Hello Everyone,
Spring is here (Yea!!). We have been incredibly busy...God continues to work in our ministry. Here is a report of all that we've been up to:
Worldlead Training in Dallas, TX- Worldlead is a ministry of Boca Raton Community Church to connect and close the leadership gap around the world by building future Christian world leaders. Awana in the US has partnered with World Lead and I attended as a participant to learn and then pass on that training to other missionaries and ultimately to our Awana Ministry Directors in the field.
Navajo Ministry- We had new Navajo Leader training in Farmington, NM, but was postponed due to snow. However, I spent a weekend in Gallup and met with Pastor David Hilderman to discuss the future of the Navajo ministry. Please be praying for this ministry.
Travel-
- Logged over 14,000 miles
- 4 trains
- Multiple Uber rides
- Slept in 14 different beds
- Gallons of coffee drank
- 5 different fast foods
Online Awana Ministry Director Training- Leadership is the key to a successful Awana club. We have been working at providing training especially for Awana Ministry Directors. One of the challenges for our area is the large geographic barriers to bringing Awana Ministry Directors together for training. We used Facebook Messenger video chat as a way to bring these AMD's together digitally. At our first AMD training, we had AMD's from Boulder City, Las Vegas, Reno and Bishop, CA. A lot of fun to see these AMD's embrace their leadership role and network with each other.
Bible Quizzing- So much fun to see kids from our area grow in their Biblical literacy. Bible quizzing is a big part in that process. We attended the Bible Quiz in Reno and were asked to be quizmaster at the quiz in Las Vegas...lotta fun!!
Sierra Bible Church- Reno
Spring Valley Baptist Church- Las Vegas
Summit Journey- San Diego
Summit Journey is a nationwide high school event that brings Awana Journey Students from all over the country for a Volleyball Tournament, Fine Arts Competition, Bible Quizzing, AwanaGames and Citation presentation ceremony. So much fun to spend time with these high school students
I invited myself to be on the "Greeting Team" (go figure) as we welcomed teens from around the country to Summit Journey
Old Friends at Summit
Opening Ceremony
Adults can earn Citation too. Awana Ministry Director Christy Cronk from Sierra Bible Church - Reno was presented with her Citation Plaque at Summit Journey- What a great leader and example for us all.
Missionary Conference at Awana Headquarters- We spent at week at Awana Headquarters with missionaries from around the country finding out about updates from Awana and looking at new and better ways to equip leaders to reach kids with the love of Jesus. Fun time.
US Missionaries from around the country
Working with a great team from Alaska, Utah, and Texas- Wonderful group of people
New T&T Materials
Was one of 5 US Missionaries to be recognized by Awana CEO Valerie Bell and President Matt Markins for my work in the field. Humbled that God can use me.
Club Visits- One of my favorite things to do is spend time at clubs talking with kids, encouraging and thanking leaders for their service and watching God work in these clubs. Here are some of the places we've been to in the last few months.
Summit Christian Church- Sparks, NV
Valley Christian Fellowship- Gardnerville, NV
Shadow Hills Church- Las Vegas
Canyon Ridge Christian Church- Las Vegas
The River Ministries- Topaz Ranch Estates, NV
South Reno Baptist
Mountain Vista Baptist Church- Carson City, NV
City Bible Church- Bullhead City, AZ
First Baptist Sparks, NV
New Life Fellowship- Lovelock, NV
Mason Valley First Southern Baptist- Yerington, NV
Green Valley Baptist- Henderson, NV
Oasis Baptist- Henderson, NV
Snow, snow and more snow- Keeping up with the snow in Truckee was a huge challenge for our family this year, but that is part of living in the mountains.
That's it for now. Thank you again to everyone who prays, supports, encourages, gives, serves, laughs and seeks after God. TOGETHER, we are reaching children with the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ....what a wonderful ministry God has allowed us to be a part of. I thank God for you and the work he is doing in and through you. See you again sometime down the road.
If you'd like to financially support our efforts to reach children, you can send donations to:
Jeff Gilpin
P.O. Box 697
Truckee, CA. 96160
Make a note on the memo of the check "Gilpin Support Acct 319"
or donate online at awana.org/missionary/gilpin
