I just wanted to give you a quick update on where I am at, what is the current status of the whole Uganda Project, and also more information on what we will be doing. Currently, the Lord has been very faithful and also has been teaching me so much on faith and just building that relationship with him.
Since the last time I have written to you, the Lord has provided. As you know I was apart of Teen Mania Ministries’ Acquire the Fire Ministry Team; going around the country setting up, running, and tearing down the event for all the youth of America. I was not able to fulfill my commitment in raising the proper support for that and I was released from my commitment early. At that time I still needed to raise $2,150. The Lord has provided and now I only need to raise $934. I still need to fulfill my commitment in raising that support before I proceed to go to Uganda. Now with the support for the Uganda trip itself, I was able to raise $70. So at this point in time, I still need to raise a total of $15,364. The Lord has been so faithful in what he is doing.
So, I have been given more information on what we will be doing over in Uganda and also who we will be partnering up with. Teen Mania’s heartbeat is to provoke a young generation to passionately pursue Jesus Christ and take His life giving message to the ends of the earth. We have been doing this now for over 20 years through every aspect of Teen Mania but specifically through raising up leaders in the Honor Academy Internship. From the very beginning the end goal and vision of Teen Mania has been reaching the nations.
Through our partnership with a local pastor, Martin Ssempa in Uganda, we have the incredible opportunity to take the internship to foreign soil for the first time. Ssempa’s ministry and heartbeat are very similar to Teen Mania and he has been very influential in Uganda for nearly two decades as well. Due to their similar passions and ministries, Ssempa and the president of Teen Mania, Ron Luce, had an instant connection once they met. Ssempa has already been developing and raising up leaders in Uganda who love God and can bring change to Africa.
However, he needs the structure, disciplines and curriculum of the successful Honor Academy program we have been running for so many years. The Africans have the passion and zeal for God, but they are desperate for the structure and discipline of the American church. Our goal would be that after a few years, the Honor Academy would be self-sufficient and able to run by Ugandan leadership and Ugandan alumni of the internship.
Uganda is a strategic location for our first international expansion for many reasons. Uganda is a country of young people. 51% are below the age of 14 and 2% are 65 or older. They are so young and have very limited adult influence to raise them up in the ways of the Lord to impact their nation for Christ. Also, this has high strategic value because in Kampala, our base of operations, we would have the opportunity to interact with college age students from several different countries in Africa such as the Sudan, Kenya and Somalia. These students all come to Uganda to attend University because it is so inexpensive and then many end up working in Uganda. According to Ssempa’s team, about 30% of the young adults in Uganda are from these other countries in Africa and many will actually end up participating in the internship, or Leadership Development Institute (LDI). Through planting the LDI and raising up leaders in Uganda, we have the potential to influence church and secular leadership throughout the country, as well as the entire continent of Africa.
I just received news that I will be heading back to Texas and Teen Mania on November 4, 2009 to start training for the LDI. Our plan right now is to head to Uganda sometime in the week of November 11, 2009. Here is how you can help. In the beginning of this letter I said I have still to raise $15,364. I am still trying to find supporters who would be able to give financially and also commit to praying for me and the team while we are their.
There are a few ways to donate. First is to give a one time donation of $154, second to donate for 6 months at $25 a month, third to donate $13 a month, or if you cannot commit to this you are able to give a one time donation of your choice.
You can send all donations made out to Teen Mania Ministries with “Andrew Downey ID#2441613” in the memo line to Honor Academy, c/o Intern Relations, P.O. Box 2000, Lindale, TX 75771. Remember all donations made out this way are tax-deductable. For all personal checks and cash donations, you can send that to Andrew Downey, 557 SW Cutoff Unit 136, Worcester, MA 01607.
I want to thank you so much for what you are all doing, and all the support that you are giving. I know that most of all our team needs prayer. A lot of us on the team are struggling and need all the prayer that we can get. I know that the Lord is going to provide for all of us. Thank you so much again for all that you are doing. May God bless you all with all that you are currently and soon to do.
Sincerely,
Andrew Downey
Monday, October 5, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Standards!!!!!
So I was thinking earlier tonight, what are my standards. Do I have any? Why would I have any? I mean, I am home now, under most of the rules from the Honor Academy, but still, have a lot of freedom and paths that I would be able to go down that would be easy for me or at least look like I am doing something that are against my standards.
