Summer Snippets

Dear Friend,

Summers in Orlando are, by definition, a steam bath, so I’ve enjoyed getting away from it for the last several weeks. In early July, we had a Fish family reunion in Ohio — my parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, grandma… and three dogs. It was a lot of chaotic fun and full of great memories, but also the sort of thing that leaves you wishing for a vacation from your vacation!

One of my summer highlights has been Campus Crusade’s biennial U.S. Staff Conference in Fort Collins, Colorado. It’s a tremendous experience to join some 5,000 other people who share your calling and passion for a week of worship, prayer, fellowship, learning, and encouragement. Spiritually, it’s kind of like drinking from a fire hose — or going to an all-you-can-eat buffet of unbelievably good food.

It will probably take me many months to fully unpack all the stuff I heard at our conference and read the great books I picked up there. But I also came away from it feeling deeply refreshed and challenged anew to pursue the calling God’s given me. I am continually amazed at how God’s work in my own heart and life is so critical to the cause in which I’m engaged. Put succinctly, I really needed that time in Colorado.

A week after returning from Colorado to Orlando, I headed west again to California. I spent a few days meeting with the Silicon Valley-based staff of Global Media Outreach. Our purpose was to discuss the strategy for the coming months and then determine who would be responsible for which tasks. I now have some specific objectives I’ll be working towards.

In July, GMO saw over 102,000 people indicate a decision for Jesus Christ through one of our web sites. That figure puts us on track to exceed the goal of seeing 1 million indicated decisions in 2007. We are going to step out in faith through some new initiatives and trust God to see that number increase to 3 million decisions next year.
Helping new believers become firmly grounded in their relationship with Christ remains a great challenge. So in the next few months GMO will be launching a new web site to address this problem — and I’ve been assigned to lead the effort. This project will go hand-in-hand with my efforts to build a solid video production and distribution capability for our team.

All of this is, of course, depends on the quick completion of my current support development efforts. My goal is to reach a “minimum” funding level in the next few weeks and then continue to work part-time to raise the rest while assuming my full responsibilities with GMO.

This summer has also brought changes to my home. My housemate and landlord for the past few years has moved overseas, so two friends and I are leasing the house from him. It’s been great living with two men I’ve known as friends before we started living together. And in September, I’m going to begin helping to lead and teach the small group we are all a part of through our church.

Thanks for your continued prayers and support.

Yours In Christ,