Praising in the storm!

Off in the distance, I watched as the dark clouds made their way towards our position. The wind picked up some litter and chased it through the parking lot towards our bus that had a broken radiator hose. Justin was on the ground under the bus working feverishly to make the repair before the storm arrived. I was going to drive the bus back to camp once the repairs were made but while I waited and handed a few tools to Justin; I prayed for God to slow the storm or make it go around us, or help Justin get the repair completed before getting drenched by the storm. I could see the storm bearing down on Wendy’s parking lot that had become our resting spot. The repair was completed as the first few drops of rain began to fall.

Praising the goodness of God and His perfect timing I prepared to pull out with Justin following behind the bus as we would be making our way home because I did not have my cell phone. You see the night before Myra’s mother needed her to come to York quickly so after sharing our testimony at Zion Covenant Church in Chambersburg, PA, we packed her car in a hurry. I forgot to get my cell phone out of the console of her car. As Myra speed out of sight I realized my mistake so I did not have my phone with me to communicate with Justin if I got into trouble with the bus. He followed as I took Route 29 to Route 70 out of Baltimore area and headed towards Camp. The rain pelted the windshield and the wipers slapped the rain away so I could see…barely. After a few miles on Route 70, Justin came up along the side of the bus blowing the van’s horn and motioning frantically for me to pull over. Which I did…remembering the training from preparing for my CDL just a few months earlier. Justin hopped out of the van and made a dash for the bus. Once he arrived he told me that the bus was blowing white smoke. This is a sign that there is water getting into the engine and mixing with the fuel as it burns. He instructed me to get off at the next exit and we would find a place to park it so the bus could be towed back.

Have you ever had a day when things went wrong? When things were a little more complicated than you had hoped? God uses all things together for good according to the Bible and he did that for us and the bus. What I did not know at the time was if Justin had not followed me, I couldn’t have seen the white smoke in the rain. I would have kept on driving, resulting in further damaging the engine without knowing it.  The inconvenience of forgot the cell phone was part of God’s plan. The storm and the broken bus, the extra time stuck in traffic all worked together for good…I had time and a reason to pray. Think about it is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? God wants us to run to Him in prayer. He wants us to take refuge in him.

Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him”

Please join me in asking God to send 20 monthly donors willing to partner with me in ministry for $50 each month. My position is underfunded but I know that God will provide the needed funding. Are you one of the 20 donors that I am praying for? Please follow the link below and scroll down to my name to donate. Click Here to Donate

Amazing Week!

Learning verses is easier with motions

What an amazing week of ministry! 

This is the opening week of the camp season and the hill has come to life in a big way as wave after wave of enthusiastic campers washes over the area. It is exciting to see the interaction between the college age men and women and their young disciples.  The unhindered worship of God in the sanctuary or the quiet group discussions of scripture around the cabins combine to encourage and challenge the campers to walk closer to Jesus. 

There are also some that do not have a relationship with Jesus and are experiencing God's love from a caring adult for the first time. There is a list of children's names (posted in our office hallway) who need to be "Rooted" deep in Christ, that is prayed over by the staff throughout the day. As children step into a new relationship with Christ we then pray for them to find a mentor back home so that the seeds that are planted continue to grow even deeper roots after they leave the safety of camp. 

Campers learning to live in Christian fellowship and community

The Released Time Bible Program helps support new believers throughout the school year with our weekly educational program. I finished the layout for the Listener Booklet this week; which includes directions about how to lead a child to Christ, how to memorize scripture, how to study the scriptures and the verse for each week of the program that is supported by a Bible lesson. This is a vital tool for our volunteers to use as they disciple and support their students to walk with Jesus. 

If you would like to be part of this program or would like to help support us reach children for Jesus in the public school system please contact me at victor@joyel.org.

You can also help defer the cost of my position here by following the link below and scrolling down until you see my name. 

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Celebrations of God!

Myra and I recently celebrated annual sobriety milestones, I received my 5 year coin and Myra her 4 year coin last Thursday evening at the Celebrate Recovery in Greencastle. Each of these milestone markers gives us an opportunity to praise God for how he has changed us as we submit to His promptings. 

As Myra and I grow deeper into our relationships with God we are encouraging others to do the same. We continue to workout the details of walking in faith and trusting God for everything. I know that when God says “every need” he means it. It is easy to focus on the physical things He provides, but today I was struck by the thought that He provides every breath we take.

Last night we celebrated the “Home Going” of my friend Karl during his memorial service. He was a man that loved the Lord so we know he is rejoicing with his savior, but we also are saddened that we are separated for a little while. Once again we are confronted with the urgency of our calling to share the gospel and make disciples.

I praise God for having the chance to make a difference in the lives of others through the ministry of Joy El Camps & Retreats and Joy El Generations. Because of faithful sponsors and their donations we rejoiced in 303 children that began relationships with Christ so far this year and the anticipated 1800 campers that will come to experience life change through personal encounter with God over the next several weeks.

Please "pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should." Col. 4:3-4 

Please donate to help cover the cost of Victor Holler's position

Just Be Nice Dude?

The sunshine blessed me as I made my way across the parking lot to the school entrance. It took a moment to find the call button located on the wall with a small sign explaining the security protocol for the school. A cheerful voice responded to my button press, “Hello, May I help you?”

“Hi I am here for an appointment with the superintendent of schools,”  I responded.

Suddenly the door buzzed like a swarm of angry bees; I grabbed the door handle quickly and made my way into the brightly colored vestibule. I was met by the enthusiastic administrator who escorted me down the hall; I noticed her black T-shirt captioned in white letters were the words “JUST BE NICE DUDE”. I later learned that it is part of a new marketing initiative by a clothing manufacturer to make a social impact while turning a profit by passing as a nice charity.

What a contrast it is to the Released Time Bible Education Program I had come to represent to the district. The Released Time Bible Program is free to the students and free to the school. The profit we strive for is eternal in nature and the benefactors are those we serve. Through the training of the Released Time Bible Program, children learn scripture and have an opportunity to start and build a relationship with God through Jesus. We have many accounts of how students change as they memorize scripture.  The fruits of the spirit are made manifest in their young lives as they are discipled by caring adult volunteers. Behavior problems disappear. Sadness is replaced by joy and troubled homes are impacted by the power of God to change lives for good.

Christ empowers children to be nice as the holy word of God takes root in their hearts, minds, and lives. They change as the hope of Jesus replaces the hopeless worldview. If you would like to be part of this community of believers that are making an eternal difference in the lives of the next generation, contact me. I would love to have a few moments of your time to explain how you can help.

Expanding God's Kingdom around the World

How can a group of missionaries in Central Pennsylvania impact the world for God?
Right now in our J-serve discipleship program, we have a student from Portugal staying here in central Pennsylvania that is learning how to serve as she grows in grace and knowledge of Christ. Our Released Time Summer Assistant will be starting soon but is finishing a tour with her choir through South Korea.  She to will learn from the Godly example and training she experiences here at Joy El. Today I learned that one of our housekeepers has submitted her resignation because she is preparing to go to the Philippines to be a midwife with a medical missions group. How amazing that God is using the staff and students of Joy El to minister around the world.
If you would like to learn more about the many ministries of Joy El please contact me at victor@joyel.org I would love to share with you how you can get involved.

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