New Podcast
A new messages from Ardy titled "Signs of Spiritual Decline" is online!
New Podcast
A new messages from Tim St. Clair titled "The Purpose of God in Suffering" is online!
New Podcast
A new messages from Ardy titled "Motives Matter" is online!
Zambia Trip Photos
Click here to see photos from ERM's recent missions trip to Zambia.
Zambia Missions Trip Report
Click on the following link to read a report from ERM's recent missions trip to Zambia:www.encounterrevival.org/zambia-missions-trip-report. Photos from the trip will be posted soon!
Checkout Ardy's New Blog
The founder and director of Encounter Revival Ministries, Ardy Parlin, has launched his blog entitled Practical Pointers for Life. You can read the first installment by going to www.encounterrevival.org/ardys-blog/. Our prayer is that you will be encouraged and challenged to live out the truths of God's Word as you interact with the blog.
Factoryville Bible Church
Factoryville—home church of Ardy Parlin, and home to native Hannah Foster—was a church the team will not easily forget. Services this week at Factoryville were such a blessing. Despite a flu-bug that threatened to get around the team, it was a joy to do dramas and sing onstage for the church family. Each day was a blessing from the Lord. We enjoyed the beautiful weather by spending time in recreation outside on the grounds of the church and Camp Elvin. God used the services both in the sanctuary and the classrooms holding the teen and children's meetings to challenge and encourage hearts.The Lord was truly in control of the events, and his presence was sweet. What a great time to enjoy both the creation of God and His work amongst His people!
Shelby Bible Church
Shelby Bible Church once again proved to be an amazing opportunity for ministry for the team, with receptive hearts and joy-filled faces ready to meet each us each night as service began.It was great to be among friends once again as well as family; Joe and Tonya welcomed Jean and Ardy—and the rest of us—and Drew and Ella were thrilled to have their grandparents back again. This week the team had a good time getting caught up on class work, with each day filled with notes on subjects such as Life Management, The Disciplined Life, On Being a Servant of God, and others. Updates on ministry in India and Africa were received daily, the information always a blessing to the team and staff. Continue to keep both ministries in prayer as they experience difficulties far and beyond what we in the states could ever experience. Their needs are great, and we trust God to provide through His people. One highlight of the week was to hear the speeches that the team members gave relating the reasons why someone should support an orphan. So many of the speeches caused us to realize once again the desperate need for help in India and how important it is to obey the commands in scripture to care for the orphans and widows of the world. Hearts were poured out for the cause of 2,300 children in need of much support. Even the team members who had not previously been to India caught the fire of importance that gathering support for those precious children really is. By the end of the speeches, there was a resounding thought that none of us could escape, and team member Tim Golden put it very eloquently: "The question is not, 'Should I support an orphan?', the question is, 'How many orphans should I support?'" More information for supporting an orphan yourself can be found on our website. Another great privilege of the team was to hear the testimony of Pastor Casey during one of our morning class sessions. What an encouragement and challenge his words were, and I am sure we will not soon forget his story and advice. It was a true blessing to glimpse his heart both for Christ and for the people he ministers to through the lens of his life. We praise God for the awesome meetings every night, as each night the attendance was encouraging, and the response of the people was warm. It was great to see the church family worship and listen, and to hear their laughter and “Amen” to the teaching. The services continued in Kid's Club and teen club, and it was great to be able to share a little in the lives of the youth in the church as well the adults. We pray for the continued work of God in Shelby, that his presence might always be as sweet. click on the following link to see photos from Shelby: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/shelby-bible/[/url]
Calvary Union Church
Indiana—Cornfields sweep past in harvest yellows and browns, the sky dotted with clouds fluffy enough to sleep on. Native team members Amelio Lopez, Matt Moon and Jessica Witvoet were ecstatic to see their home state again; they know the scenery all too well. What an amazing joy to be coming home—not just for native team members, but for us all. Before we could even get off the bus, we were surprised by Encounter Alumni Jonathan Villanueva and Ethan Sherer standing by the side of the road to meet us! What an awesome treat! It was truly a joy to see our brothers once again and have a few days to spend with them catching up, fellowshipping and worshiping. It reminded us—especially for the second year team members—of what an awesome privilege it is to be on the team, and what amazing relationships God allows us to develop while we are here. On the first night, the team had a great time fellowshipping with the church family at a harvest party—with great food (we can't escape it!) and a good concert from a duet named Crossway. The night capped off with a hayride in the semi-darkness to