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

Our friend Emily

Our friend Emily
We want to introduce you to Emily Davis. Emily is one of the missionaries that Leslie and I support. Emily has a dance ministry through Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.).

A couple of weeks ago, I got the opportunity to go to an event that Emily was involved in putting on. Emily was working with the Central Indiana Crisis Pregnancy Center. She had choreographed a dance presentation that has been taken into local schools to promote abstinence. The night I participated, the group had done an assembly during the day at a local high school and promoted an event that evening. The event partnered with Keynote by having one of our bands, "Chasing Elvis" come and perform.

The evening began with Chasing Elvis performing some songs and then "Breakdown" (the dance presentation) did their presentation. Following that, Matt Giovanni who is a football player from the Super Bowl champions, Indianapolis Colts, gave his testimony of how he came to place his faith and trust in Jesus Christ.

The band closed out the night with a few more songs. There were probably about 100 people in attendance at the event and we just heard that five people received Christ as a result of the event. It was a great event as it combined both Keynote and Emily's ministry that we support!

Virginia Tech - Campus Crusade Student

Virginia Tech - Campus Crusade Student who discovered first body talks to media

Molly Donohue is a freshman who is involved with Campus Crusade at Virginia Tech. She lived next door to the first victim of Mondays’ shootings. You can now view Molly’s interviews with the National Media online.

Watch Molly's Story

Interview with CBS

Molly’s Interview with ABC News - mentions her involvement in a Christian Bible study group

Also read Molly’s story as told by Tony Arnold, Media Relation’s Director with the Campus Ministry.

{Courtesy of Campus Crusade's official Virginia Tech Response blog}

Update: Campus Crusade at Virginia Tech

UPDATE: Campus Crusade at Virginia Tech

Here is an update from the post earlier about Campus Crusade at VT.

17.Apr.2007, 10:39 p.m. EST

By Dave Broadwell, staff member at Virginia Tech

We thought we’d send another update from Blacksburg--today has been much more quiet than yesterday, with the focus being on the convocation that took place at 2 p.m. where President Bush and the Virginia Governor spoke, and then also finding out who are actually amongst those killed yesterday.

An official list still has not been completely released, but by word of mouth and through other sources, here is how our students were touched by this tragedy:

4 students who were involved with Cru at Virginia Tech were killed in the classroom shootings.

The student who found the 2 bodies in the dorm room shooting was a student involved with Cru .

We have a student who was one of only 2 to be able to walk out of his classroom without being shot. As you can imagine, he is very shaken up after witnessing what he did.

We are trying to gather our students together in groups to help them talk this out, pray, cry, anything that will help them process what they are going through.

Classes have been cancelled here for the entire week, so some students may head home, but some may stay in order to be with friends who are going through this common experience.

How You Can Pray

We would ask that you would pray that students don’t isolate themselves. In times like this, it is a natural thing to try to do, but it is not helpful for them in the long run.

Please pray that they talk things through with their friends. Pray also for our staff--they are doing pretty well given the circumstances, but they are tired emotionally and physically.

Pray also for wisdom with dealing with the media--they are swarming any student who saw anything, and it may not be the best for students to get put in the spotlight right now.

Pray for my wife Susan--she will be interviewed by a Cleveland TV station at some point on Wednesday, as they heard we have an Ohio connection.

Lastly, pray for our kids and the other children of Blacksburg. They were out of school today and will be tomorrow, and there were several professors who were parents who were killed or injured.

{Info courtesy of Campus Crusade Staff Web}

Virginia Tech Tragedy - Resources to Help

Virginia Tech Tragedy - Resources to Help

LeaderU.com (A ministry of Christian Leadership Ministries of Campus Crusade) has put together some articles that can help deal with some of the feelings that are being generated as a result of the tragedy at Virginia Tech.

The articles include:
The Problem of Evil by Rick Rood
Why Would a Loving God Allow Pain and Suffering? by Jay Lynch, M.D.
The Glory of His Discontent: The Inconsolable Suffering of God by Don Hudson, Mars Hill Forum
When the Good Guys Don't Win by Rusty Wright

These articles and more can be found at:
http://www.leaderu.com/focus/schoolviolence.html

Campus Crusade at Virginia Tech

Campus Crusade at Virginia Tech

The shootings that took place on the campus of Virginia Tech are throughout the news. Campus Crusade for Christ has a staff team that ministers on that campus. Keynote has had a band play just outside the dorm where the initial shooting happened.

