Florida Public High School Retreat
Tomorrow I am off to Florida to speak at the annual High School Bible Conference. I solicit your prayers for my health as I have been battling a cold and sinus virus for over 10 days and just started antibiotics yesterday. But more important than prayers for me are the prayers for those who will be attending. Here is a message sent out by the organizer of the event:
Hello My Friends,
In one way or another you have helped shaped and will help shape this year’s retreat. For the past 8 years
I’ve had the privilege to lead an outstanding group of volunteers. This year is no exception. I consider
you guys the greatest. I trust that God will use you in a mighty way this weekend.
There are almost 500 youth coming and over 600 in total with sponsors, guests, and staff. This is our
biggest High School Student Bible Retreat ever. I expected less because of the economy and I’ve turned
away over a hundred more.
I believe God will do great things...last year over 30 young people were baptized. That may not happen
this year. It all depends in what journey each young person is in...however, pray that God’s Spirit will
fall upon us in such away that hearts are reformed in turned to Jesus this weekend.
I’ve attached a schedule for your convenience...Thank you so much
for your ministry and work with our youth this weekend.
May God bless you and your family and keep you close to His Heart…
Impassioned by God’s Grace,
Juan M. Rodriguez
High School Student Bible Retreat Team Leader
Posted by matthew gamble on October 08, 2008 at 07:59 AM
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Hey Man,
Posted by Jesse on October 08, 2008 at 11:21 AM | #I prayed for the trip. I believe that if you are ill at the camp that the kids will benefit. There is a lesson for them to learn by seeing your example. Our physical comfort comes much further down from top priority on this earth (not our home)Gods work is NUMBER ONE! Don’t let ANYTHING get in the way of a powerfully delivered message. Even torture and death, let alone a sore throat.
...I know something of infected sinuses, it’s awful & to use your words ‘It is of the devil.
I hear what Jesse’s saying but there’s no point in
doin’ a James White & working yourself into an early grave.
Apparently when people would come to Martin Luther
asking whether they should do ‘this’ or ‘that’,he’d just reply “YES” & explain that if they’d laid it
out before God in prayer & were walking in step with His Spirit, then whatever they chose would line
up with His purposes...a bit like Ps.131
where it say’s “ I don’t fret & worry about stuff
I don’t get. I make myself chill out. I’m like
a weaned baby whose not screaming & crying for the mother to get something for it
but just wants the mother....to be…
with the mother,.. just like you told us at Brisbane camp."[my version]
Sorry man, this is your blog not mine.
Posted by JONO on October 08, 2008 at 10:45 PM | #Hope you feel better & can get there....you
know there’s a lot people prayin’ for you
who’ve got your back covered.
Thank you guys for the prayer and encouragement. I am heading out to catch the flight down in an hour or so.
I will keep you posted.
Courage,
mwg
Posted by matthew gamble on October 09, 2008 at 05:14 AM | #Thank you for coming all the way to Florida to share with us a message from God. We had many complications on our journey to Kulaqua, a 3 hour drive took us 5 1/2 hours, but we were so blessed it was worth every second in the car. We brought 15 youth from our church. (there were over 600 in attendance) We had many wonderful conversations with them in group time about what they were learning and how they were feeling, and I want you to know that they get it. We even had one young man tell us that God is calling him into the ministry.
As for the Adults/counselors in attendance - you got us thinking too. Some of your words hit hard. God’s speaking to me.
and like the “I Am God” song by Kirk Franklin that they did the sign language to says
“I feel like I’m in surgery
Still you cut deeper…
Somethings I don’t want to change
So you keep begging me
It’s like I’m fighting for my life
You hit me with another right
I feel like Jacob in the night
Won’t stop ‘til you bless me “
Oh and wasn’t the music awesome. Praise God for the talent we have in our church! We are taking our youth to see the sign language group in Miami on Nov 22.
Anyway - Thank you. God is using you. I am praying for you daily now. (and so is my mom!)
Posted by Marty on October 13, 2008 at 04:36 PM | #Oh I almost forgot
Thank you also for taking the time to let two of my girls have a picture taken with you. It really meant a lot to them.
If not sooner - meet you in the back of heaven.
Posted by Marty on October 13, 2008 at 04:41 PM | #Greetings Marty!
Thank you for your post. What a blessed weekend it was. And YES the music and sign language group from Miami was off the chart! I actually contacted their pastor to tell them how blessed we all were.
That is a powerful song by Kirk Franklin. I can totally relate. It is a battle that we are facing.
Courage and do keep in touch!
mwg
Posted by matthew gamble on October 16, 2008 at 06:30 AM | #I just wanted to say a few words about the Bible Conference while I’ve got them in my head.
Mr. Gamble, it was truly a blessing hearing you speak over the weekend, and I know all of the people from my group that I talked to feel the same.
I totally agree about the music, I can only imagine how powerful your speakings would be with the addition of that musical group traveling with you, like you said. They were a true blessing, as were you.
Thanks again, and who knows...maybe you’ll be there next year. I plan to be there as a sponsor, now that I’ll be 19 at the time.
~Joel
Posted by Joel Ellison on October 20, 2008 at 06:55 PM | #Page 1 of 1 pages