Hello all,
The last few months have been over-the-top incredible! God is doing so much in our lives and on the campus at ICC.
Kailee is now half way through the pregnancy! Our little baby is growing healthy and dancing all around in mommy’s tummy. We are so excited and expectant as we continue to pray and ask God for His dreams for this baby, and grace to be godly parents. What a fun new season of life. PRAY FOR US!! đ
Leading Worship @ the "Fall Breakthrough 2011" Conference
The Lord has also really been moving powerfully on the campus. Many students are encountering Jesus and getting revelation in to the knowledge of God (Eph. 1:17-19) Just this past Friday, a student at ICC – Ryan Kirby – gave his life to Jesus for the 1st time! He has grown up in a Christian church, but has only known Jesus as a Savior and not as Lord (boss) of his life. After realizing he had never surrendered his life to the Lord, he decided to count the cost and make this life-transforming decision! Read the following answers he gave when asked these questions:
Q. What was your life like before Jesus?
A. Pretty much, I was the god of my life. I was rebellious, looked at pornography. I had hate in my heart…anger issues. Giving up on school..not listening to my parents. AND cursing!
Q. Why did you need to surrender your whole life to Jesus and choose to follow Him?
A. Because I should have accepted Him long ago…It is good for Jesus to be the Boss, so that He can shape us as He wants. We are the creation of His own eye. Also, I have been a straying sheep and have been walking towards destruction (Is. 53:6).
Q. Who is Jesus Christ?
A. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. Eternal life is found when we believe in Him. He is my best friend – and you know what, He wants to be everybody’s best friend!
Q. What is the Bible?
A. The Bible is..hmm..well it is not God’s rule book, but it is the plate of Jesus. We sit at a table with Him and listen to His Word. This washes us clean and then we take what He teaches us and eat it by applying it to our lives.
Q. When you are tempted to go back to old choices and bad decisions, what are you going to do?
A. I am going to pray to Jesus that He will take control of me. In Matt. 4:10, Jesus says to the enemy, “…Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve. ‘”
WOW! AMAZING!! Thank You Lord!
>>Please be praying for God to grow Ryan in his faith and commitment to Christ, and to give him a love for the Word!
Each week in the Bible study on campus, we have been going through different key teachings on how to walk with God. This past Wednesday I shared with the group about the power of God’s Word and how Jesus is revealed therein. He is the living Word and Truth! John 1:14 says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” In Jesus dwells all the fullness of God (Col. 2:9). He alone is the revelation of God to man (Heb. 1:3). He is also the Word of God (John 1:1). Therefore, the way to meet God and walk in relationship with Him is through fellowship and interaction with the truths of God’s Word – the Bible! What a glorious revelation. We can have communion with the uncreated God!
What is our part? How does God ask us to take action? Isaiah 55 gives us 3-steps of action as it applies to our relationship with God, made possible through the work of Jesus Christ, and available by the power of the indwelling Spirit.
Isaiah 55:1-2 â…Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, COME, BUY and EAT. Yes, come, buy wine (joy, pleasures of God – Ps. 16:11) and milk (nourishment, sustenance) without money and without price (this is not natural food, but spiritual, God-given food). Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”
The LORD declares through the prophet Isaiah that there is a very broad invitation to abundant life. Anyone and everyone who is thirsty and hungry can be filled and satisfied (Matt. 5:6). But what is the requirement to enter in to this life?
1. COME – we must actually set apart time in our schedules to focus on deliberately seeking God through prayer and reading the Word. Quality connections and quantities of time build deep and lasting relationships with others – it is no different in our relationship with the Lord.
2. BUY – not only do we need to spend time cultivating our relationship with the Lord, we must “listen carefully” to Him or “buy”. This is the hard part but is so crucial. It takes a listening and attentive ear to hear! “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says…”
3. EAT – the third step in this process is to actually feast on God’s Words that He speaks to us! A dear friend of mine says that reading and hearing the truths of God’s word without meditating on them and applying them to our daily lives, is like studying a restaurant menu but never actually eating and enjoying the food!
