iRock Ministries

intentionally Reaching Our Community Kids

Hevel, everything is utterly Hevel

In Hebrew, hevel literally refers to “vapor” or “smoke”. 

I’ve recently been reading Ecclesiastes and realized that 2019 was a year of hevel. It was a year that described for me how life is temporary and fleeting, like a wisp of smoke, but also how life is an enigma or paradox. Smoke appears solid, but when you try to grab it, it’s like nothing is there. Shortly after sending my last enewsletter in October 2018 my father passed away, just 11 months after my mother. My son and his family, after 12 years of service separated from the Air Force and moved in with us 2 weeks later, I broke my ankle 3 weeks after that, and then my husbands mother passed away 2 months later. Hevel, hevel everything is literally hevel. During that time my life was engulfed with unexpected distractions and responsibilities.
From this I experienced first hand what the teacher in Ecclesiastes was describing, that life is constantly unpredictable and unstable, like “chasing the wind”.
But just as the wind shifts so did my year. My son and his family found their perfect home, my ankle healed, estate business was coming to a close and summer was my opportunity to recalibrate and focus on something that was not hevel, helping myself and others realize that what gives life true meaning is hope.  

Recalibration

As the smoke lifted, there was hope 

Summer brought with it hope. Statistically we traveled over 7,030 miles, spent countless hours in preparation, invested over $8000 in playground equipment and ministry materials, were actively engaged in ministry for over 280 hours, resulting in 52 salvations, 13 water baptisms and an immeasurable number of life changing experiences. Was all of this hevel? It certainly was not! What happened in the lives of so many people is all that matters in the end. Lives were changed and drawn closer to the love of Jesus. We tend to find meaning in all of the statistics but there is no meaning and purpose apart from God. 

Hear from the students

I have had the most amazing group of student team members, over summers past, each bringing special gifts and talents enabling us to Intentionally Reach Our Community Kids with the message of Jesus’s love and forgiveness. It’s because of these team members that we continue to offer opportunities to students entering or currently attending college to be part of God’s plan with iRock Ministries. If you’d like to hear more about their experiences choose any of their pictures and hear what they personally had to say.

Jake

Garth

Tanner

Joe

Caleb

Keller

iRock and Ability Tree

iRock Ministries with the help of the summer students will be serving to help make Ability Camp the best possible week long experience for adults 18 and up with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.

Ability Camp serves a two-fold purpose: 1) to give individuals with disabilities freedom to enjoy a week of activities, social interaction, and the opportunity to connect with God and 2) to provide support to parents or caregivers through a temporary rest or respite.

  • Ability Camp is a 5-day, 4-night retreat that revolves around the main theme for the week and includes various recreational activities,  time to socialize and relax, and morning and evening Christian worship services.
  • Each camper is assigned a Counselor and a co-Counselor who is with them throughout the week.
  • Activities include swimming, volleyball, archery, rock climbing wall, tug of war, arts & crafts, soccer, talent show, and more!…
  • iRock Ministries students serve as the recreation and special activity branch of the staff. They plan and implement team building exercises, structured physical activities, evening programs and social gatherings.

Financial Note: To be part of the camp, summer students are required to raise the necessary funds to be part of Ability Camp. If you would like to become a financial partner to help cover the cost of camp, make your donation using our Donate page and indicate in the Comment area “Student team” or contact us for other donation options. We will make sure the funds get distributed to the students serving on staff.

COST: $400 covers the cost for one summer student

Professor Gizmo…..

God does have a sense of humor and He never ceases to take me by surprise. For the past 4 years I have been asking God to bring someone along that would partner with me in ministry.

Little did I know that He was paving the way for Prof. Gizmo (aka Nate Wiles) to join our ministry as a US Missionary Associate to children. When the news came down to Nate he went live on facebook. His video best shares this amazing news. I am so excited to see what God has up His sleeve as together he and his family give of themselves to bring kids into a deeper understanding and relationship with Jesus.

Read more about Nate and his family.

Not What I Expected

The summer didn’t go how I expected it to go. But that’s alright. It went how God wanted it to go. I expected something else, and initially maybe even wanted something else (and I think Terry felt the same way). But that’s fine. It went the way God wanted it to go.

My goal before the summer was to grow in my relationship with God. Mission accomplished. It didn’t happen how I expected it to happen, but God rarely works in ways that you expect. I wanted more clear direction of God’s will in my life, but I wanted God’s will revealed in specific areas in my life, it didn’t happen. But God’s will has become more clear to me in other aspects of my life that I didn’t expect (go figure).

My relationship with God and my devotion life have grown stronger, and I thank him for those things. I can’t promise that God will work in the ways that you ask him, but I can promise that He will work in you, and through you during the summer. I can also promise you this, as long as you are willing to let him work in your life, and as long as you and Terry are asking him for guidance He will work through both of you throughout the entire summer. Just remember, being a student team member is about serving God, not yourself.

The summer allowed time for me to really think and focus on the things of the Lord. Here is just one of my thoughts I decided to put down in print. read more