Speaking Schedule For Rwanda

God is going to do something great on this trip... I know it! Right before we left, my tickets for the entire trip were mysteriously deleted by the airline. After two hours of diligent searching and trying to restore the problem, customer service was going to give up. I was told I was going to have to fly on different flights and by myself. Well, what they didn't know was what a big God I have. I persisted they kept trying for I was confident I was going to be with my team.  What do you know - low and behold - the one true God is again reigning victorious and I am on all the same flights with the team.

So this is now the running joke with the SWIM team. "At least Shug has a ticket." Currently, we are in Amsterdam, should I be surprised they are having trouble finding my ticket and confirmation number? Two more legs of our trip until we get to Rwanda and the joke of Shug's mysteriously missing tickets continues...

For a unique perspective of our trip may I also encourage you to follow Sammy the founder of SWIM Ministries and his posts at www.swimministry.com

We are currently in Amsterdam on a 8 hour layover and I wanted to send you an updated schedule of our team's speaking events. How I depend on your prayers for these life-changing events. Our last day is next Sunday, (the schedule is difficult to read) it is when I will be "prayerfully" granted permission to go into the prisons to preach. Again, I feel confident God will prevail.

Thank you Lord for your continued protection and sense of humor. "For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength!"

Stay tuned...  Love, Shug

Mission Field	Times	Saturday 4	Sunday 5	Monday 6	Tuesday 7	Wednesday 8	Thursday 9	Friday 10	Saturday 11	Sunday 12
	7 :30am	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast	Breakfast
RUSIZI  District  The city of CYANGUGU  Kamembe	8:00am - 1:00pm	Fly to Kamembe	Churches	Pastors meeting / Rest	Pastors  School Of Evangelism ( SOE )	Pastors School Of Evangelism ( SOE)	Womens Conference/ Pastors SOE	Womens Conference	Community Work                  ( Umuganda) Orphanage Ministry	Outreaches in Prisons Churches Schools
	1:00pm - 2:00		Break	Break	Break	Businessmen Outreach	Businessmen Outreach	Businessmen Outreach		Jesus celebration parade
	2:00- 5:30pm	Rest	Revival Crusade Stadium KAMEMBE	Open air Preaching In 13 Zones	Open air Preaching Zones	Open air Preaching Zones	Open air Preaching in Zones	Open air Preaching in Zones	Revival Youth Crusade Stadium KAMEMBE	Revival Crusade Stadium KAMEMBE
	5:30 -6:00pm			Jesus Film	Jesus Film	Jesus Film	Jesus Film	Jesus Film	Top Leaders Evangelistic Dinner	Debrief/ Pack/ Prepare to leave

  Rwanda - rusizi MISSION FOR JESUS August 5 -12, 2012

Postings From Rwanda

Dear Friends,


Today is the day - my life verse is coming true; "Here I am Lord, send me!" Isaiah 6:8.


I am leaving tonight for Rusizi district of Africa (dark red on map) until August 14th! 


I am experiencing many emotions: excited, nervous, anxious, overwhelmed, blessed and most of all I feel God's anointing! 

I could really use prayers for God's divine words to flow through me as I put the finishing touches on my talks for Africa. I have researched, prayed and have felt God's guidance - now I just need to finalize them on paper. 

It is through your prayers that God's power is released... 

• God would multiply the time in my life so I can thoroughly prepare.
• I would be protected from any of the enemies schemes.
• We would have clear access into the Rwandan prisons.
• That I would be teaching from the overflow of the Holy Spirit in my life.
• God would call the lost, lonely and unsaved to hear the gospel message.
• I would have a supernatural love for the listeners.
• God's anointing and power would be on me as I share the gospel in the churches, open air preaching and prisons.
• As a result of God's mighty power, thousands would cross over from eternal death to everlasting life.
• Our whole team would be used for noble purposes to further His Kingdom!

Many of you have asked that I post my adventures from this God adventure. Please stay tuned to this blog (or become a member to this site and you will get posts to your email) I will post whenever I have access to WIFI.

I know that this is a lot - but I have a BIG GOD! Yahoo!

Much love,

Shug

Really God... Prisons In Rwanda Africa?

Hello Rwanda?

Why does God give us this craving... a heart to love the lost, mercy to heal the hurting and a calling to share the Good News with the unsaved of this world?

Could it be because Jesus warns us about the final judgment in Matthew 25? "I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me."

So am I to understand Christ receives the treatment we give to others?  "I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."
Then Jesus gives us a kicker at the end of this passage... "Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Very sobering isn't it?

What's the bottom line here?  I think James hits us over the head and mirrors this very thought in Jame 2; "Faith without deeds is dead," "Hey Shug, what good is your faith if you don't show Christ's love through your actions? Basically, what you do to other's - you are doing to Christ.

Peer with me into His perfect Word, do you see God's mercy and love saturated from cover to cover? "God's displays His love for us in action?" If you just love someone from a distance, in your head and you never act upon that love... what good is it? God shows us day-in and day-out that love is an action.