TRUE LIFE IS FOUND IN THE WORD. Jesus says in Matt. 4:4 and Luke 4:4, “…man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” This is such an interesting and powerful statement. Jesus is literally saying that human beings, by design, cannot live in fullness of life on this earth without feasting on the Word of God. If I am eating food each day, but I am not eating God’s Word, I may be walking around laughing, talking and doing daily life – BUT I AM NOT ALIVE!
I highly recommend this teaching from Mike Bickle – “How to ‘Pray-Read’ the Word”. This is a teaching I have personally applied to my life and taught to others. The truths contained in this teaching are transforming!
May we be a people of God that have a commitment to spending time coming to the Lord, and listening to His Word! Oh that we would encounter Jesus – for this is eternal life!
John 17:3 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
Blessings,
David
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REVIVE me according to Your WORD
UPDATE:Well, it has been a few months since I have posted a new blog. I guess I have been a little busy this summer – gettin’ hitched and all :). Some more good news, the Ackerman’s are being fruitful and multiplying! The wonderful wife and I are expecting our first child on March 27th, 2012! Watch out world, a new revivalist is coming your way to bring the glory of God!
Talking with students @ ICC Activities Fair
It is great to be back on campus ministering to students. The students coming around the ministry this semester are so hungry for God’s truths and His transformation in their lives. It has been amazing to get to shepherd and watch so many young hearts that are desperate for more of Jesus. What a joy to go after the greatest commandment with a group of college students desiring to love God with all of their heart, soul, mind, and strength! There are 6 new guys and 4 new girls getting plugged in to our small group discipleship program out at ICC. This group has been an awesome avenue in which to grow in love for the Word and God’s character as well seeing His power manifested in our lives as believers.
Kailee and I have also had the privilege to pour in to the lives of the 4 student leaders for Chi Alpha on ICC (Chase Childs, Brandon Robertson, Kaity Vance, and Kelly Gauwitz). We have been meeting monthly and studying through some great books as a leadership team. So challenging! (“A Tale of Three Kings” and “Humility“)
ENCOURAGING WORD: So, as I write tonight, there is a burden on my heart for my own life and ministry, as well as this nation. We need revival…
…But what is revival? What is renewal? What is it that we, as Christians, talk about so frequently and pray for regularly in our meetings? What is transformation? Simply this, A TURNING BACK TO THE WORD OF GOD and His truth.
What does America need? What do our cities need? What does the government need? What does the college campus need? What do our families need? A WHOLEHEARTED TURNING OF GOD’S PEOPLE BACK TO HIS WORD.
Ps. 119:107 “I am afflicted very much; revive me, O LORD, according to Your Word.”
The Word is the foundation and fountainhead from which all of the intents and beauties of God’s heart flow forth and manifest on earth – salvation, His love, the blessings, His miracle power, His character and nature, etc. He has exalted His Word above His very name (Ps. 138:2).
Oh people of God, let us turn back with our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to give us such a hunger and desire for His Word and His precepts that it would surpass all other loves and idols.
Oh that we would get up early and read His word every day. Lord make me as committed to Your Word as I am to eating food and drinking water!
Blessings friends,
David
Prayer Needs:
-Healthy pregnancy!!
-Weekly Discipleship Small Group at ICC – Mondays Noon-1:30
-Weekly Bible Study on Campus at ICC – Wednesdays Noon-1 (cafeteria fellowship follows)
-Men and Women’s Discipleship Vision Casting – this Saturday, Oct. 1st @ 10am
-Cookout and hang out with students – Saturday, Oct. 8th
–Faith Healing and Deliverance Conference in October with Dale Crall and Evelyn Gipson
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The end of the spring semester has come, and summer is here (the wedding in only 29 days away..hallelujah thank You Jesus). It is hard to believe I have already been ministering with the Lord as a Chi Alpha Campus Missionary for 1 full year! God has done amazing things on campus this year, and He is zealous to win the love and affections of young people in this generation. Last week we finished our final Wednesday Bible study of the semester at ICC looking in to Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 as He gives a parable on cultivating intimacy with God in the final hour of this age.
