Friday, January 27, 2006

I just want to say THANK YOU, family for your intercession on our behalf. Shortly after writing yesterday morning, the Holy Spirit began to comfort, and bring peace anew. I know many of you have never let up in your prayer support, and Deanna, the girls and I are so very thankful.

This weekend and next, here at Highland Lakes, we are having the Winter Youth Retreats for state Southern Baptist churches. We will have 200 students or more both weekends. I heard from a blogger from North Vernon, whose daughter is coming this weekend. She was one of the 97 who committed to take BJ's place on the mission field at his funeral celebration. We have never met this family (we will tonight!). There were many we did not know on that day. That they were there, was a move of God, uniting the body of Christ in ways I am still in awe of.

One of the things that stirs our hearts like nothing else, at this point, is seeing students commit to serve in missions... here or abroad. To meet this young lady and her mother will bless our hearts, greatly!

I was on the phone last night with a close friend in Oklahoma, who told me of a youth minister who played the dvd of BJ's celebration, recently at his church. 11 students committed to take BJ's place, as a result. To see God continue to move in this way is such a comfort to Deanna and me.

Clearly, this is not about BJ, but about serving God in missions. Something we are all called to do, in some way. To see students motivated to "go" because of his story, to see the Lord use it as a tool to raise up this generation is huge to us.

Every missionary... or believer for that matter, is inspired at some point by the life and committment of another. To see our Savior take the life and death of our son, who lived and died serving his Lord, and make much of it, is uniquely humbling
for us. It is a platform from which we have been allowed the privilege to minister, and serve. We do not take that lightly.

That you would allow us to share with you this journey, and open ourselves... often at our most vulnerable points... without your passing judgment, but simply lifting us up and encouraging us, is a gift from the Father. Today, we want to say THANK YOU, once again for serving Jesus, by standing beside us in this fight.

We are honored to have family like each of you... reader's and/or writer's, you bless us!

dad



Mark A. please e-mail me at bahiggins1259@msn.com

4 Comments:

At 10:39 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brent and Deanna,


As always, we are praying for you. I'm sorry I don't write often enough to let you know that. Especially on the rougher days. I pray that your unimaginable pain is eased and that your focus more intense. We all know that that this isn't about BJ, but he was such an awesome young man that he will forever be missed. He made such an impact on so many lives that he will never know.
We will be at the youth conference tonight as a family. We look forward to seeing you there!

Colleen

 
At 12:08 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear Brent and Deanna and all the blog family,

I know that sharing your anguish and pain isn't easy, and yet as I have read your blogs I have been overcome with what a blessing it is to have a safe place to pour out the raw emotions that accompany grief. Having others to carry you to the feet of Jesus is part of the healing God intends. And we are continuing to carry you in our love and prayers.

As I write this, I have a prayer request for someone else who is struggling with the staggering emotions that grief brings, and that is my Russian friend Katya (whom you met last summer). I received the word that her father had died tragically the day before I heard that BJ had been taken to the hospital back in August. Katya lost her mother in a tragic car accident 6 1/2 years ago and her grandmother 3 years ago, and now her father a few months ago. It leaves only Katya and her younger sister in the family, and Katya is the only Christian. I received a raw e-mail from Katya last night. She is naturally a very giving person, thinking of others' needs before herself, but her pain right now is just so great that she doesn't have the strength physically or emotionally to keep going as she has been. Unfortunately, she does not have a strong support system where she is in Russia --those safe people with whom she can pour out her raw emotions and not be judged for them. I'm sorry that I am still in the States and cannot be there to minister to her in person. I just ask for special prayer for her that she would sense the Father's embrace in the midst of her overwhelming sense of grief and pain. As God brings her to mind, please lift her to the Father's throne of grace and mercy.

With love and prayers,
Becky

 
At 5:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

i'm just letting you know that ur still in my prayers. unfortunatley i can't make to the retreat next weekend. but o well. i'm praying for u...

 
At 8:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Brent,
We stand in agreement that God is raising up young people for missions. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your openness. Thank you for your steadfastness. He makes beauty from ashes, if we let Him. Thank you for letting Him.
Paul

 

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