YEAR END REPORT OASIS & HOME FOR THE WEEKEND RETREATS INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH “TO PARAGUAY WITH LOVE” 2022
In June we took some days away from a busy schedule to write, pray, and dream into the Fall before us, asking the Lord what He had in mind. Acts 13 seemed to come to the front and center of our attention. In this passage, followers of Jesus were in a room fasting and praying when the Holy Spirit spoke: “Set apart Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (Acts 13:2) As a result, these two men, along with John Mark, set off on the first missionary journey. Following the leading of the Holy Spirit, they travelled many miles and from city to city, visiting brand new places with the Gospel as well as returning to strengthen the hearts of congregations where they’d already been. At some places, they stayed for a week and at others, for months, even a year at a time. All in all, their mission was to nurture God’s people, calling them to unity, maturity, and fullness in their walks with Jesus.
As we read this chapter (and the rest of Acts), our hearts were deeply stirred. We sensed God’s personal invitation to us to join Him on our own “missionary journey” across the US and abroad. Joined by our good friend, Jordanne Fulcher (whom we met and grew to love and trust during several ministry events we attended in 2020 and 2021 in Kansas City), we prayed into, planned for, and finally embarked on our own “journey” in late August of this year.
HOME FOR THE WEEKEND: VISALIA, CA
SEPTEMBER 9-10– Our first stop was in our hometown of Visalia, CA where a wonderful couple contacted us about hosting a Home for the Weekend retreat in their home on September 9-10. The focus for this Visalia HFTW was tracing God’s invitation for us to find home in His heart throughout our personal histories with Him. We took time to give thanks for a particular moment in our lives when God left an intimate, life-changing impression on us about what He’s really like.
Next, we pressed into moments of deep hurt and/or shame in our lives and then brought them into the light of His Presence for His healing, asking Him to turn our pain into something exquisitely beautiful. Finally, we took time to remember His faithfulness to keep His promises to us in the past and allowing Him to fill us with fresh faith to keep on believing for our future. We gave prompts for each portion of the teaching – creative art or journaling questions that helped each individual press deeper meaning into what God was saying specifically and personally to them. God’s Presence throughout the weekend was incredibly beautiful and we were all tangibly affected by His deep work in our hearts. Here are a few people’s reflections:
“The pictures and revelation that you guys shared of home and heart were so powerful. I can’t even begin to say what an impact this weekend had on my heart. There is so much the Lord did. And I just came away with so much valuable treasure. I wish I had your notes! I wish I had recorded it! But I journaled a lot and still am as more pieces come to mind. It was such DIVINE timing for me.”
(HFTW Attendee)
“I loved the various prompts and opportunities to hear God. I liked how varied they were. They stretched me, but never felt pressured. Perfect combo! God spoke to me in multiple ways. I think the highlight was seeing how He has been present my whole life. I heard Him say ‘It was always me’. The memories that God highlighted were the ways He had always been with me and loved me my whole life. I cannot remember a time of not knowing He was there.”
(HFTW Attendee)
“The highlight of Home for the Weekend for me was the movement prompt. I have been able to apply that, since then, to other memories I’ve had and it has been beneficial. Also, God spoke to me that I hear His Voice! And that I can find him quickly. Thank You for sharing your stories and tools the Lord is using in your lives! It was such a wonderful experience.”
(HFTW Attendee)
“I just wanted to say again thank you for Home for the Weekend Retreat...I have been so genuine and my full self... and I’ve never felt lighter.”