Wednesday Bible Study @ ICC
Then (the end of the age) the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom (Mt. 25:1).
Jesus makes it clear that the end of the age paradigm and function of the kingdom of God and His people will be that of a coming Bridegroom. Jesus, the Bridegroom God, desires a pure and spotless companion. He is coming back with passion and fire in His eyes to remove everything that hinders love on the earth between Him and His purchased Bride – the Church. He is not a distant, angry and mean God who judges harshly, but a passionate Bridegroom who wants wholehearted affection and love, and will not settle for anything less.
2Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps (Matt. 25:2-4).
The parable of the wise and foolish virgins hinges around a simple principle – wisdom at the end of the age is not defined as having a lamp or ministry that sheds the light of Jesus, but by acquiring oil by actively connected to God in relationship. Each of these virgins had a lamp – which speaks of a ministry that brings Godâs light to others. God’s warning is that the wise can become foolish if they neglect to continue to cultivate intimacy with Jesus.
8The foolish said to the wise, âGive us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.â 9The wise answered, âNo, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves. 10While they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, âLord, Lord, open to us!â 12He answered, âAssuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.â (Mt. 25:9-12)
George Seeking God in the Prayer Room @ ICC
“This passage is not a warning about losing salvation. Jesus neither knew nor recognized them as those who engaged with Him as the Bridegroom. When Jesus said, âI do not know you,â He was describing their lack of intimacy with Him, not their lack of salvation…The Jewish wedding custom involved celebrating for several nights (ideally seven nights for a wealthy family). Those closest to the married couple were invited on the first night and subsequently on the following nights. Only those who were ready by being close to the Bridegroom went in to the celebration on the first night and, therefore, the nights that followed. This (parable) speaks of those who will be prepared to be powerfully used by God in the end-time revival, culminating at the wedding supper of the Lamb (Rev. 19:7-9)” – Mike Bickle, IHOP-KC.
What a powerful challenge from the Lord to set ourselves apart to that which will remain and be rewarded! I was challenged, along with the students in Chi Alpha at ICC, to take this summer as an opportunity to seek the Lord and get oil in our lamps.
Grace and peace as you set your heart to do the same,
David
Prayer Requests:
God’s wisdom for the summer planning meeting with ICC students – Thurs. May 19th
Grace for each student over the summer to stay in God’s Word and living for His Kingdom
Monday Prayer Room at ICC – worship and prayer all summer Noon-3pm
Sunday Night Prayer Room at the Chi Alpha House – worship and prayer all summer 5-9pm
Weekly Discipleship with Dave and Chase on Fridays
God’s anointing and presence at Kailee and I’s wedding!!
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The semester is more than half over! It has been 3 great months of seeing God bring His transforming truth to many lives on campus. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
Katie, Jordan, Ben, and Kelly after the Weekly Monday Prayer Room Meeting
2 weeks ago, from March 10-12, we as a ministry took 46 people down to Carbondale, IL for “Discover the Nations” – an annual conference on discipleship hosted by Chi Alpha and Calvary Campus Church on SIU’s Campus. It was a powerful weekend with a line up of international speakers (www.discoverthenations.com). The thing that was such a blessing about the conference were the testimonies of each speaker on how yielding wholeheartedly to Jesus has brought forth true fruit that remains in their lives (Jn. 15:16). Jesus’ model of discipleship isn’t about building a big ministry, but about building big people. After coming home, we all are refreshed and excited about the call to make disciples and see God’s word magnified in and through us (Mt. 28:18-20). Apart from Him we can do nothing, but nothing is impossible with Christ in us our hope of glory!
