In this issue of Reflections from the Director, I want to highlight two things: First, The Awakening Intern Class of 2014 and second, I want to introduce you to the newest member of our IPHC Missionary Family…
The Awakening Summer Intern Class of 2014
The Awakening – the youth and college department of IPHC World Missions Ministries welcomed their intern class of 2014 to Oklahoma City the first week of June. The Awakening’s internship program provides students with ‘training, experience, and ministry opportunities that prepare and help them pursue God’s call on their lives.’ What a privilege it was for Stephanie and I to meet with them for what they term as a ‘hang-out’ session on June 10th. It was especially gratifying to welcome two members of our Missionary family as part of the 2014 class; Janene Wooten and Betsabe Salazar.
Let me briefly introduce the class of 2014 to you:
• Jenna Aycock, North Carolina Conference
• Evan Davis, Cornerstone Conference
• Stephanie Poole, South Carolina Conference
• Betsabe Salazar, IPHC Belgium Conference
• Wesleeann Peralta, Texas Latin Conference
• Janene Wooten, IPHC Kenya Conference
• Kaylee Gernandt, Southwestern Christian University
By the time you read this article they will be half way through the internship program. Some of the ministry elements that they have or will be exposed to and participate in are as follows:
• Ministry training and Spiritual formation tracks
• Specialized classes in Leadership, Missions, Youth Ministry, and Discipleship
• ‘Hang out sessions’ with the Executives and select Directors of ministry
• Leading teams to Haiti [my daughter Gabriella is on this trip – her second missions trip with The Awakening], Costa Rica, and Panama
• Cornerstone Conferences’ Camp Dayspring Senior High Week
• Ministry in Local Churches
• Church Growth and Development workshops
• Youth Quest
• EuroQuest, Hungary
• The Awakening’s day to day activities
• Multiple service and ministry projects
In October of 1991, a prophetic challenge was given by John Dawson, author of ‘Taking Our Cities For God,’ to the IPHC. The fourth characteristic of this challenge is as follows:
“You are to be a tribe that raises up leadership for a vision as big as the world. You are to expose those being trained to the great diversity of ministries and movements. You are to know the Church. This movement is not primarily a nursery. Our success is always to be seen in terms of what is happening in the Kingdom, not in the isolation of our circumstances.”
The internship program comes to a close the first week of August. Keep these young leaders in your prayers. They represent so much potential for the Kingdom’s sake. May they experience what you and I know – that there is no time lost in preparation – my father taught my brother and me this almost as a litany of life. Even Jesus spent time in the desert, preparing Himself for what He was to face. He didn’t plan His future; He prepared for it. I believe that many of our future missionaries will be birthed from this ministry. May the Holy Spirit empower these young servants to understand that they ‘are part of God’s larger purposes and design!’
Thank you Max and Jessica and The Awakening leadership team of Jonathan, Skye, Madeline, Seth, Dreama, Garryt, Jamin, and Shelby for your mentorship, passion, and investment in these treasured gifts.
If you would like to assist or make an investment in The Awakening, you may do so by clicking here.
Noah Alexander Barroso
On June 17, Max and Jessica welcomed baby Noah Alexander Barroso!
Until Christ returns, let’s continue working together to advance the Kingdom.