Here are some excerpts from information from Dave Broadwell, on behalf of the Virginia Tech Campus Crusade staff team:

All of our staff members are OK. We were together for our Monday morning staff meeting when the shootings happened.

We had a prayer meeting Monday night for our students and the students of some other organizations. Most students are shocked and numb at this point, not sure what to think and feel. I feel the same way.

We know of at least 2 of our students who are not accounted for at this point, as well as 1 who was killed who had come to our meetings.

All of this information is coming through the network of students, as no names have been officially released yet (until after the families are notified--most likely Tuesday). I think that is the hardest part--the waiting--not really knowing who has been touched by this tragedy.

Our staff team is spending the day in the Cru office Tuesday--making ourselves available to pray with and/or counsel students.

We will take a break to attend the university-wide convocation at 2 p.m. where the Virginia governor is slated to speak.

We are gathering at noon on Wednesday to pray with other Christian groups on the drillfield--a very central place on campus.

Please pray that amidst it all that the Lord would be glorified, families would be comforted and students would grieve appropriately. I have a feeling no one is going to know how to move on from here.

{Excerpts courtesy of the Campus Crusade Staff Web}

Death: Reality Check

Volume 2 - Issue 4
Death: Reality Check


On Sunday April 1, 2007, I (Mike) lost one of my best friends, Joe Murphy who was 34 years old. He was diagnosed with a rare cancer called “Leiomyosarcoma” (4 out of 1,000,000 people). Joe was a groomsman at our wedding just seven and a half months before his death. At the time of our wedding, he didn’t even know about the cancer.


Joe is the first person in my age group that I have been personally a part of his life at his death. This gave me a new perspective and urgency for ministry. I think too often in my life, I take for granted that there is always tomorrow.

According to “The World Factbook” put out by the CIA, just over 150,000 people die each day in this world. The world might say that Joe’s life was cut short. The reality is that God has a timeline for us all. We just don’t know how long or short that timeline is.

Joe grew up in the church and knew what it meant to be a Christian. But faced with his death, I began to wonder, how many of the other 150,000 that day
didn’t know what it meant to be a Christian? I wept over Joe’s death. But do I weep for those who don’t know Christ? I don’t think I have ever wept over those who have never received Christ as their Lord and Savior. We are all guaranteed that we will die and we each face this decision.

I have a passion to reach the lost of this world, and with Joe’s death, that passion has become more exposed and has evoked a greater urgency.

The question now becomes, “What do I do with this?” My desire is to be involved in people's lives and to see that they know Christ. When Leslie and I report to Keynote, we will get the opportunity to prepare our staff to do that. In our own personal lives, we desire to build relationships to be able to share through our lives and our words, what it means to be a Christian.


Meet our department teams
Mike and Leslie’s role will be to serve in the Keynote office once they have all their monthly funds raised. They will support the activities and administration of Keynote’s evangelistic artists who partner with strategic ministries to see that people are won to Christ, built up in their faith, and sent out to do the same.




Mike will serve in the Human Resource Department/team.










Leslie will serve in the Staff Development Department/team.







Prayer Requests:

• Pray that we would seize every opportunity to share Christ with people in our day-to-day lives.
• Pray that we would celebrate the small things in life along the way.
• Praise God that He has victory over sin and death through the resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ and He offers forgiveness for us as a result.
  
  

Jesus Film Project on CNN

The Jesus Film Project (a ministry of Campus Crusade) was featured in a news story entitled "Selling Jesus" that was produced and aired by CNN.

The video story can be found here:
http://www.cnn.com/video/partners/clickability/index.html?url=/video/us/2007/04/08/gallagher.jesus.sells.cnn

CNN does utilize a pop-up for this video link, so if you use a pop-up blocker, you'll need to allow the video box to pop-up.

God's Creatures Good - Visitors Bad

God's Creatures Good - Visitors Bad

Leslie and I ended up with an unwanted visitor on our apartment balcony. Over the winter, we kept our bikes, some patio furniture, and a cooler under a tarp on our 2nd floor apartment balcony. The weeks leading up to our trip to Peoria for three weeks, we heard some noises outside our windows, but I (Mike) didn't think anything of it (Leslie did, but I continually calmed her by saying it was nothing). When we returned from our three weeks away, I went out onto our balcony to see if we could store something inside our cooler. I lifted the tarp to reveal debris. As I lifted some more, I saw some excrement. I thought to myself "How in the world did a cat get up here?" I pulled the tarp a little further and saw some dark fur and two large eyes staring at me. IT WAS A RACCOON!!!!