This past week, Chi Alpha Peoria hosted a team from the University of Illinois Chicago. Todd Lucas, campus missionary with Chi Alpha in Chicago, brought a team of 7 students and 1 volunteer for a week of evangelism and seeking the Lord with us here on the campuses in Peoria. It was a very powerful week! It started Wednesday night on Bradley’s campus. Todd spoke on true and false repentance and how we must yield fully to God on His terms in order to be saved. The Holy Spirit brought much conviction and many responded to the call to make Jesus their Lord. The next two days, the team did evangelistic outreach at both Bradley and Illinois Central College with our students. 8 souls gave their lives to Jesus! We rejoice will all of heaven as new lives have been brought in! Pray for God to give grace to these fresh believers to stay connected to the body of Christ, and to get a love for the Word of God that will keep them for a lifetime. Also pray for Monica Rodriguez, our Chi Alpha campus missionary on Bradley’s campus, who took a missions team to Spain for a week, arrived home late Monday night, and then hosted the UIC team all week!
With just over a month left of the Spring semester, there is much work that God wants to do!
Please pray for:
-God’s direction at the weekly Wednesday Bible study on ICC’s campus
-Deep growth in God’s Word for each student in Chi Alpha
-Greater effectiveness in reaching the lost for Jesus
-Wisdom and direction for the worship team that I help to lead
-I have been given the privilege to speak at a student chapel at Peoria Christian High School on April 14th. I am very honored for this opportunity, but I know that God’s Word and Presence are the only thing that can change lives
-Vision for Kailee and I as we begin a new life together! (76 more days till we tie the knot!)
Grace and peace to you through our Lord Jesus,
David
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A New Year Begins…
…HOW WILL WE BUILD IN 2011? 2010 was a great year. God did so much in my life and on the campus in the lives of students. What an honor to be partnering with the Lord as He brings His truth and kingdom to this generation.
Kailee and I at the Christmas Party with two ICC student leaders - Kelly and Jordan
As I have freshly entered in to 2011 and a new semester on the campus, the Lord has been striking my heart with powerful yet costly truth. The first Bible study on ICC’s campus started last Wednesday. Nearly 30 students attended the 2 meetings. As I was preparing a study and notes for the group, I was centering around the parable of the two builders found in Matt. 7:24. Jesus finishes one of His most powerful teachings – the Sermon on the Mount – with a parable of two men who build their houses (lives) on two foundations. Jesus is equating our response to hearing His word to building a house. A wise man builds on the rock, and his house stands through the storms. A foolish man builds on the sand, and his house falls with a great fall during the storms. The message is simple yet very intense and filled with conviction. Jesus defines wisdom as the following: hearing His words and doing them. Jesus defines foolishness as the following: hearing His words and not doing them. My question to my own heart and the students at the study was simple – ARE WE CONTENT WITH HEARING TRUTH AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT GOD, OR DO WE ACTUALLY APPLY GOD’S WORD TO OUR LIVES? This is wisdom defined.
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ICC Prayer Room - Chase leading worship
So what is so hard about walking in wisdom? Following Jesus means death to self and life by the Spirit. His wisdom is a sharp two-edged sword that judges us at the deepest level and shows us our wickedness and rebellion before a perfect and holy God and His ways (Heb. 4:12). If we respond in agreement with His word and let His word stand over us as judge, the power of His love by the Holy Spirit can fill our lives and transform us (Rom 5:5). If we resist His truth, we will find great ruin.
Jesus’ call is simple – say “yes” to Me and My words.
