A New Addition

On Friday, August 4th, at 8:01pm Joe and Keri added their third daughter to the Hutchinson family. Teigan Noelle entered the world weighing 9 lbs 8 oz and was 20.25 inches long. Praise the Lord, for a safe and easy delivery, and now mom and baby are doing just great back home!

Multicultural Camp

Our annual Multicultural Camp is coming up in just a few short weeks, and we couldn't be more excited. After a lot of prayer, preparation, and hunting kids down for camp applications, we're pretty much set to go! We currently have 115 campers (ages 10-18) coming, and will potentially have a few more we're waiting on. These campers are from the apartments we live and do ministry in. The theme of camp this year is "Can't Quit." Joe, our team members, and the camp counselors will be talking to the students about relevant issues they deal with in today's society, as well as presenting the gospel with an urgency to them. These campers are either currently being discipled, were once discipled and have fallen away, or are new connections we have made this past year. Please be praying for minimal distractions, for all of the leaders to be guided by the Holy Spirit as they listen to and pray over their campers, and most importantly, for students to respond to the gospel either by making a first time commitment to Christ or recommitting their lives! Also, pray with our team that we will be led to potential first generation disciples who are leaders in their friend group to start disciple making movements here in our apartments!

Taw Reh, our new brother

Joe recently has been able to lead Taw Reh to Christ. Taw Reh has a hard life as his wife passed away and he is left to take care of his daughter who is mentally handicap. Well, their relationship started with Joe stepping in to help with and issue that kept popping up with his daughter. She wanted to go to hospital because she enjoyed the attention that she got there, however without a need or insurance, she could not be there. Because of her lack of understanding of the situation, she would put herself in harm's way by throwing "tantrums". Joe stepped in to help in those times, and through that help Joe and Taw Reh became friends. After a couple of meetings Joe was able to share the Gospel with him, and he said that even though he grew up Catholic, he never really knew who Jesus was. He decided to accept Christ into his life! Now, Joe and Taw Reh are trying to set up a discipleship relationship as it can be difficult at times with his daughter. We are praying that he becomes a faithful disciple and is they spark to launch a movement through the Karenni men!

Preparing Abrahim for the Kingdom

A couple weeks ago, Chris and Keegan – along with a couple members of the Rejoice team – went to an Iraqi home in Los Arcos. Our team has known the guys that live there for a while now, and this visit was mostly to continue building deeper relationships. The guys there, Muslim young adults, were celebrating Eve (at the end of the month Ramadan), and once our team walked in Chris noticed a new guy there.

They started talking, and Chris immediately felt a deep friendship with the man. Although this man, Abrahim, was Muslim and surrounded by Muslim friends, he showed great potential in becoming a disciple of Jesus. Abrahim went on to tell his story. Apparently he had just arrived in Houston, having ridden a motorcycle for 4 days from Philadelphia. He says he had sensed God telling him that there is a better life for him in Houston.

He also explained some tragedies he went through back in Iraq. Within a 4 month period of being a leader of the special forces in the Iraqi army, his two brothers were killed, then his dad was murdered and his soon-to-be wife killed by a bomb in a market she was shopping at. She was shopping for items for their wedding which was to take place just a couple weeks later. All of this happening so quickly caused Abraham to become suicidal, and he went on an army mission which he planned to die in.

After killing many ISIS members in retaliation for his family that had died, Abraham was shot in the stomach, went unconscious and ended up in the hospital. After his recovery, Abraham’s mom urged him not to fight ISIS anymore, saying that he is all she has left. His mom also asked him to take her to the U.S. to start a new life. Abraham agreed and moved to Philadelphia with her. After spending 3 years here he remarried and decided to journey to Houston.

Chris shared a bit about his faith that night. And every time he talked about Jesus, Abrahim listened intently and curiously. They finished the night agreeing to spend more time together, and they exchanged numbers.

A couple days later, Chris and Jerome took Abrahim out for dinner. Abrahim shared a bit more about himself and explained a lack of peace he’s had in his heart for a long time. Jerome and Chris took this opportunity to share their testimonies, and Abrahim kept saying things like, “This is why God brought me to Houston; for this moment.” It was also encouraging for him to share some other supernatural events that led up to his move.

