Solid Rock Resources

February 2005

  We had or annual meeting with all the potential churches that will be going to Camp Padre '05, a couple of weeks ago. Ever year as the youth pastors introduce themselves, I ask them to give a testimony on what Camp Padre has done for their students and ministries. As they shared their most memorable moments, I realized that many of them were saved, rededicated or called into the ministry at a previous camp. Many of them were second generation attendees, and now influencing others for the great opportunity to know Christ deeper.

  As I left the meeting I went immediately to San Antonio for the Gulf Latin A/G youth leadership conference. As I shared my experiences and leadership principles into their lives it brought back memories of students who are now leading others to know Christ.

  Just recently I received an email from a former student in my youth ministry. She thanked me for all the camps, mission trips, conventions, and discipleship times as a youth. She told me that she leads the woman's ministry at her church and has been given the responsibility of the transitional prayer at the end of worship. She said that her pastor wanted her to have this particular part of the service because of her sensitivity to the Spirit of God. She said that because of all the former experiences she received as a young person in the student ministry is why and who she is today.

  One youth specialist once said, “Sometimes it may take up to ten years to see the full impact of what a young person receives in his or her youth ministry years”. I thank God that we continue to see great results from the ministry that God has called us to do. Because of you and your faithful prayers and support we get to continue our calling. In the first part of this new year we need you more than ever. We still need many more funds to come in to pay off the damaged equipment we have mentioned in the last three letters. We need your financial support to provide for our ministry, family, and to keep more testimonies, like these in this letter, to reach our world of youth and families that need Christ.

  This month is known for being the month of love. We can all find ourselves being a bit more thoughtful for those we love and showing them in many different ways. At our house Mom has been very busy helping the kids with all their Valentine school projects. Carli has always received flowers from her Daddy on Valentines. This year, for a school project, she has been given the opportunity to send flowers to special friends at school. She selected 5 friends that each has become special for different reasons. One in particular, she met shortly after we moved here and with in weeks she was attending church with us. Carli began to pray for her each night. Her friend has asked Christ into her heart and will be attending kid's camp with Carli this summer. Her older teenage brother has been attending on Wednesday with us. It is exciting to see Carli develop a passion for her friends and understand how easy it is to reach out to them and in just a short time how God can use her to touch a young life. We encourage you to take sometime to love someone in your neighborhood this month, and remember us as we share love to this world.

Yours For Youth,

Jaroy and Kim Carpenter