Why would I have any? I believe it is very wise to have standards and just guidelines for different areas of my life or anyone's life. In Proverbs 4:23 it says "above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." It says to Guard your heart. Also in Proverbs 4:14-15 it says, "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." It says Avoid it, avoid the walk in the way of evil men. So if we do not set boundaries and just go on with day to day life, we could make a decision and be walking in the way of evil. Now if we do that we are not guarding the wellspring of our life, the heart!
So do I have any standards. Well here are a couple that I will share that I do have.
1) No riding in the car with the opposite gender at night
2) No staying up watching TV passed 11:00pm
3) Not going to be alone with the opposite gender in a room alone
These are just a few of my own standards. But we should all have standards, if we do we are more likely not to get ourselves into temptation.
Why would I have any? I believe it is very wise to have standards and just guidelines for different areas of my life or anyone's life. In Proverbs 4:23 it says "above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." It says to Guard your heart. Also in Proverbs 4:14-15 it says, "Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way." It says Avoid it, avoid the walk in the way of evil men. So if we do not set boundaries and just go on with day to day life, we could make a decision and be walking in the way of evil. Now if we do that we are not guarding the wellspring of our life, the heart!
So do I have any standards. Well here are a couple that I will share that I do have.
1) No riding in the car with the opposite gender at night
2) No staying up watching TV passed 11:00pm
3) Not going to be alone with the opposite gender in a room alone
These are just a few of my own standards. But we should all have standards, if we do we are more likely not to get ourselves into temptation.
October 1, 2009
Hey everyone,
So October 1st, 2009 is my first deadline. I will have to have rasied $2,500 by October 1st. If any of you would like to donate you can by clicking on the link to the right on "dontate to Andrew" and my ID# is 2441613 or you may send a check made out to Teen Mania Ministries and in the memo line write "Andrew Downey ID#2441613 to:
Honor Academy
c/o Intern Relations
PO Box 2000
Lindale, TX 75771
and any personal checks can be mailed to:
Andrew Downey
557 SW Cutoff Unit 136
Worcester, MA 01607
Also please let me know so I am able to let the Honor Academy know that the money is coming in. Thank you all for donating and I know that the Lord will be with you through everything that you are facing. And please be praying for the safety and also provision for the team that is going to Uganda!!!
So October 1st, 2009 is my first deadline. I will have to have rasied $2,500 by October 1st. If any of you would like to donate you can by clicking on the link to the right on "dontate to Andrew" and my ID# is 2441613 or you may send a check made out to Teen Mania Ministries and in the memo line write "Andrew Downey ID#2441613 to:
Honor Academy
c/o Intern Relations
PO Box 2000
Lindale, TX 75771
and any personal checks can be mailed to:
Andrew Downey
557 SW Cutoff Unit 136
Worcester, MA 01607
Also please let me know so I am able to let the Honor Academy know that the money is coming in. Thank you all for donating and I know that the Lord will be with you through everything that you are facing. And please be praying for the safety and also provision for the team that is going to Uganda!!!
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Fundraising Update!
Hey everyone,
So I have to say that these last two weeks have been really trying. The Lord has been really teaching me a lot about trusting, submitting, and just relying on him. The Lord has been really faithful though, even if I haven't seen it until now.
I was given my updated donation record, and found something amazing. The Lord has been providing and he is still providing. I now only have to raise $15,415 from the original $17, 000. I want to thank everyone personally that has donated. If you have donated please let me know, you can email me at downey.andrew@ymail.com. I know that the Lord will provide for all of you who have donated and that He is working in your life, sometimes more than you know.
Also I wanted to share with you all something, my life verses, 2 Timothy 4:17. The first time that I heard this verse was when I was at the Honor Academy. One of my friends actually gave me this verse, she said that this was from the Lord. So I looked it up and this is what it says, "For the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered out of the lion's mouth."
This verse just touched me so much. I know that this is my life verse, because I know that the Lord has called me to this. I know that Lord has stood by me and gave me strength, he has done this many time and is still doing so. I know that my mission statement is is to be an example to my city, state, and country of how to do it right, and how to be a true Christian.
So I have to say that these last two weeks have been really trying. The Lord has been really teaching me a lot about trusting, submitting, and just relying on him. The Lord has been really faithful though, even if I haven't seen it until now.
I was given my updated donation record, and found something amazing. The Lord has been providing and he is still providing. I now only have to raise $15,415 from the original $17, 000. I want to thank everyone personally that has donated. If you have donated please let me know, you can email me at downey.andrew@ymail.com. I know that the Lord will provide for all of you who have donated and that He is working in your life, sometimes more than you know.
