To this moment I can say that without a doubt, one of the best decisions I ever made was when I decided to go through the Adventures In Missions program.  There is not really any one particular reason or benefit, either, there are many.  I was challenged and taught the word of God and the gospel in ways that stretch heart, mind, body and soul (I say all the time it took years for me to catch up with the knowledge gained…still working on it, truth be told!).  I believe it greatly enhanced my learning later at the Sunset International Bible Institute because my time in the field in AIM opened my eyes to both all I didn’t (but needed to) know, and sparked a love for ministry and a fire for spreading the gospel.  Eternity-long friendships were formed (including a very special one).  Those who knew me at the beginning of AIM and know me now also know that God did a lot of work bringing me out of my shell.  I am by nature an introvert (the Troy congregation doesn’t believe me, but I’ve got witnesses), but I was shown in AIM by a good brother that an introvert can be used by God to speak up, and I needed to stretch myself.  There is much more I could rattle on about, but you get the idea.  I’m a fan.

So why do I bring this up now?  Because soon I’ll be making a recruiting presentation to the present AIM class to see if our congregation can host an AIM team for 14 months.  There is much good that God could do through these young brothers and sisters in Troy, and I’d like to ask you to pray with me that God would open this door of opportunity for us.  I know the good that can be done first hand, both as a former AIMer still reaping the benefits, as a missionary in Russia that saw the great work two great teams did working with Dennis Wilson and James Kinnaird, and in my own field as a AIMer in Albany, NY.  I also believe that there are some terrific opportunities for the AIMers here in Troy working with a great church and in a field that is badly in need of more harvesters.  Would you keep us and the AIMers in your prayers?  Thanks!

[Jesus] told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’
(Luke 10:2, NIV)

God bless,
James