rwanda | More Than Dodgeball

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Rwanda Prayer Guide 2013

If all goes well, by the time you read this I’ll be on my way to Rwanda with about 15 students and some incredible leaders. On the blog this week we’ll have all sorts of guest posts and guest editor-in-chief Geoff Stewart will be posting regularly as well. If you would, please take a second and pray for health, strength, and safe travel for our students. Excited!

Day ONE & TWO: Travel to Kigali, Rwanda
Pray for a smooth airport check-in. Pray for safe travel to Rwanda. Pray for rest and the preparation of our hearts for ministry. Pray that all goes smoothly with the logistics of travelling with a group our size.

Day THREE: Genocide Memorial and travel to our main ministry site
Pray that our students would be excited on their first full day of ministry, loving the people whom they are serving. Pray that the team has a heart of compassion and understanding as we learn about Rwanda’s history today at the memorial. Pray for safe travels to this rural city.

Day FOUR & FIVE: Church and meeting with pastors. PEACE activities
Pray for the people of Rwanda, that their hearts would be open to the Word of God as it is preached today in churches. Pray for great conversations as we meet with the pastors of local churches. Pray that we would be able to accomplish much with them in preparation for the week of ministry ahead. Pray for your student today.

Day SIX – NINE: PEACE activities with Churches
Pray for endurance for long days of ministry. Pray that our team connects with the Rwandan community, making them feel loved and cared for. Pray for friendships to be built among Rwandan and Saddleback students. Pray that the team continues to shine the light of Christ even if we are exhausted.

Day TEN: Travel back to Kigali
Pray for safe travels and rest as we return to Kigali. Pray for your students as they begin to process and debrief the trip. Pray that, as we conclude our time in Rwanda, we would be able to reflect on what God has taught us and encourage one another with stories of God’s work.

Day ELEVEN & TWELVE: Pray for safe travel back to America.
Pray that we adjust well spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Pray that God would continue to work in our hearts after we return. Pray that we would continue to remember and reflect on our journey in Rwanda. Pray for protection from sickness and fatigue.

Follow us on Twitter or Instagram for updates: @hsmrwanda

Add Comment February 7, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts Wanted: Your Voice on MoreThanDodgeball.com

I’m leaving in 24 hours for Rwanda with 14 of our incredible students (one of them being my 11-year old son) on a mission trip for 11 days. While I’m gone, my good friend Geoff Stewart is going to take a spin as the editor-in-chief of the site. What does that mean?

First up, you’re going to get great content from him. He’s a solid youth worker from the Great North and has been writing for the site for more than a year now – click here to read all of his posts. He’s got some solid content lined up I’m excited you’ll get to read. He’s invited a few of his local friends to contribute alongside him, too.

And second, now is the time to get your voice on More Than Dodgeball! Just send Geoff your potential guest posts at morethandodgeball@gmail.com and he’ll look them over and post the best over the next week and a half. Guest posts that are quickly accepted are <500 words, original and youth ministry focused!

I’ll try to post updates to Twitter and Instagram while I’m literally on the other side of the world. See you soon!

JG

Add Comment February 6, 2013

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM’s Rwanda Prayer Guide 2012

When you read this … I’ll be on a plane with a group of amazing students headed to the country of Rwanda. The blog will be filled with guest posts and plenty of other articles from my friend Geoff Stewart who will be handling things while I’m away.

Thought I would post our prayer guide here on the blog as well, if you would take some time to pray for our safety and for lives to be changed for Christ on this trip, it’d be great!

JG

Rwanda Prayer Guide
Please pray for health, strength, and safe travel for the team

Day ONE & TWO: Travel to Rwanda
Pray for a smooth airport check-in. Pray for safe travel to Rwanda. Pray for rest and the preparation of our hearts for ministry. Pray that all goes smoothly with the logistics of traveling with a group our size.

Day THREE: Community Work Day, Genocide Memorial
Pray for our team, that we would be able to connect with people in the community and serve them well. Pray that our students would be excited on their first full day of ministry, loving the people whom they are serving. Pray for safe travels to *********.

Day FOUR: Church and meeting with pastors
Pray for the people of Rwanda, that their hearts would be open to the Word of God as it is preached today in churches. Pray for great conversations as we meet with the pastors of local churches. Pray that we would be able to accomplish much with them in preparation for the week of ministry ahead.

Day FIVE: PEACE activity with local church and Reach for Life groups
Pray for your student today. Pray that each student leads boldly and courageously as they lead their Reach for Life groups for the first day. Pray for energy and excitement as each van gets to know their Reach for Life groups.

Day SIX: Youth Ministry Conference and Reach for Life groups
Pray that we would be an encouragement to the pastors and their children as they come to the youth ministry conference. Pray that we can love on and train pastors well. Pray for endurance for a long day of ministry.

Day SEVEN, EIGHT & NINE: PEACE activity with local church and Reach for Life groups
Pray that Rwandan students would continue to return to the Reach for Life groups day after day. Pray that our team connects with each Rwandan student making them feel loved and cared for. Pray for friendships to be built among Rwandan and Saddleback students.

Day TEN: Youth Rally and travel
Pray for your student today as they put on a youth rally for Rwandan students. Pray that the message and rally elements would draw students closer to Christ and challenge them. Pray for safe travels and rest as we return to **********.

Day ELEVEN: Church & Dinner with Rwandan families
Pray for our last day of ministry. Pray that we would stay focused as team and that fatigue would not set in. Pray that we would make the most of our time as we visit the homes of Rwandan families. Pray that we would love and encourage them.

Day TWELVE: City Tour & Team Debrief
Pray that, as we conclude our time in Rwanda, we would be able to reflect on what God has taught us and encourage one another with stories of God’s work. Pray for your student today.

Day THIRTEEN & FOURTEEN: Return Home
Pray for safe travel back to America. Pray that we adjust well spiritually emotionally, and physically. Pray that God would continue to work in our hearts after we return. Pray that we would continue to remember and reflect our journey in Rwanda. Pray for protection from sickness and fatigue.

Add Comment June 28, 2012

Josh GriffinMore Posts HSM Weekend in Review: Volume 184

Weekend Teaching Series: Workshop Weekend (1-off)
Sermon in a Sentence: 4 different options for messages – choose your own message weekend!

Service Length: 39 minutes + 40 minute workshop

Understandable Message: This weekend we had the first 1/3 of our service together then for the message divided up into 4 different workshops. We tried to have a good cross-section of topics, here they are:

COPYCAT: What does it actually mean to be a Christian?
SPIRITUAL WARFARE: Putting on the whole armor of God
THE CHRISTIAN CONDITION: Lukewarm living
UNPLUGGED: When you feel disconnected from God

Each of them was really great – I got chance to bounce around to all of them and it was super fun to hear different voices teaching biblical truth. Each speaker had a handout and was well-prepared for their message. All in all a total success!

Element of Fun/Positive Environment: Chip Bragg (one of our key volunteers) kicked things off with a great welcome and greeting time, in honor of prom [3 of our biggest schools all had them this weekend] he came out in his tuxedo and wowed us all. So fun! We also welcomed our summer interns and had a little fun with them on stage as well.

Music Playlist: Rise and Sing, The Earth is Yours, Forever Reign

Favorite Moment: We did a Rwanda mission trip commissioning at the 6:30 service and it was really special. Loved seeing the students who have given so much time, money and energy to go on this trip be prayed over by their peers, parents and HSM team. Such a great time!

Up next: Senior Weekend (1-off)