Also I wanted to share with you all something, my life verses, 2 Timothy 4:17. The first time that I heard this verse was when I was at the Honor Academy. One of my friends actually gave me this verse, she said that this was from the Lord. So I looked it up and this is what it says, "For the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered out of the lion's mouth."
This verse just touched me so much. I know that this is my life verse, because I know that the Lord has called me to this. I know that Lord has stood by me and gave me strength, he has done this many time and is still doing so. I know that my mission statement is is to be an example to my city, state, and country of how to do it right, and how to be a true Christian.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Just an Update!!!
So as of right now, most of my support letters are mailed out and going all over the country. Right now I need all of your help, I need you all to be praying that the Lord will being touching the hearts of everyone that receives a support letter. I have even sent a few support letters to some big corporations and hoping that they will be able to donate and help.
I know that the Lord is going to provide all my needs. Right now I have my first deadline that I will need to raise $2,500 by October 1st.
The full cost of the Uganda program is $14,500. I actually need to raise $17,000. The reason is, I was unable to raise the support to be apart of the Ministry Team program and was unable to raise the last $2,100-$2,500. In order for me to be apart of the Uganda program I need to raise the last of the support that I was unable to raise first. So By October 1st I would need about $4,600-$5,000. I am going to be contacting Teen Mania and will find out the remaining balance to know how much for sure that I still need to raise.
I know that the Lord is going to provide for me, because he has called me. I have done my part and still doing my part. I have sent out support letters and I have this blog spot and Facebook. I have contacted friends and asked them to help me. I have also contacted churches and asked them for help. I know that the Lord is going to provide based on the work that I put into fundraising. I know I can't raise the money, but the Lord will be able to guide me and lay it on the hearts of people to donate to me.
So anyone that is willing to donate please contact me and let me know that first you are, and how much so I am able to update my stats and tell Teen Mania that it will be coming. You can donate online by going to http://www.honoracademy.com/donate and my ID# is 2441613. Or you can do so by check made out to Teen Mania Ministries and in the memo "Andrew Downey ID# 2441613" and mail that out to Teen Mania Ministries, c/o Intern Relations, PO Box 2000, Lindale, TX 75771. Also any personal checks or cash can be mailed to me at Andrew Downey, 557 SW Cutoff Unit 136, Worcester, MA 01607.
As of right now I only have a few people committed to donate to me, but yet to get the final financial contribution. October 1st is coming up quick, BUT I know that the Lord will provide!
2 Timothy 4:17- For the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered out of the Lion's mouth.
I know that the Lord is going to provide all my needs. Right now I have my first deadline that I will need to raise $2,500 by October 1st.
The full cost of the Uganda program is $14,500. I actually need to raise $17,000. The reason is, I was unable to raise the support to be apart of the Ministry Team program and was unable to raise the last $2,100-$2,500. In order for me to be apart of the Uganda program I need to raise the last of the support that I was unable to raise first. So By October 1st I would need about $4,600-$5,000. I am going to be contacting Teen Mania and will find out the remaining balance to know how much for sure that I still need to raise.
I know that the Lord is going to provide for me, because he has called me. I have done my part and still doing my part. I have sent out support letters and I have this blog spot and Facebook. I have contacted friends and asked them to help me. I have also contacted churches and asked them for help. I know that the Lord is going to provide based on the work that I put into fundraising. I know I can't raise the money, but the Lord will be able to guide me and lay it on the hearts of people to donate to me.
So anyone that is willing to donate please contact me and let me know that first you are, and how much so I am able to update my stats and tell Teen Mania that it will be coming. You can donate online by going to http://www.honoracademy.com/donate and my ID# is 2441613. Or you can do so by check made out to Teen Mania Ministries and in the memo "Andrew Downey ID# 2441613" and mail that out to Teen Mania Ministries, c/o Intern Relations, PO Box 2000, Lindale, TX 75771. Also any personal checks or cash can be mailed to me at Andrew Downey, 557 SW Cutoff Unit 136, Worcester, MA 01607.
As of right now I only have a few people committed to donate to me, but yet to get the final financial contribution. October 1st is coming up quick, BUT I know that the Lord will provide!
2 Timothy 4:17- For the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered out of the Lion's mouth.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Hebrews!!!!
Hebrews 2:18- "Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted" (NIV) or "For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted." (NASB).