(HFTW Attendee)
HOME FOR THE WEEKEND: ARCHBOLD, OH
SEPTEMBER 23-24 AND SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1 – In Archbold, we enjoyed two back-to-back weekends in two different homes with two different groups of delightful people. Drawing from Jesus’ parable in Luke 15 of the Loving Father’s longing for his two lost sons to come home to relationship with Him, we felt led to focus on two questions: What is the Father like? And who does He say that I am? Our honest answers to those two questions tell us where we are really living, since our view of God affects everything. What we believe God is like in the deep recesses of our being shapes the whole course of our lives, including what we believe about ourselves. Our Father longs to tell us the truth of Who He is and who we really are and in so doing, find the Home we were designed from eternity to live in and then live out of. All of the prompts from these two weekends flowed from this theme. Again, here are some of the ways God met individuals during these weekends:
“Home for the Weekend felt safe in a way that’s hard to describe. I just moved to town and was invited by my brother and sister-in-law, and I didn’t know many other people there. Normally I wouldn’t feel so comfortable and safe in an atmosphere like that, but you could just tell the Lord was present there, and with Him came safety and comfort. There were ways that I think I knew I needed to approach the Lord, and things I needed to ask Him, but I was nervous to - I’ve walked through some really hard seasons over the past four years, and because of this, something in my heart started to shy away from Him and not trust Him like I used to. There was one prompt given to us and I was sitting there so hesitant. It was a simple prompt, and I knew I needed to ask the Lord the question in front of me, but I was nervous. I sat there for a full two minutes wondering why this simple prompt scared me so much. But the fact that everyone else in the room was going through the same prompt, and the fact that I felt like I was in a safe space, allowed me to finally ask the Lord that one simple question. And He started meeting me in all of that pain from the past four years. He started speaking to all of my failures and shame that were weighing me down. It was like He had been waiting eagerly to meet me in that pain, but I was the one that was too scared to let Him into it all. But the safety that I felt in that room allowed me to venture to that place that I was too scared to go before. And He met me in a way that I will never forget.”
(HFTW Attendee)
TO PARAGUAY WITH LOVE
TO PARAGUAY WITH LOVE
I t seems that “go with the flow” is the new norm!! In Acts, Paul mentions times that the Spirit of Jesus prevented them from going certain places they had planned to go while opening other doors they hadn’t been aware of (Acts 16). Similarly, we felt God specifically arranging and directing every detail of our outreach to Paraguay – cancelling some of our scheduled events and opening doors to so many others. Originally, our small team made up of the two of us, Adela from Paraguay, and Jamie Beck (Jill’s sister) had also included Pastora Michelle from Bucerias, Mexico. However, when she broke her ankle just 5 weeks before the outreach, it became clear that we would need to make adjustments. Within 24 hours of being asked, another friend, Evelia from Bucerias, who has translated for and ministered with us in past outreaches to Mexico, agreed to join our team to Paraguay as well. Only God could have known how important and effective the makeup of our team would be.
Flexible, thankful, Spirit-led, full of love for Jesus and His people, this little team flowed beautifully through every ministry opportunity that was presented to them – 20 events in total, including a couples’ group focusing on marriage, a Diaconia chapel service, several home groups for young families/women/leaders in ministry, the Diaconia retreat for the female chaplains who shepherd Trust groups receiving micro-loans (6000+women across Asuncion in groups of 15 members each), and two other special ministry times to the leaders of the leaders in Diaconia’s ministry. In so many of these events, we had opportunity to take our time praying for individuals! It was absolutely delightful to tag-team in prayer and each time, we sensed the deep comfort of God shedding heavy burdens and bringing His profound peace and hope. Trying to capture these sacred times of ministry is extremely difficult. God’s Spirit came each and every time – powerfully, tenderly, deeply, in truly life-changing ways.
In one of our team prayer times, Adela had prayed, “Lord, would You make this a ‘before and after’ moment for individuals – where nothing will ever be the same as You encounter their hearts in lasting ways!” Wow!! He really did that! There simply isn’t enough room here to communicate all the ways we saw God move. It was truly overwhelming! Here are just a few observations from our team:
“Being invited to join this outreach to Paraguay was an opportunity of a lifetime for me - one that I know I will carry in my heart forever. It opened a door for me to be able to tell my story. I had never really shared my whole story start to finish with anyone before, but during a morning devotional time with my team, I did. It was very vulnerable but it allowed me to be seen for who I really am and where God has pulled me from. I couldn’t have imagined doing that before. And then I got to share a smaller version of my story with 2 different Diaconia trust groups – a story not unlike many of the women we encountered. God works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He?!!
I have a better understanding of that now! And then at the Diaconia retreat, God provided me with a very special opportunity with one specific woman. I wouldn’t have imagined that ONE woman almost on the other side of the world would need to hear a little bit of my story to understand that SHE was not alone. That someone out there understands her fears, tears, and struggles. And even more, that God understands! We were able to hug each other and truly understand one another!”
(Team Member Evelia from Mexico)
“First time out of the country in a while and living from our ‘new way’. Our time with people has been smaller, deeper, and more intimate. I’m loving this new way of living and loving. More rest, peace, and clarity.”
