The Kingdom of Heaven is HERE!

God is moving in so many ways in Lancaster, our region, and in America! John the Baptist proclaimed that the Kingdom of Heaven is here and through all of the uncertainties of life right now, our foundation is on the ROCK, and our message remains the same...The Kingdom of Heaven is HERE! What a time to be alive!

What a beautiful season of fruitfulness, growth, and healing! We are so grateful for this season to be able to do this Discipleship Training School with YWAM Lancaster!

Our family fits in so well and we are so thankful for the community and deep friendships that we are developing!

Here are a few highlights from October and beginning of November...

We hosted the Jesus rally at YWAM Lancaster in the beginning of October!

“Hundreds gathered, for 4 nights, with one purpose... to seek Jesus. The “Jesus Rally” was a nameless and faceless event, where Holy Spirit came in so tangibly and had His way.

—— God moved ——

::40+ salvations

::17 baptisms

::physical and emotional healing

::ripping off fear of man

::bringing new revelation of His unconditional love

::FREEDOM in so many areas!!

As sons and daughters, all we had/have to do is give Him the space. Seek Him out and we will find Him, every time.

This is just the beginning, revival is here. ⚡️ Jesus will be made famous.”

[YWAM LANCASTER]

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On October 25 we went with our YWAM crew to LET US WORSHIP in Washington D.C.!

We went to lift up the name of Jesus and invite his presence in our Capitol leading up to the election and pray specifically into the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett that happened the very next day! There were estimated 40,000 Jesus lovers there worshipping and exalting the name of Jesus changing the atmosphere!

We felt like it was significant and a history making event that we needed to bring the girls with us! God gave us grace to endure the rain and I believe significant things were planted specifically in Ellie's heart as she asked to pray for boldness after Sean Feucht's daughter prayed in the microphone over everyone! Watch here!

"History will record what happened on 10.25.20. We will all tell our children and their children of that day.

The day tens of thousands of bold worshippers gathered in faith to pray and worship in the cold wet rain. A major breakthrough and momentum to reverse the death decree of abortion over America." (Sean Feucht)

Let your kingdom come. Let your will be done.

Amen. :

You can watch the full event on Youtube HERE!

I invite you to watch, worship, and pray for America!

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Josiah and I had the opportunity to speak at a local youth retreat at Refreshing Mountain Nov 6 & 7 and minister with a team of students from YWAM. It was the first time either of us have spoken anywhere and God moved in incredible ways in spite of our ineloquent speech. There were 49 youth ages 12-18 and 6-8 youth gave their lives to Jesus for the first time Friday night!

Saturday I taught on the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and in the afternoon I taught on Hearing God’s voice! We did original design circles where one person is in the middle and 5 of their peers and a leader asks God for prophetic words for the person in the middle and asking God to reveal that person’s original design. Almost all the youth said they heard God’s voice and spoke out what they heard to prophesy and encourage each other!

God encounter so many of the youth in radical ways! One of the girls who gave her life to Jesus and got baptized in the Holy Spirit shared her testimony with me afterwards...

“I have just been happier and have found myself reaching for my Bible here and there, and I never have. It’s weird and I don’t know how to explain it...I was on worship and worshiped but I never really felt anything like I wanted...but after this weekend and during it feels so different to worship! When we had youth group last night I shared a couple testimonies...and my youth leaders had to stop me and tell everyone that I was glowing, and they see this whole different light in me.”

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Prayer & Praise

::Praise God for all the healings and salvations and baptisms at the Jesus Rally and Let Us Worship Event in Washington D.C.!

::Praise Jesus for the youth who dedicated their lives to Jesus at the youth retreat!

::Pray for each one who gave their lives to Jesus that they will grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and find a mentor to disciple them in the Kingdom!

::Pray for all the students in the DTS that the Lord will continue to work in our hearts and bring Kingdom transformation and long lasting fruit in our lives as we learn and grow and finish lecture phase.

::Pray for our outreaches to come together and for open doors to share the GOSPEL of Jesus and divine appointments!

