Westmont - Halloween

HERE IS AN EMAIL IN REGARDS TO WESTMONSTS STUDENTS COMING TO IV FOR HALLOWEEN...IT'S BETWEEN ONE OF OUR CHURCH FAMILY MEMBERS SAMI AND THE VP OF STUDENT LIFE:

So, I got an email from Jane Higa, the VP of student life at Westmont,to all the students at Westmont concerning the dangers of going out to IV this Halloween and warning us not to go down there. I felt that it was a wise thing, but it also could create fear and judgement in people, so I replied to her email, trying to respond in the opposite spirit (love and hope). Then she sent my email to all the students at Westmont! Looks like Westmont is praying alongside IVC for Halloween weekend! Feel free to pass this on to the rest of the family! Yeee!

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Dear Students,
One of the things I love about being at Westmont, are the constant reminders that I have had the privilege of working along side so many amazing students---who have such amazing hearts and who are doing such amazing work. Did you know that I think you are AMAZING???

After sending out the email regarding Halloween weekend in Isla Vista (IV) a few days ago, I received several emails from your fellow students, including an email from Sami Miller, a senior here at Westmont. She shared with me her church's work in IV and her desire to encourage the Westmont community to pray for IV this weekend. Below is an excerpt of her email:

Hi Jane,
I just wanted to thank you for sending this letter out, as the risks of going to IV on Halloween are very high. I am a senior at Westmont and a part of Isla Vista Church, which is the church that does Jesus Burgers in IV every Friday night. Our church is having a 24/7 prayer week for IV this week and this weekend we will be at the ministry house on Del Playa giving people free burgers and loving on the people who are partying. Jesus Burgers has been a safe place for many of the kids in IV, has probably saved some kids lives, and many souls. So though it is a very dangerous and crazy place, God is moving in this city and does amazing work advancing the kingdom of Light, even on such a dark weekend. I'd appreciate if you could encourage students to pray for IV this week. Though it is wise not to go out there, I think we should try to be compassionate, try to see IV the way Father God sees it and pray for the safety of those who are out there. Last year, after having a week of 24/7 prayer, it rained on the Friday of halloween weekend and the streets were empty by 10pm! What could happen if the Westmont community stepped up to intercede for their fellow students in Santa Barbara?!

Thank you Sami for your word of encouragement and I would like to invite all of you to join Sami and the Isla Vista Church in praying for safety, protection, love and peace in IV this weekend, because as Sami said "Jesus reigns over that city."

Jane

Halloween In Isla Vista | Jesus Loves IV

Halloween In Isla Vista | Jesus Loves IV

Baptism (October 2011) | Jesus Loves IV

Baptism (October 2011) | Jesus Loves IV

Worship Album

Our worship leader and one of my best-friends (Mac) recorded an album live from the prayer shed about a month ago...I am super stoked to watch the whole recording and listen to these songs we have been singing for the last two years! 

Halloween Week - 24/7 Prayer

It's Halloween this week in IV, which means people from all over will being coming to our city to party. The party will begin Thursday and end Monday, as Halloween falls on a Monday this year.

We as the church began 24/7 prayer in our prayer shed on Sunday and will end on Saturday...please join us as we pray for this weekend and the safety of thousands of lives. They say the city doubles in population during Halloween, which means 40,000 people will be in a one mile square radius.

"if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Jesus Saves

This last Sunday a student strolled into the church building at the end of the gathering...he had just accepted Christ and asked God to connect him with other believers. He saw a Westmont van parked at the church, so he decided to check if it was a Christian church. I wish I could share the details of his life, and what has God delivered him from, but I want to honor our new brother in Christ...hopefully you will watch his testimony in the next few weeks. 

The picture is from Monday night at Prayer & Prophecy time. After he shared his story, a group of about 15 of us laid hands on him and prayed over him for about 45 minutes. It was great, we asked him if he was ok with that many of us praying for him, and he responded "I want as many Christians as possible to pray for me!" Please continue to pray, as lost sons and daughters are returning Home to their Father in IV! 

"But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." - Jesus

A Few More Baptism Pics...

Baptism Sunday

This fall quarter has been crazy good...God has been changing lives, saving lives, and doing what only His grace can do. This last Sunday three gals entered the Pacific Ocean to declare that their life belongs to Jesus and is being lived for Jesus!

"having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead." (Colossians 2:12)

The church family in IV is growing as God is relentless to love this city to Himself. Please continue to pray for His church in IV and for the city, Halloween is rapidly approaching.

Pray 4 Peace in IV

"Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." (Jeremiah 29:7)

On Saturday morning around 3 am I was awakened out of a dead sleep by a car slamming into another car...being disoriented, I got up to check it out, but didn't see anything out our window. After I woke up on Sunday morning I went outside to discover the damage. It was not long before the owner showed up to go to work, only to see his car plowed by a unknown driver. The car that slammed into his car was left abandoned in a driveway across the street, as it could not be driven due to the impact. The police filed a hit & run report...most likely the driver had been drinking.

Please pray for IV, as this could have easily been people who got hit while walking on the street...God has been good to our city in light of the amount of crazy drivers and people drinking & driving. As you can see from the picture, our home was right behind where it happened (our van on the driveway).