Having spent a few more evenings with this man of peace, it’s clear that he desires Jesus and wants more of him, but at this point he doesn’t quite understand all of the Muslim beliefs and traditions that he would have to give up.

Please join us in praying this man into the Kingdom and vision. Pray first of all that the power of Islam in his life would be weakened and that Abrahim would take up Jesus as his stronghold and mighty fortress. And pray that Chris and other teammates would have great wisdom to know next steps with this man. Thanks! 

Rejoice Training

Next week, (June 25-29) Rejoice Church from Owasso, Oklamaha, will be coming for the third straight summer for a week long training and mission trip with our team. This year, there are 23 people total coming, including junior high & high school students, the church's head pastor, youth pastor, and family pastor! In previous years, this week has proven a lot of fruit both in ministry as well as in the lives of those from Rejoice. Each day, they will be sitting in on trainings from LJ and Joe, learning more about how to make disciples. Most evenings, they will be splitting into small groups and going on mission with Keystone members. Please pray favor and protection as they will be in the homes of those around us, and that lasting Kingdom fruit will be produced! Also pray that God will move and speak to everyone involved!




Keri

An Interested Vietnamese Woman

A few months ago, Keri met a new contact An, who lives just around the corner from her. Since the day they met, An and Keri gather together every Tuesday to talk about life, family, and religion. An and her husband are very strong Buddhist. At the same time, they are people of peace and openly encourage learning more about the gospel. Keri had shared the Creation to Christ story twice with An, but they were reaching a plateau with the language barriers. Finally, the Lord provided a Vietnamese translator, Hanh, who is also a believer. After An told us more about Buddhism and essentially got "backed into a corner" with her words and lack of knowledge about her own beliefs, we were able to share the gospel again and some stories from the Bible. An proclaimed "I believe" but she doesn't know if she can follow Christ because "she was born into a Buddhist family and owes in to her family."

When we left this past Tuesday, we prayed that Jesus would reveal himself to An supernaturally, specifically through a dream. Please join us in praying for next steps and for God to reveal himself to her.

Picture from left to right: Kalin, Keri's friend from Indiana, Keri, An, Hanh

Praying Against False Religions

For the past 6 years that we've ministered in Houston, we've consistently run into roadblocks in discipleship due to false religions. This is usually because of long-lasting family traditions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism or Islam. But it's been particularly frustrating to see so many families encounter new false religions upon moving to the States. We regularly run into Mormon missionaries, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Baha'i missionaries, and it's not hard to see the effect they've had on whole people groups in our area. 

We've prayed against these religions many times, but as we've been engaging the city more and more lately we thought it was time that we took trips to some of these false churches to engage the enemy on location. So this past Monday we set aside time to do that. It was encouraging and unifying to see God lead us supernaturally as we prayed against a few of these places of worship, and we felt like we took some ground from the enemy in the process. But we could use your prayers that the enemy's grip on the city through these false religions would continue to be broken and nullified. 

We know that the more we push against Satan, the more he will fight back. But we also know the great power we have through prayer and through the Holy Spirit. Please join us in praying against these false religions in Houston, so that there will be fresh breakthroughs of God's Kingdom!

The Start of Ramadan

This past Saturday, all of our Muslim contacts in Houston began their month of Ramadan. For them, this means a month of "fasting" to re-orient their lives around the purposes and character of Allah. This is their time to "become a better Muslim" in a sense.

So on Saturday our team came together to fast and pray over the Muslim community. God has really opened up a door for our team into the Muslim community, and this year we're hoping and praying that God uses this month to draw them near to Jesus. Rather than Satan using this month to draw these people deeper into the lies of Islam, we're praying that God uses this month to (1) prepare them for the truth of the gospel and (2) give us even more in-roads into the lives of Muslims and more opportunities to speak truth into their lives. Please join our team in praying for these things, so that people's eyes would start opening throughout the city! Thanks!

