GYC Wrap-Up

The Advent HOPE Florida team plus those sponsored (missing Yudelis and Carol).

GYC days 2-5 were just as excellent. Here's a quick rundown:

Day 2 - Pastor Conway started the day with a message on the importance of Christ's sacrifice. After breakfast (which was excellent), we hit the seminars, which were 2 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. This year's seminar options were probably the best yet. Andrea Oliver gave her testimony at the noon hour, and it was powerful. David Shin ended the day with the importance of a prayer life as evinced by the life of Daniel.

Day 3 - Was very similar to Day 2 except only 2 seminars in the morning. At noon Steve Kasperbauer gave his testimony on being faithful to God in the area of business and sabbathkeeping. You must listen to this one! In the afternoon, we had networking sessions, and I led out in the AMEN session. We had about 50 people show up and had a good round table discussion. A group led by Mark Finley went to anoint Alistair at the hospital who by this point was on a ventilator and not responsive.

Day 4 - Sabbath! Steve Conway gave a powerful message on what it means to be BE. Next, Pastor Finley gave a charge for the importance of evangelism and led the auditorium in a season of prayer for Alistair. Then a round table discussion with Eugene Prewitt, Steve Conway, Staci Osterman, Allison Waters, and Alan Parker on the importance of 1888 in Minneapolis. Pastor Ratsara gave a rousing challenge to finish the work by working with Christ and giving personal testimony to Jesus leading his division (Southern Africa - Indian Ocean Division).

For lunch, the Advent HOPE leaders of each coast met:

Then we had outreach - about 1200 people attended. Almost 500 Bible study cards were returned, plus more were accepted by homes. We knocked on 13,000 doors. It was cold and at one point, Janelle and I couldn't feel our toes or open our cell phones with our fingers. But the Lord blessed. Back at home, David Shin's last message was on the tipping point of revival and explained how 1 person can change the world if they have a radical prayer life, ie: Martin Luther, John Wesley, etc.

Day 5 - After the morning devotional and breakfast, we attended the dedication of the new GYC officers. There were alot of changes, and more women were added to the team. Justin McNelius accepted the challenge made by Dr. Pippim after some tears and trepidation. The final message was by Jeff Rosario which was well worth waiting for.

In the evening, my brother Tim, Janelle, and myself went to visit Al in the hospital. He was extubated, able to talk, and able to move all extremities somewhat. This was a vast improvement and we were glad to see our prayers at work!

All in all, this GYC was truly a blessing. I left feeling the urge to do something great for God. To do the ordinary things in life in an extraordinary fashion. God bless and keep the GYC spirit with you!

And remember, all the seminars and main sessions are available at:

www.Audioverse.org

www.Hopevideo.org

GYC day #1

Hello all,

I just want to write a summary for those that may not be able to attend and for my remembrance:

Minnesota is cold and has snow on the ground. We registered at the convention center and much to Janelle's liking, there are enclosed catwalks that connect each of the buildings in the downtown Minneapolis area to protect us from the snow. The main auditorium is beautiful and and looks like an extremely large opera house with a ornate wooden stage and plush seats with a high rising back seat section.

After song service, the seminar presenters were introduced, and left many people wondering where they should go with so many good options. I think Jay Gallimore's series on Christian Leadership and Mark Finely's Last Day Events peaked my interest the most. But all the options seemed so good! We next got a report on some teenagers that have recently led out in preaching their own evangelistic series. Powerful!

Andrea Oliver gave a touching introduction for Israel Ramos' opening talk. After an excellent special music by Jessica Hess, Israel took the stage. He had the look of a tired solider giving his last message to his troops before the last battle. He spent time recounting the early years of GYC and the faith and sacrifice of the early team. His main point was that we need to remember what our identity is, or we will never realize our ultimate destiny, which is to hasten the Lord's return. He used the illustration of Luke 4 and 5 how Jesus doesn't need people that fish, he needs fisherman! Check out the sermons at www.3abn.org. Also, all these sermons will be on www.Audioverse.org, so you can enjoy them as well.

Afterwards, I hit the booths. So many friends that I have not seen in a while. Aside from the powerful spiritual emphasis, GYC is also a truly great place to reconnect and meet new people.

