Wow - East Coast Trip

We have been having a fantastic East Coast trip!  Check out the ARS blog at arsupdate.blogspot.com and keep up to date!  We are on the final lap!  Thank you so much for your prayers and support.  I so appreciate you!

pictures!

2012 ARS Team (not including Pr Jose and Leoni)

Just posted some pictures on arsupdate.blogspot.com check it out!
We are closing down our time in Brasilia and Pr Jose, Leoni and I are headed to the Amazon region!  Thank you for covering us in prayer!  Bless you!

Great time of ministry and visits

We are finishing up our time in BH.  Catch the specifics at arsupdate.blogspot.com.
I am so blessed to be here and to see what God has been doing.  I have been able to see some who I have not seen since 2007!  There will be much to share when I am able to get on a computer and stay for a while. Fortunately a business next to CEDAF has allowed me to jump on several times.

We are leaving for Brasilia tomorrow morning.

bless you!
Lisa

Having a wonderfully productive time in BH!

We are having a wonderful time here in BH.  Catch up on the news at arsupdate.blogspot.com!
Computer availability has been a challenge at times, but know that God is working!
Thank you so much for your prayers!  I look forward to posting pictures when I am able to do so.

Emotional Day

Today we visited a possible ministry partner for ARS.  We went to a ministry that has a daycare for children of drug addicts, prostitutes and HIV effected parents.  The children were adorable as you can tell with the pictures.  They were full of energy and laughter.  There were some that you could look in their eyes and see sadness which makes your heart ache.

Another aspect of the ministry reaches out and helps house and gives assistance to people who are now sick with HIV.  I did not take pictures there to ensure the privacy and dignity of these people.  But the workers there were really an inspiration....their tireless efforts of extending care under difficult situations. 

They are looking to build a new facility that will not only house people with HIV but also a training center based on Biblical truths.  What a shining light in a dark part of BH!

I found this day to be full of joy with the children and how they responded to love and attention from their teachers/staff but also received us as guests and they responded so positively.  I also found this day touching me deeply in my heart with the suffering of the homeless and those sick with HIV.  Some of the people barely acknowledged my words and others responded with eagerness and appreciation.  I was deeply moved.

Just what direction that ARS will take will be determined as the leadership seeks God's will.  Pray that the leadership hears clearly His voice.

The ARS trip is off and running!

Take some time and read about what we have been up too at arsupdate.blogspot.com!
We have gotten ourselves oriented and had a wonderful day today.  As time permits I will write more here, but I cannot right at this time.  Bless each and everyone of you.  Thank you for praying and please continue.
Lisa

The time has come!

Tomorrow, I leave with the ARS Ministry team and we head to Belo Hortizonte, Brazil!  I can hardly believe that it is finally here.  We all are excited and ready to go.

Thank you so much for your prayer and financial support!  You all are such a blessing.  I will be making entries here on this blog as much as possible but I will be focused on using the ARS blog for the most part.  You can follow all the entries on arsupdate.blogspot.com. 

I am looking forward to meeting many Brazilian leaders in churches and other projects.  I am also thrilled about being with our adopted families!  The days will be full and I am looking forward to see what the Lord is going to do in us and through us.

Talk to you later when we arrive in Brazil!

Bless you my friends,
Lisa

God has blessed!

FUNDRAISERS -
We had a tremendous time with the Walk Around Boomer and the recent ARS Garages sale to help raise funds for our final little bit for our Brazil trip!  We made a little over $1200!  Thank you to everyone who help through participation, donations and financial support!

PREPARATION -
We are in the final stretch of preparation for our Brazil/USA trip.  To say that I and WE are excited is an understatement.  Please continue to cover us in prayer as we work on final details.  I have included here a schedule of our time.  We (the team) will be blessed to share with with people in Brazil about the ministry of ARS as well as work with our adopted families.  We will be working on renovation of a house for the ministry as well as with workshops with children and young girls and women.  Pr Jose and Leoni and I will be traveling in the US up the East Coast sharing in Brazilian churches as well as American churches about ARS and making valuable contacts along the way.

