Declaring TRUTH!

Hey Family!

This little video- you may have already seen it- but it's worth another listen! We have adopted this all over up here! Especially the *clap* !

I have to tell you a story about last night's Friday Night Worship- there have been several new people coming in and out- one lady was healed of a spot on her arm that was healed, and God was doing an incredible work in her (tears, tears- it was beautiful) and then she gave her life to Christ. Last night there was a young man I have never seen before. He stood out- wearing a black leather jacked that said "wicked clown" ! But what I noticed most was his hunted look. Later, Phil told me that he came with our friend Ron, who apparently has picked him up hitchhiking several times. He lives near Ron. One time when he picked him up, Ron said, "I saw death all over him." So Ron asked him, "would you like to accept Christ?" The young man said "no." So Ron, undaunted, said, "Well, then can I just pray a blessing over you?" He said yes. So Ron started to bless him, and he could see that the young man was getting - blessed. So he stopped, and asked again, "Would you like to accept Christ now?" The young man said yes this time. Ron has been meeting with him and encouraging him, and brought him to FNW last night. Another young man- the one who met our worship carolers on the streets last summer- went to school with him. He said he almost didn't recognize him- just a month ago, he said, his eyes were so dark. But last night, he was different.

He still looked hunted to me. But imagine what he looked like a month ago. Please family- will you pray for this young man? His name is Todd. Pray that he will continue to seek Christ and grow closer - to both Jesus and His body here. Pray he will seek healing and freedom, and eventually enter into the destiny God has for him!

So family, we seriously need your prayer- especially on Friday nights. So many enter our home- and while I have not spent a moment worrying about this, once in awhile it does occur to me that we are putting ourselves out on a limb. Pray....we need your covering and support. Let us know if you get any encouraging words from the Lord-

We also know that there may come a time that we will need to move this meeting to a larger place. Pray that when that time comes, the Lord just shows us where. So many have said - in one way or another- "I love friday night worship.....there is so much peace." I know this is probably mostly what we all bring, but still- we want the right place.

Anyway, enjoy Jessica's Daily Affirmation....imagine if we all lived with that kind of attitude! Words create worlds!

love, us Thoofts

Before they get Buried Beneath....

This song pretty much nails why we're here and what we're doing :) We've been seeing this over and over...young people "finally breaking" and calling out to God- needing Him to breathe! So many stories....thank you so much for making it possible for us to be here! Aslan is on the MOVE!

Will surely post more details and stories later....MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Love, us Thoofts

Snapshot

Hi Family :)

I have been facilitating a Sozo ("saved, healed, delivered") class at First Assembly this month. We have had twenty-something people there, wanting to learn this tool so they can help bring healing to people in our community. At our class the other night, one young man hung around until most of the others had left. This young man encountered a group of worshippers downtown Bemidji after a Friday Night Worship. They were worshipping on the corner of 3rd and Beltrami- like carolers in the summer- and attracting a crowd. Some people listened, some sang, some, like one older couple, danced. This young man was coming from one of the local bars and heard the music. He has been coming to Friday Night Worship ever since, and signed up for the Sozo training.

As we talked, I could see that he needed some time, but maybe the Holy Spirit wanted to do something right then. He began to tell me a devastating story from his childhood that he had to this point told no one. He had carried this his entire life- by himself. A seven year old boy is not meant to do that. Our amazing Holy Spirit wanted to heal him, and led him to this point. He was able to forgive who needed to forgive and receive what God had for him.

Watching this happen is always nothing short of miraculous for me. God just shows me what is going on, how to word things for them, and He does the rest. He embraces the orphans. I've seen Him do it. When I asked this young man how he was feeling after all of this- as he sat there letting the Holy Spirit love him- he said, "Free."

