterday, as a team of three young ladies worked a street in Binghamton, they encountered numerous people with whom they had the opportunity to have lengthy spiritual conversations. One such encounter was between a man and his “lady friend” out behind their neighbor’s house. The team knocked on the door and an older gentleman opened the door. They greeted him with a “Hi! How are you today?” The man answered with a sudden and gruff “terrible!” Taken back, the team regained their composure and continued on with their usual speech. They soon learned the man was joking when he had greeted them, and he invited them to come behind his apartment and talk to his neighbors for whom he was grilling food for. The man left to continue cooking and told the team to talk to his neighbors. The “neighbors” were a man and woman who were sitting on a table smoking and drinking.

They struck up a friendly conversation with the two and asked if they could do the Bible survey with them. After a chuckle, they consented. They both admitted to believing there was a God, and then the woman said “man. Look at us answering these questions while we sit here drinking and smoking.” The woman told them that she had attended church when she was younger but she hadn’t gone again in many years. She felt that the Catholic Church she grew up attending was too solemn, serious, and intimidating. She also mentioned that she had a couple daughters who had been attending church recently and she was very glad for them. They were going to church through a friend who had invited them. She herself had tried attending the church and goes occasionally but says she doesn’t like all the “hand waving and jumping around” that goes on there. She mentioned that she believed Christianity wasn’t about church but that it was about living right. The woman was quiet for a while after the team explained how in a sense she was right. Christianity wasn’t about the church. It was about a personal relationship with Christ. She looked at the team of three and said “This is so weird. Why are you here! It’s like I’ve been needing to hear something like this and you were sent here by somebody! This is so strange.”

Neither the man nor the woman signed up for in home Bible studies. Neither did they for drop off studies. But they both took a lesson with our contact information on it. They said they would look them over since they read the Bible occasionally, and if they ever wanted to they would call us.

You can’t help but feel disappointed that neither of them signed up for studies. However, you can’t help but also feel excited that something did happen. A seed was planted. Something was triggered in their minds. For some reason, the woman believed somebody sent them there. Both of them felt guilty of their addictions of alcohol and tobacco as they were discussing spiritual matters. Both of them agreed to look over the studies.

Though every person we speak to may not receive Bible Studies, we have been sent out into the streets to minister. We are sharing light and leading people to think about spiritual matters. We may not feel that successful when people reject a Bible study, but perhaps someday we may find that because of our questions, spiritual interests were aroused within them and eventually they found their way to Christ.

Please continue to pray for all our young missionaries in ThisGeneration both here and everywhere.

BVOD: Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” We were commissioned to “go and teach all nations.” May this be each and every one of our prayers, and our answer to God’s call.

Mary and Sheena, mission trip participants, were working on door knocking in an apartment complex. They had done their Bible survey on every apartment building, with no outstanding results. Just as they were about to move out of the area, they came across one last building that they had missed. They debated on entering since they weren’t sure if they were apartments. Finally upon deciding to enter, they began their door knocking process. They arrived at a door where a young woman answered. At first she was reluctant to talk to them, but after a few minutes opened up to them. One of the questions on the survey asks what church they usually attend. At this, the young woman said she hadn’t gone to church in a very long time because she felt she wasn’t good enough to go to church. Mary and Sheena saw this opportunity to start up a casual but spiritual conversation with the young woman. Mary and Sheena began to explain to the young woman, that no one is perfect in any way, shape or form. Mary then asked the young woman a question. “If you had bronchitis, would you wait to go to the doctors?” The young woman replied “no. I’d go in right away.” Mary continued, “Exactly. You wouldn’t want the situation to get worse you would want it to get better as soon as possible. It’s the same thing with church. If you wait to go to church until you ‘feel good enough’, you’re going to wait forever and your situation will just get worse. Hardly anyone in church feels good enough or worthy enough to be there. Church is about coming to learn to know God better and MAKE you feel better than the condition one is currently in.” At this the young woman stood in amazement as the reality of what she had heard settled in. “Wow. You’re right” she replied. After several more minutes of conversation, the young woman was convicted to sign up for in home Bible studies. Imagine if Mary and Sheena hadn’t entered into the last building thinking it wasn’t apartments. This young woman may have never had the opportunity again to meet Christ. Praise God for how He works in moving people to the direction in that which they should go!

