International Day 2012 Recap

International Day 2012 looked a little different this year than in years past. Roughly eighteen hours prior to this year's event, our leadership team was faced with the decision to move locations due to a threat of severe weather hitting the Ozarks on Thursday afternoon. Tracy, Randy, and other leaders sought the counsel of local weathermen and made the choice to move the event indoors to Remington's in Springfield, MO. What could have been a stressful eighteen hours, turned into a wonderful picture of the body of Christ working together to show His love to all people and accomplish a goal.

We had hundreds of students come, and despite the darkness that loomed outside during the rainstorm, Remington's was lit up with new friendships and an excitement among students from all over the world.

The students enjoyed a wonderful meal prepared by amazing volunteers.







Local businesses including the Springfield Police Force set up information tables to answer questions and inform the international students of what Springfield has to offer.





Also campus ministries were able to showcase their group and hopefully gain many more members for the upcoming school year!




Entertainment kicked off with the Red Bridge Bluegrass Band using their talents in Bluegrass music to give these students a little taste of the Ozarks through music!

Following the band a local ballet company, Petra Ballet, did a short performance featuring native dances from across the world. The students loved seeing the different types of dance!





Ending the evening, Real Encounter Ministries demonstrated the extreme talent of two of their BMX riders on an indoor ramp. These guys did flips, tricks, and jumps and were for sure a crowd favorite!




The event was a great success and we look forward to maintaining the friendships formed and seeing how God uses this event to energize the local church and community in welcoming all people to enjoy the Ozarks.

 Thank YOU for your prayers and support for the event. This event was not a success because of the efforts of man, but because of hundreds of prayers and amazing partners that allowed us to function underneath God's blessing!

Check back with us next week to learn more about Remington's and the amazing crew that allowed International Day to happen!

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(Photographs by Matt Douglas) 

Real Encounter: Taking the Gospel on Wheels

One of our core values at School the Nations is Biblical Partnerships. We are acutely aware of the importance of not just functioning as a single ministry, but instead coming along side other ministries and organizations who are also following the call to take the name of Jesus into all parts of the world. 


We spent some time this week with a group from Real Encounter  who are preparing for a trip to North Africa. The guys from Real Encounter present such a clear picture of how we each have unique gifts that can be used to bring glory to God among the nations. This team will travel overseas and once there, travel on BMX bikes into remote areas of Northern Africa sharing the Gospel along the way, literally taking the Gospel on wheels. 


After completing our Missiological Training course, this team is equipped and excited about all that God has in store for them as they travel and we are so honored to partner with them along with the International Mission Board. 


Join us in prayer for Real Encounter and for this team as they prepare to leave in September. May God richly bless each individual and the families they represent. May they be used to see many come to Christ in North Africa, and may all the glory and praise be given to Jesus, the "Author and Perfecter of our faith..."(Hebrews 12:1).


For more about Real Encounter click here!