showcase the stars. What an awesome, fun time! The team girls were excited to make their annual visit to the Stow house for an awesome afternoon with Tiffany—some enjoyable girl time and relaxation was had by all, the good times continued by a girl's sleepover on Thursday night with some great girls from the youth group. Tiffany—we love you so much, and are praying for you as God continues to draw you ever closer and closer to Himself. Girls—it was great to hang out with and get to know you—we praise God for you and hope his work continues to thrive in your lives each and every day! A week in Walton, Indiana, how can it be described? Maybe it is the sound of the wind, or the brilliant Indiana sunrises. Perhaps to get a glimpse, you would have to stand in the sanctuary and realize you can hear people all over the building talking, laughing, studying, and singing. Perhaps it is walking by Kevin and Toni Price with one of our team members, knowing they are having a great conversation. Maybe it is coming down to lunch or class and seeing any given member of the Stow family serving, talking, counseling, teaching and otherwise blessing them team. Better yet, perhaps it is hearing dear Merlin interject on Pastor Stow yet again, or seeing the love in his eyes for us all. Perhaps it is the easy laughter and responsive nature of the church family to dramas, songs and sign language. Whatever it is, we know it was a great week! Hearts were touched, lives were changed—congratulations to our new brother in Christ, Jimmy!—and what an honor it was to attempt in our feeble human bodies to honor our Lord and Savior. click on the following link to see photos from Calvary: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/calvary-union/[/url]
Rochester, New York
"Ready…Set…Go!" You could almost hear those words as the team bus pulled into First Bible of Rochester, New York. The excitement for the awesome opportunity of ministry with both the church in school was definitely tangible from the very first moment. If asked, each team member would give you a bright, slow smile and pleasant look when asked about the week. Our time in Rochester was jam-packed with amazing ministry opportunities and fun events. From ministering onstage at First Bible on Sunday for their large, enthusiastic crowd during the services to pulling out to head to Indiana Friday afternoon, the week was a blast, and we will all miss it—and the dear people—very much. Sunday began our ministry in Rochester, worshipping in the sanctuary and then heading off to the Cove with the teens for service. What a blessing to be able to share in small groups with the teens and get to know some of the youth group personally for those brief but sweet moments. The following day brought an adventure for the team—school was out, so we took the opportunity to visit the beautiful Niagara Falls, a sight that one can only leave in awe of the mighty Creator. A great picnic lunch on the grounds amidst the beautiful fall foliage with the distant rumbling and mist around us capped the day off beautifully. Our God truly is amazing in all that He does and has done! Wednesday night we again had the opportunity to minister to the church body of First Bible, and it is always a blessing to see them and worship with them. It was also an amazing thing for the team to be able to do sign language in this church, as First Bible has a great ministry to the deaf. It was amazing to watch their interpreters sign—and to sign ourselves—for the songs and services so that the deaf and hard of hearing have the opportunity to see the messages presented. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday the team at the awesome privilege to get involved at Northstar Christian Academy, holding chapels in the morning with the high school students and on Wednesday and Thursday holding chapel for the elementary youngsters. It was great to get in touch with the students there—some of the team members had the joy of getting in touch again with those kids they had been small group leaders to the previous year or had the pleasure of having in the cabins over the summer. Each day was filled with worship, drama, and the Word of God preached by Tim and Ardy. Each night during the week, the team once again made short trek back to First Bible, where nightly Bible studies were held with the teens that came out each night. It was great to study the Word with them and have praise and worship each evening, not to mention hold bits of friendly competition each night between teams themed by countries where the church supports missionaries. Thursday night the team had an amazing, fun and faith filled evening at Northstar where they helped to host a youth event where teens had the opportunity to both have a great time and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. The event was held Olympic style, with each team participating in events to win points that eventually decided which team's missionary would receive a financial gift provided by the event. It was awesome to be involved in such an exciting, rewarding activity. Overall, Rochester once again stole our hearts, and as we pulled away we breathed a sigh—or maybe a yawn… but it was the yawn of the good kind of tired that people in ministry know, the tired that is a blessing and encouragement to feel—that perhaps because of your efforts Christ could impact and change lives, touch hearts and free minds. Rochester—God bless you, as you have blessed us. click on the following link to see photos from Rochester: [url]http://www.encounterrevival.org/first-bible-baptist/[/url]
