Gracious…there is positively nowhere to escape the sweltering heat of Sunny Florida- I am, in fact, dripping with sweat inside a wonderful nook of a coffeehouse… but I love it…

Just a few highlights of the past two weeks:

* I gave my two major talks- One on how being in community helps us deal with sin (June 11) and another on how to deal with sin in our own lives (June 16). Thank you so much for your prayers. I think both talks sparked some good discussion and, if you would like, you can follow the links to read my notes & outlines to each talk.

* Haley Long, a girl from UNA that became a Christian a few weeks ago after she & I’d worked through what the gospel really means, boldly shared her new faith with her mom and, by the grace of God, also led her to the Lord.

* Our students have been learning that the root of every sin is an idolatry in our heart (Ezekiel 14) that comes about because we forget or disbelieve something about God. For example, we’re learning that lying is ultimately saying, “I’d rather deceive than follow God.” Our sin goes deeper than we think.

* In light of that, many of our students have also really seem to be grasping the concept of our “position in Christ”- who we are in Him & the fact that nothing can change that- and wanting to deal with their sin because they know that, in Christ, they are completely known and completely loved. We are far more forgiven than we think.

* Two of the small group leaders I am leading have had opportunities to share their faiths with their co-workers, as have many people on Beach Project.

Thanks so much for all of your prayers. It is so encouraging to know that we are being prayed for & to share such incredible news. Three quick prayer requests:
1. That I will remember that my primary work is in prayer & live like it
2. That my men will be full of faith & faithful to the men entrusted to them
3. That everyone on Beach Project who is not a Christian will leave as one (esp. Caleb Brown)

God bless you all,
Matt Francisco
480 Santa Rosa Blvd
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” -1 Peter 1:18-19