(Geoff)
“I am undone by all that God has done in the last week. I have had a lot of favorite moments - seeing God move in the hearts of people in such precious ways in small meetings and during our Diaconia Chaplains’ Retreat - but one of my favorites was seeing our own staff chaplains receiving ministry from our team and watching the tears roll as healing and renewal flowed to the hearts of these hardworking women that oversee the spiritual work with 6000+ women that Diaconia serves. It moved my heart to hear Gloria (the head of the chaplaincy program) say that many times she has just wanted to quit because of the exhaustion of constantly working with extreme cases and facing so much need. ‘But today I feel the Lord confirming His love and presence with me. He is all that I need and I get to rest in His love. I only have to give what is overflowing out of this love we share.” I am so thankful for Jill, Geoff, Jamie, and Evelia who have poured out their heart and soul into each person that they have come across. I am so blessed and honored to host them in Paraguay and thank God He connected me with people who carry the message of heart connection with the Father so well. It’s the message people long for desperately in Paraguay and I am excited to see what new doors He will open in the future to be able to continue seeing lives transformed from the heart, in this nation I love.”
(Sponsor and Team Member Adela from Paraguay)
“One of the many highlights of this Paraguay outreach was joining the chaplains of Diaconia for their annual retreat. What an amazing experience it was to worship with a room full of women who were singing at the top of their lungs and whose personal journeys of strong faith were born out of extreme trials and difficulties. Jill’s testimony the first night and rich word the next morning went so deep. So many, many tears and then, after the tears, so many, many glowing faces, reflections of fresh understandings of the Father’s deep and personal love for each of them. We simply loved on the women as God Himself brought Divine exchange of burdened, heavy hearts for Abiding Love. Another highlight was offering prayer ministry and words of encouragement as a team to many Diaconia staff members. What a privilege it was to encourage these faithful ones who can become tired, burdened, and weary as they contend for, defend, train, and support so many. And, of course, our good Father surprises us yet again by all He has given US - far more than we could have ever given. We say goodbye to dear friends old and new with hearts that are full, pressed down, and overflowing with His amazing love.”
PRAYING FOR DIACONIA STAFF CHAPLAINS
(Team Member, Jamie Beck)
“LORD, WOULD YOU MAKE THIS A ‘BEFORE AND AFTER’ MOMENT” –OUR PRAYER FOR THIS TRIP
“ I AM UNDONE BY ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE LAST WEEK.” –ADELA
OUR FSM TEAM WITH DIACONIA
LEADERS
ONE OF THE DIACONIA TRUST GROUPS
We had the opportunity to host another Oasis retreat in Andy and Darlene Wilson’s (Jill’s brother and sister-in-law) barn, October 7-8 in Forest, Ohio. Through worship, devotional thoughts, prayer, and newly revised reflective stations, Oasis offered people the gift of un-rushed time and space to come away from the hectic, troubled, and daily grind of life to focus their thoughts and attention on Him. And it seemed that everyone who attended was very glad for this sweet opportunity to meet with their Father. He definitely did not disappoint!!
ONE OF OUR NEW REFLECTIVE STATIONS: “LET”
Have you ever taken time to think about the little word ‘let’? Oxford Dictionary defines this 3-letter-word as “to allow: to not prevent or forbid”. We would add “to yield; to receive”. A footnote in the Passion Translation about the word let says “We can only bring Him a yielded heart and must ‘let Him’ do the rest…We don’t begin by doing but by yielding.” There are many verses in the Bible where this little word shows up. One such verse is “Let the faith of God be in you…” (Mark 11:22). What was Jesus saying here? It seems He was simply urging His disciples to let faith find a home in them. He wasn’t asking them to produce faith. He was simply inviting them to yield to the belief that God could do it.
Here is one other: In Luke 1:26-38, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, explaining to her that she has found favor with God and will be the mother of Jesus. At first, Mary is deeply troubled and bewildered by Gabriel’s message, in large part because she had no strength or ability to accomplish this astonishing promise on her own. But Gabriel assures her that God Himself will bring it to pass for nothing is impossible with Him. At this reassurance, Mary responds from her whole heart: “Let it be to me according to Your word.”
Is there a promise God has given you or a situation you find yourself in that you’ve been struggling to tackle in your own strength? Take a few moments to journal your thoughts to God. Now, in the quiet, listen for His reassurance to your heart. He is able. Can you yield to His invitation to simply “let go and let God”? Maybe conclude your time by placing your hand over your heart and praying along with Mary: “Let it be to me according to Your word.”
