DIRT Update

If you want to hear an amazing story call me and I’ll tell you about DIRT Camp. Especially our worship service on Friday where seven students received Christ! Both leaders and students said they have never experienced anything like it. 
Our theme was “Supernatural” which is the perfect expression for this camp. God was in our midst and it was supernatural...


7 salvations, 11 rededications & 20 other decisions!


496 Man-hours Served on Mission Projects!

These projects included painting the house of an elderly lady, raking yards for shut-ins, serving at four nursing homes, moving a thrift store and the projects described below.


$419 Donated to Third World Needs!

Students earned $1 coins each day in competitions. On the last day we gave students the option to purchase items for third world families out of a Samaritian’s Purse catalog or they could buy candy with their coins. Only $4 was spent on candy! Now listen to this: We only gave out $282 worth of coins. The additional $141 came out of the pockets of our students and leaders!


36 Parachutes Made to Drop Hope in Columbia!

This project targets the Farc Rebels who kidnap students and force them to be gorilla fighters. Often suicide becomes their only escape. The parachutes drop Bibles, radios and hope!


Operation Beanie Babies was a Success!

67 beanie babies and 53 pounds of candy were collected to be given to children in the middle east by our soldiers in hopes of winning their hearts. Students also created 66 cards to encourage our troops.

God is Awesome!

Winter DIRT Camp Will Be “SUPERNATURAL”
In just a little over 3 months we will be in South Georgia for the best Winter DIRT Camp ever. This year’s theme is “Supernatural” because “Living for Christ does not come natural!” It is not natural to resist worldly desires. It is not natural to love others more than ourselves. It is not natural to courageously live the Christian life in a world that rejects Christ. It is not natural for students to give up four days of their winter break to go on a mission trip. It is the Supernatural power of Christ that compels us to live the supernatural life.

Pray for Winter DIRT Camp - Pray for our attendance to grow, because the more that attend, the more lives that will be changed. Pray for ministry opportunities that allow us to touch lives in the community. Pray for our leadership team as they plan every detail of the camp. Pray for the financial support to come in so our ministry can continue. Pray for the SUPERNATURAL power of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide every moment, and for precious souls to be saved.

Please Spread the Word - Invite churches and students to join us for camp. The Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Norman Park can easily host over 300 students. Imagine how awesome that would be! Help us get the word out. Think of who you know that is connected to students and let them know that they can learn all about our camp here >  http://dirtcrew.org/wintercamp.htm

Pack-a-Thon for Haiti - Last Saturday the Northwest Dirt Crew and Eastwood Dirt Crew teamed up to serve at the Atlanta Pack-a-Thon sponsored by Feed the Hunger and Feed my Starving Children. This team of students and adults packed over 30,000 bags of food that will be sent to Haiti. Did you get that? 30,000 bags of food! That is enough food to feed 81 starving children 1 meal a day for a year! I praise the Lord for the leadership of Bryan Fox and Brian Lee in accomplishing such a amazing task.

Watch the Pack-a-Thon Video: go to http://dirtcrew.tv > Random Vids > Atlanta Pack-a-Thon

As I write this DIRT Update, there are students in Atlanta at the “Four Corners” (one of our witnessing spots) handing out Big Money tracts. This morning they were serving a widow by working in her home and yard. Last week a different group went out in their area. Next week, somewhere, it is very likely another group of students will engage the world with the love of Christ. This is “US” living out our DIRT Crew creed to “Love God, Love People and Share Christ”.

Over the past ten years I have watched God grow the DIRT Crew from one youth group of twelve students to many students in multiple youth groups and locations. This ten year longevity has proven that the style of ministry God gave us is not only life changing but long lasting. We have college students who grew up in the DIRT Crew now serving in the DIRT Crew.

So have we arrived? Not hardly. But I do feel we have laid a great foundation to build on. When I see the impact of our ministry on the lives of students, I am inspired to want more. My heart’s prayer for the DIRT Crew is the prayer of Jabez... [1 Chronicles 4:10]


It is my desire to encourage more youth leaders to embrace the DIRT Crew style of ministry. I want to share all that we have learned, created and developed. I want to warn of the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid. I want to help those who have a passion for students and a burden for the world.

