The End of Things

Hello Everyone,

We hope you are all doing great as you read this. We are doing very well up here at the school. This is the last week and a half of school for the first semester. Christmas break will be here soon and we are all excited for it, and will be missing everyone when they're gone. This will be the last blogger update until January when school starts up again. 

We thank you all for the prayers you have invested in this year's Venture students. Two of them (Paige Rodriguez and Cody Boehm) have written briefly about their experience here this first semester. We hope it blesses you to see the year from a Venture's perspective.

"This semester has really flown by fast. The Venture program has been such a growing experience for us as a team and individually. God has been stretching me in so many ways, in prayer and what it really means, fasting, meditating on His word, and even how to love. In classes we have been learning Leadership Principles from I Timothy- Discipleship, Purity, and about the Church Body. At times, this semester has been challenging in the sense that I as a leader have to make sure I am doing what is right in my spiritual walk before I try to lead anyone, and choosing to love people when I don't "feel" like it. This year has been such a blessing! I've loved getting to know everyone. It's been such a blessing to be able to come alongside the first year students and encourage them and also pray for/with them. What an amazing time in my life, learning, growing, and experiencing so much!"- Paige Rodriguez

"It's a blessing to be able to come back as a venture student. Being in the mountains another year, a leader  to first year students, and growing closer to the Lord. The biggest challenge for me has been the verses we were assigned to to memorize during the semester. Although it's difficult, it's worth it in the long run. It's hard to pinpoint my favorite class, because there's so much to learn from all of them, but the one that sticks out to me the most is "Spiritual Disciplines" that was taught by the staff. In the book we read Spiritual Discipline for the Christian Life, was a quote that I like. 

" The goal of godliness isn't found on the surface of Christianity. It has to be dug from the depths with the tools of discipline. But for those who persevere, the treasures are more than worth the trouble"                              - Cody Boehm 

We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas. Enjoy the time with your family and friends. Be praying for the Ventures over break that they would stay strong in their convictions and in their spiritual disciplines. I know many of them are excited to go and minister to the people surrounding them as well. Pray for their opportunities and wisdom! 

Thank you all so much and we'll post again in January!

In Christ- Adam and Brooke Jordan

p.s. If you have been enjoying reading these blog updates and would like us to continue doing so please post some feedback. We love to do this and hope it is helpful to those who read it. Thank you for your time.

New Carpet

We are happy to announce that the carpet is down in the gym!  A crew of Lundbergs, Dubbes, and Johnsons came from various places all over the country to install it for us.  

WE ARE SO THANKFUL! 

The carpet really makes the gym look like it is almost finished.... 

and we cannot wait for it to be in full-time use.  

Solos, Packtrip, and Purity

 Recently...........

Well, our Venture team has been busy. In our last blog we asked for prayer concerning the venture's 48 hour solo, and God was faithful again. First the weather was calling for rain the entire time we were out, but it did not rain until we were well on our way back to campus. God is sovereign in the small things too. The Venture students learned  and enjoyed their time with the Lord during those 48 hours. Some thought it was difficult, some thought it could have been longer, but over all the sense was positive and the value of true silence and solitude was captured. Everyone was safely kept by the Lord and we're grateful for the time we got to share after the experience. 

Shortly after that the team was off to the mountains again to experience packing in on horses. Each of them learned how to saddle, ride, and care for their own horse as well as set up a back country camp, cook, and all of the work that goes into the animals out there. We were blessed by a local rancher/outfitter with the use of his 18 pack animals and equipment. This kind of trip is much work with much reward.  Our staff member Kevin Lytle taught the students art of leading a trip like this with all it's work skills and people dynamics they might encounter. We are again so grateful for the safety God granted us with a total of 16 people and 25 horses camped together in the Mountains! In the past, several students have gone on to use this packing class in further ministry opportunities. It is always our hope that in each outdoor class and experience the students are challenged personally, taught the skill, taught to lead in it, and given the opportunity to take it further into ministry. 

Currently...........

