Conference in Ghana

We have had an awesome 2 day conference in Ghana! We have trained around 30 pastors from Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, Sierra Leon, Ivory Coast, and Benin. The pastors were super excited about implimenting Jesus strategy of disciple-making. Our host, Benjamin, has a true vision for impacting Africa. Please keep our team in your prayers!

Going to Ghana!

Please pray for Steve Winstead, Michael Farmer, and Chris Rowland as the head out to Ghana, Africa to train pastors!

DownLine Team Leaving for Ghana

Steve Winstead, Michael Farmer, and Chris Rowland will be going to Ghana, Africa to train pastors in November. They will be conducting a two day conference focusing on the biblical mandate to make disciples.

Final Day of Spiritual Emphasis Week

Today was the final day of Spiritual Emphasis Week. We had an incredible time with the students and so many shared with me how much they had been challenged and blessed!!! We also had a special time of worship tonight - great to be with the students for the final time. It is late here, so we will post more later...

Day Three and Four Con't

Ariyana: The group is becoming apart of the BFA family. Randi has been assisting the band with the clarinet section, Steve is running daily with the cross-country team. Josh, Joseph, and Jonathan are helping the chapel band, and I am assisting with the volleyball team.

Wednesday - we taught the New Testament to the 8th grade class, they are so receptive to learning the word of God. Last night we hosted a small group meeting for the middle school students. They were so excited to have a time dedicated just to them, they rushed the stage during praise and worship which made us all excited. They just love singing and playing and asking the most random questions. The students and staff have welcomed us with open arms. We have students coming up to us just to talk to us and ask us questions.

Thursday - Steve spoke in chapel today. He challenged the students to begin looking for a faithful, available and teachable older individual to begin pouring into them. They were shocked to find out that it would only take 37 years to reach the world for Christ through one on one discipleship.Tonight we are kicking off the biblical manhood/womanhood series. The seniors will be attending that time, we are excited about getting real with them.

I have personally enjoyed everyday here. I have been staying in the "Vitt" girls dorm, we had a dance party 2 nights ago and the girls loved it. We had a chance to play some American Christian music. I have also enjoyed teaching the bible overview to the 8th graders. There is something about seeing the light bulbs go off in a child's eyes when they heard the word of God in a new way. I am currently praying for more opportunities to talk to a few girls that the Lord has laid on my heart.

Day Three and Four - Spiritual Emphasis Week

Steve: We have had a great couple of days! Last night we led the Junior High in worship and a time of teaching. The energy of Junior High students is something that is very contagious! The students and faculty have been very receptive to the teachings. I have had countless students and teachers approach and talk about various joys, praises, and challenges in making disciples. Praise the Lord for allowing us to see the budding of fruit during our time here!

Josh, Joseph, Richard, Ari, and myself (Steve) have all been teaching the Bible Overview in various classes throughout the school. I had one parent tell me that their child had come home and went over the Bible Overview with them! I continue to be amazed at how God uses the 20 sentences of the Bible Overview to teach people, even those who have been studying the Bible for years and who have attended Bible schools.

The team all ate at different dorms tonight. Josh and I ate a dorm called HBR. The twenty-four guys in this dorm were the most testosterone driven guys here at the Black Forest Academy. They have a tradition of throwing the Spiritual Emphasis Week speaker into the creek. I had been told all week this was coming so I made sure to dress for it! As they threw me into the creek they shouted, “we baptize you in the name of the HUGE, the BUFF, and the RIPPED!” The guys say that is what HBR stands for, but it actually some German words I can’t pronounce. Truly a unique experience, I have never been placed in the category of huge, buff, and ripped, but now I am.

From 7:30-9 pm on Thursday night the team taught Biblical Manhood and Biblical Womanhood to the High School Senior. Joseph, Josh and Richard taught the men while Ari and Randi taught the women. Great night – the seniors really connected with the material.

Keep praying for us! Friday is the final day of Spiritual Emphasis Week and we have our regular morning time and extended period of worship during the night. God is good!!!

Day Two - Spiritual Emphasis Week

Another great day with the teachers and students of the Black Forest Academy! During our time this morning we did worship and taught the Great Commission. In the afternoon we taught Bible Overview in two different classes, the team played various sports with the students, and the team split up to have dinner in three different dorms. More updates are coming so keep checking back...