Bless you all,
David
Upcoming Events to keep in Prayer:
- Monday Prayer Room on campus – Noon-3
- Wednesday Bible Study – 11-Noon, 1-2
- Discover the Nations Discipleship Conference – March 10-12
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There’s gonna be a wedding…
…it’s the reason why I am living, to marry the Lamb. Rev. 19:7 “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”
Throughout all of Scripture we see the central theme of God is the full redemption and restoration of the relationship between heaven and earth (Eph. 1:9-10). The fall of Adam and Eve brought about a great separation between God and His creation. Through the chosen nation of Israel, God’s strategy was to re-establish His relationship with man through a covenant people that would showcase His leadership to all the nations. As Israel rebelled, the Lord over and over referred to their turning away as committing “harlotry”. He calls His people back to Himself with a plea of a Husband to a wife. Jer. 3:14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the LORD; “for I am married to you…”
When Jesus came to earth as the full representation of God to man (Heb. 1:3), He referred to Himself as a bridegroom and used parable after parable of the kingdom of God in relation to a wedding. He used a wedding celebration as the stage to demonstrate His very first miracle, when He turned water to wine. Burning in the heart of Jesus is a desire for a Bride. The full redemption of God will be revealed when He returns to the earth and removes everything that keeps Him from His Bride – the Church. In the day of the Lord’s return, there will be a global understanding among the people of God of Him as their Husband. Hos. 2:16 “And is shall be, in that day,” says the Lord, “that you will call Me ‘My Husband’ and no longer call Me ‘My Master.'” Rev. 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’…”
The greatest picture of the redemption of God is revealed through marriage. He has chosen this relationship to showcase His heart of selfless love. Praise the Lord that He has allowed me to enter in to this joy! On November 18th, Kailee and I got engaged! What an honor to enter in to a new stage of life that is focused on revealing God’s glory.
Kailee and I after getting engaged on 11.18!
Along with getting engaged and planning a wedding I have also been staying busy on the campus! God has done amazing things this semester. Next week is the last scheduled prayer room and Bible study at ICC, but it feels like just the beginning! A couple weeks ago on a Wednesday night, we had a student planning meeting at my house. As we met together in a group of 12 or so students, we began to pray and ask God for His vision for the Spring semester and how He wanted to move on ICC’s campus. As we prayed, many of us began to feel His presence and get a greater burden for the campus. The Lord was speaking strategy and plans as to how He wants to release His holiness and zeal in our group that leads to wholeheartedness and a light to others. It was a very powerful evening and God was so faithful to give us fresh vision for next semester! The anticipation and excitement of the Lord’s plans is awakening a fresh desire in the hearts of the students. Keep praying for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done – that the knowledge of the glory of God would be revealed on the campus in the beautiful face of Christ Jesus.
Over Thanksgiving break, I was able to take a group of 6 students to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City for the weekend. We had many powerful hours in the prayer room of seeking God’s face and crying out for His plans in our generation along with wonderful times of fellowship together. Praise God for safe travel and good weather! Be praying for continued growth and maturity of the many students that are plugging in to Chi Alpha on the campus. That we would have a zeal for God that is mixed with a maturity and fruitful life unto the glory of Jesus.
Be blessed and filled with the affections of Christ,
David
Upcoming Events to keep in prayer:
-Ministry Wide Christmas Party – Tonight at 5pm
-Next Week’s Monday Prayer Room and Wednesday Bible Study
-Ski trip with International students – Dec. 18th-19th
-End of the year SALT conference – Dec. 29th-Jan 1. We as Peoria Chi Alpha will be leading the 24 hour prayer room that runs during the conference and fuels the different events and speakers.
-Weekly Friday Discipleship Meeting with Dave and Chase
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One Thing Is Needed…
…the good part which will not be taken away.
The semester is flying by and there is a lot to do. But the kindness of the Lord keeps drawing me back to this understanding – only one thing in life is needed. “This is my success, to love You and be loved by You.” All the law and the prophets – the entirety of Scripture Jesus said is summed up in one revelation – love. Christianity is simply this: love God with all one’s heart soul mind and strength and then let Him release that love through one’s self to others. That’s it. Not where we go. Not what we do.
There has been so many amazing things happening on the campus. So many hearts are getting encountered with the love of Jesus. Fresh revelation is striking hearts and drawing many into deeper relationship with the Son of God. But why…What is God’s desire? That we would serve Him? That we would reach the nations for Him? No, His desire is simply – LOVE ME. ALL I WANT IS LOVE. ALL I WANT IS YOU. Oh God, let the simplicity of my heart connect to this reality. It isn’t what I can DO for God, but what I can BE in God.
