A Canvas of His Creation

Volume 2, Issue 8
A Canvas of His Creation

“Nature is God’s greeting card to us.”-reads a church billboard near our apt. We have passed this billboard several times, only NOW to really grasp its meaning. We just returned from 3 weeks in Colorado. The first two weeks were for the every other summer Campus Crusade U.S. Staff Conference in Ft. Collins, CO. The last week we took our very first vacation as Mr. and Mrs.! What an adventure driving over 3,600 miles! The 500 photos capture only a portion of all we saw!

In our last newsletter we shared our roles at the conference and how it would be a hectic two weeks. We want to share with you what God poured into us during these weeks. The worship was POWERFUL and moving. (It’s not that often you are in a gymnasium with 5,000 people who love Jesus singing Praise songs.) Guest speakers included Chip Ingram (Walk Thru the Bible), Women of Faith Speakers, and Dan Allender (Author and speaker).

The timing of this conference was truly a Godsend. A time to step out of the day to day grind, to serve, to be in fellowship with others, and in the beauty of the majestic Colorado Mountains.

Some key points/ reminders that have an impression on us:
-If God isn't working in me, how will he work through me?
-Trusting God…when things don’t make sense (John 11:1-48)
-The extent of His power available to us. We must choose/claim it.
-Faith rests not on what I feel but on what GOD says.
-I can face the truth because I have a greater truth.

What struck us about this trip was God SHOWING us His character. Leslie is a visual person/learner, so she LOVES pictures: the stillness of the night while camping in Estes Park, (it rained both nights, but God protected us- staying dry); the colorful arch of a rainbow after a rain storm in the mountains; standing atop Horsetooth Mountain in Ft Collins viewing miles of His creation (see photos on rt.); the detailed carving of Mount Rushmore. There is so much to see and yet we only saw a small portion! To think, God already knows even before we are born, the details of our lives, the things we will do, every masterful detail is thought out. His creativity sparks a sense of “AH, amazing, what a big God we have!”

God had so much to show us just by “being still” taking in the scenery. In the midst of chaos, go-go do-do, schedules, analyzing…He gave us rest. How we all need that! It was funny while driving in the Black Hills of South Dakota we saw a real street sign that said “BE STILL RD!” God certainly does have a sense of humor!

Prayer Requests:

• Praise for safe travel to and from Colorado (July 12—August 5)
• We would continue to walk in God’s Power as we raise the remaining 25% of our support.

Be Still and Know that I am God.
Psalm 46:10

For more snapshots of His Creation, visit our post prior to this or at:
http://rebholz.blogspot.com/2007/08/gods-creation-in-photos-ft-collins-co.html

God's Creation in Photos

God's Creation in Photos

Ft Collins, CO
Estes Park, CO
Colorado Springs, CORapid City, SD

You can see more photos from our recent trip to Colorado and home by clicking the picture below:

Colorado Trip 2007

Keynote's Summer Project ends on a good note!

Volume 2, Issue 7
Keynote’s Summer Project ends on a good note!

These stats include all 5 summer project bands that traveled.
1. 22,000 miles traveled!
2. 57 shows!
3. 5815 people exposed to the gospel!
4. 1065 people lead in worship!
5. 248 people indicating decisions for Christ!
The evening of July 2nd marked the closing night of Keynote’s 13th Annual Summer Project for the students who participated. We heard personal testimonies from the students as to how this experience has changed and affected their lives.
We wanted to share with you some of what was shared of the students hearts. How incredible to be a part of not only sharing the Gospel through band concerts but even in lives of the next generation of believers of Jesus Christ. “Blessed, broken and giving” was the reoccurring theme through the testimonies. Now to think these students will return to their college campuses this fall more empowered to share the Gospel, having grown spiritually, and desire to serve. It has been said that Keynote’s summer project is as intense as that of a “spiritual greenhouse.”

Student testimonies:
I have joy showing people how to fall out of love with the world and in love with Christ.
There is so much to do throughout the world and yet there is much right here in our country.
I gave up my summer because God gave up so much MORE!