For the next 5 weeks left in our semester the Venture team is stationed here on Campus. Their classes from here on out will be instructed by our resident and visiting faculty. This week they are studying  Absolute Purity with Peter Wetendorf.  Pray for them to see clearly what absolute purity entails in their own lives and to desire to work at it with discipline. As leaders we desire to be bold and Biblical in our lifestyles and teaching and we desire also for these students to rise to the occasion in their own realm. Caitlin Elya, one of the Venture students has said that the purity class has been relevant and challenging in her life. Peter has challenged each of the students to draft an intentional and specific personal purity plan for their current situation and the future. This has been a huge encouragement to Caitlin on how to intentionally live with absolute purity with no exceptions. 

Pray............

We are so blessed again by this team and are so encouraged to see their leadership with the students and to see how the students are responding so positively to them. God is at work in hearts here so pray against the schemes of our enemy to seek, steal, and destroy these people.  We have full confidence that God is refining and will continue to in these students as they are seeking Him! Pray also for their upcoming weeks of class. They will be studying the following: 

Leadership Principles in the Church Body- Dave Barnhart, Bible Study Meathods- Jim Carlson, Communication- Delvin Hackwith, and Leadership Principles in Contentment- John Erickson. 

Pray for their hearts and their minds to be engaged in each course. As we near the end of our semester a tendency amongst everyone here is to become anxious for winter break and to slightly disengage from the place. 

Pray for a continued excitement about learning in class and from the community life we share. Pray for the first year students especially as they gear up to go back home and leave the fellowship they've been sharing for the past semester. It is usually bittersweet to have a break and miss the "family" environment created amongst the class.                                                     Pray for their strength to step up spiritually when situations call for it. A place we would like to see all our hearts here is to crying out "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." (Psalm 84:10)

Thank you again for your prayers for this school and this team of Venture students. We hope you enjoy hearing about the events and classes in the Venture's life. And that you yourself are encouraged in your life.  

In Christ ~ Adam and Brooke  Jordan

 

Dressing Up...

The fun never seems to end at MWSB.  The creativity that flows in this canyon at times can be impressive and other times just done right funny.  This year there have been several events that have encouraged the creativity to arise, for example:  there was a dress up like a rock-star dinner, Rodeo Guy and Girl night, and just recently dress like your favorite super star for dinner after the fun events of "Super Saturday".   The staff at MWSB have been very thankful for the group of Venture students that are so engaged in this year's class.  Even after a week of being in the mountains on a pack trip - they came home and led the students in "Super Saturday"  where every hour was filled with games, crafts, food and laughter.  It has been fun to see these students WORK hard, but then let loose and PLAY hard.  Pretty sure God is looking down - laughing right along.... go ahead take a look at these pictures and laugh too!

Super Hero night.

Not exactly sure which super heros Daniel Meza and Taylor Devine are posing as, but whatever works... right?

Rodeo Night... the girl Venture students.

Rock Star Night... 

Venture Program 08'-09'

Recent Events:We would like to introduce this year's Venture Students! Left to right, Top- Jessie Larsen, Daniel Meza, Josh Wenger, James Shanahan, Laura, Zentmire, Lauren Arndt, Paige Rodriguez, Jonathan Phillips. Bottom- Caitlin Elya, Brad Primmer, Cody Boehm, and Kendi Danreuther. We have continued the program with a returning 12 students from the class of 2008.  We are so excited about the team God has brought back for this year. Already we have had several adventures with them. Classes include outdoor education as well as academic courses focused on Leadership. This first quarter has included Intro to Rock Climbing, Wilderness Advanced First Aid, Backpacking and Solo Camping, Pack Trip and Backcountry Maintenance as well as a ream of academic courses including Spiritual Disciplines, Discipleship, Leadership Principles from 1 Tim, and Theology. The upcoming semester holds much more! Please be praying for our wisdom in leadership and for all of us to be following the leading of the Holy Spirit. As we travel and host different outdoor classes please pray for our safety and fellowship as a team. God has been active in every class and teaching each of us through the outdoor experiences and formal classes. 

