Belcher Spring Update

Belcher Spring Update

Hello All. And Happy May! Here we are at June 1st  and we thought…. it’s time for an update.  The past month and a half have flown by! We can’t believe that we are just a month out of meeting our new little one. Any guesses for what the gender is? I think girl and Carl thinks (only because of statistics) that it might be a boy. Either way we are going to be thrilled and are just so thankful for God trusting us with one of his blessings.

            April, 2014- wow it’s already over? April ended the 2014 Ignite Spring semester.  (Check Ignite wrap up for more details on the ministry) In April we celebrated Easter, a baby shower in Sebring, a quick trip to Haiti for Carl, and a leadership retreat for me with my Key Club officers.  I personally loved April- Loved the weather-Loved the experiences, just don’t ask me too many details about them because May has been so consuming that I have lost most recollections from April. 

May in the Belcher family has been exciting (Hints why April is already fuzzy)! We are in overdrive (Carl calls it nesting) in preparation for the baby, I am finishing up my school year, and we are completing our foster care certification classes.  May was kick started with a quick fun trip to The Kentucky Derby for Carl’s mom’s (?!) birthday.  Since arriving back to Fort Myers we have been preparing our home (and hearts) for this new little one. And I must interject that Carl has selflessly served me this month in all of my crazy home décor requests.  So far we (He) has completed repainting the kitchen, swapped couches in the library/living room, put the guest room together, hung/rehung multiple wall art and worked in the baby’s room (Can I call him super husband).  I am so thankful for the way he serves me.

Also this month Carl and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary, and we celebrated 9 years together at the end of the month. I can speak for both of us when I say God truly continues to bless our marriage and we love each other more today than yesterday.  In reflecting on these past three years Carl and I are so thankful for the growth that we have had in our ministry. We know that our relationships and life would not be the same without your love and support. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!

 

Blessings-

The Belchers

 

March Maddness (Ministry Update)

Hello All... Happy April,

      This has been a great Spring semester, full of growth and experiences. The highlight for me would have to be our Spring break trips to Syracuse, NY and Asheville, NC. We were able to send 22 students on these two trips, 12 to Syracuse and 10 to Asheville, with the purpose being to grow our students in evangelism and missional living. We spent the week going out into these cities and engaging in conversation with people. We wanted to BLESS people in the name of Jesus, PRAY with people in the name of Jesus, and SHARE the Gospel or our testimony with them. Throughout the week we were able to engage with nearly 250 people. And I have to share one story with you!

One of our students named Collin was talking with a young man in his early twenties. The young man proceeded to tell Collin about all the trials in his life, how he had been in prison, been shot 3 times, and about some of the losses he had experienced in life. Collin then asked the young man “How do you find hope in the midst of all the bad things that have happened in your life?” The young man responded by saying, “My hope died when my grandfather died last year. I wouldn’t know hope if hit me in the face.” One tool we were using to share with people was a small paperback Gospel of John, so Collin pulled the booklet out of his back pocket and I kid you not, he gently but very seriously slapped the man in the face with the Gospel of John and said, “It just did!” Collin then opened up the Gospel of John and they began to read the Scriptures together for about 20 minutes. Collin then prayed with the young man and we left.

I don’t know what has happened to that young man since we left Syracuse, but I know this… the Gospel was proclaimed and God was glorified! Collin, and all the other students that went on these trips, came back to FGCU with a new boldness and passion for sharing the good news of the gospel with their peers and professors. I hope hearing that story challenges you to approach life with a similar boldness.

 

  On the home front Ignite has had the opportunity to have a great presence on campus for the last couple of weeks. In the final week of March Ignite met on the  campus of FGCU for our Tuesday night gathering. That night I had the privilege to preach the gospel on "the green" in the center of the school. What an opportunity to read the word of God in a lost place for all to hear!


  We also had the  opportunity to partner with other campus ministries at FGCU to do a 72 hour prayer event. Students were interceding to God on behalf of their peers and professors for 72 consecutive hours. During this time we were able to encounter Gods presence on campus and even got to see a student give her life to Christ.

 Thank you so much for your continued support and prayers. The life change that we are seeing take place in Ignite would not be possible without you.

The Belcher's

Hello Friends! Its time, time we joined the wide world of blogging. We are hoping that this would be the outlet we could use to update, celebrate, and communicate all things new from our family to yours!
     
         Before we have any subject specific posts we though it best to get you caught up on life in general.  God has Leeza and I in such a sweet season of life where he continues to pursue us so lovingly and stretch us so intentionally. If you are unaware, we are three months away from meeting our first child. In preparation of this season we are learning so much....Who knew babies would truly change EVERYTHING! We are overflowing with excitement and anticipation of what this child will bring and thank God daily for entrusting us with him/her.
     
        In preparation for #belcherbaby1 we are trying to be more intentional with our family culture. As of the first Saturday in January Leeza and I sat down and created a list of family priorities as well as a family mission statement. One of my favorite new family activities are our Saturday morning family worship breakfasts (GOD+FOOD=AMAZING). It is in this time that we have been intentionally reading scriptures together. The discussions between the two of us as well as with other friends and family that we have invited to join us have been such a blessing. We are grateful for the grace and fruit that continues to flow from this time.

      Friends and family we just want to thank you for your continued support of our family and ministry. We truly could not do it without you........soon to come a ministry update :)

                                                                                    God Bless,
                                                                                  The Belchers