Luke 10:38-42 “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesusâ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, âLord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.â 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, âMartha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.â
As I have previously written, every Monday from noon-3 I help with the student run prayer room at Illinois Central College along with a student worship set Sunday evenings from 8:30-10 at the Chi Alpha House. There are 2 prayer sets at ICC with 1 set each week focused on taking a passage of Scripture and developing it through praying and responsive singing from the worship team. The passage chosen for the semester is Psalm 27. Each week the team of students I have been worshiping with has been singing through vs. 4 and 8.
“One thing I have desired of the LORD, that will I seek:Â that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple…When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, LORD, I will seek.'”
It has been such a blessing to meditate and sing back to the Lord these key verses written by King David. Ali, a ICC student who has been chorus leading for the team, sang a powerful chorus a few weeks ago. “You have formed these eyes to see Your beauty, You have formed these lips to sing Your praise, let me behold You!” God has been meeting us and realigning us with the truth that He simply wants our weak but real love. That’s it! This is key to happy christian living – being one of God’s, not working for Him.
Love you all,
David
Key Prayer Needs:
Dr. Gunnar Dieckmann – “Evidence of a Creator: How Science Reveals God” – Wed. Oct. 27th – Pray for the truth of God’s word to bring revelation
Harvest Party! – Sat. Oct. 30th – Pray for anointed fellowship and fun
XA Prayer Room – Every Sunday – 5:30pm -10pm – Pray that God would release His presence to heal and change lives
ICC Prayer Room – Every Monday – Noon – 3 -Pray that God would breakthrough on the campus
ICC Bible Study – Every Wednesday – Noon-2 – “And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
Discipleship – Every Friday – I meet with Dave, Greg and Chase. Pray for God to bring true and lasting fruit in our lives (Jn. 15)
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…than we can ever ask or imagine! The first few weeks of the school semester have started off great. God is doing so much on the campuses in Peoria and is changing lives. As I previously shared, I have been working primarily out at Illinois Central College in East Peoria. We have been having 2 meetings each week out on campus: a weekly 3-hour prayer room with worship and prayer mixed together each Monday from noon-3pm, and a Bible study from 12-12:50 and 1-1:50. During the first few weeks of the Bible study, I have felt the Lord highlight the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7) as a teaching point. We as a group have been studying this passage from the perspective of God the Father and His heart and plans for us through the standards laid out in these chapters. It starts out in verses 3-12 with “blessed are the…blessed are the…blessed are the…” This passage known as the beatitudes gives 9 ways to be blessed in this life. Wow! The very way that Jesus introduces the most intense and highest standard of holiness and godliness, He starts with expressing His heart behind the teaching – He wants us to be blessed! He wants us to be happy! In fact, the word beatitude in Latin literally means “blessedness: a state of supreme happiness.” What a kind God to serve – He has our best interest in mind!
We have had between 25-30 students coming each week to the meetings! Praise God for the lives He will touch this year. Be praying for the seed of the Word sown in hearts to find good soil and to bear 100-fold fruit that brings glory to the Father.
Last Wednesday evening we had a big student outreach held on Bradley’s campus. Special guest speaker Dale Crall, Chi Alpha campus pastor and international church pastor in Carbondale, IL., came and spoke on “Shining Light on Blacks in the Bible.” It was an awesome night of insight and revelation. Many hearts got touched and there were those who committed their lives to Jesus as Savior!
Keep praying and asking God for His increase. Key requests in this time:
- I am starting a discipleship group this Friday with Dave, Chase and Greg. Prayer for the truth of God’s Word to set our hearts free.
- Greater momentum on ICC’s campus and a boldness on Christian students to minister the love and Gospel of Jesus
- Wisdom on how to minister to each students’ needs – that the Lord would show the keys to hearts
- CELLebration meeting Wed, Sept. 29 with all the Peoria Area Chi Alpha students – focused on exalting and praising Jesus for His goodness
- Pray for God to raise up a dorm Bible Study on ICCs campus.