::Pray for our daughters- Ellie, Selah, and Eve to encounter their Heavenly Father in very real ways and for them to have eyes to see Life in Light of Eternity and to always say "yes" to Jesus! Please pray for spiritual protection over them and their hearts.

::Praise God for the beautiful healing work he did in our marriage during Holy Spirit week! I had a powerful encounter with God and through the work of the Holy Spirit, he healed my heart and removed unforgiveness and a root of bitterness!

::Pray as we prepare to go to Washington D.C. on outreach Dec. 6-12. Pray for divine appointments and open hearts as we love on people and share the good news of Jesus Christ!

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Week One...Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus

"Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, Just to take Him at His word; Just to rest upon His promise; Just to know, Thus saith the Lord. Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him, How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er, Jesus, Jesus, Precious Jesus! O for grace to trust Him more."

Nothing is sweeter than walking in obedience to Jesus and to trust him that you are right where he has called you to be. This was our FIRST WEEK of our Discipleship Training School (DTS) at YWAM Lancaster and it feels so right! We feel like we belong, like we are home, like we found our tribe that we have been searching for all these years!

This Discipleship Training School at YWAM Lancaster will equip us to KNOW, GROW, and GO. The first 3 months is lecture phase at YWAM Lancaster. During the two month overseas outreach, we will come behind and serve the ministries established in those countries while we preach the bold and UNCOMPROMISED Gospel, drenched in the LOVE OF JESUS, and EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit!

There are 19 students and 14 staff and we have already become like family even in this first week!

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Each morning we prioritize the presence of God as a school by spending an hour or two in Worship and Prayer...

It has been a beautiful time of ministering to God and seeking his heart. We were created as worshippers and my heart has become so alive this week!

"WE WILL PRIORITIZE A CULTURE OF WORSHIP AND PRAYER AND CULTIVATE DEPENDENCY ON HIS WORD TO LEAD US. WORSHIP AND PRAYER ARE PRIMARY EXPRESSIONS OF INTIMACY WITH GOD FOR US PERSONALLY AND CORPORATELY.   HOSTING PLACE FIRST, THEN A TRAINING CENTER. PRESENCE PRIORITY, FIRST COMMANDMENT FIRST PLACE!" (YWAM Lancaster)

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Track Time

There are three Tracks offered at YWAM Lancaster

1. Worship & Prayer

2. Kingdom Business

3. Sports and Fitness

Josiah is in the Kingdom Business track and Kayla is in the Worship & Prayer Track. During track time this week, the Worship & Prayer track spent time praying over each other and it was a powerful time of breakthrough for a few of the students!

Then we prayer walked around the property and worshiped as the Israelites did when they sent the worshippers ahead in the battle! Atmospheres shift as we worship, so we declared the promises of God over Lancaster county and invited him to inhabit this land and his people! It was a powerful time of worship and prayer!

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Another highlight this week was sharing our testimonies with each other Tuesday evening. It really bonded us together as students running this race together!

It blows my mind how God called each student here to YWAM Lancaster! Half the students are from Lancaster, and the other half are from all over the United States and one student is from China!

We are so excited for the next three months of growing closer in community as we seek to KNOW God and make him KNOWN!

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Please join us in prayer for...

:: Spiritual Protection over Josiah & Kayla and our marriage and family

:: The adjustment for the girls as they transition from being with mommy everyday all day to being at school (Tues, Wed, and Thurs mornings) and being cared for by Gabby (Josiah's sister) the other days and afternoons.

:: The Jesus Rally this coming Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night held at YWAM Lancaster! Pray for the hundreds of teens that are gathering to experience God and radically commit their lives to him!

All ages and families are invited!

Praise God with us...

:: A successful fundraiser last weekend! Thanks to all our friends who came out and donated items, shopped at the yard sale, volunteered their time, and bought chicken BBQ, we raised just over $5,000!! We are more than halfway to our fundraiser goal for these next 6 months of DTS & Outreach!

:: Divine Appointments and opportunities to pray for people at Green Dragon Friday night

:: Breakthrough for students during worship and prayer this week!

