As Christians, we learned early on from the Book of Genesis in the creation of Adam that it is not good for man to be alone. God gave him a companion in Eve. Fast forward to the New Testament, and look at Paul on his missionary journeys with Timothy and Barnabas alongside him. In today’s church, we use catch phrases like “doing life together” or “community” to show the importance of having other Christians to help shoulder the load. That is why we are excited to have two new interns join us at Morning Star Ranch for the coming year.
Michael and Courtney are coming are coming alongside us in ministry at the Ranch for the 2013 year. In an interesting twist, they grew up as classmates in high school. They are from the Whitewater, Kansas area and learned about World Impact from missionaries in our Wichita ministry. As is true in the body of Christ, they each have unique skills that will make a huge impact this next year. Michael grew up on a farm and is very resourceful. He has also spent the last two summers working at a camp in Colorado. Last year he even headed up a week of kids’ camp. Courtney has the gift of hospitality, and she will be a great addition in making sure everyone’s needs are taken care of. She also has a servant’s heart and loves to cook.
It is great to have others help us out this year. It is a daunting task managing the Ranch and all the aspects of ministry. Their presence and work will help move the camp in the right direction. In addition, we have a passion for investing in others on a deep level. We are excited to be living and working with, investing in, and doing life with them.
Come summertime, our staff will expand to handle the demands of weeks of kids’ camps, youth camps, and teen camps. We are currently accepting applications for the summer months, so if you know of anyone looking for a more meaningful summer job than working at the local fast food restaurant, please send them our way. In the past, some of the best people we have worked with were referred by friends.
We always covet your prayers; this month, please pray for:
1. The groups using the Ranch next month that it will have an impact on their lives.
2.Michael and Courtney’s adjustment to life at the Ranch.
3. God’s provision of financial resources to finish the new dining hall.
Peace & Love,
Eric, Sunshine and Colton Leach
This time of year, as the weather turns cold and the camping season slows down, provides us with an opportunity to focus on other important things. As you can imagine, maintaining a 560-acre ranch takes a great deal of manual labor. Two big projects that Eric has been finishing up are winterizing the remote out-buildings and learning the water system. He is now a certified operator in training for small-water purification and waste-water management. He has become well-versed in all of the Kansas state regulations for water monitoring and testing. Most days, he comes back and gives me a debriefing. I learned today that you have to flush the waterlines to the toilets and put antifreeze in them so that the pipes don’t burst!
Preparations are underway for outlining retreats and camps for 2013. It takes a tremendous amount of preparation and planning to host as many camps as we do. From preparing curriculum, activities, maintenance, and cooking, it is quite a large undertaking. As most of you know, preparation and prayer is vital for setting up success. Coming up in the next two months, we have a pastor and deacon retreat and a college retreat. We are also excited that two one-year interns will be joining us this month. Both of them are eager to get started and have a great love of God and hearts for service. They will not only provide much-needed assistance in daily ministry, but companionship as well.
After living out here on the ranch for several months, we have adjusted quite well. It took a little while to adjust to the fact that the closest Target is over an hour away. But it hasn't taken us long to find out where the go-to spots are nearby. In all of the quaint, small towns, everyone has been very friendly and willing to help us out as the ‘new’ people in town. God’s beauty is all around us. We have a full bank of windows in the front of our house. I have enjoyed sitting at the kitchen table having tea, and watching the deer parade across our front lawn in the early morning hours. Colton and I go exploring at least once a day. There are several trails to walk, fields to explore, and a lovely golden retriever here named Abby that we enjoy playing fetch with. We love the peaceful atmosphere out here, whether it is walking down to the lovely old wind mill or crossing the Cottonwood River. We can feel God’s presence all around us, and we take comfort in that.
Please be in prayer this month for the following:
1. The new interns joining us.
2.That God provides us with volunteers for service projects.
3. Financial resources to finish the new dining hall and minor improvements on existing buildings.
Peace and Love,
Eric, Sunshine, & Colton
From Dallas, Denver, St. Louis, Topeka, and Wichita, the men began to check in at the Morning Star Ranch registration table. Some showed up in full fatigues. Some came hungry, others nervous, and some so excited they couldn't stand still. It was our family’s first retreat with World Impact, so we shared their emotions. I was nervous and excited; I paced back and forth, shook hands, introduced myself, and even tossed out a few man hugs. With all of the energy bouncing around, you knew something big was happening, and it was--we were on the cusp of Men’s Retreat 2012!
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The theme for the weekend was War of the Worlds, one that really hit the men right where they were. The tone was set for an energy-intense weekend. After dinner on Friday night, we were off to the first session. The bonding began immediately as we crammed 120 men into the pavilion. The praise band rocked it out as did Dr. Don Davis with the teaching. You know it was good stuff when the teaching ran over by an hour and the men came out talking about how awesome it was.
There were three main sessions, some breakout groups about church planting in the city, games, fishing, softball, high ropes activities, a campfire with s’mores, and sharing some great meals together. As is often the case for me, the best part about the weekend was watching the men engage with one another in meaningful conversation late into the night. There were men at various points in their spiritual journeys, non-Christians and rock-solid believers. To see two men talking and praying together about Christ is the picture of true manhood.
As the weekend wrapped up, I was encouraged to see how the camp can be used for effective ministry. It provides an opportunity for those who come from urban environments to encounter God in a unique way. It also revealed three specific prayer requests that come with every camp and retreat.
1. For the pastors and leaders of those who came out to the retreat: please pray that God keeps them filled up for the work at hand.
2. For those who attended the retreat: please pray that their lives and hearts are a reflection of God’s calling in their lives. Also pray for protection as they head back into the urban areas.
3. For our volunteers and staff: please pray that they are encouraged in their work for His Kingdom. Also pray that God continues to provide the camp with those ready to serve.
Blessings,
Eric and Sunshine Leach
Michael and Courtney are coming are coming alongside us in ministry at the Ranch for the 2013 year. In an interesting twist, they grew up as classmates in high school. They are from the Whitewater, Kansas area and learned about World Impact from missionaries in our Wichita ministry. As is true in the body of Christ, they each have unique skills that will make a huge impact this next year. Michael grew up on a farm and is very resourceful. He has also spent the last two summers working at a camp in Colorado. Last year he even headed up a week of kids’ camp. Courtney has the gift of hospitality, and she will be a great addition in making sure everyone’s needs are taken care of. She also has a servant’s heart and loves to cook.
It is great to have others help us out this year. It is a daunting task managing the Ranch and all the aspects of ministry. Their presence and work will help move the camp in the right direction. In addition, we have a passion for investing in others on a deep level. We are excited to be living and working with, investing in, and doing life with them.
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