The Team: The focus of the year for the Venture students is learning and living leadership amongst the student body. The team has been doing an excellent job of putting forth the effort in relationships and mixing in with the 1st year students. We are excited for them as they are learning for the first time how to lead events, dorm meetings, and foster one-on-one relationships with others. Pray for them as they seek opportunities with students and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit with their every day. Something we really appreciate about this particular group is their spirit of enthusiasm. We have seen their eagerness come out in the opportunities to lead, in bible studies, class time, relationships, their desire for the Lord, and in always looking for a laugh. 

Ways to Pray Now: One of the upcoming classes we are currently gearing up for is the 48 hour solo. We take each Venture student out and drop them off in a marked location. The students are left for 48 hours for a time in Silence and Solitude. Our purpose in this course is to practice the spiritual discipline of Silence and Solitude  in a setting with minimal distractions and complete solitude. The students are not allowed to hike or bring any source of entertainment. This is a challenging time as well as a precious time. God will use this time in mighty ways, especially if the student is eager and willing. Please pray for each Venture student to be searching and listening to the Lord during this time. And also to really learn the value of true silence and solitude before our God. 

We thank all of our supporters and those who pray for us each year. That has meant so much to us personally and we know that it has made a difference in the outcome of the Venture Program. We'll be checking back regularly to update you on the most recent events.

Love in Christ,

Adam and Brooke Jordan

Tour of the Gym

The front of the gym.

This is a view of the gym if you were on your way from the dinning hall to the chapel.

Here is a view from the front door looking towards the dinning hall.

Here is a view inside the gym. 

 

Looking towards the weight room from the front of the basketball court.

Here is a view of the gym from the weight room.

This picture is of the climbing room looking down from the bouldering room.  

Here is the bouldering room that can be assessed by climbing up from the climbing room or by coming through the weight room. 

As you come in the front of the gym, to the right is the game room.  This is where the ping pong table and pool table will be.  The student will be able to hang out and have fun in the cold winter months. 

Here is the Hob Nob (the coffee shop/snack shop).  Underneath the lights will be three booths.  On either side of the fireplace will be a couple of tall tables. 

Venture Students Head to Utah!

Earlier in the semester the Venture students learned all the details involved in planning and leading large group trips. They discussed topics such as risk management, environmental concerns, budget needs, group dynamics, and many other relevant topics. The classroom work proved itself to be more challenging than was expected but all 12 students dreamed up great plans for there own 8 day trip into the high desert canyons of southern Utah. From budgets, to lists and detailed itinerary, they proposed their plans to the staff. Those plans were then compiled into an actual trip schedule, taking one day of activities and meals from each proposed trip. The students final grade will come during the first week of April when they get a chance to test their plans, as they each lead one day of our adventure. Stay tuned for details on the trip...

Outreach Team Goes to Africa!

This May a group of 10 MWSB students and 2 staff will be making a brave trip down to South Africa to work with alumni Heather Lytle. These 10 students have been a part of a ministry outreach in the communities of Augusta and Great Falls throughout the school year. The purpose of the Outreach is to show God's love in a practical way to the surrounding communities that we live in.

The Africa trip is the "capstone" outreach, and it's intention is to open our eyes to the larger context of a global community that needs to be reached with God's love in a practical way. The support letter the team put together will be posted soon. If you would like to be a part of this ministry opportunity by supporting the team financially, please send a donation to MWSB Mission Fund via the PayPal link on our website (all donations are tax deductible). If you choose to donate towards the Africa mission trip using PayPal, please "Add special instructions to seller" and type in "Please designate to Africa Mission Trip" prior to clicking the "Donate" button. We would ask that you be praying for the Africa team in the next couple of months as they prepare for the trip and in the month of May as they serve in South Africa.

Blessings and thanks,

Imago Dei (Mission Team)

MWSB is bloggin!

Welcome to the MWSB blog!

This blog will be used to keep you updated on upcoming events, activities and happenings.

If you have questions or comments please take a look at the bulletin board or our website (links on left).

Please check back regularly.

Enjoy! -Admin