Knowing enough about raccoons, that they can be dangerous when cornered, I threw the tarp down and ran back into the apartment. I went up to our leasing office to find out if they had any ideas. The complex owns a live animal trap (as our complex is completely lined with trees, raccoons are apparently a common occurrence). Leslie was out grocery shopping, so I called and had her pick up a can of cat food (as apparently raccoons love cat food). Who ever knew cats like Salmon, Tuna and seashell stuff. Leslie was overwhelmed by the variety to choose from- much less, what would a raccoon like?

Dave, our maintenance supervisor brought the trap over to our apartment and set the trap on our balcony. We then waited for nightfall. We heard a couple of different noises on the balcony, so we decided to take a look. We discovered the can of cat food outside of the trap and completely empty. That raccoon was smart.

On Saturday during the day, I decided to see if the raccoon was still there. I lifted the tarp as I had done before, and didn't see anything. It was then that I discovered that the debris I had seen was the foam that previously had covered the handle bars of my bike. I lifted more of the tarp to discover that both of the seats on Leslie's and my bike and been eaten through and the foam centers were part of the debris on our balcony.

Not seeing the raccoon under the tarp, I began to pull the tarp to the other side of the balcony to reveal the total extent of the damage. I got to near the end of the tarp only to discover the raccoon had wrapped himself up in the tarp like it was a blanket and he was taking a nap after a nice big meal of cat food.

I dropped the tarp once again and ran back into the apartment. My bravery (or is it my stupidity, I'm not sure which) built up and I took another stab at pulling back the tarp. This time, the raccoon lazily got up out of the tarp and back into the corner.

At this point, I was determined that we were going to catch this guy. Leslie went to the store and bought a couple more cans of cat food. This time we decided to secure the cat food can to the cage. Around 7pm Sat. night we heard the raccoon stuck in the trap. "Ah, Poor guy" Leslie would think but then "you little stinker" for chewing our bikes.

Rest assured the raccoon was taken to a garage for safe keeping till the wildlife people could take him and release it FAR away. That's the story of Rocky the Raccoon adventure in the newlywed's (Rebs) abode.

Super What?

Volume 2 - Issue 3
Super What?

Last month while in Peoria for a support trip my sister-in-law, niece and I (Leslie) had a girl’s night out. We attended a minor league hockey game with a Post-game concert, Superchic[k]. I want to share with you my experience at this rock concert , as I think it will give you perspective about Keynote bands. Oh yes, I need to add that Superchic[k] is a Christian band. My niece was ecstatic as she stood among all the teens jumping up and down waving their lighted cell phones in the dark arena. Wow, to think these teens were having clean-fun at a Christian rock concert!

The 5 member band was authentic- in that clothes they wore- the fans could identify with then, as well as the aggressive style rock music. One of Keynote’s values is authenticity. An audience is quick to pick up on if the artists are real or faking it. (As Mike would say he can’t pull off wearing an earring.)

Although, a gospel presentation was not given at the Superchic[k] concert, the lead singer, Trisha, did share from her heart. Keynote offers 2 styles of concerts, Pre-evangelist and Evangelistic. Pre-evangelistic is where the band does a concert sharing personal stories from stage about life. In an Evangelistic concert a personal story is shared but it doesn’t stop there, the full gospel presentation is then given.

Prior to Superchic[k]’s encore song, “Stand in the Rain” the singer explained how the song represents the culminating events (struggles, trials, heartache, death of loved ones, brokenness) in the bands lives over the last few years. Trisha put it so succinctly, “This song resembles journal entries of our experiences.” As the stadium stood in silence she continued, saying in the “hard stuff, God is what kept them going. We have hope in our faith and in God.” How incredible admist this rock concert the musicians proclaimed their hope in God.

Sidelined & Sanctified

Our hearts were struck by a sermon we recently heard “Sidelined Saints.” We want to share this with you. The idea of sidelined is best seen in an injured football player who sits on the sideline for the season. That player might not be on the field, but they can encourage their team and play a valuable part of the team.

