Murphy Family Update

Summer 2009

Dear Friends & Family,

 
This is what we've been up to this summer:

1. •John and I attended YWAM's North American Leadership Conference (NALC) in Estes Park, CO.
   

2. •John went to London to show the Jesus Freaks documentary/movie at two YWAM bases there and was able to go into public schools and share while inviting students to come to the movie.  Four girls that came to the documentary accepted Christ.
   

3. •John taught on Relationships in Belize to a Discipleship Training School.
   

4. •As a family, we went to Michigan and Wisconsin (for a wedding and to see family but also used the time to show the Jesus Freaks movie when possible.)
   

5. •John went to Hartville, Ohio for a Jesus Freaks movie showing.
   

6. •As a family, we travelled to Washington state.  John preached at Peter Bower Jr.'s church in Tacoma and we showed the Jesus Freaks movie there as well.  We also showed the movie at one of Bethany's friends' house for her small group.
   

7. •July 31st, we did a local showing of the Jesus Freaks movie at a church in Castle Rock, Colorado.  It was a great turn out and many responded to the Lord.
   

8. •John just worked for a local Christian music festival (Aug 8th).  He was responsible for organizing all of the artist transportation-to and from the airport/hotel/festival, etc.  He went non-stop from 6:30am past midnight.  He also had a couple three minute slots to speak on the main stage about YWAM Denver and the Jesus Freaks movie.  He said it didn't even phase him that there were at least 20,000 ppl in the crowd!!  
   

9. •John and I are both on the eldership team and we wanted to share a little of what God has been speaking to us as a group. In the beginning of the summer, someone on the team got the scripture Acts 2:42-"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."  So as a staff, we've been focusing on "getting back to the basics!"  We are being really intentional with our relationships with each other, mentoring younger staff, spending quality time together, etc.
   

Overall, we've been on 3 major road trips as a family since April, totalling over 10,000 miles and 16 states.  Obviously we've been busy!  Right now, we are really focusing on showing the Jesus Freaks movie and continuing to challenge the body of Christ through it.  We have seen hundreds respond to the Lord at the showings, some giving their lives to Christ for the first time and some rededicating their lives to serving Him.  It has been incredible to see how people (and not just younger generations) are impacted in so many different areas of their lives through the documentary. The producers “Circle of Belief Productions” are still waiting on a company to pick up the project for distribution. Please pray that this process will continue to be led of the Lord. There are a few major companies interested in distributing it right now.

What's ahead:

1. •August 28th, we are showing the Jesus Freaks movie at Faith Bible Chapel in Arvada, CO at 7pm.
   

2. •In September, John will be teaching in the Belize DTS on "Relationships."
   

3. •John is going to Lusane, Switzerland to the U of N Workshop (International YWAM conference -1 of 4 locations).  He will be showing the Jesus Freaks movie there as well as teaching a session on Discipling this Generation.
   

4. •October 5th, the fall quarter begins, and John is leading a new school called the School of Social Justice.  John and his assistant, Cary, are pioneering this school here at YWAM Denver.  Please pray for them as they prepare for this school.
   

5. •In November, John will be teaching on "Relationships" in a DTS in Romania.  We are raising the money for his flight and expenses, because this Romanian base can not afford to fly in speakers and pay an honorarium.  We are good friends with the DTS leaders there and really felt we were to step out in faith for John's expenses to be covered so we can be a blessing to them.  If you would like to contribute to this trip, you can receive a tax deduction, by sending a check to YWAM Denver-do not write John's name on the check, but include a note stating it is for John Murphy's trip to Romania. The kids are doing great and growing so fast.  Isaac is 7, Jada is almost 5, Emily is 3 and Ivan is 9 months!  They keep us on our toes amongst all the other things we have going on!  We've been blessed with great kids!  
   

Thanks for all of your prayers and support!  It has been a full and busy year for us and isn't slowing down anytime soon!  We love and appreciate you!

-Bethany for John 
Isaac, Jada, Emily & Ivan

John and Bethany Murphy
YWAM Denver
12750 W. 63rd Ave
Arvada, CO 80004

Murphy Family Update

November 6, 2009

Dear Friends & Family,

Just a quick note to update you on John's flight to Romania.

We have been checking flight costs all week and the last we saw flights were at $2600 (this option would have taken him to Budapest where would have had to take a train to Cluj and would have arrived late Sunday night). Obviously we didn't want to do that so we called a travel agent friend of ours yesterday. She was able to get a flight for John leaving today and arriving in Cluj on Saturday night (their time)! The flight cost is $1025. Pretty amazing considering it was the day before leaving-and $1600 difference from online fares. We had access to a credit card that we were able to put the ticket on and pay it back as the finances are raised. So far we have $350 towards the flight.

Paul & Stacey, our friends at YWAM Cluj, have been following up with about 70 youth that gave their lives to the Lord this summer through a basketball ministry. They had asked John if he could arrive before Sunday night so they could do a ministry night with these young people. John is really excited to be able to minister to these kids who mostly come from aethist backgrounds. John will then teach on "Relationships" in the DTS at YWAM Cluj next week.

Please pray for John as he travels to Romania today. Please pray for the finances to continue to be provided for this trip. Pray for the ministry time on Sunday with the youth of Cluj! Pray for John's teaching time next week.On a personal note, would you be praying for my grandfather, who is 92. He is an amazing godly man and has worked and managed his land and garden every year. Well, this year he removed around 60 tomato cages from the ground after harvest and had been having serious back pain ever since. My grandma took him to the hospital yesterday and he was admitted. They found out he has a few fractures in his vertebrae and will undergo a procedure this afternoon to seal the major fracture first. The fractures are due to osteoporosis-which is a new diagnosis.

My brother is very close to my grandpa, but hasn't seen him since 2005, was really wanting to be with our grandparents during this hard time. Flights from Montana were really expensive, so John and I were able to use some of our frequent flier miles for him to go to Wisconsin-and he has a layover in Denver, so I'll be able to see him at the airport for a couple hours on Monday with the kids! We are really grateful that despite our own financial situation, that we were able to provide for him in this way.

Please pray for my grandpa's (Fred) full recovery. Also for my grandma that she would have strength and rest as she helps care for him.Thanks for lifting us up in your prayers today. We pray that you will be blessed in all you do.

We really appreciate you all-for your love, support and generosity.

-Bethany

for John, Isaac, Jada, Emily, Ivan

If you would like to support our ministry here at YWAM Denver, checks can be sent to YWAM Denver 12750 W 63rd Ave, Arvada, Co 80004

For a tax deduction, do not write our names on the check but include a note with our names on it. If you are donating to John's Romania trip-please specify