At the same time, our daughter Maddie was at a school leadership conference. Student council and other leaders from high schools all around MN gathered at this event. The speaker - at a secular high school leadership event- spoke of forgiveness and how important it was, how it sets people free. How, if you don't forgive, you are in a prison. (!!??!!) One young man in her class who is on student council with her, had been giving her a hard time lately. He is convinced that Communism is what our country needs, dresses like a Russian soldier, and admires the Nazi party. He calls himself a pagan and proudly relays the fact that his mother is a "witch." Ilsa and Maddie have been sharing the tools of healthy relationships, especially Love Languages, with all their friends at school, and this guy is no exception, even though he has been prickly. In simple words, they are "loving on" their classmates.

Maddie has had some impetego on her chin this week, and she noticed that this young man was staring at it a lot. Finally, in the hearing of a teacher and another friend, he said, "You look absolutely disgusting." When Maddie told us this, there was a sharp inhale in the car! WHAT?!?! He said what?!? Her friend, another guy, immediately denounced it with, "What? I think she is beautiful, no matter what she looks like!" Maddie was able to brush it off (which is more than I can say about me at her age!) Later she asked him what that was all about, and just told him that saying something like that was really rude and hurtful to people. He defended himself. This young man has never apologized for anything up to this point.

So fast forward to Wednesday night- as I was praying with the young man at the Sozo class- the speaker at the conference was slicing open hard-hearted teenagers. This young man stood up, along with many others in the group, and shared about why he transferred from the large high school to Maddie's charter high school. He had been molested by his older brother, and then made fun of and beat up at the high school for it. Hence the transfer. Maddie cried with him, and later offered her forgiveness for his mean comments. He looked at her, and said, "Maddie, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I said that."

After that, Maddie's teacher told her that she and Ilsa have made a huge impact on their school. "You have changed our school," he said.

Maddie also had an opportunity to help another friend begin to forgive her dad for molesting her when she was little. This young lady now wants to come to the Sozo training.

How's that for revival, family? I love watching the Holy Spirit work.....in and out of the church. It's so beautiful. I'm in tears as I write all this. We continue to meet on Friday nights.....offering our worship to God, praying for the sick, seeing many healed. Tuesday nights on campus, however, have been small. We recently had a prayer meeting with our leaders and put everything on a shelf- and asked God what He was doing on campus and determined to do whatever that is. Tuesday nights are going to look different, and we're excited to see what that will look like.

So Aslan is on the move, family. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and remember that!!

Love, us Thoofts

Lovely Northern Fall!

Dear Family

Recently I heard someone say that worship leaders around the world are experiencing the feeling of leading MANY more in worship than are actually there at any particular meeting. As if they are worshipping for many. I was really glad to hear this, because I have found myself pointedly singing for our entire campus- city- state- country- church..... almost every time I lead worship anywhere. Especially on campus and on Friday nights. And the music that is coming out recently is reflecting the same thing. I wanted to post one song that we have been singing a lot lately....the woman who wrote this wrote it for the city of San Francisco- "St. Francis" in the song. We sing it for our city, our campus. It has blessed us so much....just wanted to share :)

St. Francis

I can't figure out how to embed it! ahhhhh, I'm such a non-techie. So just click the link, and it will take you right to it.

We are having such a fall! After our hayrides, we jumped into Tuesday nights, which have been increasing. It's so fun to see new faces. We've had a few weddings- one couple met at Chi Alpha and the other were part of XA. So fun. Next up: the Renaissance Fair with our kids, Fall Retreat, Horse Camp, and we're getting invaded by the Scots! Our friends Cat & Jess are coming to stay near the end of October with their friends from Scotland. So looking forward to meeting them. And, Phil and I celebrate our 20th anniversary this month- how can that be?

I know, we weren't created to live in Time. That's why it's always passing to fast. Anyway. We love you and hope all is well- drop us a note when you get a minute!

A Rather Longish Blog for a Few Short Weeks!

Hi Family!

We've had such a whirlwind few weeks- I wanted to tell you about them before I forget stuff! We have had two hayrides, graciously sponsored by our neighbors and friends, Dalen and Debbie Miller. Debbie harnessed up her Haflingers to a haywagon and neighbor Don brought his wagon and Belgians and we had enough room for dozens of students to literally ride on hay. It was a hoot. Then we roasted hot dogs and played games by a fire.

