Rwanda recap video

Caleb posted this on his blog back while I was in crazy camp mode, and I totally missed it. Just watched it now. Our Rwanda Night happened just one week after I buried my father. It came together a little rougher than Maasai and Kenya Night. Not as much money was raised. Yet, it was also the most student owned, and most sacrificial giving by students of all the nights. In the end, watching this reminded me, "It's all worth it."

Rwanda Exodus Reports

Caleb Bislow has three posts over on his blog concerning his recent trip to Rwanda for the Rwanda Exodus conference.

I love the heart of Caleb in these statements. I also am blown away by the initial effects of this endevor!

I have hesitated to mention the "numbers" of this trip but my wife reminded me that each number is a person, a soul, a life, and that is worth mentioning. However a trademark of Unusual Soldiers is not to be a "BIG FISH" story teller, aka an exaggerator. So I have tamed down some of the statistics to maintain integrity and project numbers that Dustin and I felt were reasonable and true.

NUMBERS
26 teams met in Kigali for training
26 teams were sent out
100 Proclaimers for our mission were donated by Campus Crusade (a $10,000 value)
1 apostolic church planter was in each group
26 groups were divided into 9 zones of Rwanda
26+ Jesus films were promoted and watched in remote and forgotten areas of Rwanda
1,000 to 5,000 people showed up at each remote site
apx. 60,000 people watched the films 'The Passion of Christ' or the 'Jesus film.'
apx. 30,000 people committed their lives to Christ at the cinemas
1 church was started the day following each cinema (25 churches in all)
1 church was started spontaneously due to a car breakdown

Caleb's posts on the Exodus:

Exodus Rwanda 2009 (the pictures on this posts are worth thousands of words)
Rwanda's Greatest Hits
Genocide Hell (reader discretion advised)

What's Up in Rwanda?

Caleb and Dustin are in the home stretch of their time in Rwanda. I and many others have been praying that we'd see a major spiritual harvest. Here are several of Caleb's Facebook Updates, starting from their arrival in Rwanda...

Caleb Bislow is in RwandaJune 17 at 1:28pm

Caleb Bislow The Rwandan Exodus Conference is going AMAZING. Dustin and I got to speak to many radical Christ followers today and it is appearing that this Exodus could go BIG. Teams head out to the bush tomorrow. Keep praying...

June 17 at 2:14pm

Caleb Bislowand Dustin are headed to the Rawadan/DR Congo bush tomorrow. We will be working with the Pygmies tommorow night...then head to a refugee camp in a couple days...then to some villages in/near the Congo. On our last day here we will be videoing some key genocide sites to capture a greater burden & depth of the history of this area. ....gone to the bush (no WIFI).June 18 at 1:22pm

Caleb Bislow 's schedule for prayer team. Dates/place of ministry: 19th,20th- Pygmy villages. 21st 22nd- DRC refugee camp. 22nd-Villages on border of Congo 23rd-villages in Gorilla Mountains. 24th-back to Kigali ,25th 26th genocide sites, 27th fly to Kenya, 28th speak to Maasai, 29th fly back to USJune 18 at 2:51pm


Caleb Bislow and Dustin are dirty, smelly, and running themselves ragged in Rwanda however all is well with us and God continues to exceed our expectations. We head back to the bush in an hour.

Yesterday at 7:27am

Rwanda Night - The Check

I just realized I never posted some results from Rwanda Night.

As a product of our students efforts with Dodgeball, T-shirt sales, silent auction, bake sale, and their own personal giving, we are sending a check to Unusual soldiers for $19,500 to put on the Exodus Conference that will be taking place in the end of June!

We're excited to see what God does through these different kind of Exodus in the country of Rwanda.

Silent Auction... The Final Day

This is the video that was put together by our students to help get an understanding of the history of Rwanda, as well as explain what Rwanda Night is all about. It's very well made, and worth watching...


Today is the final day for the Rwanda Night Silent Auction. All bids from this morning's service will be updated by 2:00 p.m. There will be no further updating at that point. If you want something, be sure you've bid ridiculously high enough!

GO HERE and Bid!

