Forty degrees, rain, and wind today…we’ve experienced a lot of crazy weather in the trailer this spring. One day the air conditioner is on, the next the furnace and space heaters are running. But one thing that has been consistent is the hand of God moving in the hearts of His people. Since February when we left snowy Michigan, we’ve had the privilege to minister in the North Carolina towns of Kinston, Cary, and North Wilkesboro as well as Brownsburg, Indiana and Jefferson City, Missouri (where we also spent our spring break at a wonderfully rustic campground). And now we are in Van Wert, Ohio preparing to start a 4-day Thirst Conference on Sunday. When an individual is willing to lay down his pride and humbly cry out to the Lord, amazing things can and do happen. Here are just a couple testimonies out of the hundreds that we have received:
“The Lord has taught me a life changing lesson on forgiveness this week. I was truly hurt by the person in my life that means the most – my wife. God laid on her heart to come clean and tell me a terrible secret she had been living with for almost four years. God granted me the power to truly forgive her.”
“I wasn’t able to attend every evening, but somehow those nights that I did come, I heard the critical messages for my life. My wife and I have been divorced for four years. Lately, we have decided to try to rebuild a life together. I wasn’t much of a Christian when my trouble began, but soon after, I recommitted my life. Still uncertain on how to be a Godly husband, Monday and Tuesday I heard messages on the role of a husband. With new guidance and assurance, I approach this new construction project with confidence and joy, and definite purpose. Thank you.”
In late January, we had a wonderful opportunity to travel to Colorado Springs, Colorado for a week away as a couple. During that week, we were ministered to by dear friends and “spiritual parents” Tim and Anne Evans. We participated in an intense (36 hour) counseling time with them called Restoring the Foundations which was a huge blessing for us personally as well as training to better equip us as we minister to others. It had been a long time since we’d gotten away just the two of us, so it was a very life-giving week. Thank you, Tim and Anne for your continued investment in us. And thank you Mom and Dad Rogers and Mom and Dad Slenk for taking care of Christian and Elizabeth while we were gone.
The remainder of the ministry year includes churches in Manchester - Tennessee, Hudsonville - Michigan (West Michigan friends, please come see us at Georgetown Bible Church May 5-8!), and three weeks in Ontario, Canada. We will be leading week #9 of Life Action’s Family Camp July 29-August 3 right before we begin Staff Training for the new teams during the month of August. And to wrap up the summer, our team will again lead the Labor Day Weekend Family Camp right before the team heads out for the next season (www.lifeactioncamp.com).
Christian and Elizabeth have had a wonderful school year, and we are eagerly anticipating the wrap-up of our tenth year of homeschooling. Christian has been studying History of God’s Kingdom, Biology, Algebra II, and Spanish this year. With high school biology comes dissecting, and we are very thankful for our team member Kyle who has enthusiastically helped Christian with dissecting an earth worm, crayfish, perch, and frog. Elizabeth has been studying the second half of American History, Astronomy, and Pre-Algebra. She loves creative writing and has done a wonderful job playing piano and singing each week at our Ladies’ Luncheon. This is the time of year when we plan for next school year (which Jennifer thoroughly enjoy doing), and we are anticipating a cost of approximately $1,200 for school curriculum which includes all subjects for Christian who will be in 10th grade and Elizabeth who will be in 7th grade. Elizabeth is also scheduled to begin phase two of orthodontics this summer which is going to be $4,000. Will you ask the Lord if He would have you help us specifically with these two large expenses? God has so graciously and abundantly provided for us these last six years on the road, and we are again believing He will do the same at this time.
Thank you for your continued prayer and financial support. Please pray for us as we seek to finish this ministry season strong. We know that our only hope as individuals, families, churches, and as a nation is for God to do a revival in the hearts of his people. “Lord, send revival, and let it begin in me.”
With grateful hearts,
Ben, Jennifer, Christian, and Elizabeth
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