DISPLAYING GOD’S HEART THROUGH THE ARTS S U M M E R
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“ T O
M A L A Y S I A
W I T H
L O V E ”
T E A M 1 – D A L AT I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C H O O L MEW (MISSIONS EMPHASIS WEEK) – APRIL 2-8 Our first team of 9 focused primarily on the students, staff and parents of Dalat International School, a school in Penang, Malaysia founded originally as a boarding school for children of Christian workers in Southeast Asia. It has now grown into a highly accredited international school with a diverse student population (the staff estimate that only about half of the students attending come from a Christian faith background). We had the privilege of leading 5 days of chapel times, breakout sessions, and evening sessions with the elementary, middle and high school students, parents and staff of Dalat.
M A L AY SIA R E CAP An invitation to rest and relationship overseas...
What an incredible gift hindsight can be - to be able to stand at the culmination of an entire outreach and see the threads of God’s masterful plan being woven together from start to finish! Amazing! Little did we know back in June of 2016, when Jamie and Tom Beck first met Jonathan and Kari Steffen (full-time Christian workers in Malaysia) at their church in Pettisville, Ohio, that we would have the privilege of partnering with them to field 2 back to back teams to Malaysia from March 29 – April 18! Only God could have put together such an elaborate and delightful plan! Jonathan and Kari had this to say,
following our weeks together: “Our hearts are so full with awe and gratitude for what He has done here. It is really difficult to explain. So many people received a deeper understanding of The Love, and their identity in Him. Not just head knowledge, but deep, core, paradigm shift, worldview change, I know that I know that I know in my deepest heart, kind of knowledge. We saw so many glimpse a freedom from the chains of legalism, external expectations, self doubt, and distrust. We are so grateful for the Full Sail team who shared their lives with us for these last two weeks, and allowed The Love to flow through them.”
Drawing from the story of Gideon in Judges 6 and 7, we shared that God is WITH us and that we can receive His unconditional love, hear His Voice and experience a lifetime of connected relationship with Him. To say the kids were “open” is an understatement. They seemed literally to be hungry for God. The overall sense we got was: “If God really is real, I want to experience Him personally.” That openness led to incredible response. Students were quick to come forward to receive prayer, get their feet washed or spend time in the reflective stations. Warm tears flowed as the Presence of the Holy Spirit brought salvation, freedom, forgiveness and the Father’s love to so
many. Our team practically skipped back to our rooms each night, overflowing with crazy stories of how we saw God meeting with and answering prayer for so many students!! One of those crazy stories involved a fifth grade student. Jamie Beck witnessed it first hand: “One of my favorite encounters involved a German/Russian boy, ‘NN’ who was an atheist living with atheist parents…NN had been showing more and more interest in Christianity in his 5th grade classroom. His student teacher came to me following one of the evening sessions with the exciting news that NN had come to her saying, ‘I’m ready to do this!’ After praying together and decidedly entering into a new relationship with Jesus, he joyfully said, ‘This is the best day of my life!’ Later in the week, I had the privilege to lead the 5th grade Bible class… After class, the teachers asked NN to stay because they had something for him. I wish you could have seen the look of pure joy on his face when he unwrapped his very own Bible! He became totally engrossed in his new gift, remarking on his name and his new birth date written inside (‘I have two birthdays now? Do I get presents both times?’) He told us he had checked out a Bible from the library because they didn’t have a Bible in his home. He described how one day he thought, “I’m bored. I will read this Bible. Do you know, it is a very interesting book?!”…To see Jesus in such a fresh, real encounter was just beautiful and so encouraging.”