Friday 5: Rwanda Night

5 Things you need to know about Rwanda Night and the Rwanda Exodus Conference.

1. STUDENT LED: Of the three nights we've done like this (Maasai Night, Kenya Night, Rwanda Night) Rwanda night has had the best quantity and quality of student buy-in by far. The understand the cause and they've given sacrificially of themselves significantly.
2. PRIMARY FUNDING: The Funds raised through NMC Student Ministries will serve as the primary funding for the actual event. Caleb Bislow has chosen against promoting this event through other funding streams.
3. ONE OF OUR OWN: Moody Bible Institute Freshman and NMC grad Dustin Eby played a key role in both Maasai Night and Kenya Night. This Summer, he will be playing a primary role in the Exodus conference as he will be traveling with Caleb Bislow to Rwanda.
4. AUCTION STILL GOING: The Silent Auction officially ends this Sunday Night. The items will be in the NMC Grand Hall this Sunday a.m. for live bidding. High bids will be placed online following the service, and will be the final update. Online bids will be accepted till 11:59 p.m. Sunday, February 22. If you want an item, make sure you're confident in your bid Sunday afternoon!
5. MORE TO COME: Rwanda Night only serves as the beginning in this. We will seek to continue to lay a foundation of prayer for this conference that will take place in late June. Little prayer, little power. Much prayer, much power.
   

Rwanda Night Reflections

It was an awesome night on many levels.
Hundreds of students played a role in the three-fold effort (raise awareness, prayer support, financial support).

The student leadership team did the night with excellence.

My dad's death caused me to remove myself completely from the preperation of Rwanda Night. In my absence, our staff picked up some of the responsibility, but our students did the most.

As a part helping people understand the heart of the Rwanda Exodus, we used Skype to bring Caleb Bislow live to those in attendance. It was creative and valuable. Read Caleb's thoughts as well as his responses to the questions asked here.

The Silent Auction runs through next Sunday. There are still many things available at ridiculously good deals. Check out www.rwandanight.com to bid.

Rwanda Night is Tonight

6:00 p.m. the Auction and Bake Sale are underway in our Fieldhouse.
6:30 p.m. the program kicks off in the Gym.

Our students have a plan in place that has the makings for a fun, informative, and inspirational night.

Nearly $1000 were raised through the past two nights in Dodge Ball!

There are some great things available in the Silent Auction. Go bid now. Don't wait. Help get some of this items at the point that they are "ridiculous" (and I don't mean cheap!)

Rwanda Night Silent Auction

Today I highlight 3 ridiculously great deals...

B9 - Date Night: Home Edition (Blockbuster)

Includes:

$10 Blockbuster movie card
$10 Dairy Queen gift card
IBC Root Beer & Cream Soda
Popcorn & Assorted Candies

HIGH BID - $20 (That's right, the high bid is equal to the gift cards)

J7 - Diamond Necklace

Diamond pendent necklace

Valued at approx. $300 (we took it to get appraised)

HIGH BID - $80 (yes, you read that right)

M4 - Antique Desk

Desk was purchased in 1940s & used for family business.
Dimensions: 30.5" tall, 43" wide, 22" deep

HIGH BID - $50

Head over to rwandanight.com and check everything out.

Dodgeball for the Sake of the Call

Last night was just what I needed. The new edition to our Student Ministries missions focused drive (a.k.a. Rwanda Night) was a dodgeball tournament. Monday Night was the Senior High.
The setup was simple...

• Teams of 7-11.
• Each individual has a $3 entrance fee.
• Guys and gals tournament.

The added twist was that each person on a team could buy back in to the game for $1 during each game.

The night was a huge win on several levels.

• It was fun. People laughed and played.
• It was outreach. There were several individuals who don't come to NMC who particpated.
• It raised financial support for the Rwanda Exodus... all said and done, close to $500.
• It was student initiated and led. Students came up with the idea. Kathleen (senior), Cody (Junior), and Dylan (8th Grade) put the plan together and executed it. Austin (senior) set up the sound system and got the room ready. The only adult roles were Geoff and Jeff as our refs.

The Middle School is playing tonight. I'm so stinkin' proud of our students for stepping out and getting involved in something bigger than themselves.

Enjoy the pics from the night (taken by me... I'm far from a photographer)

Posting this Week

You will likely see 2-3 daily posts from me this week. These posts will center on 2 categories.

1. My Dad.
2. Rwanda Night.

For right now, that's where my focus is. I'll share a little about those things through the blog.

We'll get back to some of the other categories in the weeks to come.

Rwanda Night Silent Auction

The auction has been underway for 24 hours. My hope and desire is that individuals who are interested in any items will go and bid ridiculous amounts on those items in light of the ministry these items will benefit.

