I listen to a lot of audio books. It’s a great way for me to gather information while doing other tasks. If you have been on the church website, you already know this , but I’ll put it here too. www.christianaudio.com is offering a free A W Tozer audiobook in the month of July 2010. It’s really free — I already downloaded mine. So if you like audio books or always wanted to try one, grab this one. Tozer is the most well-published Alliance author ever. And one of the most published Christian authors of the 20th century. Plus, as a child, he lived in La Jose, PA.

SuperVBS is going Super! There were 137 children present in SuperVBS last night. Total enrollment of children is over 160. Please pray that the lives of the children and the workers will be impacted for Christ. The children are inviting their families to join us on Friday evening. Pray that the adults who attend would be influenced for Christ.

This week I have spent some time doing some face-to-face counseling and some “remote-counseling.” It’s amazing to me how accustomed today’s young adult is to electronic media. Telephone conversations, texts, chat, and emails are an everyday means of communication, even on deeper levels. Please pray for those I have been counseling — that the Spirit of God would use our conversations as a sanctifying influence.

One more prayer request: Please pray for a young adult who is struggling to do the right thing. Pray that God will use whatever means he needs to in this person’s life, so as to benefit those involved and glorify himself. I am sorry I cannot be more specific, but I am sure you understand. And as you pray, we can be sure God knows the situation better than I could ever explain it.

Thanks!

~Pastor Steve

Last evening’s Baccalaureate Service was excellent. The students did a great job sharing in song and presenting prayers and readings. Rev. Dan Osterhout and I preached the message together, taking a line from The Princess Bride, and applying it biblically to the students’ future.

Some of my personal thoughts about speaking at Baccalaureate are…

1. The only way to ensure good attendance at a Baccalaureate Service is to involve students. The more of them that participate, the better the turnout will be.
2. You’re probably not going to change any lives in a Baccalaureate sermon. Can you remember what the speaker at your Baccalaureate sermon said? I can’t even remember who spoke at mine, let alone what they said. Use the service to whet their appetite for what you and other pastors have to say.
3. Two words of advice: Short. Sweet. No one is coming to hear the preacher(s). Leave them wanting more.

I hope we were able to communicate well to the students and give them a sense that God’s interested in their lives.

One of the funniest things — the play of the day — happened at breakfast this morning.

Some of the guys were talking about times they’ve failed to behave in Christlike ways. One guy spoke about a driving incident where he reacted to another driver poorly. He said, “I am embarrassed to say that I….” When he’d finished his “confession” Bryan looked at him and said, “That was you!?!?!?” implying that it was Bryan he had reacted to. We couldn’t stop laughing! Pray for the guys — that we will all grow to be the men God has for us to be.

After breakfast, I enjoyed wrapping up the Marriage Prep for Jim and Nicole. They’ll be married in July. Please pray for them as they prepare for this important event in their lives.

The rest of the day will be wrapping up details for tomorrow’s service.

Thanks for praying!

~Pastor Steve

What do bikers and baccalaureate have in common? They are both part of this important week at Curwensville Alliance.

Wednesday evening we enjoyed a time around the fire at the Tkacik’s home hearing from Matt, Andy, and Morgan about their mission of Riding for Marale. They have already earned enough money to drill the well in Marale, and with the remaining money received will contribute toward a second community well in Uganda. Pray for them as they ride their bicycles — that they would be successful, growing in their faith, and kept safe. Thanks to Tkaciks for providing the location and to the Kims for providing the makings for smores!

Wednesday afternoon I met with Rev. Dan Osterhout and we worked on a Baccalaureate service for Curwensville. Pastor Dan and I will be team preaching. Pray that we are able to communicate the presence of Christ to the students, families, and friends who attend.

Thanks for reading and thanks for praying!

~Pastor Steve