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
“The last couple of years have been difficult due to a lot of isolation, loss, and grief. The weight of it all had felt so heavy that I couldn’t express with words what I needed. The Oasis was just that to my soul - life in the desert. For the first time in a long time, I felt seen and known and loved. It was a safe place to be vulnerable and put my heart out there for God to begin the healing process in every part of my life. I am learning to just ‘let’ God - love me, delight in me, fill the need in my heart. And He’s doing that so very gently.”
(Oasis Attendee)
“Oasis was just what my soul needed! My tense, ‘high’ shoulders were able to relax and let go. I experienced God’s gentle care. I knew He was there with me lightening my heavy load. He showed me that His burden isn’t a heavy load, that He doesn’t put on me the pressure I put on myself…I loved every minute of Oasis and I can’t wait until the next one!”
(Team Member and Attendee)
“Thank you for bringing Oasis to us again – every moment was special and we know God spoke to each one who came, including us, in special and personal and intentional ways.”
(Oasis Hosts)
“I went to a recent Oasis worship night to help at the regis tration table, but God had other plans because HE KNEW.
HE KNEW that I couldn’t see Him in the difficult situation my family was facing.
HE KNEW that I was overwhelmed and holding in all of my emotions.
HE KNEW that my prayers were rooted in selfishness.
HE KNEW that I was letting fear take over.
HE KNEW that I wasn’t trusting in His sovereignty.
HE KNEW that I needed to be reminded of His unfailing love and care.
GOD KNEW that I was dry and thirsty even before I did. Oasis was just what I needed at just the right time and I came away with a renewed faith, like a weight had been lifted from my shoulders. I truly experienced Matthew 11:28, ‘Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to Me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.’”
(Oasis Attendee)
Oasis was just that to my soul - life in the desert.”
-OASIS ATTENDEE
PARTNER WITH US
“No wonder I’m so glad; I can’t keep it in! Lord, I’m shouting with glee over all you’ve done, for all you’ve done for me!” (Psalm 92:4)
2022 has been a year of awe and wonder for us, filled with fresh opportunities, precious new friendships, and the Love of God that greets us every morning with His new mercies! We are overwhelmed with delight and gratitude to God, as well as to all of you. The love and support you have shown us over and over again humbles and deeply encourages us! We absolutely could not walk through the doors opening before us without the partnership of God’s Spirit and your faithful prayers and generous financial support. We are deeply grateful. Down to our toes grateful.
As we look forward to a new year just around the corner, we would humbly ask you for your continued prayers . Please pray with us for wisdom, direction, and provision for the many new open doors that God is unfolding before us and that we would walk in greater love, integrity, humility, and trust, not only in ministry, but also in our personal lives and relationships. We would also love to invite you to partner with us through your continued financial support, through a one-time yearend gift and even considering joining us in monthly support. (For details on giving, see “How Can You Help” box below)
Our prayer for each of you is that God would lavishly pour back into your lives in the most intimate of ways an overflowing abundance that you cannot contain. So overwhelming that it splashes out on everyone and everything you come in contact with. We love you.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
If you want to be a part of what God is doing through Full Sail Ministries, please use the enclosed envelope or visit www.fullsail.org/give to make a monthly or one time financial gift. If you’d like to give a gift in kind, please email Geoff at geoff@fullsail.org or call us at 559-627-8202
We are grateful for your support.
2023 ITINERARY
JANUARY 27-28, 2023
HFTW Retreat in Oxfo rd , Ohio MARCH 2023
Outreach to Cambodia*
APRIL 2023
Outreach to Thailand*
*We’ve received the invitation. Exact dates and specific details TBA
“The
+ JILL LUDLOW
FULL SAIL MINISTRIES c/o Tulare County Outreach, Inc. PO Box 1772 Visalia, CA 93279-1772
THE HOPE LOVE HOLDS
The longing of God for His children is deep. He makes His way to lie Himself down. Holding nothing in reserve As a vulnerable infant He comes near.
Approachable so we can bear witness. He raises His voice to that of a whisper So we lean in to hear Him speak. He allows Himself to be held by a human. He knows she can’t miss the reality That His Life is in her hands.
He is. Living. Breathing. Trusting. Pleading.
His little heart is beating with Love Enough for the whole of us. Hoping we dare take the risk To let Him hold us now As we lie ourselves down.
We are. Living. Breathing. Trusting. Receiving. To be born anew. To begin again. To be held again. With us to share a word, a heart, a meal… a Home Is the great hope He carries to this very day.
– GEOFF LUDLOW
GEOFF
