Although there has been a virus that has affected most of the trainees and saints here in Airdrie, the Lord is sweeter now than He was before. We thought we came here to shepherd, but instead, we have been shepherded. The Lord sovereignly brought us all into a very sweet mutual shepherding with the saints here. We feel connected, blended, and one with the saints in Airdrie after just one week!

Friday, January 31st after our truth pursuit, we went to the University of Calgary to support the Bible study with the college students. In the evening, we had very sweet fellowship with the saints in the home meetings. On Saturday, we had another perfecting time for the college students. After this time, the college students were really encouraged and excited to come visit us in the training this spring. Saturday evening, we went to a home for the second young people’s meeting in Airdrie. The burden for this time was to encourage the young people to serve and function in the church life, specifically with the children. On Lord’s Day, before our table meeting in the afternoon, there was a special fellowship with the sisters in Airdrie at 9am about serving in the church life. We must be like Martha who served practically, but we must also be like Mary who loved unreservedly. Our service to the Lord and our love for him must be in and through His resurrection life. We need to be a Martha-Mary-Lazarus people.

On Monday, we distributed 11 Bibles at the University of Calgary and had two appointments with college students at Ambrose University. Monday evening we had a sweet time visiting saints in their homes and spending time with their young people. We really feel this time was sovereignly arranged. On one of the car rides, the young people opened up to us and asked us to pray for their going on despite their struggles in the church life. May the Lord bless and keep each young person in Airdrie!

Prayer Burdens:

• The last two days of Bible distributions and appointments at the universities in Calgary (Ambrose, University of Calgary, and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)
• The strengthening of the church life in Airdrie and for the going on of all the young people.
• Our visit to the church in Lethbridge from February 6-9.

February 2

Before the table meeting, there was a time for coordination between the trainees and local saints to hand over new contacts to the local saints for follow up and care. Following this was a very sweet table meeting and prophesying time where many trainees and saints overflowed their enjoyment from being on campus during the week.

After the meeting, one group of trainees and saints went to Punxsutawney, PA to visit a contact who was connected to saints in Fullerton, CA. Another group of trainees and saints went sightseeing in downtown Pittsburgh. At the end of the day, there was dinner and about an hour of singing in a family’s home, and the time was also characterized by prayer and fellowship for the Lord to gain more ground in Pittsburgh.

February 3

Monday morning consisted of prayer, fellowship, and coordination, followed by travelling to campus for second or third appointments with students from Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh. In one appointment, we read a chapter in Colossians with one student from UPitt and are planning to meet again next Monday before the end of the gospel trip.

Prayer Burdens:

• Pray for the health of the team as more trainees and local saints are feeling ill.
• Please pray for our time in West Virginia over the next four days, including time with the local saints, as well as our time on the two campuses in Morgantown.

January 31

Today was our last day of distribution at both Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh.

Statistics:

• Tracts: 825
• Bibles: 47
• Contacted: 52

In the evening, we held two Bible studies, one on each campus, with one new one at each Bible study.

February 1

Today, we held our Bible seminars on both the Carnegie Mellon and University of Pittsburgh campuses. These Bible seminars were the main events we all had been working toward. Three new ones attended the Carnegie Mellon seminar and two new ones attended the Pitt seminar.

In the afternoon, we went on a tour of a famous Television/Radio studio in Pittsburgh. A brother here in Pittsburgh arranged the tour after our Bible seminars. At the end, we gave the Director of Engineering (also our tour guide) and a local radio show host, who joined us briefly, each a free Bible and the Basic Elements of the Christian Life. In the evening, we all had dinner together at a local family’s home.

Prayer Burdens:

• Pray for the health of the team as more and more trainees and local saints are feeling ill.
• Pray that for our fruit bearing and that they would be remaining fruit.

Sunday (2/2/20)

The Lord’s Table meeting included the saints from Fort Lauderdale and a couple of brothers visiting from Vancouver, Canada. It was also exciting to see one of the new ones who came to the home meeting on Friday night come to the Lord’s Table. He met a sister at a local Walgreens earlier this week and prayed to meet with believers outside of religion. After having a wonderful time Friday night, he was invited to join the Lord’s Table meeting at the meeting place in Apopka, Florida. The meeting hall happened to be located only 5 minutes from his house. Praise the Lord for His perfect arrangement!

The new one who came to the Lord’s table introduced himself and said he had been enjoying it so much and is thankful to be with the Body of Christ. He stayed for the love feast that followed. Afterwards, the trainees spent some time bonding as a team exploring Orlando. We arrived at Gainesville at night and spent some time with students and local saints.

Prayer Burdens:

• Pray for this new brother to continue enjoying the Lord with the Body.

Saturday, February 1

Today we gathered with the local saints for a time of singing and prayer before a community outreach time in the neighborhoods next to the University of Minneapolis St. Paul campus. We enjoyed Hymn 920, that the Lord would sound out the trumpet-call and He would be proclaimed as Lord of all in our going door-to-door. About 26 of us were together, 10 trainees and 16 local saints from the churches in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park, not including a few children who joined for the time. We split up into 9 teams to go down 9 different streets in that area. We gave out Basic Elements of a Christian Life and flyers with the LSM Christian radio website and the church’s email address for people to reach out if interested. Many of the homes were student houses. We had a number of good conversations, including one that was looking for a church and open to coming to the Lord’s day meeting tomorrow. Many of the saints were encouraged by the time and were excited to go out on the gospel, which the church has been aiming to do together once a month.

In the evening we split into several groups. A few trainees joined two different Chinese-speaking home meetings. Most of the trainees stayed at the campus house for a revival meeting with some local saints. The goal was to invite and encourage saints who have not been to meetings in a while and enjoy the Lord with them.

Statistics:

• Flyers/Door-hangers: 169
• Tracts: 19
• Contacts: 30
• Bibles given: 16
• Regular appointment: 1

Lord’s Day, February 2

For the table meeting, we got to blend with the churches in Minneapolis and Brooklyn Park. The saints shared on “Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ as the Good Land - our Allotted Portion.” Afterward, we had a love feast at the church in Minneapolis and the saints in Brooklyn Park gathered together at a local restaurant with the trainees. The saints joined us for some fun afternoon activities and for dinner.