What God Did on Our Summer Mission Trip of Encouragement...

"Bill, what a huge blessing it was to see you, Stacy, and Ivy! It was so good for all of us. I'm committed to pray for your family each time Lisa and I pray together. We love you, we really do." 
—Tim Kurtz, AZ

We're back from our summer mission trip of encouragement

From our hearts to everyone of you who prayed and $upported us—THANK YOU! 

Check out what God did—and join us in giving all the glory to Jesus!
"He traveled through that area speaking many words of encouragement…." Acts 20:2
Above in Missouri:
Our first stop was with our disciplemaking friends, Rick and Shirleen Pilcher. Rick and I have known each other since we both were new followers of Jesus as teenagers. Rick invited his family and friends who had read The Disciplemaking Genius of Jesus book to join us for an evening of iron-sharpening-iron community and disciplemaking.

Missouri was a favorite stop for Ivy because Rick trained Ivy to twist balloons and share the Gospel and Bible stories! We go to give encouragement and God uses our friends to encourage us. Beautifully ironic, ain't it? Ivy left with her own balloons and pump :  )

"Judas and Silas... said much to encourage and strengthen the brothers" Acts 15:32.
Above in Oklahoma: 
I've known and loved Levi Carter since he was 14-years-old (that was a long time ago). Many years later, Levi has been a pastor, ministry leader, and is now an aspiring church planter. We were blessed and encouraged by Levi, his wife, Lizeth, and their four beautiful children.

Above in Texas: 
The further west one journeys... the more critically important it is to wear your cowboy hat. Not really. But I did anyway.

"...Paul and Silas.. went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them…." Acts 16:40
Above in Arizona: 
In my 20s I played in a Christian band with youth pastors and volunteer youth leaders in the Peoria, IL, area. Tim Kurtz was our drummer and then our singer. We haven't seen Tim and his family in many years. So you can imagine our reunion when we stayed with the Kurtz family! 

"We sent Timothy… to strengthen and encourage you in your faith…." 1 Thessalonians 3:2
Above in California: 
So much fun to stay with our disciplemaking friend Phil and then be at Sanctify Church!

So much fun with friends from Sanctify Church over lunch.

"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." Philemon 1:7
Above in Nevada: 
We spent then night at Derrick and June Smother's place. You may remember our disciplemaking friendship with the Smothers from here, here, here, and ,most recently, here.

Above in Utah: 
Meet our friend Vern. He runs Gourmandise in Salt Lake City, UT. Absolutely delish! We highly recommend.

"Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another...." Hebrews 10:25
Above in Minnesota: 
Time with (TW) Mark and Rachel O'Brien—some of our favorite part-time Cadre Missionaries.

"But encourage one another daily...." Hebrews 3:13
Above with friends who live in Minnesota: 
Time with (TW) Shane and Heather Stacey and family. Shane is the Adult Equipping Pastor at Hosanna Church.

And in Minnesota Yet Again: 
Time with (TW) Ken and Kathy Castor. Ken is Professor of Youth Ministry at Crown College (Christian and Missionary Alliance). We couldn't resist the invitation to join Ken and Kathy to this HUGE crazy candy store in Minnesota. He had me at "candy."

Above in Iowa: 
On the final leg of the journey home to IL, we were out in the middle of nowhere when we came across Allison, IA. I kid you not. Couldn't resist taking this picture. 

We couldn't be Cadre Missionaries of encouragement to so many people without friends like you. Thank you for every prayer you breathe on our behalf and for every penny you give. You really are God's wind in our Cadre sails—and we will continue to do everything we can to multiply disciplemakers so that your investment in us continues to roll out through disciplemakers who make disciplesmakers—who make more disciplemakers. Only Heaven will be able to tell just how you are making an eternal difference.

You, Me, and Coffee Monday... 
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