March 22, 2006

March '06 prayer letter

Here is my March prayer letter to supporters of the ministry. Enjoy!

'The students are back from Spring Break and already you can feel the countdown to and anticipation of summer. It is said that spring is a difficult time for any program that involves youth and young people because they’re often out involved in new activities of the season. This seems true for h2o like everyone else, but on the other hand (like my last letter expounded upon), I sense the strong foundation of a deep commitment from many of our leaders in particular. These are the ones willing to step up and stick it out for whatever task to which they are called. These are the ones I really look forward to seeing and meeting with EARLY on Wednesday morning (6:30 AM) for leadership discussion and prayer. They’ve been very helpful during our current large-scale event, March Madness at the Waterhouse, taking shifts for the many NCAA tournament games we’re showing (go Mountaineers) and inviting their friends out. We’re looking forward to seeing more students coming to watch basketball at our building now that school is back in session. Please keep praying for this event, as it can be a great ‘foot in the door’ for many students and just a fun environment to get to know someone. Pray that we keep inviting people and keep utilizing this opportunity to show kindness.

Spring Break gave Sarah and I the opportunity to take a fun little trip: we went down to Wilmington, NC for a few days. I know some of you live down in that area and I hope we get to visit with you at least once this summer, for we are going to be living there for 10 weeks! That’s why we went, just to ‘scope out’ the town and become at least a little familiar with major roads and locations. Great Commission Ministries provides a ten-week leadership training program (appropriately named LT for Leadership Training) for students, and most GCM employees (like myself) are the people who lead and facilitate during this time. This summer the location WVU is going to is Wilmington (there are at least 3 other LTs around the U.S. and world that I know of). I’ll write more about LT in next month’s letter. Here we are on the road:

I gave my second message to date at h2o this Sunday, which I enjoy getting to do when Billy asks. We’re following the traditional topic series of the ancient church during the Lenten season leading up to Easter, and my message was on ‘The Call to Repentance.’ Please pray for our last 6 official h2o services of the semester, that we go out with a bang and leave students excited for returning in the fall.

One last thing that I would love some prayer for this month is the upcoming Passion play that Chestnut Ridge Church is producing. As some of you know, I have the great honor and huge responsibility of performing the role of Jesus, and any support in this endeavor is appreciated more than you know. Practices are becoming more often and more intense as we draw very near to the shows: April 5-9. :o)

In Christ,
Cameron'

March 21, 2006

More basketball...

Wow, March Madness really is 'mad.' The games just don't quit! So we're not quitting with showing them at the Waterhouse either. Join us if you're in town this weekend to watch the Sweet Sixteen and the Elite Eight.

How about them Mounties? So do you think we can beat Texas? I think anything's possible with the Mountaineers. I've personally called them the 'Heartbreakers' for many years now because of how they mess with your emotions so much. No matter how terribly they might perform for any particular game or season, as a fan you always come back with fresh hope. You find yourself really believing that they can win ANY game and that they could be the champions of the whole thing. It goes beyond hope; you really think that because you're watching a game and you're so tied up in it that they can do anything. It's really quite amazing.

And so when they let you down, you come WAY down, crashing to the bottom. But then there's always another game, another season, and your heart starts pounding as they (sometimes rockily) advance, coming nearer to that unbelievable win or 3-point shot. I guess you could say a Mountaineer fan has 'faith' in their team, and they experience the ups and downs as if they were on the court with Pittsnogle or Gansey. It's one of those 'beautiful terrible' things in life that lets you in on the full spectrum of emotion, experiencing everything more richly and in sharper tones.

Wow, who knew the Mountaineers could be so inspiring? :o)

March 8, 2006

BIG EAST @ THE WATERHOUSE

Just wanted to let everybody in the Morgantown area know about some MARCH MADNESS happening on BIG SCREENS at the WATERHOUSE!!! We're kicking it off as I type with the BIG EAST TOURNAMENT at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, the most watched college basketball tournament other than the NCAA tournament itself! We just watched Syracuse barely beat Cincinatti with a crazy 3-pointer with less than one second to go (Cincy had a very decent half-court try as the buzzer went off but the shot didn't fall through). Notre Dame and Georgetown just tipped off (at 2:30). We are showing EVERY BIG EAST TOURNEY GAME, of course rooting for our own MOUNTAINEERS who play tomorrow night at 9 PM the winner of the Pitt/Louisville game tonight at 9 PM as well. Come out and watch the tournament whenever you get a chance! There's games today, right now and at 7 and 9 PM and tomorrow at 12 noon, 2:00, 7:00 and 9:00 PM, Thursday at 7 and 9 PM, and the championship game Saturday at 8 PM. Refreshments are being sold for 50 cents (pop, water, chips, candy bars).