Everyday there are testimonies like these. God is working.

Please continue to keep up all in your prayers. We need strength, energy, words, knowledge, an appealing character, and the power of the Holy Spirit to keep pressing forward.

Feel free to come by some Sabbath and visit! 834 Bunn Hill Road Vestal, NY 13850

BVOD: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:8

We ask prayers for all those who will be traveling to Binghamton tomorrow for the start of the first trip; both speakers, leaders, and attendees. We’d also like to ask prayer for those attending the trips. We know some people are nervous about their decision to come. We’ve all been there before. The unfamiliar isn’t always an easy decision, but if it’s a step in the direction where we know God is leading, then God will fail us not.  Please pray that all those who have made that decision to come will be flooded with peace and that they will have an amazing and life changing experience during these next few weeks. There are also some young people who for different reasons are still struggling to make a decision whether or not to attend a mission trip. Pray that if it is God’s will that they come, that they surrender to the call and that a way be provided for them to come. As we know you have been doing, please also continue praying for the presence of the Holy Spirit in Binghamton.

QOTD: “The enemy never can take out of the hand of Christ the one who is simply trusting in His promises.” 7BC 959

The main purpose of This Generation is to revive young people to deeper relationships with Christ and equip them with the tools they need in order to be the most effective witnesses of the Gospel that they can be. Praise God we’ve seen this being done. We would like to share with you a testimony we received a few weeks ago that confirms what a blessing it is to have our young people participating in the Lord’s work. It’s often easy to focus on what evangelism can do for the world, while we overlook the impact it can have on our own selves. The following is a testimony sent to us by the NY conference secretary:

“ My daughter has been part of This Generation summer program for the last two years. She will be going again this year. My daughter was having an average walk with the Lord. We send her to be part This Generation Summer mission project. Her life has been changed. She now eagerly wants to witness for Jesus. She shares the love of Christ with almost anyone she comes in contact with. My Greatest joy was when she asked me to baptize her by the Lake near Union Springs Academy. I can attest that This Generation has had a profound impact on her life.  I would recommend this Spirit filled mission project to any parent. To any youth. To any one who wants a deeper walk with Christ.”

We praise God and give Him all the honor and glory for what He has done, is doing, and will do in people’s lives.

We thank you so much for your prayers and support. We also thank those that have donated items from our list of needs. It is greatly appreciated! As we move forward this summer, let us join in prayer as the Christian army we are and pray for God to pour out His Holy Spirit in a powerful way.

BVOW – “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;” 1 Peter 3:15

The canvassing team is moving forward with much fervor. Come to TGen’s meetings in the AD building at camp meeting next week where we look forward to hearing some testimonies from our canvassers! Join us as we also spend time in prayer and study of how we too can be effective witnesses for Christ, Please see the camp meeting schedule to find exact times for TGen’s meetings).

Once again we ask you to continue praying for our summer initiative. Also keep in prayer our seminars at camp meeting and that God will put upon people’s hearts to join this mission initiative for Christ this summer. The Lord needs workers to being the harvest! We’d also like to ask specific prayers that we receive the needed funds and donations needed for of our mission trip and Bible Work programs. People have been giving and we appreciate that greatly! However much is still needed for this mission initiative. We have faith that God will provide for our needs just as He has in the past. At the end of this post is a list of the items that we are asking people to prayerfully consider in helping us attain either by donation or by lending to us. Thank you for your continued prayers for this initiative!

BVOD – Are you anxious about your future? About finances? About relationships? Or maybe even about coming on a mission trip? This world is full of anxieties and the only place we can find peace in every situation is in the arms of Christ. Philippians 4:6-7 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

- Computer Monitor or small Television

- Massage chairs

- 5-7 basins for foot baths

- Industrial sized hand sanitizers

- Large containers of activated charcoal powder

- Blenders

- Blood glucose machines- Fresh Food (fruits + veggies)

- Glow Tracts, Bibles, Steps toChrist

- Piano Keyboard

- Financial support for Bible workers. Any monetary donation or sponsor a Bible Worker (costs $900/month per worker)

- PEOPLE! More than anything God needs workers. Join us on a mission trip or volunteer!

- YOUR PRAYERS