Full Sail
M i n i s t r i e s
Thailand
REPORTS
DOMESTIC
INTERNATIONAL
INTERVIEW - JEAN ROWLES THE LUDLOW’S REPORT
OASIS DAY RETREATS BIOLA ENRICHMENT DAYS
GRACE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL - Chiang Mai CURRENT FOR WOMEN - Thai and English
ToThailand
LOVE
with INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH
1
Team
Ministry Ops!
Focus: Grace International School’s Spiritual Emphasis Week (GIS SEW) Dates: February 12-21, 2015
From the beginning, this en/re outreach was a door opened by God. Jill and a small women’s team had spent about 2 weeks in March 2014 (on a sort of scou/ng trip) trying to determine if we were to bring one of our Current for Women events to the English-speaking missionaries and Chris/an workers of Chiang Mai, the hub of many missions’ organiza/ons in SE Asia. During that scou/ng trip, aNer speaking at a Grace Interna/onal School chapel, we were unexpectedly invited to present the school’s 2015 Spiritual Emphasis Week. As all the details came together, God’s invita/on to us became clear. “Come, join Me in what I’m doing here.”
24 Hour Prayer & Worship w/Reflection Stations - SEW
The team He put together for us was amazing – a group of nine individuals who were eager and willing to be used by God’s Spirit in whatever ways He led. We began by hos/ng a 24 hour prayer surge for the 300 students, parents and staff of GIS and then offered 4 days of teaching, worship led by Erin and Trevor, lunch /me workshops, interac/ve reflec/on sta/ons, hang-out /mes aNer school at the coffee shop across the street, and prayer ministry /mes aNer each of the evening sessions. It was so much fun!! The theme was “300: I AM with You,” based on Gideon’s story in Judges 6-7, and Jill presented 8 sessions – both morning and evening – on receiving God’s love, hearing God’s voice, trus/ng His heart and catching the wind of His Spirit.
“Broken Crayons Still Color Station” at SEW
It was absolutely delighaul to see these precious kids respond – waking up to the truth that God LOVES them, KNOWS them, delights in them, is REALLY WITH THEM. Kids began hearing God’s Voice and being filled up with joy as they exchanged the heaviness of duty for the lightness and sa/sfac/on of real rela/onship with the One Who knows them and made a way for them right into His heart through the blood of Jesus. The whole experience was beyond what we could have even imagined honestly – an Ephesians 3:20 experience! “I will do exceedingly, abundantly beyond what you could even ask or imagine.” Beyond, beyond!!
Jill spoke at morning and evening sessions each day - SEW
Erin & Trevor lead worship seminar - SEW
“We offered them the opportunity to drink deeply, get free, hear God for themselves and be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God through His Spirit and His love. There is nothing better to me in all the world.” - Team member, Emie Locke
300 High School students worship @ SEW
In Their Own Words
Our team debriefing mee/ngs each evening were filled with rejoicing as we shared story aNer story of miraculous God/student encounters from the day. We danced around like limle kids in the delight of what God was doing!! Here are some of the students’ experiences in their own words:
“Wow. SEW was incredible. I had so much fear built up inside of me and the Lord just lavished His love on me through you guys and gave me so much peace. You spoke words of truth into my life and gave me a fresh start and a courage to face this next year coming up. Thank you for everything.
“I learned how to listen to God and I heard Him speak to me for the first time. I have never felt so peaceful in my life.”
“By your help I am changed now. I was lost before, I lost my way. But, by this worship, I found Jesus. THANK YOU!” “Life changing week. Thank you for bringing the power of PRAYER. GOD IS HERE. GOD LOVES ME! I have so much joy knowing He is close. Thank you for facilita/ng and teaching. HE IS GOOD! He is answering my prayer for trust!”
“God is bigger than I ever could have imagined!!”
300
“I AM with you.”
Grace International School I February 13-20, 2015 I Chiang Mai, Thailand
“You taught me a lot and really encouraged me and helped me to draw nearer to God in a stronger and more in/mate way. I know that this is only the beginning of a revival in our school.”
“My life was literally changed during SEW…I’ll never forget this week or the words He spoke to me.” One email from a grateful father: “My daughter keeps saying, ‘I went in as one person and felt like I le2
the room as a different person.’ The past month has been the most even;ul (we’ve) ever experienced…and you and your team were right there at the heart of what God had planned for that Eme in that place. Our (daughter) praying with you all late at night for an hour. And the Holy Spirit did a miracle. No way I can thank you and everyone with you enough over Eme. No way. Words cannot. Just know that there are and will be many victories in Christ during your Eme here and ours was one. Praise be to His Great Name!”