BRAZIL TRIP

• June 29 Leave for Brazil
• June 30 Arrive Belo Horizonte (BH)
• July 1 Central Baptist Church (BH) in morning, Assembly of God Church (BH) in evening
• July 2 Visit project in Sabara
• July 3 Visit CEDAF/ARS project in Neves in preparation for next week
• July 4 Meeting ARS Brazil Board
• July 5 Time with Ludmilla our host and friend (she is the one who teaches our Portuguese class every week.  She is one of our translators.  We are staying with her for the week!
• July 6 Visit 3 projects in BH
• July 7 In the morning going to a Messianic Jewish Church, final evening at Ludmilla’s home
• July 8 Ingreja Batista da Lagoinha Church in the morning, move to SESC Center where we will be staying for the next week
• July 9 CEDAF/ARS Project in Neves, prep work, dinner with adopted families
• July 10-13 CEDAF/ARS Project in Neves, Workshops, Children VBS,Visit adopted families homes
• July 14 Leave SESC to fly to Brasilia (Capital of Brazil)
• July 15 Morning and Evening will visit local churches to share about ARS
• July 16 Visiting Brasilia, Kim and Cooweesta leaving for US, Pr Jose, Leoni and Lisa to stay
• July 17 Pr Jose, Leoni and Lisa to fly to Manaus – Amazon area
• July 18-20 Meeting with Pastors and Leaders in Manaus in preparation for medical mission trip next year - Visit Hospital boats on Amazon
• July 20 Pr Jose, Leoni, Lisa leave for Miami, Florida

EAST COAST TRIP – Brazilian and American Congregations and Leaders to talk about ARS

• July 20-22 Miami, FL
• July 22-24 Orlando, FL
• July 24-26 Jacksonville, FL
• July 26-28 Richmond, VA
• July 28-30 Washington, DC
• July 30-Aug 1 Newark, NJ/ NYC
• Aug 2-4 Boston, MA
• Aug 4-6 Northborough, MA
• Aug 6-7 Danbury, CT
• Aug 7-9 Roanoke, VA – Knoxville, TN
• Aug 10 Knoxville, TN
• Aug 10-11 Knoxville, TN/Nashville, TN
• Aug 11-19 (?) Jackson, TN
• Aug 20 To Stillwater, OK

http://arsupdate.blogspot.com/ - this is the primary site for ARS

PRAYER
So as you can see, many places, meeting many people, many opportunities to share about the Lord and about the ministry.  Pray for strength, health, wisdom and peace as we go forward.  Thank you so much!

I will be making as many updates as possible on this site as well as on the arsupdate blog.  When possible, I will upload pictures.  While at SESC, I will not be able to upload pictures but I can type updates.

Thank you, thank you for your financial support and for your prayer covering.  Without you, this ministry would not be able to be available to assist ARS and other ministries.  You are such a blessing and words cannot describe my gratitude.

God bless you my friends,
Lisa

Walk Around Boomer Lake for Brazil 2012

THIS Saturday, we will all meet at the SW corner of Boomer Lake at the boat dock at 9am.  We will all be given a flyer highlighting an adopted family as well as prayer points for our Brazil Trip and East Coast Trip.  We are receiving donations to help with the expenses of the trip.  We are also asking people to come and walk with us and pray!  What a wonderful opportunity to pray together, get some exercise and to raise some funds together!  If you can't come but would like to make a donation, you can make out your check to ARS and enclose a note stating for Brazil Trip.  You can mail it to ARS, PO Box 2086, Stillwater, OK  74076.  Thank you so much!  Our trip is fast approaching, June 29th!  I am excited!!!!!

Wheeee busy busy days! :-)

ARS Garage Sale - Stillwater
We had a wonderful Garage Sale for ARS April 20-21, we made over $780 and made lots of wonderful contacts.  Thank you to all who donated and who came by in support.  We will be having 1 more Garage Sale at the end of May.  We are using this sale in May to help raise up the last remaining support we need for the July/August ARS trip.  If you have any items to donate, just give me a call!