I love this. This proves that no matter what you are going through, Jesus will come to our help or aid. No matter what temptation there is he will come, that is if you ask him to. How can someone help you if you don't ask for help? The Lord will come and help you with anything that is happening. This is just soo great! I really do not know what more to say about it, it's just amazing and great, that ANYTHING that is tempting us Jesus will aid us in that.
Now this next part is even more scarier, I think, it made me rethink my salvation!
Here are 3 different versions:
Hebrews 6:4-6 -"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." (NIV)
"For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame." (NASB)
" For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame." (NKJV)
So here is the question of the day.... Can we then loose our salvation based off what the scripture says here in these verses in these three different versions?
This makes me wonder. I was reading Hebrews (one of my favorite books) and came across this passage. It makes me think if you can loose it. To me this dose prove you can loose your salvation. It also made me think, that all the "bad" I have done as I professed that I was a Christian, that I was one even saved or two had salvation. This is just for thought and what I got out of it.
I love this. This proves that no matter what you are going through, Jesus will come to our help or aid. No matter what temptation there is he will come, that is if you ask him to. How can someone help you if you don't ask for help? The Lord will come and help you with anything that is happening. This is just soo great! I really do not know what more to say about it, it's just amazing and great, that ANYTHING that is tempting us Jesus will aid us in that.
Now this next part is even more scarier, I think, it made me rethink my salvation!
Here are 3 different versions:
Hebrews 6:4-6 -"It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace." (NIV)
"For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame." (NASB)
" For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame." (NKJV)
So here is the question of the day.... Can we then loose our salvation based off what the scripture says here in these verses in these three different versions?
This makes me wonder. I was reading Hebrews (one of my favorite books) and came across this passage. It makes me think if you can loose it. To me this dose prove you can loose your salvation. It also made me think, that all the "bad" I have done as I professed that I was a Christian, that I was one even saved or two had salvation. This is just for thought and what I got out of it.
Fundraising....Uganda Bowl-a-thon
Hey everyone,
I am in the middle of sending out support letter, but I have decided that I also need to be doing some sort of fundraisers. So I have come up with an idea of doing a Bowling Fundraiser. The reason that I have some up with this was, before I went to the Honor Academy I use to be in a bowling league and go bowling every Saturday. I was pretty good, but I haven't been bowling in a while, and thought that this would be a fun thing to do. So I am asking people to support me per pin that I knock down. If I were to get a score of 100 and you supported me 10 cents per pin then you would donate $10.
So I ask you so send me an email at downey.andrew@ymail.com and let me know if you would donate to the Uganda Bowl-a-thon and how much per pin. Now I will be going to play 3 games the first game is what I would be basing the score off of, but if you would like to sponsor me for the first 2 or even also all 3 you may, let me know about that in the email too. If you are in the Massachusetts, Worcester County Area I ask also if you would like to come out and join me and bowling alone side and have some fun. Let me know by email if you would be joining or you may drop in. I will let you know the date as soon as I am able to get a date set for this. Also if you would like you are able to call me and let me know if you would be supporting and donating, my cell is 508-797-2176.
I ask that you would all pray about supporting and donating to the Uganda Bowl-a-thon. Thank you so much, and hope and pray that all is going well with you.
I am in the middle of sending out support letter, but I have decided that I also need to be doing some sort of fundraisers. So I have come up with an idea of doing a Bowling Fundraiser. The reason that I have some up with this was, before I went to the Honor Academy I use to be in a bowling league and go bowling every Saturday. I was pretty good, but I haven't been bowling in a while, and thought that this would be a fun thing to do. So I am asking people to support me per pin that I knock down. If I were to get a score of 100 and you supported me 10 cents per pin then you would donate $10.
So I ask you so send me an email at downey.andrew@ymail.com and let me know if you would donate to the Uganda Bowl-a-thon and how much per pin. Now I will be going to play 3 games the first game is what I would be basing the score off of, but if you would like to sponsor me for the first 2 or even also all 3 you may, let me know about that in the email too. If you are in the Massachusetts, Worcester County Area I ask also if you would like to come out and join me and bowling alone side and have some fun. Let me know by email if you would be joining or you may drop in. I will let you know the date as soon as I am able to get a date set for this. Also if you would like you are able to call me and let me know if you would be supporting and donating, my cell is 508-797-2176.
I ask that you would all pray about supporting and donating to the Uganda Bowl-a-thon. Thank you so much, and hope and pray that all is going well with you.
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