Friday nights have become almost packed to capacity. Personally, I don't mind them so full, but there are a few starting to say "ok, when and where are we going to move this?" I think that's a way off yet. After worship, most of the students have been heading downtown- a certain corner by Wells Fargo- with guitars, the d'jembe, blankets...and have been spending several hours just worshipping. People wander out of bars and stop to listen, one night an older couple danced in the street, and the local police have wandered by wondering what's up. When asked why they chose this particular corner, one of our students said, "because God really works here!" and the officer said, "Right. Ok! Have a great night!"

There have been many opportunities for serving people during these times.....prayer for whatever people need, be it peace or healing or whatever. Just listening. Or in-depth conversations about whatever people want to talk about. Last night a gentleman showed up with a ukelele and joined in. It's getting to be quite a thing!

Last night, also at FNW, one young lady asked for the microphone and said that two weeks ago when she arrived here in Bemidji, she was agnostic in her beliefs. But last week at FNW, she was re-born. Another young man took the mic and told the story of how he met the worshippers on the street last Friday night and now here he was.

And perhaps the most beautiful thing about all of this is- it isn't just us. It isn't even just our chi alpha students- it's Inter Varsity too. I can't even tell you how it all happened, but we are partners. IVCF and XA have "run together" so to speak. Our students go in and out of both groups. We are all at Friday night worship. We minister to the same kids. We help each other out, have movie nights together, even are planning to fundraise together. The unity on campus is something I have not yet seen- and it is so thrilling- we really are one Body.

As our friend Steph would say, "Dang, Shorty."

And tonight, at a wedding of two students who met at XA, I heard a story that really blessed me, even though no one in the room would know why. A groomsman in the wedding party was giving a speech, saying that he and the groom had been friends since high school. They went to separate colleges after high school, but kept in touch. Then his friend the groom went to a Christian conference. He came back completely changed. The groomsman went on to say how he waiting for it to "wear off"- after all, it was just a "conference high." But as the days rolled into weeks rolled into years, it didn't wear off. The young groom's life really had changed. He didn't think the same, or talk the same, or see the world the same. The groomsman then said, "I am following Christ today because of him."

This is what made me smile: our young groom was at that conference because I dragged him there. Quite literally. I hounded the poor guy until he came. And it changed his life, and he met his wife- at our regional SALT conference. I had to smile inside knowing that - without even knowing it- Phil and I had impacted this young groomsman's life, and he didn't even know it.

So listen to me, family- it's true for you as well. You have NO idea who you impact, how many lives are touched by yours. One thing we have been talking about practically daily- whether it's at home or on campus on Tuesdays or at Friday Night or all through the ministry school- is how we need to have mercy for people. We've gotten pretty good at having mercy on pre-believers- you know what I mean? Sinners sin, that's what they do. We don't need to clean people up to get them a bath. But when the church sins.....when the Christians who are supposed to love you and honor you- don't - ahhhh, that's tougher. But it's such a great blanket statement: honor everyone, have mercy, no matter what you think they think or what you think they believe. Don't even trouble your mind with thoughts of anything else. I'm just seeing- that everyone is always watching us- and you - and we have no idea who we are influencing, who we are moving one step closer to Jesus. Every time I choose to think badly of someone, I may be missing that opportunity to save a life, so to speak. Our young groom was quiet when we first met him- somewhat unapproachable - and he told us later that he struggled with depression. You had to really look to see the gold - even just believe it was there. All I did was see a gift he had- and I kept hammering on that and bugging him about coming to our meetings and SALT. And today he got married- and it was all sweetness and honor. I am so proud of him - he is forthright and open and approachable. He climbed out of that shell and started believing the truth about himself, and his God.

Anyway, I'm kind of rambling now. There are just so many cool stories happening here. Last weekend some great friends came up to visit, and we had some pretty glorious sozo time. This weekend another friend is up and we will spend some sozo time with him tomorrow. Life is full.