As we have been raising support together since getting married, it’s been a time of challenges, growth, disappointments as well as blessings. Our main focus and responsibility at this time is to raise our financial needs goal as a couple. Why you may ask? Campus Crusade for Christ desires/values to see that their staff are fully-funded laborers sent to the field so they can fully focus on the ministry.

In the same way as the football player, we may feel like we have been sidelined during this time, but this is the ministry that God has called us to. We have not been sidelined. God has us right where we are. We are grateful for this gift of time to grow and minister to each other as a newly married couple.

We have seen God work on our character- transforming us in our spiritual walk with Him. We believe God is just beginning something amazing in ministry as we raise our support together right now! The Lord has blessed our first 7 months of being newlyweds.


Mike spoke at the Bradley University, Campus Crusade meeting.










While visiting our sending church, we had the opportunity to share prayer requests and give a ministry update at a Sunday evening service.

Return Home

Return Home

Leslie and I just returned home from spending about 3 weeks in Peoria (Mike's home town). It was a fun time getting together with some current ministry partners and them introducing us to some of their friends through hosting a dinner. It was a lot of fun to get together with so many different people. We were challenged at the same time as we spent 3 weeks on the road and we were challeneged through the sermons we heard at my (Mike's) home church. You'll hear more about one of those in our upcoming newsletter.

Searching Stylist

Volume 2 - Issue 2

Searching Stylist

Recently I (Leslie) was on my way to a beauty salon. This isn’t a typical or upscale one. You see this was an inner city beauty school where the (adult) students work under the supervision of their teachers offering spa services for less than what you pay at a salon. I discovered this unique place a few years ago. Well, I tell you this because it is a mission field for me (Leslie). Every time I go to this salon, I intend to have a spiritual conversation with the stylist assigned to me. This particular time I was driving there and realized I didn’t have a copy of a small evangelistic booklet “Would you like to know God personally?” I tend to carry one in my purse. I then said to myself “Lord, You have to lead the way for me to initiate a spiritual conversation.”
As I sat down in Jennifer’s chair she immediately picked up the book I had laid on the counter which I brought with me– in case I had to wait. It was a book by one of my favorite Christian authors– Beth Moore. She then energetically asked if it was good, and then shared how she loved to read books.

This open door led us into a comfortable conversation. Jennifer shared how she had two young toddler boys (3, 5), she lived on the East side of town in an apartment. She met the father of her kids 10 years ago at the age of 15 and stood by him even when he was in jail. I shared about my family and what I do. Miraculously, she began to open up and share how she’d been searching. Jennifer knows there is more to life than what she is presently experiencing. As we continued to talk she shared how she grew up going to church yet had fallen away. Her mother and her stepfather were divorced.

I inquired if she was presently attending a church, she was sincerely desiring to but at times falls prey to sleeping in on her only day off. When she does go to church, Jennifer expressed how she senses people looking at her and question “What are you doing here?” I was encouraged to hear that she had been opening her Bible to read a passage of scripture frequently. In her heart of hearts Jennifer desires MORE, a hope beyond her present circumstances (to get married, have a steady income, a job she enjoys.) Upon my departure I encouraged her to continue to seek God and what HE wants for her life. The hard part is I can’t do it for her. Jennifer is searching for Truth. Will you pray with me that she comes to know Christ personally and choose the abundant life HE has for her and that she’ll read the books Mike and I sent to her?

We are Passionate People

The above story is just one example of Leslie’s passion in ministry. She desires to point women to the Truth, Christ and encourage them in their personal relationship with God. Leslie learned a lot and experienced intense training during the year internship with the discipleship ministry that will be an asset to her placement in Keynote’s Staff Development Department.

Mike’s mission and passion is to work with the new staff who are raising their initial support. His title as MPD (ministry partnership development) coordinator doesn’t begin to explain all that he does for the ministry (hour long phone appointments. encouraging and holding accountable new staff raising their support, collecting and reading weekly new staff reports, Human Resources department meetings…) Mike is a servant at heart and serves in whatever capacity he can when there is a need. Mike’s other full time job with Keynote is serving as the IT (technology– computer ) guy.


A Valentine for your soul.

God so loVed the world
That He gAve
His onLy
BegottEn
SoN
That whosever
Believeth In Him Should
Not Perish,
But have Everlasting life.
-John 3:16

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Pray for the Keynote artists as they are all on various tours this new season.
Pray the Lord would give us stamina as we continue to raise support as a couple.
Pray our lives would be a daily outpouring of God’s love.