God, We Want You to be Our King

After a series of some unfortunate events, Joe has found favor in a family by coming along side of them and walking with them through these hard times. Aung Thian (Father) and Aye Win (Mother) realized that they needed help raising their teenagers and asked Joe to step in. Their family is Buddhist, but they were so desperate for help that they told Joe that he can teach Christ in their home and gave their blessing for their kids to accept Christ and be baptized if it means that they will be good and have a change of heart. Hser Nay (daughter, 16 years old) and Htoo Nay (son, 14 years old, who spent a year in Keystone Academy) were open for Joe to lead them in a Discovery Bible Study and even invited some of their friends to discover who the Jesus really is. This is happening in their home so their whole family is hearing the truth that Joe is teaching from Scripture, so it has the potential to change the whole family! After 3 meetings, they were impacted by Mark 1:15 where Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel." They broke that verse down many times to see what Jesus is truly saying here, and after hearing the Gospel on Easter weekend, they both prayed and asked God to be King of their lives! Please be praying for Hser Nay and Htoo Nay as they continue learning what it means to live in the Kingdom. of God.

 

Picture: Joe and the Discovery Bible Study (Left to right: Hser Nay, Htoo Nay, Hsar Ha, and Lah Kpro)

God is Moving in Sheffield Square

Sheffield Square is an apartment complex about 10 miles from our Ranchester location. Through some divine connections, Chris and some other members of our team have been able to be connected with some of the newly arriving Syrian refugees there. Here are some of Chris' journey entries about what God has been doing there over the past couple of weeks:

April 5th: Time for Keegan and I tonight at Sheffield was a blessing. Was able to take my Homegroup on mission. We followed up with Sami's family. The mother was joyful to invite us in. She didn't want us to leave. She said she has been so sad. We asked to pray for her and joined hands in a circle and as we were praying for her she began to weep. She then replied in Arabic to us, I love you!

Her name is Sumiah. Here tears were very meaningful, they have invited us back whenever. Praying this leads to an open network of doors in the 6 families, Wesam, Yuossif, Muhammad, Mohammad, Osama and now Sami - His mother Sumiah. That a redemptive community would emerge and God would peal back the darkness and shine his light brilliantly!

April 8th: Heading to see Sumiah and Sami with Keegan. Pray for God to reveal himself more. Last night when Zach Keegan and I laid hands on Sumiah and prayed for her headache she felt a stirring in hear head healing her headache. She was happy that we prayed for her and felt something happening as we prayed.

April 12th: A Syrian Muslim family has recently invited Caleb and I over every Wednesday to teach them English and study the bible. Osama and his father "Said" and his brother "Hani" are unlike other families. They do not necessarily believe the bible has been changed. They want to know the truth about the bible and want to journey with us and come to a conclusion of the truth about Jesus. Last time I invited my friend Josiah over and they were wooed by his fluent Arabic speaking ability. This family is just hungry to say the least. Yes they are deep in Islam, but they even had a notebook of every bible verse we shared and every question they had about Jesus they would write down and are going to study the Ingil(Bible). Praying for a breakthrough!

Picture 1: Sumiah and Paul (from Chris' home group) engaged in conversation

Picture 2: Osama

A Week with Rice University

This coming week Rice University is on their spring break. Our team here in Houston has been strategic on making a partnership with RU, as they are only 6 miles from our location, and their campus has people from all over the world!

There will be 15 students participating in a week long training and modeling with our team. These students are part of a campus- wide house church which includes 10 different churches. Team members Joe and Jerome will be leading the group in daily discipleship training, as their goal is to empower and equip them to make disciples on their own campus. Concluding the training, they will be going with our team members as they meet with disciples and share the gospel with others.

Please pray for this week to be fruitful and spirit led!

A New Young Disciple

For about two months now, our team member Susana has been discipling Da Meh, an 11 year old Karen girl. Though Da Meh is quiet, she's always wanting to know more about Jesus and has a heart to share with the lost. Since becoming a disciple, Da Meh has already made a first generation disciple, Tu Meh, a girl in our complex who lives in a split Buddhist/ Catholic home. Da Meh's mother is Catholic and Da Meh has already had opportunities to share truths from the Bible with her mom, like when she realized her mom was praying not only to Jesus, but to Mary as well. Da Meh boldly gave her life to Jesus and hasn't looked back!

This past week Da Meh was sick with a high fever and strep throat, but still faithfully met with Susana to read scripture and pray. She also felt one night that God told her to go to a local Mosque with team members Susana and Jerome to share more about the Bible with a man they've been working with there! She's so hungry to learn more about Christ and wants to share him with everyone!

Please be praying for Da Meh to continue to feel better, for her to keep being faithful in meeting with Susana, and for a continued hunger to share with the lost.