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It’s officially underway…
The school semester has started and the heartbeat of God for this generation is thundering. Illinois Central College, with the main campus located in East Peoria, IL has begun another semester of classes. The different ICC campuses have a student population of 14,000. Day 1 of classes began Mon. Aug. 23rd (also the birthday of my wonderful brother Tommie Ackerman. But that is a different subject all together. He is a 1/4 of a century. Old dude). I was out on campus with a bunch of students from Chi Alpha and we welcomed incoming students to the campus with a free donut (donated by local Dunkin Donuts shops. http://www.dunkindonuts.com). We were also able to hand out fliers with our meeting times and locations.
As student after student after student walked by, I was just feeling the love of God for this generation. Truly God’s desire is for every heart to know who He is and to encounter His love. There are so many faces, styles, ethnic backgrounds, stories…each student has a different life. Only the Maker knows each heart. Oh that His desire would touch their lives!
Tomorrow will be our first meeting on campus. At noon, students will gather for a Bible study. I will be leading a teaching from 12-12:50 and again from 1-1:50. Pray that the students would meet the Person of Jesus – the living and active Word. On Monday, Aug. 30th, we will be meeting for the first Prayer Room of the semester. There will be two worship and prayer times during the 12-3 Prayer Room each week. The worship teams are student led teams of young adults who love the Lord and want to give Him the glory due His Name. As we pray and worship He will be glorified on campus! Ps. 29:2 “Give unto the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
Greg and I after an intense wilderness hike đ
In the picture to the left is Greg, an incoming freshman to ICC. He is a man of God who is hungry for deeper things. He will be one of the Worship Leaders in the Prayer Room on campus. Last week, we went on an intense hike through Forest Park Nature center in Peoria with my good friend Nicholas Roth (a.k.a. Rothchild, Rothbomb…or any other great name you choose). It actually was only 1 3/4 of a mile, but we were famished afterwords and enjoyed Little Caesars pizza and a Subway sandwich. We had a great time talking about life and about the Lord. We chatted about the necessity of getting understanding and vision of His great plans for our lives. Pray for Greg that God would mark him with destiny this year and touch him with His love.
Well, for now, I’m signing off. God bless!
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Where is the place of MY REST?
As I have returned to Peoria and been adjusting to a new schedule and back to my home ministry, the Lord keeps drawing me back to the same thing…HE WANTS A RESTING PLACE – individually and corporately.
As American’s we are busy busy busy. Always running to and fro. As I have been raising my team of supporters this summer, I have found myself making phone calls, setting up meetings, and sitting down with many wonderful friends and sharing the vision God has put on my heart for this generation. But as I stay busy, I keep hearing the still small voice of the Lord – “I want you as my resting place.” (Is. 66:1-2)
God is looking for corporate places and individual people in which He can establish His kingdom and love. He is more concerned about our hearts being fully knit to His in communion than He is about the works we can do for Him. In all of the chaos and busy pace of life, He is looking for those who will spend time and sit at His feet (Luke 10:38-42). Jesus at His first coming came to establish His kingdom in the hearts of men, and at His second coming will establish His kingdom in a literally physical reality in all the nations of the earth. He wants to share Himself and all His character fully with man.
Ministry Update:
- I have had the privilege of meeting every other Wednesday this summer with a group of Illinois Central College (ICC) students in the place of prayer, worship, and the Word. It has been a wonderful time of fellowship with the Lord together. We have been strategizing for the next semester and asking God what His plan is for the campus! We will be having a prayer room on the campus each Monday from 12-3 and will be asking for a release of the knowledge of God on the campus.
- The upcoming school semester begins in 3 weeks! Pray for a breakthrough of God’s Spirit this year on the campus and for many young adults to come to know the love of Jesus!
- Every other Friday and Monday I am leading and playing with a worship team at Hilltop Campus Church and our Monday Night prayer meeting! It has been an awesome opportunity and God has been meeting us with His presence!
- We had a Chi Alpha student planning meeting July 22-23! It was a ton of fun being together and the Lord gave us some great ideas for the upcoming year.
Love you guys. Have an awesome week!
David
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