Beyond the Ultimate

Beyond the Ultimate

In today's USA Today there is a full-page ad (seen below). This year's SuperBowl is monumental for several reasons. Not only is this the first time there has been an African American coach (let alone two), but the men who these coaches really are is monumental. This ad shows just how different these men are. And, the website that it points people to, is worth taking a look at. http://www.BeyondTheUltimate.org/

This ad and the refering website is sponosored by a division within the ministry that we work for (Athletes in Action - the Sports Ministry of Campus Crusade For Christ)

Santa Claus and Jesus

Santa Claus and Jesus
Recently we have been reading Larry Crabb's "The Pressure's Off". As we read this evening a particular point struck us. The book deals with living the "new way" instead of the "old way". The old way being, if we do this, then God will respond by doing that. The new way being that we live our lives knowing and experiencing Christ. God's blessing upon us is not dependant upon what we do or do not do.

The point that hit us was this: We want the blessings of a better life more than we desire to draw near to Jesus. We approach Him the way a child approaches a weary Santa Claus in the mall, who for the hundredth time asks, "What do you want for Christmas?" I wager no child has ever pressed close to Santa's chest, looked up into his eyes, and said, "You! I want only you." No child believes having Santa join him for dinner could bring more joy than watching Santa stack presents beneath the tree. Our problem is unbelief in what can be called His "Immanuel Agenda," the relentless obsession He has for forming a family to gather at His dinner table, with Himself at the head and each of us thrilled to be there.

In our lives, we seem to so frequently run to God with our list of things we want (blessings) rather than run to Him to be with Him. In living the "old way", the pressure is there to live up to the standards that we can't live up to to begin with. We continually fail. We continually get more and more frustrated as we seemingly do the right things and yet the right things don't happen in return. That is the "old way".

In the "new way", the pressure is off. We need to live our lives running to be with Him. He will choose how and when to bless us, which is not based upon strategies or principles in this Earthly world. Our responsiblity is to know and experience God. As Larry Crabb ended the chapter we just read "...the pressure's off; the New Way is available. 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.'"

Ending and Starting with IMPACT

Volume 2, Issue 1
Ending and Starting with IMPACT

2007 is here! The last two weeks have been crazily busy for us as it may have been for you too! We celebrated Christmas split between the Lehman and Rebholz families. Christmas Night, 12 of the Keynote staff traveled in a caravan to serve at the IMPACT National Christmas conference held in Atlanta, Georgia.

Keynote’s vision incorporates partnerships. One of Keynote’s partnerships is with the Impact Movement. Keynote served as a resource during the conference by: running video cameras, helping with the programming, providing sound and lighting equipment and served as liaisons for concert artists.

You might be wondering what is IMPACT ? Let us explain. The Impact Movement is “a movement of evangelism and discipleship, and exists to mobilize African American leaders to reach the lost and build believers on campuses, in our community, in Africa and the Diaspora.” (taken from impactmovement.com)

This national conference occurs every 2 years. Mike served at it in 2004 when it was in Washington, D.C. The Impact Movement began as a conference in 1991. It is now a movement reaching thousands of African American college students. Many of the speakers have been students attending the conference in years past.

The Impact music summer project bands Soul Seed and Infinite Impact that were formed as a result of Keynote’s partnership performed New Years Eve. Keynote’s very own artist Rahlo (Mike Porter) was the Emcee for the Gallery Ballroom during the conference.

One of the activities during this conference was the Day of Outreach. The students were divided into groups and shuttled out into the community to share the message of Jesus. Here are the results: 2,142 people exposed to the Gospel message, 286 accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, 116 rededicated their lives to Christ.

Personally- It was an incredible experience yet taxing for both of us. Late nights, little sleep, long hours, loud music, talented musical artist, Godly speakers, personal spiritual growth, and applying flexibility. If the opportunity comes again we’d go!

God’s free forgiving love is the sole source of salvation.
- Gerhardus Vos

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

Leslie and I want to wish you a "Merry Christmas"!!! This is the day which we celebrate God sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to Earth. His life was lived in perfection and then He sacrificially gave Himself to pay the punishment for our sins (the things that separate us from God). We want to invite you to read how to have a personal relationship with God by visiting this website:
http://www.everystudent.com/features/gettingconnected.html

This website is from another of Campus Crusade's ministries.