IN OUR OWN WORDS “FLOW. CLARITY. REAL. There are so many words to describe this short yet mighty outreach to Dalat International School, but I did my best to summarize the trip in those three significant words. The Holy Spirit moved in those kiddos and He moved in me. Ask me about it. I’ve got some wild God stories.” – AUBREY LUDLOW, TEAM MEMBER
IN THEIR OWN WORDS “I really felt that God’s presence was there and was speaking to me personally. I was amazed to see God working through so many people as well.” “Your team is really amazing! It was almost like teaching became Spirit—whatever was spoken did not remain word only but became alive in us like spirit. If you talked about faith, faith began to sizzle up inside of us. Your message was especially encouraging… and life-changing. In an environment where, for eight hours a day, we are measured and pressured by the way we perform, it means so much to know that God is there just waiting for us to fall into love with Him, no matter what.” “Honestly, I was never a big fan of MEW at Dalat. The only thing I liked about these Emphasis Weeks was that I didn’t have to worry about homework or tests. I have never been to a single evening session before, and I have never regretted not going… On the first day, the main speaker talked about receiving God’s love. She told us a story of Gideon in the Bible where God called him a mighty warrior and told him that He was with him. (Then she) told us a story about how she experienced God’s presence through her hard times; her passion towards letting us know that God loves us and cares for us came through to me in a strong manner…After the morning session, I decided to come to the evening session for the first time…(The speaker’s) son gave a testimony on how he personally met Jesus and then sang a song he wrote. I really liked the line where he said, ‘All my fears have to leave, when You smile over me.’”
TEAM 2 – CURRENT FOR WOMEN F E T T E S PA R K B A P T I S T C H U R C H – A P R I L 9-16 Our second team of 9 focused on hosting a Current for Women weekend at Fettes Park Baptist Church. A group of five women from the church had banded together to pray into, organize, and promote this weekend away – the first of its kind in Penang. In fact, this little group had come to the March 2017 Current in Chiang Mai, Thailand and had gotten their internal worlds gloriously rocked by God!! One of them had written afterwards: “We went to ‘spy out’ this women’s ministry so that we could prepare for the same ministry here in Penang. We didn’t realize how God wanted to work in each of us! I can tell you every one of us was spoken to in deep, deep ways. In my own life, I received so much of His goodness and kindness....it was just really life-changing. I will never be the same!” That passion and personal encounter with God was the impetus for inviting women to attend the Current in Penang. Of the 150 women in attendance, almost every single one of them had gotten a personal invitation from one of these 5 women. And the results of this Holy Spirit momentum were obvious. Never before have we seen women “jump right in” from the moment the doors were opened at 6:00pm on Friday evening. Women – most of whom had never experienced anything like this before –
began immediately engaging with God through the reflective stations. The worship sets led by Erin and Trevor were some of the sweetest worship times we’ve personally ever experienced. And all three of the videotaped real life women’s stories and the teachings given by Jill seemed to hit a deep chord in the hearts of the women in the room. It felt like Living Water was falling on dry, thirsty ground. Women flocked to team members for prayer following each session Friday and Saturday; in fact, at one point our sound man counted 41 women lined up for prayer in front of just one of our team members. As we compared notes afterwards, we all shared a similar experience. As we laid our hands on woman after woman, God seemed to “drop” just the right thoughts and unique prayers into our hearts for each one. Tears flowed and hearts were deeply touched. One attendee said afterwards, “Thanks for taking time with each one of us. Let me assure you, you were definitely hearing God.” There is no way to fully express all that God did. Only eternity will tell the full story. But suffice it to say, we are in awe of God’s goodness and His extravagant love that flows without reservation to every open heart.
IN OUR OWN WORDS “This C4W was different than any I have ever experienced, and I have participated in almost all of them (although this was my first overseas one)! I feel like I am beginning to walk in the truest version of myself. I am ‘becoming real’. Somehow this faith and trust has worked its way deep into my soul and I actually believe for myself in deeper, truer ways what I have prayed for others. The yoke really is easy and the burden really is light. There was (first time ever for me) no comparison, no feeling of ‘less than’ on this trip. As I relaxed into my role, and stood firm in the freedom of being ‘enough’ (remembering that I am enough and He is enough for me) I connected to Father, and the team, and the women at C4W with passion and delight and love. The affection of the Father for women I came in contact with was free flowing and real.” – JEN BRISCO, TEAM MEMBER
IN THEIR OWN WORDS “I came so alive. This is what I’ve been longing for for years. A new birth of a new Living Hope.” “I heard the Lord speaking to me, answering questions that I had been thinking about the past two years. Thinking but never really asking Him. I realized I have an issue with trusting Him. Your sharing is so timely…I felt peace flooding through me. Like a weight lifted off my shoulders…He will help me build my trust in Him. He will show me that He is faithful and that He is good. I will be so rooted in Him…This has been or rather will be life transforming. It will also change the way I parent my children.” “I rededicated my life and heart to Jesus again and to my first love with God.” “I cannot put into words how deeply God moved in my heart and so many others that I have talked to – both students at Dalat and women in the community. Your music was beautiful and from the heart, your message was honest, open and profound, your art was breath-taking, your prayer times were empowering, healing and full of blessing. But even more, EVERYTHING was anointed and touched by God – He was so present!” “I met my Groom this weekend.” “I received confirmation of what God has called me into, a deeper connection with Him, and letting Him engrave His promises on my heart. My Father wants me to be me all the time. He wants to partner with me. He wants to use me for His glory. My heart is overwhelmed by His love and mercy. How can it be? God wants me!!” “Thank you so much. Words just couldn’t express fully my gratitude to you all. Not only the message spoken into my heart. To see the unity and grace among your team greatly blessed me!!”