ARS Board
I have been working hard with Pr Jose and Leoni along with the ARS Board as we continue to grow together.  I have never been a "Chairman" before, so I am putting in lots of time and learning in the process.  One thing I do know, God is leading and I am determined to follow as we move forward.  I know that God has placed this opportunity of service before me and I so desire to be diligent in all things.

Brazilian Family

I would like to introduce to you one of our families that we work with in Brazil.  It is my desire that you come to know some of the precious ones that I am working with in Neves.  This woman's name is Beatriz.  She has 3 girls.  On my first trip in 2007, I had the opportunity to meet Beatriz and her girls.  At that time she was in deep depression and was in a very critical time in her life.  Her husband had died just two weeks after arriving in Neves.  The home they were living in was in terrible shape and they had to leave the home because the roof had collapsed.  She would hardly look at us in the eyes in 2007.

She joined the program with ARS and through the loving presence of our partner organization CEDAF and ARS, they had their physical, emotional and spiritual needs met.  Beatriz came into a personal relationship with Jesus and she is a totally different person.  She is no longer stuck in depression and hopelessness.  She has come to discover that she has a beautiful singing voice and loves to sing God's praises! 

She and her girls were the first family to join the ARS program and the first to graduate!  They have such thankful hearts towards CEDAF and ARS and for the families who financially supported her.

God's working in my heart
In these crazy busy days, I have been stretched, challenged, encouraged and thrilled!  I am discovering even to a greater level, God's grace and strength.  What a joy and honor to "spend" my life serving Him!  I am working harder than I ever have in my life - including all those years as a Youth Pastor.  But I wouldn't change anything right now!  I am seeing God's provision for my life in every area, physically, emotionally and spiritually!

Thank you to all who are standing in prayer for this ministry and thank you to all who is standing with us financially.  If you would, please sign up in the right hand corner to follow this site through email.  Eventually, I would like to not have to send out a bulk email letting everyone know of the new postings.  Thanks so much.

May God richly bless you my friends!
Lisa

ARS, Brazil, Catherine Zoller, and things!

Once again, the days are just flying by and each day is full to the brim!  I guess if I were honest, I like it that way.  Let me catch you up on what has been going on..........

Blog Under Construction

As you noticed, I am tweaking the blog site, adding new pages for you, put a new slide show on the blog, it is a work in progress.  I am also looking into applications that will enable people to give financially to the ministry.  So don't be surprised if the look changes from time to time until I find one that suites me!  Thanks!

If you will notice, I have put a place on the website where you can sign up "follow by email".  By signing up, you will receive an email automatically that will tell you of a new post.  If you do sign up, let me know so that you will not receive two emails when I post!  I am trying my best to get this blog running smoothly before I leave on my trips.

Garage Sales - ARS

I have been to Jackson, TN with Pr Jose and Leoni and we had a successful Garage Sale!  We raised over $750 for the ministry and I met lots of wonderful people.  We are preparing for a Garage Sale here in Stillwater April 27-28.  So if you are in the Stillwater area and have donations you would like to give for our sale, just give me a call!  This will be our 4th Garage Sale of 2012 so we are off to a great start!

Brazil Mission Trip - ARS

We are getting things in order for our upcoming Brazil Mission Trip in July.  I am very excited about what we have planned.  We will be working with the ARS/Brazil Board along with meeting with Pastors, Leaders and Churches.  This time of networking is priceless for ARS.  We are also getting ready for our activities with our Adopted Families.  Some of the activities include children's activities, work on a house that CEDAF owns (and will be used for the work there) along with time of ministry with Teenage Girls and Women.  We are also making plans to visit in every one of our families.  I will be taking new video footage and pictures to be used for our promotional video and other informational brochures.  After our Mission Team is off for the US, Pr Jose, Leoni and I will be traveling up the Manous area to lay the ground work for a Medical Mission trip in 2013.  I look forward to seeing the Amazon River!  I will be posting more information about the 2013 as soon as possible.  Pray about going with us next year!