Final note, please keep Alistair Huong in your prayers. He is in critical condition suffering from a Neurological condition at the local hospital. He is a powerful man of God and good friend, I truly believe that God will prevail.

Til tomorrow, this is Jason reporting from GYC!

GYC is a coming!

Have you registered yet? What are you waiting for? Invite a friend and get to Minneapolis, MN for the next installment of GYC.

To learn more & register: www.gycweb.org

Praise the Lord! By God's grace, interest and knowledge about GYC is starting to grow here in Florida. When we first arrived, hardly anyone we were meeting had heard of it. God has opened up several opportunities to make announcements in various churches and the interest is rising.

Please pray! We have more people needing scholarships to attend than we have money to offer. I know the Lord will provide, He always does, but still we must pray.

Hope to see you all at GYC 2007: Be (converted)

Jason & Janelle

Mrs. Shives the Professor

God is so good friends! I have been totally blessed to have been given a job! I am teaching full time at Florida Hopital College of Health Sciences. If you know anything about teaching college, you know how hard it is to get a full time job with just a Master's degree (actually I am still writing my thesis), and with no teaching experience!

I am teaching 3 sections of A&P 1 with about 50 students in each section. So I have about 150 students that I am having a direct influence on! It is such a huge responsibilty; Pray for me friends!

I know this is God's plan, because if you remember I took A&P just last year thinking God wanted me to do PA school (there was no reason for me to take that class for my M.S.) But apparently He wanted me to teach A&P! Cool huh?

It is sooo time consuming though. I have never gotten so little sleep. Other than Jason's overnight calls, I am just as busy as my Intern hubby. But I know God will get both of us though.

Advent HOPE Florida's 1st class!

The first Advent HOPE Florida meeting took place yesterday. We met outside in the gazebo because there was no room in any of the buildings. We had 13 people attend, plus 2 visitors stopped to listen to Eli's sermon for about 15 minutes. It was a small start, but it was a start.

In the afternoon, we had potluck at Allan and Laura's new place and then returned to Forest Lake Church for Susie's baptism. It was a great experience and on the drive home there was a beautiful rainbow. In the evening we went to 07 Revive at the Kress Memorial Church.
God is good!

Some prayer needs for AHF:
1. An optimal venue at an optimal time
2. A way to get the word out
3. A way to attract more people
4. Wanting to do a week of prayer with Asscherick that includes FLA.
5. FYI - Florida Youth Initiative (local GYC type conference)

Jason

Operation Global Rain results

Praise God for Operation Global Rain (OGR)! What a boost to our prayer life and powerful experience. God truly was victorious. Here are some cool local results:

1. Janelle and I found a group of young adults to work with for ministry purposes. They were the ones leading out in the OGR series at the Forest Lake Church. This is an on fire group of 8-12 young people that are committed to the Word and want to see a revival in the other young adults here in the Orlando area.

2. At prayer meeting yesterday, Pastor Derek Morris just got word that Pastor Mark Finley will be doing NET 2008 at the Forest Lake Church (our new church in Orlando). Plans fell through with the planning in Minneapolis, so now God has called on the Forest Lake Church to rise to the occasion. Just 2 days prior, 12 of us young people were praying that God would show us His plans for revival in the Orlando area. Prayer answered.

3. Pastor Derek Morris wants us to start an Advent HOPE type Sabbath School at the Forest Lake church. It looks like there will be some major events happening that God has been planning that He is now just letting us in on.

4. More to come... God is not done yet!

Medical School Graduation

This pic is from Sabbath Morning at Advent HOPE during the SOM graduation weekend. My family and friends from out of town joined us for a picture.

Here is a picture of me in mid-speech because I don't have any good pics of me preaching. Although I did not have much time to prepare the week before graduation, God blessed the sermon and lives were touched and challenged. If you want to listen to it, visit www.audioverse.org, the sermon was called "A Purpose Driven Life."

The three graduates! Eli took Miso up to get his diploma and drew some attention. They told him that they will not allow dogs to receive degrees next year. Looks like Miso MD will be the first and last non-human physician graduate from LLU.

