Steve & Gay Petersen Newsletter (Winter 2024)

JANUARY 2024

“Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” - 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 CSB

Dear Friends and Family,

OVERSEAS MINISTRY UPDATE

We praise the Lord for all that He has done through the Boot Camps that took place this winter in Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, Honduras, Cambodia, and Australia. In total, there were over 1,200 team members and leaders at these Boot Camps and thousands of people accepted the Lord as their Savior!  

I couldn’t be more ‘proud’ (in a good way) of all of our hardworking and dedicated staff and students around the world for their tireless dedication to the Lord and to the next generation of disciples. What a privilege and joy to hear each report!

WHAT’S HAPPENING HERE

Registrations for the 2024 Boot Camp are still coming in. This week our count is at 208. There are 194 teen team members, and 14 preteens registered for 2024 summer teams. We praise the Lord that our numbers are up from this time last year. There are also 13 people registered for the Florida and Michigan Spring Break trips that will be held the last week in March.

We have welcomed a great group of volunteers who have come down from the north to help us with various projects that we, as staff, don’t have time to do. The ladies are using their talents by sewing puppets and drama props.  Plus, they are doing various other jobs. Outside, the gentlemen are building benches and bridges, and making Boot Camp signs. Work is nearing completion on the Eve Lodge renovations; and construction should soon begin on the Caretaker Building at the main gate and on the front entrance of the main office.

THE PETERSENS’ TRAVEL PLANS

As some of you may know, Gay had a bout with kidney stones which prevented us from traveling to Madagascar in October. Then in mid-December, she had a lithotripsy and unfortunately ended up in the hospital in Houston during Christmas with a severe kidney infection. Hence, we canceled our Latin America trip that was to begin on December 26. Therefore, we are planning to reschedule our travel plans (sometime this spring) to Columbia and Bolivia, with the addition of Mexico. Each location is expressing interest in partnership for training teens in ministry. We also plan to reschedule our visit to our bases in Madagascar, South Africa, and Uganda this summer. We will definitely miss the blessing of being summer trip leaders.

OTHER NEWS

Timothy is doing well. He had the privilege of going to Mongolia with me over the Thanksgiving break, as well as traveling to Honduras right after Christmas to learn more about how to run an overseas Boot Camp. His work in the US Teams Department has him talking to parents and helping out with paperwork as well. Timothy is also a co-host for Teen Missions podcast Firmly Grounded.

Faith continues to enjoy her time at our Sojourner School of Ministry. She attends classes in the morning and often spends the lunch hour talking “Bible” with me.  Her afternoons are spent working with our Legacy Lake Retreat Center which means she has a variety of jobs like helping in the kitchen or cleaning rooms, etc. Faith and two other young ladies co-host Teen Missions podcast Wholly Devoted. 

PRAISE ITEMS

For the thousands who are hearing the Gospel daily because of our staff and students around the world.

For those teens, preteens and leaders signed up for the summer of 2024.

For the great worship, discussion, and fellowship we had at our Staff Retreat this past September.

PRAYER ITEMS

For each of us to be bold in sharing the Gospel with those around us.

For me as I head up the ministry. Pray that I might also find time to rest in my busy schedule.

For Gay to stay healthy and not have further issues with kidney stones.

For our staff and students serving in countries around the world.

Timothy as he continues to raise support.

Faith as she attends classes and works in the afternoon.

THANK YOU!

We are unbelievably blessed to partner with you in this adventure of training youth and mobilizing end-time workers to reach the lost in these last days. To God be all the Glory!

Together in His Harvest,

Steve & Gay Petersen 

Is 6:8 / Heb. 11:1

www.teenmissions.org/petersens