What good is your faith if you sit in your chair and read? 
"MOVE AWAY FROM YOUR COMFORT ZONE"  - Together lets show Christ's love through our actions!

• Come with me...  as I go to Rwanda, Africa and join Shine On The World International Ministries (S.W. I. M.) Ministries. 
• Come with me... as we preach in the prisons, churches, open air events and leaders conferences. 
• Come with me... as I am desperate for your prayers.
• Come with me... and partner prayerfully and financially with S.W.I.M. (see below link) to bring hope to the lost, hurting and unsaved.                http://www.swimministry.org/ 

Many of you have requested that I blog short updates and prayer requests during our Rwanda trip from August 1st - August 14th.  May we all have a front row seat to watch God in action, as people cross over from eternal death to everlasting life!

Yahoo - this is indeed going to be quite the joy ride!



All For His Glory!
Shug

Prison Ministry: Breathless in Colorado

MAJESTIC! I have just returned from the beautiful Rocky Mountains in Estes Park, where I was attending the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference www.writehisanswer.com.

As a first time attender, I was initially intimated by the enormous task that I believe God has placed on my heart. Completion of the book (working title), "Rock'n The Rebels":  Revitalizing Church In Women's Prisons.

Throughout the four days I met with authors, agents and various publishing houses. The prestigious speakers not only encouraged and inspired me, but also challenged my call to "Write His Answer." This is a tough topic for a tough audience. A select few are called to prison ministry, but for those who are... we need to rise up and serve God with excellence!

Was I overwhelmed with this publishing beast? Embarrassingly yes. It hit me while I was walking outside from one session to the next. There I was looking down at the sidewalk becoming more deflated with each step I took. I was blinded by the light of my immure abilities against such accomplished writers. It was like comparing young David against the mammoth Goliath. Unexpectedly, I stopped mid stride, I could feel the doubt quickly suffocating my future. (Or perhaps that was the high altitude making me breathless?) I raised my eyes to see where I was going and there it was... right in front of me was this incredible masterpiece I was truly seeing for the first time...

The majesty of God's creation. Why do we miss what is so obviously right in front of us? This should be a great visual reminder for all of us as God gently comforts us; "Don't worry, surrender to this process to Me." "Allow Me, the Creator Himself, to move whatever mountains are in front of you... if it is My will, it will be done!"

May I encourage you that this is not a passive process nor an excuse to hide behind your faith. We must have faith and work together WITH Christ. Not too long ago, God impressed on my heart; "Get the book done!"




How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God Reigns!"  Isaiah 52:7

Confidently in Christ,

Shug

Stuck In A Rut? BIG God... BIG Dreams... BIG Expectations!

STUCK IN A RUT?

With prison ministry (or any other ministry) you are called and equipped by God... you are part of a hand-picked team... but now you find your team is "stuck in a rut".

(Definition of RUT: A routine or pattern of behavior that has become dull and unproductive.)

Dull, lifeless and flat-lining... I have seen time and time again, ministries that are relying on what happened in the past. The Apostle Paul was always looking for new ways to share the gospel and encourage his "team" of churches. He wrote passionately to them, he encouraged them, traveled to them, spent time with them, sent fellow disciples to train them and most importantly - he prayed for them.

God is far from boring, He is always creating something new. Shouldn't our ministries shake it up and try new things as well? By doing this, you will keep your team fresh and the church service vibrant and full of energy.

THINK BIG! You might be thinking; "Well, maybe some new worship songs would change it up?" Put on new vision glasses - perhaps God is prompting you to make it happen so that you have an entire worship band come in and lead the worship?

DREAM BIG! Ask the Spirit to help you think out of the box. What BIG vision has God put on your or your team member's heart for this ministry? Solicit ideas from your team, listen to it, don't ignore it, and (here is the key) act on it - but before you do that...

PRAY BIG! You might be frustrated with one small boom box for worship time, a small inmate attendance and an untrained team...

"You do not have, because you do not ask God." James 4:2 

ASK God to give your team His vision and wisdom for this ministry.
          ASK God for a rock'in service.
                    ASK God to expand your territory and increase your attendance.
                              ASK God to call up a team who will have a love like Christ's for the lost and unsaved.
                                         ASK God to train you or bring in excellent teachers to train your teams.
                                                   ASK God to empower you to ACT on it!

"If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5

TIPS TO KEEP YOUR MINISTRY FRESH: 

Do you have regularly scheduled team meetings keeping everyone up to date with current training methods? 

Do you strive to keep the communications with the ministry team, church leaders and prison chaplain open and flowing? 

Are you attentive and flexible to God's leading?  

When was the last time you listened and acted on the team's suggestions? 

(Please keep in mind, not all things will work within the constraints of the prison environment, on the other hand, don't feel limited - God will amaze you if you just ASK!)

"But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blow and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord..." James 1:6-7

EXPECT BIG! When we expect big things from our BIG God it pleases Him. It demonstrates we put our faith and trust in Him. Will you join me in praising God now, ahead of time, for answered prayer.

God can help you climb out of that prison ministry rut today... by thinking, dreaming and praying BIG!

ALL FOR HIS GLORY!

SHUG