“Thank you so much for praying with me. I can feel my thoughts changing to what God says about me.”
INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH Focus: Current for Women Events - Thai & English Dates: March 6-15, 2015
2
Team
As with the first team, our Current for Women team members flowed seamlessly together. Listening for the Holy Spirit’s Voice. Joining hearts together in ministry. Everyone jumped in to help out. Not one person held him/herself back from every open door from God. And not only did God flow through us, He flowed to us – during prayer /mes, team devos, one on one conversa/ons, just the privilege of pouring out together….we were all changed. Prayer team member, Jamie Beck penned these words from she and her husband, Tom (bass player for the C4W team): “We conEnue to be so profoundly affected! Oh to have had hours to debrief together over coffee. As it is, Tom and I have shared and shared and shared... ‘besEes' at breakfast, Men's group, Wednesday prayer group, my prayer partners, Sunday am service, small group and of course family and other friends, even the lady next to me on the plane! How can we keep silent about a God who sees us, know us, and wants relaEonship with us!! We want to pass on this flame…Thank you from the boVom of my heart for allowing us to be part of this ministry. We are forever changed from the inside out!” And from Leah Rixmann, vocalist with C4W Team: “My heart was reawakened to that feeling of connecEon that is so hard to culEvate and maintain in ‘normal life’, yet a natural and beauEful by product of a healthy team whose sole purpose is to know Jesus and make Him known. I've come home longing to walk that way with my ‘team’ here.”
Current for Women, THAI In early February, Jill, Jean and Emie, along with missionary friends Carmen Owen and Cynthia Friesen, met with Ajarn (Thai for Teacher/Pastor) Wannapa, pastor’s wife at Grace Chaowfa Church, to share the heart behind Current for Women. It was our desire to offer a modified version of Current, completely translated into Thai and free of charge for Thai-speaking women.
Ajarn Wannapa quickly caught the vision and she and the ladies from her church began praying for and invi/ng friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors – believers and non-believers - to amend this women’s event, set for March 9-10. These ladies were believing for 50 women to amend. How shocked and delighted they were as women poured into their limle church on Monday night, March 9 – filling it to capacity with 92 women!! As with all C4W events, our goal was to create a safe space and un-rushed /me for women to be able to pause from the busyness of life, listen for God’s Voice to them, and receive His life-giving touch. Through worship and the Word, tes/mony and beau/ful, reflec/on sta/ons, we simply set the stage. Created the space. And God did the rest!! He came and filled that place with His Presence and amazing things happened!! About 8 women gave their lives to Jesus for the very first /me.
Many others came forward for prayer for healing of broken bodies, lost loved ones, wounded marriages, deep fear and need for connec/on. One woman Jill prayed with expressed a deep down ache she’d carried her whole life. Never knowing the love of a mother or father, she’d survived through the years by shoving her pain down and puqng emphasis on success – achieving much in the field of academics and pouring huge amounts of /me and energy into helping others. But that night she expressed through sobs her deep down exhaus/on and loneliness. “It feels like there’s a lid on the top of my head that makes it impossible for me to receive love – from people and even from God. Please…I want to be free.” As they prayed together, God’s Spirit gently yet specifically pin-pointed the blockage, led her to a place of release, and then filled her up with His love, like a balm. It was miraculous!! Both she and Jill knew God had done it! In the peace and sweetness of the moments aNer, this precious woman whispered, “ Do you think it’s possible for a 60 year old woman to run out and dance in the fields and flowers – because that is what I am doing in my heart!” Honestly, Who is like our God?!! He alone has the words of life!!
Current for Women, ENGLISH When the idea of hos/ng a Current for Women in Chiang Mai, Thailand was first birthed in our hearts a couple of years ago, our overwhelming longing was for these women – full /me workers who pour out day aNer day to a people of a different culture and language – to truly be able to come away and receive in the deepest parts of their hearts a rest, refreshment, and “known-ness” that only God’s Spirit can give!! We felt the Lavish Love of God pouring through us as we “created” the mee/ng space at the Horizon Resort where the weekend was being held – seqng up the beau/ful reflec/on sta/ons, rehearsing the music and dances, praying over every seat…We were overwhelmed with God’s love for the women coming. Throughout the en/re event, God extravagantly poured out His in/mate love on these faithful ones. One amendee, a Thai pastor’s wife (American born herself), whom we had the privilege of scholarshipping to the weekend wrote this aNerwards: “I was thankful for God’s reminder that I am KNOWN, wonderfully made, blessed and guided by Him. I had the image of my mom being pregnant with me and her love for me, and her an/cipa/on of me being born. This led to me thinking about how God also loves me and celebrates me as His child. I felt God say that He always knew I would live in Thailand and have my family here. He is loving me in every season. He is with me. He again invited me to trust Him as all His plans unfold… Thanks so much for making it possible for me to amend…I felt so blessed…pampered…like a princess.”