East Coast Trip - ARS

We will return to the US via Florida and begin a 5000+ mile trip up the east coast.  We will be sharing with American and Brazilian congregations about the ministry of ARS.  We will travel all the way up to New England and then back to Oklahoma.  I am very excited about this part of our summer!  Please join me in covering this time in prayer.  Pray that God will order each encounter and open the doors where He would have us share.  Thanks so much!

Serving others in Ministry

Most recently, I have had the opportunity to do some video work in support of the ministry of Catherine Zoller.  She is a dynamic speaker!  I video taped her sharing at my church and then put it together as a DVD for her along with some clips of her introducing herself.  Check out the tab called Catherine and be sure to look at her website and related sites.  It has been an honor to serve Catherine. 

I have also had the opportunity to help with some video projects for Hosanna Assembly of God here in Stillwater.  They are such precious believers and they are family to me.  I love their heart for people and I was blessed to be able to help them.

Ending Thoughts

I have been so blessed through many people during these busy days.  God has blessed me through YOU!  Your faithful and generous giving is enabling me to continue to do what God has called me to do.....to share His Word and to serve others in ministry.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart!  We are working hard in completing our new LCM website and as soon as it is completed, I will let you know.  My friend Jane is doing a fabulous job and you will see her fine work very soon!   I am also working on some video projects for LCM that will both serve the Blog and the website.  These videos are also going to take my place in my class I teach on Sundays while I am gone!  I will let you know more as they get completed!

I pray that all of you are doing well!  Thank you again for all your support!  May God richly bless you!  A scripture to share as I leave.....I have been both encouraged and challenged in the book of Luke.  Last Sunday....we talked about Luke 6:27-33 ......how we are to respond when people hate you, curse you and mistreat you.  What are we to do?  Love them, do good to them, bless them and pray for them.  I was reminded that we are to RESPOND not REACT.  The only way we can do that is to be filled with God's Love - Holy Spirit!  I was reminded of what God told me when we started this study in Luke....whatever you are filled with, that is what you will be led by.  My prayer is that each one of us will be filled each day with His Love, with His Power, with His Spirit as we faithfully serve Him.

Bless you!
Lisa

 

Very Excited, Very Busy!

It has been a tremendous couple of months and I can't believe how fast time is flying!  Let me catch you up on what has been happening!

• I am continuing to share with people how they can join us in ministry through financially supporting LCM.  We have had a good start but we have a ways to go.  If you haven't yet sent in your response card, it is not too late. Join us as we "Partner with God - bringing His love to the world thru Preaching, Teaching and Serving others in ministry"! 
• In February, I was invited to join the Board of Directors of ARS (Americas Redemption System) and I was asked to serve as Chairman of the Board.  I consulted with the Board of LCM and we all agreed that this was an opportunity from the Lord and I was honored to accept this position of service.
• Through this new position of service, I will to continue to assist Pastor Jose and Leoni in spreading the news and work about ARS and help with fundraising.  I will be traveling with them and two other ladies to Brazil this summer to work with our adopted families.
• The ARS Ministry had 2 garage sales in January and February and they were very successful!  Lots of work and lots of blessings.  We raised over $3400 through those sales.
• The trip this summer with ARS to Brazil is taking shape. We look forward to the opportunities to love on our families as well as serve our partnering organization CEDAF.  (more details to come!)
• Pr Jose, Leoni and I will  have oppportunites to share while in Brazil with the ARS/Brazil Board along with Pastors and churches.  I will be staying with them after our team returns home and we will be looking at a potiential project for next summer in the Amazon area (more details to come!).  We will also return home to the U.S. together and we will start in Florida and make our way up the east coast talking to churches and contacts that Pr Jose has developed.  I am thrilled at this opportunity to say the least.
• The LCM Board and I have been working on the 501c3 application and it is almost in the mail.  It has been a process to complete but we are confident that we are well on the way for acceptance.
• I have been working with a friend and a wonderfully gifted professional who is helping to get a website up and going for LCM.  I will keep you posted when it is ready to be rolled out.