Both teams functioned so well together, learning, in even deeper levels, how to be real with each other, support each other, flow with each other, work hard and play hard with each other. It was a TON of fun!! Amazing what happens when we relax into who God has created us to be and then add our “note” to the whole “symphony”! In his book Called to Reign, Leif Hetlund writes this: “People who have journeyed into intimacy with the Father, Son and Spirit have learned to live life like they have a home. When you get comfortable in that space, knowing that He adores and delights in you, you can just enjoy being with Him, knowing you’re doing exactly what you were created for.”
L UDL OW FAM IL Y UP DAT E S
This has been a year of big change for our family!! Besides selling the house we’ve lived in for 10 years and making the Ranch house our new home, we’ve also experienced some pretty big and exciting changes within our family unit as well!!
ERIN (AND ALEX!!!) On March 11 of this year, under the hundred-year-old oak tree in the front yard of the Ranch house, our buoyant, fiery, shining Erin Lindsey Ludlow married Alex Michael Pujol, one of the gentlest, strongest, most honorable men we’ve ever met! And the best part? He loves our daughter exceptionally and wholeheartedly!! We could not be more pleased or delighted to call him our son and we look forward to seeing them change the world through their extravagant love.
PERSONNEL CHANGES JEAN ROWLES We want to say a huge thank you to our dear friend and administrative assistant, Jean Rowles for her nearly 5 years of excellent service with Full Sail Ministries. She invested heart and soul into this ministry – organizing, supporting, ministering, loving, creating, jack-of-all-trading in whatever projects, outreaches and adventures were placed before her. It was an absolute honor and delight to work side-by-side, arm-in-arm, heart-to-heart with her and we look forward to collaborating on future outreaches. Jean left us in December to take a position at Marco Presbyterian Church in Marco Island, FL. We cheer you on, Jean, as you dream with God for the future, knowing you will continue to be a world-changer.
TREVOR After graduating on May 6, 2017 from Azusa Pacific University with his major in Music and Worship and his minor in Biblical Studies, he was immediately hired on at Radiant Church in Visalia and has worked there for the past year. On May 1 of this year, he and a close friend embarked on a journey in his 1986 VW Vanagon that landed them in Sophia, NC. There he’ll spend the next 6 months in Phase 2 of the Eighteen Inch Journey School (a heart-school devoted to a deeper dive into all the rhythms and values of living a whole-hearted and Holy Spirit-empowered life.) We believe with all our hearts that this Journey will give him the tools and experience to launch brilliantly into the future before him.
AU BR EY
U P CO M I N G I T I N E R A R Y
This girl is loving her life right now! The last year has been one of transformation as she’s discovered her true identity in the Love and Delight of a Good, Good Father. That newfound identity has been combined with a lifelong love and passion for dance. As a result, she’s begun honing her dance skills to an even greater degree through Fresno City College’s dance program and she’s dreaming big dreams for a future where the sky’s the limit. We are boisterously cheering her on!!