*Da Meh is on the far left in the picture

Continuing the Movement in Haiti

Julio was part of the Houston team off and on the past 4 years, and he lived with Jacob for most of that time. But last year God really laid a burden on his heart to launch a movement of disciples making disciples in his own country, Haiti. So back in August he moved back home, and a couple team members helped him to lead a discipleship training there to help spark the movement.

Because almost any form of communication is so hard to come by there, we heard very little from him since he moved. Just yesterday, however, he had an opportunity to call and give an update (though it was pretty brief since his phone kept disconnecting the call).

As far as ministry goes, we had hoped he could disciple some of the key leaders from the August training. But according to him, most of the leaders we had identified have proven to be too committed to their church system. After working through a couple generations with some of them, they became less committed and distracted by their programs and services.

But some of the other guys from the training, ones we didn't see a lot of hunger from at the time, have given their lives to getting the job done. So there's a group of committed disciples that he meets with regularly.

Additionally, Julio has identified an area of town where the believers are much more prone to put their faith into action, rather than intellectualize things. So he's excited to start working more with them.

He finally got accepted at a job he was trying to get into. Not sure what it is exactly, but something ministry-related. So I think he'll start that this week. We were surprised to find he hadn't already gotten a job, since he's been there around 6 months, but apparently it's very difficult to find work there right now, even for the educated.

Also, his health has been really manageable lately, so he hasn't had to worry too much about it. For the past 3 years or so he's really struggled with pain and stomach problems resulting from his MS, so ministry was difficult, at times. It probably also helps now that he's surrounded by family members who can help him out and hold him accountable to resist isolating himself.

Anyway, those are most of the thing he was able to communicate yesterday. His assignment now is to find a more consistent way to communicate with us, and then we can have some deeper conversations about what's presently going on, as well as next steps.

Please be praying that God would continue to guide him in ministry, and that more and more believers there would come alongside him to become co-laborers. If we see that there are many leaders there committed to making disciples, we will probably have to consider holding a second (or I guess third at this point) training. Thanks guys!

Onaizabe Come with ME

A beautiful Burmese Muslim family has had countless interactions with our team for the past year. Their two oldest, Muhammad and Onaizabe, starting connecting with us after they went to multicultural camp this past summer. Some of their younger siblings spend time inside our homes, and we've shared the gospel with their entire family!

The dad is, for a lack of better terms, a dead beat dad who is literally drinking and smoking his life away. He is very welcoming and accepting of our team though. A few months ago when we shared the Creation to Christ story with this family, the mother said it's all good and makes sense but she can not believe in it. She said she will die Muslim because that's what her parents expect. However, she was unable to tell us a single thing about her religion. She has agreed, though, to letting team members Keri, Susana, and Jenny continue to come back as well as spend time with the oldest daughter, Onaizabe.

Onaiza says she agrees with the gospel and that Jesus is who he says he is, but is scared that her parents will find out. When we asked her to make a decision, she said she needed some more time. We encouraged her to pray to "Allah" and then pray to Jesus, and see if she experiences/ feels anything.

Jenny and Keri will be following up with Onaizabe tonight! We are prepared for two outcomes: she decides she wants to follow Jesus and learn more about Him or she decides she won't follow Him due to fear of dishonoring her family. Please pray for Lord's will to be done and that he would work supernaturally through her, which is what it often takes for a Muslim to come to Jesus. Also pray for continued opened doors into their home and that their whole family would give their lives to Jesus!
Picture: Keri, Onaiza's little sister, and Onaiza

Seeing the City with Fresh Eyes

The Keystone Houston team has been in the city for 6 years now, and in those 6 years we've undergone many changes - things like splitting to 2 locations, running a school for a bit, restructuring leadership, etc. In fact, the only 'original' team members that we still have are LJ, Nicole and Jacob. And even LJ and Nicole have been working their way out of the team lately to pursue a greater role in the Keystone Project.

The way that God has developed this team has been great, and everyone that's a part of it now is totally committed to making disciples, whatever the cost. But we've noticed that lately the team has gotten caught up a bit in the day-to-day ministry, and more and more we lack a perspective of the greater vision. The thing is, since none of the new team members were a part of moving into the city and spiritually mapping the city, they naturally have a hard time owning the Kingdom work of the whole city for themselves.