‘To Thailand with Love’ 2015 C4W Team - Thai and English
In Their Own Words
“I came to C4W feeling rejected by a loved one – in turmoil. I also had some major decision to make that I needed wisdom for…He covered me with His blood, renewed me, filled me with peace. Then He gave me encouragement and guidance about what decisions to make in the future through prayers…at the footwashing sta/on. I love when God speaks so clearly to us! Thank you so much for bringing us this /me of refreshment where we can HEAR His voice! It was just what I needed!” “My highlight was being freed from my bondages and truly seeing God as my Father, Mentor, Comforter, Friend, Counselor, Teacher, Refuge, EverlasEng Companion, and my eternal Everything!” “The /mes of worship were my highlight as it is difficult to find worship overseas that fits or ministers effec/vely. The messages were powerful and a lot to reflect on. Communion /me was so special. Thank you!” “It renewed me. Through the worship, I felt God speak to me about moving beyond past regrets. For only being able to aVend one day of the retreat, I have had a lot of powerful moments with God’s healing.” “The elements created a plaaorm to meet with God. The worship is anointed and incredible. The experience and vulnerability of the teachings were so precious and life giving.”
“Friday I came with a heavy heart and a dark countenance. I asked for God to speak regarding an issue. He said, ‘Wait and see what I will do.’ I leN Friday night encouraged and slept well.”
“I gave my Father in Heaven true acceptance into my heart.” “A special thanks to the dancers…BEAUTIFUL!! We will all dance like that in heaven so it’s nice to see how that will look!!! Totally appreciate all the work you went through to create the atmosphere of connec/on – we NEED this so much in Chiang Mai. Hope you’ll come back again!!!” “This is such a Spirit-filled, well thought through event. Thank you for coming. You have been such a blessing – in more ways than you’ll ever know. I loved being in the Presence of God. Thanks for the opportuni/es for prayer with you. I am leaving feeling SO refreshed!!”
T e a m I n t e r v i e w - Jean Rowles (FSM Staff) Ever wondered who our Full Sail Ministries’ team members are? Where are they from? How did they get here? What motivates them to give their talents and invest so much of their lives into this kind of work? Well, we’ve decided to introduce them to you! Our “Team Interview” series is available on our electronic version of this newsletter on the fullsail.org homepage in the latest news section.
Erin & Trevor’s 1st EP is set for a November release! For info go to fullsail.org
Oasis
Come away. Drink deeply.
Ever feel dry? Soul dry? For whatever reason, do you find yourself in a place where your
heart feels worn? Where your less is more than your more? You need an Oasis.
OASIS Day Retreats Oasis Day Retreat is an all day Saturday event open to both women and men for the purpose of providing private personal retreat /me set aside to pause, listen and receive from the Father. We’ve now hosted 7 Oasis Day Retreats at the Bennem’s Ranch in Visalia and the word is geqng around. One lady came to us at the close of a recent Oasis and said, “Could you have these every month?!!” It has been delighaul to see God giving deep refreshment to all who come thirsty.
Journal entries from the last Oasis “I go, go, go, go, and go. God stop me! Let me rest in Your love. Let me be filled by You and not worry having to do anything…Let me rest in You, God…I love you; don’t let me let go.” “Heavenly Father, it is so easy to become so busy with life that I forget someQmes to just stand sQll in all of You. I try to do so much but feel like I can’t get it right so many Qmes. Thank you for this Qme to just hit ‘pause’ in my life and come to You, giving it all to You, knowing I can stand in Your Presence, becoming renewed by You and waiQng for You to speak to me – to truly connect with You in the way You intended me to. Thank You, Lord. I am truly in awe of Your love.”