It was a nice day, about 78 degrees and a day I won't soon forget! I have so many other pics with my friends from AH, but I am still figuring a way to put my pics online. Any suggestions, let me know.

Jason

Out of the Frying Pan & into the Steam Cooker!

Well, it is official, Janelle and I will be leaving for Florida for the next 3 years. Although it is hot and humid in Orlando (hence the post title), we believe that the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit has led us and will comfort us during the summer months. The residency program and hospital have visions that we are excited about, plus Janelle was born in Florida Hospital (an Amazing Fact).

We received the news this past Thursday morning. All the medical schools around the nation gather their 4th year students together at 8am on the 15th of March for Match day. It is a time to see people we haven't seen in a while and catch up. At 9am Pacific Time, we are each called up individually to receive an envelope that has our residency destination. We each exchange a $1 bill for our envelope and the last person to receive their envelope gets the pot. One cool fact, Loma Linda had 19% of its graduates match into Family Medicine (#1 for our class) while nationwide, only 12% of graduates go into family medicine.

It was an exciting day, and most of my classmates got either their first or second choices. Janelle and I are happy because we will be going with friends such as Eli and Susie Kim, Enrique and Estrella Vega, Evan and Leslie Inman, and others. Lord willing, we hope to start up a "GYC" type group in the area. Please pray for us.

We will definitely miss Loma Linda, especially all our friends at Advent HOPE. Advent HOPE's ministry has been a huge influence in our lives and we know it will continue to be a powerful movement here on LLU's campus. Of course we are not leaving until June though, so no tears yet! Congrats to all the other medical students that matched this week. May God be your guide as you seek to make Man Whole!

Old Navy, New Army

Just received word today that I have been officially granted approval for separation from the Navy. What a huge burden that has been lifted! Until today, Janelle and I had been making plans for residency and signing up for the DMA (Deferred Missions Appointee) program in faith that God would get us out of the military. God is good.
For those that may think that I am anti-American, anti-freedom, or an anarchist that has a chip against President Bush or the US Military, hear me out. I believe that there are sincere and loving people in the military that are sacrificing much to serve our country. These people deserve our respect for their willingness to put themselves on the line. I appreciate the freedoms of this country, but I cannot condone the use of killing to achieve that goal. I don't have all the answers for what God allows and does not allow when it comes to the issue of killing, all I know is that as a Christian, Jesus is calling us to a higher standard. Here are some texts to support this point:

Matt. 5: 9 - Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matt. 5:21-22 - Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matt. 5:38-41 - Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

Matt. 26:52 - Then said Jesus unto him [Peter], Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

Rev. 13:10 - He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

Well, now that I am free from the Navy, I will be enlisting into the ranks of the DMA program, serving in the Lord's Army. Janelle and I have had a burden to spend time in the mission field. Although it seems that the USA is becoming more and more a mission field, there are still some nooks and crannies untouched with the gospel outside of this country. We truly want to experience a life lived out on faith, totally supported by God.

Thanks for all the prayers! J&J

2006 wrap-up and 2007 update

Long time no post. Here's what's been happening the last few months:

1. Interviewed at 9 residencies - It was good to see what different programs had to offer. We have narrowed our list down to 3 programs, and are asking the Lord daily where He would have us go. Stay tuned to the March 15th match day post.

2. Attended General Youth Conference - The 5th annual GYC was held in baltimore. This was the 3rd time that Janelle and I got to go, and it was a tremendous blessing. We think that it was the best one so far. Jason's brothers, cousin Broc, and parents came along as well as some family friends: Raistlin, Laney, and Fanny. We had a great time and pray this army of young people shares the blessings of the conference with their homes. Here are some of the videos from GYC: http://gospelministry.org/blog/?page_id=5

3. Creator's Call - In between working in the ER or studying ECG's, Jason has been involved in a new ministry called Creators Call. For more info, check out: www.creatorscall.org

4. Finishing Research - Janelle is putting extra hours in work to get her research done. She is working on creating a lactic acid standard which she hopes to compare with her hermit crab corpses. It is a tedious process, but hopefully she sees a light at the end of the tunnel.

That's the highlights for now. God Bless, and keep us in your prayers as many major decisions will be made over the next month! ~Jason & Janelle