So basically, we're excited to share the gospel and teach our disciples, but sometimes we lose sight of the fact that there's a whole city here to reach beyond our own apartment complexes. And because of it, our strategic nature as well as our sense of urgency have been diminishing.

So the past couple weeks we've taken a bunch of time to make trips as a team to different areas of Houston, both to minister as well as to view the enemy's strongholds up close. The goal is that as we witness in-person the diligent, constant and shameless work of the enemy throughout the city, we'll have a greater sense of urgency to get the job done as well as a keener awareness of the strongholds we'll have to work through right in our own neighborhoods.

Last week we spent time prayer walking through the Montrose area, which is the gay capital of Houston, where we prayed over many clubs, one of the secular universities there containing a 'gateway' to the city, a field where a large mosque will be built (one of the largest mosques in North America) and a few other buildings.

Last night we visited Hermann Park, which is somewhat the heart of Houston. Throughout the park we prayed against the many Masonic strongholds of the city. Tonight, then, we might prayer walk Bissonnet, which is one of the most heavily prostituted areas of the city.

Please pray with our team as we continue combating the enemy and discovering strongholds. We know that as we continue to intrude into the enemy's territory we're opening up ourselves to more spiritual attacks. So (1) please pray for spiritual protection, (2) please pray each one of us would have a larger perspective of what God wants to do in and through us this year, and (3) please pray that we would be prepared for our retreat this weekend and that God would be able to use it to spark fresh passion and fresh unity.

Thanks guys!

A Potential 1st Generation Disciple

About a month and a half ago Keegan joined our team. He's a 23-year-old (actually just had his birthday yesterday) from Indiana who felt called by God last year to give his life to making disciples. After going through a Keystone internship last summer, God eventually brought him to the Houston team.

Since being here, Keegan's been a great asset to our body, especially through his diligence and insight as he's gone with many different team members ministering to our disciples and ministry contacts. He's been faithful with everything that's been asked of him, and he's taken the role of a servant to the team many times. But now that a month and a half has gone by, he's looked back and realized that he still hasn't been able to find someone here that he can confidently call a first generation disciple.

A lot of his time so far has been spent joining others' plans, but the last couple weeks it's been a goal of his to network as much as he can in order to find his own contacts and some potential disciples. While he was knocking on doors yesterday in his apartment complex (Los Arcos) he came across a teenager named Juan (not the boy in the picture), who was really friendly and open. They only talked briefly, but Keegan could see that he had some leadership qualities. Also, most Hispanics we've met in Los Arcos aren't too friendly, so Juan really stood out to him.

Keegan plans to continue meeting people each week, whether it's people he passes outside or people he meets at work or other residents of Los Arcos, but he definitely wants to begin testing Juan for discipleship. The next step is to see if he's willing to hang out sometimes, and I know right away Keegan will try to share with him why we're here and what we hope to accomplish.

Please be praying for Keegan. (1) Pray that God would open a door into Juan's life and that Keegan would have wisdom and boldness in ministering to him. (2) Pray that Keegan would continue meeting the right people that he should be pouring into. (3) Pray that Keegan would adjust well to his new job as a housekeeper, which he just started yesterday, and that he'd be a light to his co-workers. Thanks guys!

Prophetic Insight Amongst our Team

During Monday's team time, we were able to gather the various prophetic visions, verses, and words that members of our team have received from the Lord over the past month. It was neat because a majority of them all came together as a specific season that God is preparing us for. It was cool to see His faithfulness in seeing how the various prophetic things spoken to our team all related, unintentionally (fleshy speaking). After compiling and processing the information, our team feels that 2017 is a BIG year. In 2016, our team as a whole experienced countless trials, including physical sicknesses, some depression, maintenance issues, etc. We feel that through the various things God has revealed to our team, He has told us "I'm bringing you out as you walk in my grace through these trials!" Next, we feel that He is reminding us to humble ourselves as we prepare for this new work He has prepared for us. We will be praying collectively and individually, asking God our specific role in this upcoming new work. Lastly, God has told us "you have a job, finish it!" We know our job is to make disciples and turn the whole city of Houston to Him through that, and He has reminded us to "press forward on mission with fresh urgency!"