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs…
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water. Psalm 63:1
WonDeR “May we never lose our wonder; wide-eyed and mysQfied, may we be just like a child, starring at the beauty of our King!” (Lyrics by Amanda Cook)
“Your works are wonderful, I know that full well!” (Psalm 139:14)
Biola Enrichment Days, begun by Licia Clark in 2009, is a summer music program for the children of Biola, CA (a town of 1600 mostly seasonal farm workers near Fresno, CA). Licia’s desire is to see these at-risk kids open up their hearts and minds to the possibility of a life beyond their present circumstances, inspiring them through the love of Jesus to break the cycle of poverty and gang life. Our team first came alongside Licia in the summer of 2014, and did what we do in every outreach we’re a part of: put God’s heart on display. This past summer, from July 13-31, we went back to Biola with a team of 15 amazing volunteers, loving on the sweet children of Biola – one hundred fiNeen 5 - 18 year-olds - through teaching music and dance, making craNs, playing games, and taking advantage of teachable moments to pour in the love of Jesus. We used the CS Lewis book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, as the basis for our theme this year: “Created for Wonder: Des/ned to Seek, Des/ned to Know”. The allegorical nature of the book and its many parallels to the Gospel story gave us countless opportuni/es for meaningful conversa/ons. Star/ng right where we leN off last summer, these children opened their hearts to us and to the Message of God’s Love. And they crawled right back into our hearts in turn! They – nor we – will ever be the same!!
FSM BIOLA TEAM 2015
“It’s like He gave us a brand new start!!” “What a wonderful week it was to see you all in acCon. The ship had all of its sails out, catching the wind with grace and ease. All the crew knew their parts and scurried here and there, climbing up that rigging here, tying off that line there. As the ship sliced through the waves it was indeed ministry poetry in moCon. Thanks for bringing some of the most giLed and talented people on earth to come and minister in our liMle town and in our old church. We are truly humbled to be blessed by your incredible team.” - Tim McDonald, pastor of the “White Church”, the hosCng church in Biola
(Biola kid)
I
The Ludlow’s Report by Geoff Ludlow woke up a few mornings ago. It was s/ll dark outside. I was immediately aware of 3 words being spoken to my soul.
“I Love You.”
Period. No words of instruc/on or condi/on. Just a deep sense of belonging. Of being known. Like God was asking me to just sit with Him there in the quiet and just “be”. Love throws out fear. When we’ve really come in contact with Love, truly been embraced by Love, fear doesn’t even occur to us anymore. It’s not even on our radar. And we’re filled up with a sense of invigora/on, like we can do anything! This spring was busy! The plan was for me to fly out to Thailand to join Team 1 for the Grace Interna/onal School Outreach. Then I was to fly home, spend 10 days with our two youngest daughters, and hop back on another plane to Thailand to join Team 2 in hos/ng our Thailand Current for Women Events in Chiang Mai. The first part of the plan came together beau/fully. But just before geqng on the plane to head to Thailand for the second /me, I learned that my mother was losing her bamle with cancer and I felt a profound need to be “home”. Instead of flying to Thailand, I flew to Newfoundland. There is no other place on earth like it. No place so unique and important for me. I found myself back at my beginnings. I was sleeping in my old room, lying in my old bed, staring up at the same ceiling and looking out the same window I had as a boy when God first began s/rring my heart. He took me back to the beginning - to the place in my heart where I first said yes to Him, where His Love cap/vated me, and where He spoke to me of my des/ny to give my life away. As a 17-year old kid, I used to spend hours processing these s/rrings in my heart with my mom. Now here I was at age 51 and she was speaking the same words over me as she’d spoken to me as a boy. Reminding me… “Do you know who you are, Geoff? Do you know why you are a leader? You are loving. You are kind. You love people. You feel their pain. God made you that way. Don’t be afraid, Geoff. Don’t be discouraged. Just be yourself. He loves you and He’s gonna take care of you.” Day aNer day, for three months this spring, she spoke those words over me. She probably had no idea what she was doing. But with those words came a refreshing to my soul that I can hardly explain. It was nothing I did. It was clearly Him stepping into my world, saying and doing what He knew I needed. Why then? I feel it was simply the fullness of /me. As if God were saying, “NOW!” and all things came together at just the right moment for me to hear and receive. So many thanks for all of the cards, emails and encouraging notes from so many people. Our hearts were truly touched by your love and though;ulness, and it made the grieving process much more endurable as we said goodbye to my mom. And thank you to those of you who gave a special gi2 to her memorial fund, set up to benefit the ongoing work of FSM. We miss her dearly. Some days it sEll doesn’t seem real that she’s not here. But the love she lived and the grace she freely gave encourages us. “Be strong, Have courage. Don’t be afraid. And trust God… no maVer what.” Love you mom. See you when we catch up.
Two years ago, you may remember that God had highlighted a Scripture to Jill and I from Isaiah 43:18-19: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” He seemed to be emphasizing that HE was the One doing the new thing and ours was just to watch Him and relax into what He was about to do!