During our recent ARS Board meeting, Leoni shared some wonderful truths based out of Ps 41:1.  She was recently challenged by a testimony from some missionaries to Haiti.  She focused on the phrase "Blessed is he that considers the poor".  She defined "consider" as:  to think about carefully, to think of especially with regard to taking some action, to take into account, to regard or treat in an attentive or kindly way.

It is not enough for us to look at and even feel sorry for those who are in need.  We need to CONSIDER and to think carefully and to formulate a plan of action.  That is what LCM is all about.  Looking at the needs and daring to get involved.  Sure sometimes it is challenging, stretching and even inconvenient.  We need to constantly remind ourselves that as believers, we are here for HIS plans and HIS purposes....we are not here just to feel good and do what we want.  So this word "consider" has been growing inside of me.

On a personal note....I have continued to experience God's faithfulness in taking care of me on all levels. 

• I have had the joy of working at a local flower shop "Little Shop of Flowers".  I deliver flowers as well as help out as needed.  It has been fun sharing the love through the beautiful creations that this business produces.
• God is continuing to teach me to walk one step at a time.  My Brazilian friends always tell me "Lisa, you are so American!" because I like to have an agenda, kkkk.  I am focused on being filled with His Spirit, ever listening to His voice and instruction and to be obedient to do what is before me.  The walk of FAITH....there is nothing like it!  And God is ALWAYS faithful!
• A scripture that has been ministering to me:  Ps 27:13,14 "I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

Thank you to all of you who have been faithfully supporting this work as we begin.  Your love and encouragement has been such a blessing.  May God richly bless you in these days.  As the Lord opens the doors, I will be talking with you soon.  I so look forward to sharing with you the plans for the months ahead!!!!!  Bless you!

Lisa

New Year, New Name, Same Focus

I am very excited about 2012!  As the title proclaimed...New Year.....New Name (LC Ministries, Inc)... but the focus is the same. 

In these past 2 years, I have loved working as "Ministry Consultant" for ARS.  I will be continuing to serve ARS in the same capacity.  the difference will be the covering organization.  I felt the Lord guiding me last summer to establish a non-profit organization "LC Ministries".  The focus of LCM is simple:  to preach the Word, to teach the Word and to assist Christian organizations in fulfilling God's purposes and plans.  That is basically what I have been doing these last 2 years.  LCM is registered with the State of Oklahoma and we are in the process of obtaining our 501c3 status so that all gifts will be able to receive tax deductions.  We have established a Board of Directors and they are a wonderful group of believers and I am honored that they are serving LCM. Please allow me to introduce them to you.

Pastor CJ Ellis - President

Jayne Spencer - Secretary

Stephanie Weckler - Treasurer

Robin Jones - Director

Lisa Campbell - Executive Director

One of my primary roles right now is getting the word out about LCM and asking people to join us financially support this ministry.  I will also be continuing work with ARS in fundraising as well.  I have finished my work at Mercury Marine here in Stillwater as of the end of December.  I will be looking for part-time employment to help supplement my financial needs until that time LCM can be fully funded.

I know that God has directed me in these steps.  One thing that I have experienced in my walk with the Lord over the years.....whatever He directs me to do......He provides what is needed to accomplish His plans!  There are several scriptures that I have been meditating upon.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans for you says the Lord, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope"

John 15:16 "you did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will remain"

For those of you who have so faithfully supported me through ARS, I thank you with all my heart.  Will you please pray about continuing your financial support, except this time through LCM?  For those of you who have given one time gifts in the past, would you please pray about financially supporting this ministry through monthly gifts?  I am praying for you as you discern His direction.  Thank you in advance!  For many of you, I will be sending information packets out in the mail. 

The last several months of 2011 were crazy indeed!  I will be working harder to make regular entries here on this blog.  I want you to be fully informed with all that is going on in this work.  I am looking forward to what the Lord has in store, both here in the US and abroad.  It is my intention to travel back to Brazil and who knows other places that the Lord will open doors.

May God richly bless you my friends!

Lisa