Please join our team in praying for these revelations. Pray we would be faithful to live them out and that we would seek Him first!

Recent Prayer Requests

Here are a few recent prayer requests from a few of our team members.  Just a snapshot of what's going on in our lives recently!
Along with these please pray for our team against infirmity and distraction. Each household has been consistently struggling with either sickness, physical problems, or physical distractions for the past two months. Please war with us!

I've recently have been meeting with Purnima more this past month and we went to Regina's last week and she chose to start being discipled and asked for the Spirit of God to fill her. She's a Nepali Christian but also has been following worldly ways more and more in the past year or two. Today we looked at the greatest commandment and what it means to love God and love others. Please pray for Purnima as she disciples Regina, great intentionality and faithfulness to the Lord on each end. Thanks!
-Lacey 1/7

At tun tun naing's with Zach and Susana. Explaining life after death and the final judgement. Pray that he's able to understand. He's still scared of coming back to live as an animal (Buddhist background). The good news is He's been carrying this worry to Christ
-Hannah D 1/6

Please pray for protection and favor as we engage in warfare prayer inside Madrasa Islamiah now, that we connect with persons of peace.

-Damion and Jerome 1/6

Please pray for imam, we are unpacking Ephesians 2:4-5 at the mosque and the meaning of "grace" from Burmese to English...

-Jerome 1/4

 

 
Hey guys. Hannah's and I just got to Muh Jae's house. Please pray for us as we have in our hearts to share somethings. 

 

We felt led to come here tonight, I felt like God wanted her to know that he loves her. No one (according to her) has ever told her that God loves her. Hannah felt like God was saying he had not forgotten her. Psalm 34:18.  

 

I was able to share creation to Christ with her and she said it was difficult to believe. I was also able to share my testimony and asked her if she would like to receive Christ. She was uncertain but said she would think about it and was willing to pray this week to ask God if this story is true. Please pray with me that God would reveal himself to her.

-Zach and Hannah 12/27

 

 

Going to go through repentance with my mom. Please pray it's deep and freeing.

She opened up in new ways tonight. It was mainly going through what she's dealing with right now so only a few things, but I could feel her heart was sincere in it and I'm trusting God to continue this work in her. Baby steps. Praising God!  

 -Lacey 12/23 

 

 

Please pray for a man Abraham, a Syrian who has been here several years. He called me tonight, and wants me to teach him the computer, office, Excel, etc. Pray boldly that he would be a first generation disciple. He knows English well and is attending a university in Houston. He is young, but is a leader among the Syrians at Pelican (apt 701). Keegan and I will be meeting with him this weekend. 12/23

Time with Abraham went very well. Teaching him computer programs and basics of Excel and Word. He wants us to return tmrw night. Pray for further relationship and for the spirit to lead 12/25

Please pray if awake. Haha. We are still with Abraham. He has 5 friends over one of them Abdulmalek who has engaged in deep spiritual conversation. God is at work. Pray for the spirit to lead 12/27

-Chris B

 

 

God bless and thank you for your prayers! 

 

Troubled Teen

Lately the guys have been ministering to a 13-year-old Nepali boy, Nikash, and we’d like your help in praying that God would transform his heart. He’s been discipled a couple times in the past, but he never remained very faithful. The main problem is that his parents drink often, and his father can be abusive at times. Because of a lack of love in the home, Nikash has sought a sense of belonging the past year or two in a small group of older teens, who aren’t the best role models. In order to be accepted by them he began drinking and smoking marijuana, and he’s recently started using cocaine.

Several teammates have been pouring into him the past few months to help him escape that lifestyle, but despite expressing several times that he wants to follow Christ he seems to keep returning to his old friends.

Our new team member Damion has spent a lot of time with him lately, since he had a very similar childhood, and just last night he ended up counseling the family through some conflict. The parents were drunk and treating the children badly, and the father ended up punching out a window, which caused his hand to need some first aid. Nikash ended up staying at the guys’ apartment, which has been happening more and more for him to escape a rough home life.

Obviously if things escalate in the home then more severe measures will have to be taken. But we are hoping and praying that God will supernaturally intervene and transform hearts. Please be praying for wisdom so we know how to proceed in ministering to the family and pray for Nikash to recognize the futility of the path he’s traveling. Thanks!