“See I am doing a new thing!” On August 29-30 of this year, our FSM Board of Directors gathered for 2 days of groundbreaking mee/ngs. ANer listening intently to our hearts, praying with us, and par/cipa/ng in lengthy discussions, our Board unanimously recommended 2 things to us: 1) Re-focus our ministry vision, and 2) Shore up our prayer and financial support for the next 2 years of ministry ahead. All in a desire to cooperate with God and prepare ourselves for the New Season that He is unfolding!
Ministry Vision So that is what we’ve been doing. During the month of September, Jill and I spent concerted /me in prayer and conversa/on to re-iden/fy what God has called us to, asking ourselves the ques/ons: “What is it that God is doing uniquely through us? What is the expression of His heart that is uniquely ours to communicate?” Those ques/ons led us to the following re-tooling of our Vision Statement:
1) Purpose: Crea/ng events that inspire in/macy with God 2) Target: Spiritually hungry people 3) Why: To provide safe space and unrushed /me for people to experience lifechanging connec/on with God 4) How: Through beau/fully craNed seqngs, ar/s/c expressions, life-affirming teachings from the Word, real life stories, reflec/on sta/ons, and prayer ministry “May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [that you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge without experience; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!” (Ephesians 3:17-19, Amplified)
Prayer and Financial Support Now our focus is shoring up our prayer and financial support for the two years ahead. Our goal is to completely raise our opera/ng budget for 2016 and 2017, crea/ng a spring board into the future. During the upcoming months, we will be puqng all of our effort and energy into Missionary IQneraQon - a /me when we will be reconnec/ng with current and poten/al supporters from all over the US and Canada – individuals who will partner with us to launch this next phase of ministry. We look forward to mee/ng one on one with many of you over the next few months! Full Sail Ministries I PO Box1772 Visalia, CA 93279 I fullsail.org
How can you help?
Pray
Please pray with us that… 1) We will be able to communicate clearly the vision to which God has uniquely called us. 2) God would link us with individuals who deeply share our vision and want to partner with us through their prayers and finances. 3) We will provide a spiritually encouraging and deeply inspira/onal place for our team members to create beau/fully ar/s/c expressions of God’s heart.
Give
We are excited for the new things ahead and we believe many of you are as well! If our vision resonates with you, come join us! Would you consider becoming a monthly partner, pledging $25, $50 or $100 a month over the next two years? Or perhaps you’d like to give a special year-end giN? Please use the enclosed envelope or give online at fullsail.org/donate. All giNs to Full Sail Ministries are tax deduc/ble. Your gi2 will be used not just to support programs we are
involved in, but a vision for connecEng people with the heart of God through any door He opens before us in the future!
T H A N K
Y O U !
It never gets old – seeing God pour out His lavish love on open hearts! Joining Him in His work. He is everything He says He is and more. All His promises are true. And we never get Qred of telling His story of love to the world. So whether before hundreds or in a one on one coffee date, it is our privilege to simply create space, to set the stage, for an encounter with Love Himself! Thank you for joining us as we get our sails up and let the Wind of His Spirit take us into the adventure of a life/me!!
“The heart behind Full Sail Ministries is all about one thing: connecting people with the heart of God. We’re not looking for fame. We’re not looking for praise. Everything for us is about taking individuals where they are, speaking life into them and connecting them with God in ways they haven’t been connected before, and then giving them what they need to run forward in this relationship with Him.” FSM Thailand 2015 Team Member, Ryan Brisco
“Leave your shoes and burdens at the door” CURRENT FOR WOMEN - THAILAND
FR O M : GEOFF & JI L L L U D LOW F U L L SA IL M IN IS T R IE c/ o T ul ar S e C ou nt y O ut re ac h, In c. PO B oxC4W 1772 V is al ia , C A 9Thai 3 2 7 9 -1 7 7 2
Full Sail Ministries Autumn 2015
Issue No. Forty-Six
“I've set you up as light to all nations. You'll proclaim salvation to the four winds and seven seas!" Acts 13:47 (MSG)
Fo l low us!
Full Sail M i n i s t r i e s
&
October 17: Oasis Day Retreat, Visalia, CA November 6-7:
CURRENT FOR WOMEN - NW OHIO December - March:
MISSIONARY INTERATION
January 30, 2016: Oasis Day Retreat, Visalia, CA Spring 2016: Thailand Outreach - C4W April 5: Oasis Day Retreat, Visalia, CA May 27: Oasis Day Retreat, Visalia, CA PAUSE
LISTEN
RECEIVE