To see God “enlarge our coast”, we need your prayers. Pray that God would guide our journey into new places. Pray the He would open new avenues of ministry. Pray that our ministry reach would stretch beyond anything we could imagine. Pray for our leaders to have personal purity, spiritual strength and the continued commitment to the labor and sacrifice of ministry. I simply ask that every time God brings us to mind that you would send up a prayer. We are so blessed that you care.

FINAL DESTINATION
October was filled with treats for the DIRT Crew starting with a road trip and overnight lock-in. On Friday, October 23, we headed west converging with other DIRT Crews at Dutton Baptist Church in Dutton Alabama. There we experienced the drama, “Final Destination” which is a very well produced presentation directed by Chris Griggs (One of our DIRT Crew youth pastors). From the opening scene of a father and daughter arguing, to the final scene overlooking the bottomless pit, this drama was riveting. Chris shared later that many received Christ during the three days of performances.

JASON’S HOUSE
From Dutton we headed north to the community center in Rising Fawn, Georgia (Home to Summer DIRT Camp), where we held an overnight lock-in. The next morning we traveled down the road to Trenton, Georgia where we enjoyed a country breakfast at the new Jason’s House. Chuck Carver is director of Jason’s House, a community youth ministry. This is a different model of youth ministry intended to reach students that may never walk into a church. Chuck Carver serves on the DIRT Crew board of directors and has been an instrumental partner in developing our DIRT Camps.

FCA HALLOWEEN NIGHT PARTY
On Halloween night I was invited to speak at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Halloween alternative party held at Piney Grove Baptist Church. The students, lead by Katlyn Pickle (DIRT Camp alumni), planned an awesome event right down to the fried Oreos! I spoke to the students about wearing masks. Did you know that “Hypocrite” literally means an actor wearing a mask?
At the end of the night I invited students to take off the masks of hypocrisy and breathe in the refreshing freedom found in Christ. This was an awesome event!

WINTER D.I.R.T. CAMP IS JUST AROUND THE CORNER!
The most important part of camp is our spiritual goal. We are praying for the hearts of students to be branded with the revelation that they should no longer live for themselves. We will inspire them to live for Christ knowing that one day they will stand before Him and lay their crowns (life's rewards) at His feet. Please join us in praying for the spiritual success of this camp.

I cannot share a lot of details because we love to keep the students in suspense, but I will tell you that this camp will be different from any camp we have ever done before. The Lord has shown us some fun and exciting twists. I can hardly wait to see how everything plays out. We are planning a surprise ending that I hope will be a home run in the hearts of everyone participating. We need your prayers as we approach this time. Join us in praying for student’s hearts to be touched, souls to be saved and lives to be forever changed.

This 4-day, 3-night trip will be held at the Georgia Baptist Conference Center in Norman Park, Georgia. The camp includes ringing in the new year with a bonfire, sparklers and marshmallows, a hay ride, competitive games & challenges, 2 days of community service, live praise & worship, inspirational messages, morning devotions, evening debriefings, 3 great meals each day, tasty snacks, comfortable accommodations and a camp tee for everyone.

How are we able to do all this for only $69 per student? Because of those who give!
We are offering this camp to students for less than what it costs to produce. If you are a financial contributor to this ministry, please know that your partnership helps to make this possible. Because of your giving we can minister at a high level with a low cost which gets more students to camp. THANK YOU!

CAMP REGISTRATION IS NOW ONLINE (click here)
You can find the online registration at dirtcrerw.org. On the right side of our home page there is a camp banner to click for the details. By the way, this is our new web site that we just launched. If you see any typos, broken links or any other problems please let us know.

IMPORTANT: We will likely exceed our budget for Winter DIRT Camp, so would you consider giving a donation to help underwrite this ministry event? Your financial support will help to provide transportation, bring students who can’t afford to attend and cover the additional expenses. All donations are tax deductible.

1 Corinthians 3:8-9 “Now he that plants and he that waters are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. For we are laborers together with God.”

There are rewards for the labor. Please join us in the work. God Bless!

Make checks payable to and mail to: DIRT Crew Student Ministires | 3010 Wren Circle, Kennesaw, GA 30144