2018 OASIS PERSONAL DAY RETREATS July 14, 2018 August 11, 2018 October 13, 2018 November 10, 2018
ALLISON
PACIFIC ACADEMY SEW Vancouver, BC Canada: September 10-14
She graduated from high school last June and then entered her freshman year of college at Azusa Pacific University where she is a declared Art major! “Breath-taking” is the only accurate word to describe the creativity that is flowing out of her these days as her skills and passions are coming to life before our eyes. She is thrilled to have been chosen as an Alpha leader for the upcoming fall semester (a mentoring program where older students come alongside incoming Freshmen) and will be studying abroad in South Africa in the spring!!
TONTO RIM CHRISTIAN CAMP WOMEN’S RETREAT Payson, AZ: September 21-23 CARE PREGNANCY BRUNCH AND FASHION SHOW F UNDRAISER Visalia, CA: September 29
SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID by Geoff Ludlow
WO R KI N ’ O N “ T H E R AN CH ” We were thrilled when we got the call that Serve Visalia (a local event where churches work together on a Sunday morning to bless the city of Visalia by completing community service projects) had chosen the Ranch as one of the places to invest their time and resources this year. Having just “landed” in our new facility, there was much work to be done to ready the grounds for our teams to meet and train, and for us to welcome people to the many new retreats and events that will take place here. It was Lory and Nancy Bennetts’ dream that ministry would continue on these beautiful grounds. On Sunday, April 29, 100 people from 4 area churches showed up dressed in work clothes and ready with their shovels and picks and rakes and wheelbarrows... and generous hearts. In less than two hours they pulled off more projects than what we alone could have accomplished in weeks. On behalf of our staff, our teams and the hundreds of people who will use this space to meet with their Father, thank you Serve Visalia Crew! You planted seeds for many years of fruitful ministry to come. We are extremely grateful!!
There is a shift happening in my heart. In the past, when I have looked at the needs and projects before us, my first response was to look at budgets, numbers and finances, and then put together a plan to raise the funds needed. These days, it seems God is asking me to do something harder. And easier. To trust Him. Before my eyes, I am watching my Father provide for us in ways that were not on my radar. When I think I need money for a project and a bill, God has been providing in other amazing ways. When I need to hire skilled labor? Sometimes an
actual human shows up to volunteer with that skill. When I need a tool? Someone shows up and gives us one. There have been times I haven’t even started to ask or get the word out about a need before I’ll get a call from someone I hardly know offering to meet that need. Over and over again, I keep hearing my Father say to me, “I’ve got this. I‘ve got you. I’ve got your family. Let go, Geoff. Let go.” I’ve never felt so overwhelmed by the shear size of a need and, simultaneously, my Father’s ability to meet it… and His deep affection for me. He has been so kind to me. So, as I look to the future, I trust, I hope, I love, and watch my Dad provide. I am so grateful.
HOW TO GET INVOLV E D... VOLUNTEER! – Whether on one of our official “Work Days”, helping to set up for a ministry event, or just coming out to help with one of our many projects, there is always something to do! We announce “Work Days” on Facebook, but call or email us whenever you have time to give. GIVE! – During our first year on the Ranch we are learning so much about the true budgetary needs for running this beautiful place. We have buildings and property to maintain, utilities, as well as moving forward on projects that help us grow SOME PRACTICAL NEEDS into the many ministry opportunities we dream of • Complete the main house flooring - $8,000 for this land. Our monthly needs have increased significantly from a year ago. So far, our average • Air Conditioning in The Barn - $6,500 monthly electric bill alone has been about $900. We • Sound Equipment/New Keyboard - $3,000 are trusting God and inviting you to join us on this great adventure. If you would like to donate something - a tool, a vehicle, an RV or anything! - or have any questions about these or other equipment needs, email Geoff at geoff@fullsail.org or call at 559-627-8202. AS ALWAYS, DONATIONS OF ANY SIZE CAN BE MADE VIA THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE OR ONLINE AT WWW.FULLSAIL.ORG. WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT.
GEOFF + JILL LUDLOW
FULL SAIL MINISTRIES c/o Tulare County Outreach, Inc. PO Box 1772 Visalia, CA 93279-1772
Jill prays with a student following a teaching session at Dalat Int’l School in Malaysia.
Say “hello” to us at... WWW.FULLSAIL.ORG
Some highlights in this issue... • TO MALAYSIA WITH LOVE OUTREACH • WORKING ON “THE RANCH” • LUDLOW FAMILY UPDATE