In which hope is just around the corner

I just hate it when I forget to take a picture when we visit churches. So you will just have to visit Pastor David and Jennifer Hollis at Cornerstone Assembly of God in Morocco, Indiana and see them for yourselves!

Regardless, we had a great time at Cornerstone Assembly a couple of weeks ago and we encourage you to visit this great church soon.

This past weekend we headed north to Lansing, Michigan and shared our hearts for Mexico City with Pastor Kevin and Renee Berry and the great people at Mount Hope Church.

We also thoroughly enjoyed our time with missions pastor Scott and Ruth Thompson.

Stuart met Scott and Ruth a couple of years back when they were dropping off their son Paul at Evangel University while Stuart was dropping off our son Wesley for his freshman year.

We are so grateful for the many missions-loving, generous-giving, Jesus-serving people we have met while traveling this year! 

Partnering with you in missions is a pleasure and an honor.

Thank you Pastor David and Jennifer, Pastor Kevin and Renee, and Pastor Scott and Ruth for helping us go beyond so all can hear.

Cuan grande es Dios.

Will you prayerfully consider partnering with us to proclaim release to the captives of drug addiction and human trafficking, and to set at liberty those who are oppressed by the sex trade? You can give a one-time gift or recurring monthly commitment. Let's make a difference together!

It was like a missions convention, only with anime characters.

This weekend we happened to be in Lansing, MI visiting Mount Hope Church 

(more about that tomorrow), 

and lo and behold we run into an anime convention going on at the same time!

Not at Mount Hope Church, mind you, but in Lansing (in case you were confused).

Here are a few characters waiting in the lobby for the shuttle to the convention center.

I looked up the website for Shuto Con and came across their convention rules. 

I thought they seemed quite reasonable and even applicable for any convention 

(be it youth or district or whatever).

Tell me what you think.

• No loitering in the narrow hallways of the hotel, traffic must remain flowing. We would suggest if you would like to hang out with a group of your friends that you do it in the larger common areas.

• No lewd outfits are allowed. All clothing must be street legal. No “naughty parts” may be exposed (and please don't ask us to explain “naughty parts”). 

• TAKE A SHOWER EVERY DAY, fanboy/girl funk will not be tolerated, and you will be asked to remove yourself from the public until the problem is resolved.

• Signs are OK to have at our convention, however they may not ask for money, sell anything, and/or ask for sexual services (which includes kisses, but hugs are OK).

• If you are going to glomp someone, please do it gently. 

• No sleeping in the convention hall or common areas of the hotel, that's what hotel rooms are for. If you are caught sleeping in the convention hall or hotel common areas you will be asked to return to your room (or leave if you don't have a room).

• No didgeridoos over 12ft (we don't want a repeat of last time).

• Keep all activities in the convention hall within a PG-13 range. If you are in an 18+ event, go wild (but still please still be respectful).

Ok, so seriously, I had to look up glomp and didgeridoos, too (don't feel bad).

Yep, we felt right at home. Kind of like a missions convention, only with anime characters.