OCBP Update!!!

At the request of a close friend of mine, I am posting my most recent support letter on my blog.  She thought that what I wrote in it, everyone should hear.  To my readers, thanks so much for just taking some of your time to read some of what God has been doing in my life.  You've all been so encouraging to me! :)
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Hello Everyone!

Can I first start off by saying that Jesus is so ALIVE this summer?  So much has happened during this first half of the beach  project, I can barely get it all in my mind. For those of you who have not known what I've been doing this summer, I have been living for about 5 weeks now in Ocean City, NJ, where I have been living among a community of fellow student leaders and learning how to become a more effective leader on campus.   I have seen miracle after miracle manifest before my eyes!  Miracles like watching Jesus restore our brokenness through the overflowing love he has placed in our hearts, renew our relationships with each other and friends and family outside of the project, as well as mold us and shape us into stronger leaders each and every day.  I had a particular miracle happen to me where my wallet was stolen in Atlantic City.  Not only did God provide over $100 for the week through the donations of a few generous students here at the project, but he also provided another $100 in one day through one job and another job I was recently hired at. The total amount of money I was given was more money than I had received since I’ve been here in Ocean City.

As I had mentioned before, the strongest emphasis here at the Beach Project is on the aspect of community.  Our goal is to experience what the first century church experienced as they encountered Christ daily.  I was telling one of my closest friends here at the project that I had never felt so at home before.  Most places I go, I feel like I am a foreigner, and for one that has been abroad several times, feeling like a foreigner is very familiar to me.  And yet here, everyone has embraced me with open arms, and best of all, we each are learning how to celebrate our differences.  This is very touching to me especially, because most places I’ve been the situation is usually “Our way or the highway…” But here, every person has intentionally put the effort into seeing each person for who they are and embracing all aspects about them—both terrific and terrible.

As I continue to discover more and more about the characteristics of our Lord, Jesus, I am also gaining a deeper understanding of this “gospel” we preach every Sunday. The most important thing I have learned (and also the most highlighting lesson of the summer) is that I am “more sinful and broken than I would dare to admit, but I am more loved and cherished than I could dare to imagine”.  This statement has forever changed my life and my view of the gospel.  I now see that this gospel, this precious gift that we have been given to give away, is something I must not only preach to the world, but I must preach to myself…daily.   Jesus has saved me from myself, and now I live to bring Him praise.

Thank you again for all your love and support!  Thus far, you have helped me to raise over 60% of the cost to be here.  If you would like to continue supporting me or have not supported me, there are several ways you can do so:
1.       Give: You can go online to http://secured.ccojubillee.org and select under “Special Mission Initiative” the phrase “OCBP Donations”.  From there type in the amount you would like to donate, click next, and fill out the credit card form.  (Under “Comments” write, ”For Brittany Witcher”)
You can also mail a check to: OCBP, 5912 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Please make all checks payable to “Ocean City Beach Project” and in the memo line write “Brittany Witcher”.

2.       Read and Visit: Get weekly updates from me about what’s going on in the project through my blog at www.stardustontheroad.blogspot.com or friend me on facebook at www.facebook.com/lightbeamer to get daily updates.
If you want to witness for yourself what is truly going on here at the “Ark”  then come visit me at 632 Wesley Ave., Ocean City, NJ 08226.  There are guests constantly at the beach stopping by the house to see God at work.  If you want to come down, give me a ring and I’ll let the group know you’re coming.  We’d love to have you anytime!

3.       Pray: As always, keep praying for us.  Your prayers have been seriously at work here.  Everyday, I’m seeing our praise board grow more than our prayer board, which means that our prayers are getting answered!  Your prayers mean more to me than you know, and more to God than either of us will know.

Again, please consider jumping onto what God is doing here at the beach and watch not only our lives but your lives be transformed through our ever growing faith and dependence on Christ. Thanks again and have a great summer!

Yours,

Brittany Witcher
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