Campus Crusade US Staff Conference
Every two summers, all of the missionary staff of Campus Crusade head to the campus of Colorado State University in Ft Collins, CO for our US Staff Conference. In our experience, there is nothing like having 5,000 Campus Crusade staff together for this conference. Keynote serves a unique role at the conference by providing worship teams for the various ministries that meet just prior to the all staff conference and then by providing the worship team for the staff conference itself as well as other support roles. It promises to be a busy few weeks for us as we leave for Colorado on July 12. Mike will serve by running sound for one of the worship teams as well as serving on the MediaShout team (a program similar to PowerPoint). Leslie will serve on the encouragement team which helps to take care of and encourage the busy Keynote staff. There will be close to 100 Keynote staff who will be busy throughout much of the conference and Leslie will have an opportunity to minister to their needs.

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Pray for safe travel to and from Colorado (July 12—August 5)
Pray that we can honor God through our service at the US Staff Conference
Pray for the 248 individuals who received Christ through our summer project—that they would grow in their faith and get plugged into a local church.

True faith does not so much attempt to manipulate God to do our will as it does to position us to do his will.
-Philip Yancey

Keynote's Summer Project Dress Rehearsals

Keynote's Summer Project Dress Rehearsals - June 11-13

Keynote's summer project bands are getting ready for their debuts. Each band has been preparing for weeks to be ready to go out on their two week tours. Each band will have a dress rehearsal in front of an audience so they can tweak any last minute things that need to be chagned and to encourage them in the process they have been going through.

We have a total of five bands this year. The dress rehearsals will be Monday June 11, Tuesday June 12, and Wednesday June 13. There will be two bands on the first two nights and one band on the last.

The concerts will be held on separate stages in Keynote's new Rehearsal Building located at:
18880 N East St, Westfield, IN 46074
(for a map, just click the above address)

Here is the schedule:

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Monday June 11
6:45 PM

Acoustic Rock

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8:30 PM

Modern Rock

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Tuesday June 12
6:45 PM


Rock/Pop

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8:30 PM
Praise & Worship

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Wednesday June 13
6:45 PM

Urban Gospel

Coffeehouse at Keynote - June 8

Coffeehouse at Keynote - June 8

Every summer, Keynote hosts college students to participate in our summer project. One of the things we do is every Friday evening we host the "Holy Grounds" coffeehouse. This is an opportunity to showcase one of our full-time Keynote groups as well as give the students an opportunity to show off their individual talents. Our second coffeehouse will be this Friday (June 8) at 7:00 PM.

If you are local to Indy and are interested in attending, please let us know and we will meet up with you. There will only be two bands performing this Friday. It will be Chasing Elvis an acoustic funk band and The Boyd Family Band a high-powered worship band. The location is Keynote's new rehearsal building located at 18880 N East St, Westfield, IN 46074

What is Summer Project?

Volume 2 - Issue 6
WHAT IS SUMMER PROJECT?
Every summer Keynote hosts what we call “Summer Project”. This is an opportunity for our ministry to build directly into the lives of students where as during most of the year, we serve in the capacity of outreach.
Summer Project quick view:
WHO: 40-50 college students from all over
WHAT: use their skills and talents (I.e.: Musical, Administrative) in a band or the office. They are trained in sharing the Gospel message from stage, ministry skills, musicianship, band rehearsal, and discipled one on one.
WHEN: mid May– June (7 weeks)- the last two weeks of the project the bands tour presenting evangelistic concerts.
WHERE: Keynote Headquarters– Westfield, IN
WHY (mission/values): Create an atmosphere of Life Change, Spiritual Growth, Lifelong friendships, Building into the leaders of tomorrow/ future, Personal Development, Faith/ Spirit -Filled life, Missions Mindset
The Keynote STAFF: Direct bands, play in the band, tour manager, communication coaches, lead Bible studies, Disciple the students one on one, teach classes, book concerts, logistics



Bands comprised of students and staff:

Rock/Pop

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Acoustic Rock

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"Infinite Impact" Urban Gospel

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Modern Rock

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Praise & Worship

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Recipe for a killer cookie--I mean tour.
ALL booked tours to remain intact
Tires (on the traveling vehicle) that stay filled with air
A ton of fabulous conversations with those in the audience
?#% (a lot of) People come to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior at the concerts

Prayer Requests:

• Pray that in the midst of our support raising that we would keep our eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:2).
• Pray that the summer project bands would have killer tours (see above for what a killer tour is)

God is better than anything life can give us and is better than anything death can take away.
-Tim Keller

To see the tour schedules of the summer project bands, please go to: http://www.keynote.org/summerproject/

CORRECTION:Coffeehouse at Keynote

CORRECTION:Coffeehouse at Keynote
Every summer, Keynote hosts college students to participate in our summer project. One of the things we do is every Friday evening we host the "Holy Grounds" coffeehouse. This is an opportunity to showcase one of our full-time Keynote groups as well as give the students an opportunity to show off their individual talents. Our second coffeehouse will be this Friday (June 1) at 7:00 PM. If you are local to Indy and are interested in attending, please let us know and we will meet up with you.

Unlike previously stated, there will only be one band performing this Friday. It will be Giants of Silence, Keynote's aggressive rock band. The location is Keynote's new rehearsal building located at 18880 N East St, Westfield, IN 46074

Coffeehouse at Keynote

Coffeehouse at Keynote
Every summer, Keynote hosts college students to participate in our summer project. One of the things we do is every Friday evening we host the "Holy Grounds" coffeehouse. This is an opportunity to showcase one of our full-time Keynote groups as well as give the students an opportunity to show off their individual talents. Our first coffeehouse will be this Friday (May 25) at 7:00 PM. See details in the image below. If you are local to Indy and are interested in attending, please let us know and we will meet up with you. The band this Friday is blue sky nine

Imprisoned Yet Free

Volume 2, Issue 5
Imprisoned Yet Free

“It was obvious that even though they are in prison, some of those women are truly free. And the impact was not just one way. It was a powerful experience for the band personally.” Recalls blue sky nine band director Amy Snow. Recently, this band played a concert at a local (Indy) women’s prison.

There were about 200 women (prisoners) there, and they absolutely loved the concert. When Laura (the lead singer) shared her story, the women were really listening intently…some were in tears. After she shared the first part of her story about her dad dying just 7 months ago and started singing “Heal Over”, several women stood…it was such an incredible show of support. (that’s never happened anywhere else the band has played). Within a few seconds everyone was standing!

There were quite a few women who already have a personal relationship with Christ there…women who are truly free though behind bars. The band prayed for more true freedom for these women. And they claimed the promise that God’s Word never returns void. The women were so receptive they really wanted the band to come back and play outside so everyone would come. That’s in the works. The host who brought blue sky nine in plans to e-mail all the prisons in Indiana about them and encourage them to contact Keynote.


Another band member, Lindsay had a woman approach her and ask “Aren’t you uncomfortable being here?” Lindsay had the opportunity to extend God’s mighty grace and share how we all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Lindsay was really humbled by that conversation, realizing that she and this inmate were both “guilty” before God…without Christ we all are.



Keynote Leadership Team cuts the ribbon for dedicating the newly completed rehearsal building.








Leslie stands inside the 22,000 square feet building where Keynote‘s bands will practice, our recording studio is, and a where future concerts and outreaches will be held.







Two years ago Mike and Leslie had their first date the day after she did the Indy mini-marathon. This year Mike was there to be her personal cheerleader.







Prayer Requests:

• We would continue to live by faith and not by sight. Having confidence in HIM who is enough. (Hebrews 11:1)
• Praise: building is up and ready for Summer Project Students arriving next week.
• Pray for the safe arrival of students participating in Summer Project beginning May 17th.

No one is beyond his grace. No situation, anywhere on earth, is too hard for God. - Jim Cymbala