Perhaps due to this, Phil and I are planning to "hit the fundraising trail" once again. We took a couple year hiatus and got jobs. I think we needed it. But now- we are feeling the pull to put all that aside and get back to full time status. Most likely you will be hearing from us, and we are so looking forward to talking and even seeing many of you. It's been too long!

You are always right here with us!!

love love love

Phil and Michelle & Tribe

Leaky Kitchens and Pizza Feeds!

Hello Family!

We just had a great welcome week activity :) We sponsored a huge pizza feed on campus yesterday, and fed about 200 students. The beauty of a pizza feed is that they have to wait while their pizza grills- and we get to chat. We met dozens of new faces and re-met dozens of old ones, made connections, and had a blast. I posted all the pictures on the BSU Chi Alpha Facebook page- if you are on facebook, please find me! I will connect you with that page and you will get more updates and pictures and would be able to comment and interact with other people who are "fans" of Bemidji Chi Alpha.

This week we begin our Tuesday nights on campus, and in addition to Friday night worship, we are having a big horse-drawn hayride and cookout this Saturday and also on Labor Day. The Beaver Organizational Bash is Thursday. Got a big couple weeks ahead of us!

On top of that, our slightly bummer news is that we found a leak under our kitchen sink that Phil suspects was there for possibly a month. It destroyed the walls, the floor and the lower cupboards. So our kitchen is gutted- the night before move-in. :) YAY!!! The good news is, whether insurance covers it or not, I get a new kitchen. The bad news is, we really don't have time for this. But God provides always- and we are looking to Him for both the cash and the time!

Here are some pictures of the Pizza Feed- enjoy :) We love you family!!

Summer!

Hey Family!

Summer is going so fast. I know you know what I mean! We have been doing what we do- Friday nights are still busy even though many students are gone for the summer. A few weeks ago, several went "bar hopping" after worship- ! They met some people and had some pretty cool God-encounters after hours! It's so inspiring to see these guys take their faith into all of the community- even the bars!

The School of Ministry is finishing it's first year this week (it went so fast!) and beginning its second year in September. Many of the ministry students are involved on Friday nights and some are involved with us on campus. We have a full schedule planned for Fall - from hayrides with students and international students to pizza feeds to our XA table at the Student Organization Bash. We have a pretty good team that is excited for new students coming in!

We have some big changes happening around here- another student is moving into the Thooft ranch (!) with us- Moriah Henkelman is transferring to BSU this fall and we are excited! Moriah's parents were our pastors in Redwood Falls- Bob & Pam Henkelman. Our kids pretty much grew up together, so it is really fun to have that connection. Another change- besides Eli attending public school, Ilsa and Maddie will be as well! It looks like they will be attending Voyageur's Expeditionary High School here in Bemidji. It's a smaller charter high school- a nice transition between home school and a huge public high school. They are looking forward to it.

I (Michelle) have been looking closely and praying about what I need to be involved in this fall- and it is narrowing down to a) supervising the worship for the campus meetings on Tuesday nights (ie delegating) b) Sozo on campus c) Sozo in the community d) Friday night worship and e) writing. Please pray for me as I listen- I know I have been involved in too much and need to focus. Phil is taking up the men's group again this fall (the group is on a month hiatus) along with Tuesday nights and Friday nights, and hopefully some time on campus.

The connection between us and InterVarsity has been so fun and encouraging- the unity among Christians on campus is growing stronger, and not just in words. The groups have begun to move in and among each other, and that is thrilling. I will be able to offer the Sozo prayer ministry to students in both groups this fall- the thought of helping students get spiritually and emotionally free and healthy is - amazing. Besides that- we are in the process of inviting every pastor in our community to come and share on a Friday night their vision for transformation in our community and how we as a worship intercessory group can pray for them. There is this feeling in the air like something is exploding. The danger is, of course, that we are running too hard. Please pray for us, family- we are more than willing to do the work, and work jobs, to see His kingdom come on campus and in our community. We remain optimistic and encouraged - just pray that we are wise with our time!

In the meantime, we hope you are having a great summer!! We will keep you posted!

love, us Thoofts