I want to daily highlight some of the items that are being auctioned. (Go to rwandanight.com to see how you can place your bids)

Today, items out of the S (Services) category...

S6 - Paint A Room

This 12th Grade Girls Small Group will come paint a room for you!
When: Saturday, March 14th!
You provide the room & the paint...they'll provide the work!
My wife will play the role as the painting foreperson (she's a good painter)... there is currently NO BIDS on this item!

S10 - Yard/House Work for a Day

This 9th Grade Guys Small Group will donate themselves for one Saturday.
House work, yard work, you name it!
Current HIGH BID - $50 (that's ridiculous, but the wrong kind of ridiculous!)

S4 - House Cleaning

Saturday, March 21st
We will clean your entire house for you!
(All cleaning products used are environmentally safe)
Donated by 11th Grade Girls Small Group
HIGH BID - $25 (Oh my!)

S13 - Senior Picture Package

Senior Picture Package with photographer Janelle Prenkert.
Photo Folio included.

Current HIGH BID - $60 (I happen to know the photographer, she's good. This package is worth at least 3x this amount!)

Again, check out rwandanight.com to place your bid.

"If there's anything I can do to help, let me know."

This has been said at least 700 times to me over the past week. Rwanda Night is an NMC Student Ministries Event, put on by students, to come alongside a different kind of Exodus in Rwanda.
The major festivities kick off starting this Sunday, and run till next Sunday.
Caleb Bislow is the American end of the vision behind Rwanda Night.

• Caleb is one of my best friends and a strategic partner in ministry.
  
• Caleb's ministry is also something my dad and mom deeply believe(d) in, and have been very involved with.
• I would have been investing significant time this past week into the preparations for Rwanda Night.
  

How can you help? Get involved in the effort to raise the financial funds that may help usher in a disciple-making movement.

Check out rwandanight.com and bid a ridiculous amount on something. In the process, you will be helping me out, honoring my dad, and by far, most importantly, advancing the Kingdom in an amazing way.

Youtubesday - Rwanda

Here's Joseph Karasanyi. I've put this up before, but I deeply believe in what is going to be happening in Rwanda this June. I also love what our students our doing with Rwanda Night.

Perspective

I'm typing this in the back of the Gym as our 11th and 12th grade Small groups are watching Hotel Rwanda. At the close of the movie, they will be breaking down into their groups to respond to what they've seen as well as take time to brainstorm and consider how they are going to get involved with Rwanda Night.

Just watched the most significant quote in the movie. "Once people see the footage, surely there will be help!" exclaims Paul (Don Cheadle) after Jack the journalist (Joaquin Phoenix) shoots video of women and children being killed. Jack responds, "I think if people see this footage, they'll say, 'Oh my god, how horrible,' and they'll go on eating their dinners."

It's been a very crazy week including a trip to Indy, preaching two messages, a couple of key meetings, a crisis counseling session. As I watch this movie, I'm hit with a big dose of "perspective". How did we sit by and do nothing? How do we continue to sit by and do nothing? More importantly, how do I sit by and do nothing. I'm excited to say, our students (and I) have a clear path and opportunity to do something that can be beneficial now and for generations to come in the country of Rwanda.

Rwanda Night - Awareness and Program

Just met this afternoon with our team in charge of Awareness and the actual program for Rwanda Night. These guys have an excellent strategy in place for the next three weeks leading into the night as they seek to make sure every 5th-12th has a grasp on the country of Rwanda, the Exodus conference, and how they can get involved.

The also have a plan for the actual night to make it the most effective event like this yet!

I'm proud of them for the level of excitement and ownership they've taken, as well as the level of passion they have to make the purpose of the night the priority. It was cool to hear them say multiple times, "That would be really cool to do, but I'm afraid it may distract us from the ultimate goal of the night."

It's shaping up for a night where all involved will be able to say, we are partnering with an effort that is much bigger than ourselves.

Rwanda Night - The Website

Much like Maasai Night and Kenya Night, we will be running our Silent Auction both live at the church and online.

Until the auction, www.rwandanight.com is serving as a spot to help in building awareness and showing students how to get involved. Check it out to get a feel on the Rwanda Exodus project as well as what The week of Rwanda Night will look like!

Team Meeting

Just had our meeting with about 40 5th-12th Graders who are a part of the Rwanda Night leadership team. Some of the exciting statements I heard from students on how they would get involved...

