Holsby Brunn :: Prayer / Praise Update

June 1, 2011

We begin this abbreviated and hybrid version of the PRAYER/PRAISE UPDATE by thanking the Lord for Donna Schoon’s successful back surgery. The timing and availability of the surgeon were both answers to prayer, as well as the success of the operation. It has also been encouraging to see the progress that Donna has made in her long recovery process, but we ask that you continue to pray for her.
- Pray for increased mobility and for the physical strength needed to come back from major surgery.
- Pray for the Lord’s peace, encouragement, and companionship during these long days in bed. (To give her back and spine time to heal, Donna is able to stand and walk, but not sit during the next couple months).
- Pray for Donna’s continuing contact (although significantly scaled back) with family and friends. Pray for the Lord’s continued blessing on this person–to–person ministry she enjoys so much.

We have come once again to the end of a school year and the difficult process of saying farewell. This year’s class has certainly left its imprint on the Holsby community by their enthusiastic desire for growth and maturity. Even after more than 500 hours of lectures (equivalent to about 20 years worth of Sunday sermons!), the students remained focused and motivated. They are going to make a positive impact for God’s kingdom wherever they end up. Here are a few things you can remember in your prayers for these young people as they spread out into the world again:
- Pray for boldness to continue in their growth even as they find themselves in completely different circumstances.
- Pray for several students who are apprehensive about challenging situations back home.
- Pray for the many decisions to be made about further schooling, vocation, employment, etc.

After the recent redesign of the website and the presentation of a new logo, there has been a desperate need to develop printed materials to help make the ministry of Holsby better known. A team consisting of Christine Poysti, Danielle Aspegren, and Emma Larsson has just completed work on a full set of materials in Swedish, English, and German. The set includes a tri–fold brochure, three versions of an A4/letter–sized poster, and four different postcards. If you would like to receive more information about how you can help distribute these materials, please contact Christine at office@holsby.org. We can send you the files electronically to print out at your local printer or on your own equipment.
- Pray that the Lord will bring the students and guests who can best benefit from their time at Holsby.
- Pray for an increase in student enrollment from Sweden. A note of praise — we already have five Swedish students accepted for next year — more than we have had in the last 10 years.
- Pray for prospective students who are still trying to decide about attending Holsby.

One of our present students has produced a brief two and a half minute video entitled “Why Holsby?” It is available at the following link: show video. We encourage you to share the link with potential students, parents, youth leaders etc. If you have Facebook, you could also post the link on your page.

The spring camp and retreat season was filled with encouraging response from the many groups and guests who spent from a few hours to an entire week at Holsby. Our Spring Adventure Team received rave reviews from the group leaders for their enthusiasm, compassion, and contagious love for Christ. The summer season begins 6 June with a couple weeks of training for the volunteers who help fill our summer staffing needs.
- Pray for the many Swedish young people who heard God’s Word and saw it modeled by our Spring Adventure Team during the past couple months. Pray that God’s truth will take hold in their lives and that a living relationship with Christ will take root.
- Pray for the new team of volunteers as they prepare and train for the summer season.
- Pray for the program leadership team (Jonathan, Kara, and Danny) as they facilitate the camps and groups this summer. Pray for health, vision, and stamina!

For the last two and a half years, I have been doing double duty — serving as director of the Torchbearer ministry in Sweden as well as filling the principal role of the Bible school. There have been many ups and downs in the search process, but the Lord is faithful. We are excited to announce a new principal, committed to come in the late fall of this year! More details to come in a future edition of the NEWS UPDATE, but please join with us in thanking the Lord for His perfect will and timing.

Thank you for your prayers and your partnership with us!