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Thank you to each of our Kingdom Business Sponsors who invest in us financially, so we can advance the Kingdom of Heaven in Lancaster and unto the nations!

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We invite you to pray about joining our team as a monthly financial partner in our long-term vision and mission at YWAM Lancaster! By partnering with our vision, you are sowing into our family and enabling us to walk out our calling in the gospel of the Kingdom and discipleship here in Lancaster and unto the nations!

If you feel led to partner with us, you can click on the picture below to use the link to give online via credit card or debit card.

Thank you for walking this journey with us!

Until the whole world hears, -The Shenks

Simple Obedience Changes History

We are saying "YES!"

Since we were teenagers, Josiah and I have both been involved in local, regional, and global missions, and our hearts burn bright for missions and God's heart to reach the lost!

Our desire has been to serve in overseas missions since we were married almost six years ago. When sweet Jesus interrupted our plans and brought us our precious first daughter, He told me, "These dreams are not dead; You will be serving as a family instead."

In this season, we feel God clearly leading into missions locally to do the YWAM Discipleship Training School (DTS) at YWAM Lancaster in Ephrata!

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A DTS is a transformational missions training that will prepare us for a lifestyle of ministry in our community and overseas wherever God calls us in the future, so that every tribe, nation, and tongue will know his salvation! Check out more about YWAM Lancaster.

During this season, Josiah and I will have three months of lecture phase here in Ephrata where we will be diving deeper into God's word, sitting under anointed speakers, immersing our family in prayer and worship, and loving our neighbors through local outreaches.

Our girls will also be involved in prayer and worship, some local outreaches, community nights, and a Mission Kid's Track.

Then in January, our family will travel overseas for two months to one of the outreach locations (Thailand, Cambodia, India, Guyana, or Uganda) and come behind and serve the ministries established in these countries while we preach the bold and UNCOMPROMISED Gospel, drenched in the LOVE OF JESUS, and EMPOWERED by the Holy Spirit!

Our desire and the stirring in our heart is to serve as staff at YWAM Lancaster next fall, but we are laying down our lives at the foot of the cross and leaning on our beloved for one step at a time.

For now, we are saying "YES", taking this step in faith, and looking forward with anticipation and expectation for what the Lord is doing in our region!

WHY YWAM Lancaster?

Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth."

We have been praying and crying out for the power of the Holy Spirit to come upon us as the Church in Lancaster and when his people are hungry and ask for more of God; he answers! (Luke 11:13)

We believe God is answering his people's cries and there will be a great outpouring in Lancaster County and we want to be ready to specifically champion the youth as they lead this movement!

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Practically, we are stepping out in faith and believing God to provide the finances in order to accomplish what he has called us to do as a family in this season.

If you feel led to partner with us and sow into the cost of our tuition and outreach, we will be having a Chicken BBQ and Yard Sale Fundraiser Friday & Saturday, September 25 & 26 at the YWAM Lancaster base in Ephrata!

You can pre-order tickets here: Chicken BBQ & Yard Sale Fundraiser

If you or your spouse has a business, you can partner with us as a one-time or monthly business sponsor! By partnering with us through your business, you will be able to claim your giving as an advertising expense on your taxes!

Most sole proprietors, partnerships, and LLC’s cannot deduct charitable giving on their taxes; however, because we will be advertising your business on our website and at our event, you will be able to deduct your monthly giving as an advertising tax deduction on your Schedule C!

If you can't make it to the fundraiser, and you would like to sow into our outreach costs, you can give a donation through Paypal here.

Or if you feel God laying it on your heart to become one of our monthly family partners, please let me know and we would love to talk more and set that up!

We are so excited what God is doing locally here in Lancaster!

Thank you for walking through us on this journey!

-The Shenks

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ABOUT YWAM:

[YWAM is a diverse, global, Christian youth-focused movement from many nations, backgrounds, ages and cultures; sharing their faith through meeting practical, spiritual and physical needs, offering training in more than 800 courses and seminars for service in all spheres of society. YWAM is a not-for-profit charitable volunteer organization that currently operates in over 1000 locations and 149 countries, with over 16,000 staff.]

www.ywamlancaster.com