• I've been taking whatever change on the dolllars I've spent and put them in my blue cup. I've already got around $7.
• I'm thinking about giving 1 or maybe 2 of my paychecks over completely to the Rwanda Project.
• I'm going to auction myself to the highest bidder for a day's work.
• Our Small Group is considering making life-sized cutouts of the NMC pastors to be auctioned off. (okay, not exciting, but creative).
  
• My dad and I are doing some wood-working for the auction.

The awareness team (communicating the mission of Rwanda Night and the Exodus Conference) and the Program Team (putting together the actual elements on the 6:30-8:00 p.m. program in the gym) were collaborating and dreaming together.

The prayer team came up with an awesome strategy that will allow for Rwanda Night to be a launch into a continuing prayer effort for the Country and the Exodus conference.

The Dodge Ball Tournament team was online, looking at the NADA (National Amateur Dodgball Association) site to determine how to go about forming the tournament. (I'm excited about this addition to the lineup)

The Decoration team was walking throughout the gym... visualizing and dreaming.

The Silent Auction team was talking through the huge undertaking that lies ahead for them.

The Bake Sale team was talking through promotion and collecting.

The setup team was looking to see how and where they could be of assistance to any and all team.

Pumped up! Love seeing kids catch a vision. Love seeing them dream. Love when it's all about advancing the Kingdom.

A Blue Cup and Advancing the Kingdom

It started in '06 with the "What If?" Question.
What if NMC Student Ministries Senior High took part in an effort to share God's story to a tribe halfway around the world?
Our Senior High students answered the "What If?" with Maasai Night in January, 2007.
The students' efforts on the night made an entire church aware of the Maasai Project, raised over $15,000, brought in a prayer army to lift up the "scouting team" that went into Maasailand in April, and inspired other churches to join in the journey.
In February 2008, our 5th-12th students joined in to make Kenya Night happen.
The night raised over $25,000 for the Maasai Project and the AGC Baby Center both in Kenya. It helped get the Maasai Project to the point where the Exodus Conference could take place mobilizing 30 Maasai Church Planters and Evangelists into the bush of Kenya to begin a disciple making movement that is still seeing significant fruit to this day!

This year, we have been given the opportunity to continue in a partnership with Caleb Bislow and Unusual Soldiers as they head into the country of Rwanda. The hope is to mobilize a group of 20-30 church planters to get into some of the unreached regions of the country that recently went through one of the more horrific genocides in human history.

We've pulled together the students to dream up and plan out the night. As a product of those meetings, we concluded that the past goals of Maasai and Kenya Night can and should be the same for Rwanda Night....

1. Raise Awareness.
2. Raise Prayer Support.
3. Raise Financial Support.

It was also concluded that our focus be three-fold to best accomplish that goal this year...

1. We continue to do well what we've done well (the elements of silent auction, bake sale, talent show... get Small Groups and Workshops involved)
2. We step up our game in raising awareness (people are aware of Rwanda's history and culture, as well as grasping what the Rwanda Exodus Conference is and looks like)
3. Students give sacrificially ("give till it hurts")

This past Sunday, we pulled all 5th-12th grade together to work on the Awareness side. We shared a little with students on where we've been in the past, what Rwanda Night is all about now, and invited them to get involved.

At the close, we invited those students involved to take a blue plastic Meijer Cup (not Solo, the Meijer cups were cheaper) and place a label on it with our Rwanda Night logo. The cup is to serve as a reminder of the call to "give sacrificially" as individuals. Students can use that cup to collect money and bring it in the week before the night.
We're excited to see where God takes us on this journey. There's some new twists and turns to this one, but I believe the story of Rwanda Night may likely end up being more about the significance of the sacrificial involvment and giving of students over the size.

Omaha Airport Thoughts...

Just finished up two days of dreaming with Caleb Bislow and 3 other guys. The main focus was Unusual Soldiers... the ministry of Caleb Bislow. At the same time, I've been encouraged, challenged, and recharged.

I need Jesus in my life more than anything else. But I also need Caleb Bislow in my life. He challenges and reminds me that it's worth "risking it all for the sake of the call." He reminds me that there is a world full of people on their way to hell, and we need to do what we need to do something about that. He reminds me that there are those Christ Followers out there who will run in toward the people and places everyone else will run from. He reminds me that it's all about Listening, Following, and Obeying Christ. He is PASSION, VISION, and COURAGE in action.

This guy is the real deal. I love the partnership that has formed between us. I'm excited to see where God continues to take us.