We are excited to share a dollar for dollar matching gift opportunity! We received a $20,000 matching gift challenge for the Mozambique Building Project. Every dollar given toward the project will be doubled, up to the $20,000 limit. Your gift of $20 will now be matched by an additional $20 for a total of $40! Your gift of $500 will now be $1,000! We have an incredible opportunity over the next few weeks and months to bring this fundraising effort to completion and get back to work on the building. It is our goal to renew construction before the end of the year. Would you consider stretching your dollars by giving a one time gift to this project? To take advantage of this matching gift, please visit the 'Give' page, under the 'Give & Go' tab. Be sure to indicate that the donation is for 'Mozambique Building' or 'Matching Gift.'

(Upon successful completion of this matching gift campaign, the Mozambique building project will have 95% of it's funding! Will you help us finish strong?)

The time has finally arrived to send people to Mozambique to help with the project!! Yay!!! As of right now, we are organizing 3 teams:

#1: Sometime in January. Dates will be nailed down soon, but we are looking for a small group of individuals who have some knowledge or experience in building-related trades...plumbers, electricians, etc.

#2: February 22nd- March 4th. This trip is OPEN TO ANYONE! You do not have to know the slightest thing about construction, you just have to be willing to serve.

#3: March 17-March 29. Same thing as #2...open to all.

Every trip will, Lord willing, include a safari, opportunitues to distribute audio Bibles, service projects in the community, and work on the studio. Mozambique is a beautiful place with even more beautiful people, and I would recommend that you prayerfully consider serving with us.

Please contact me through the contact tab (on the top right of the page) if you are interested in receiving more information about these trips.

We are so excited (and shocked) at how quickly things are progressing with the building project!! Chad summed up the progress in a recent email he sent:

"In the past two weeks we have seen the building taking shape as the walls of the first floor grew to their full height.  In the past couple of days the workers have been busy setting steel panels onto which we will pour the concrete ceiling.  Lord willing, the concrete pouring will commence on Monday!  This is all happening way faster than I had expected, which is funny because typically I'm complaining about things going too slow around here! :)  If you are interested in seeing the progress on the building you can see a little photo journal of the project at the following link: (it is open to the public so no need to be a facebook member)

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150696235670459.702210.556290458&l=287eccc0ed&type=1

Sergio, Steve and I have been leaving the block work up to our 10 man building crew but have had a full time job trying to keep the building supplies on hand.  I just did a little calculating and found that so far we have hauled over 25 tons of cement and 4 miles of re-bar.  I'm sure my poor little truck is feeling abused, but she is still going strong.  With as fast as this buildling project is going...the money for this project is doing the same.  We started out 6 weeks ago with about 40% of the estimated budget for the project not really knowing how far that would get us.  I am quite pleased that we have been able to get as far as we have, but the funds are pretty well gone for now.  Once the concrete ceiling is poured we are going to have to put the building project on hold until we are able to raise more funds.  We were expecting this would happen and we are just so thankful for all those who have so graciously given to this project and have seen us through this far.  We are now praying that the Lord would raise up more people to join with us in helping us finish this task!"

A little update to Chad's update...THE CEILING WAS POURED TODAY!!!  It only took 27 people and 113 bags of cement!! :o) Praise God for keeping everyone safe thus far!

Here's a few more photos. It is so exciting to see it take shape. Like a dream come true, literally. :o) GOD IS SO GOOD!!!

Here's a few pics of the progress that's been made over the past few weeks. They have been VERY busy over there and things are looking great!

Keep posted for some opportunities to serve in Mozambique to help with the project. Details are still being worked out, but we are hoping to send teams as soon as the beginning of the year!! If you, or anyone you know, would be interested in an opportunity to serve, PLEASE let us know. We'd love to have you on one of our teams!

Enjoy the photos!!

We are absolutely THRILLED with the progress being made on the studio project! I am a little behind on posting these updates, so this will give you info on what has been happening over the last few weeks. Bear with me... this might get lengthy. :o)

Tuesday, the 7th of June, the new studio building project kicked off! In the first week of work they were able to get the footings dug for 3 of the four sides of the security wall.  Two of the sides had foundations poured and one and a half sides had the blocks laid.  The rebar was bent and in place for the pillars to be poured. There is a local crew of 7 people, including 2 very experienced builders who are directing the rest. 

Last week had been another very busy week for our building project. Last week saw about 100 meters of block wall laid, which meant they had 3 of the four walls around the property up.  The builders were busy pouring the footing for the 4th wall and pouring the bond beam and pillars that hold it all together. 

This week we also added some serious sweat equity to this project. Chad, Sergio, and Steve negotiated with the supplier of the cement blocks to give them a discount, which they would only do if they bought in quantity. Since we will need them anyway, they thought it would be wise to purchase around 6000 cement blocks. They hired a big flatbed truck that could haul 700 blocks at a time and then hired two guys to help them load and unload the blocks. For the next two days they donned their gloves and loaded and unloaded each block by hand. Chad said they were all pretty sore and very tired, but they should now have enough blocks on site to see them through the first floor of the building! According to Chad, in the past week and a half, his poor little truck has hauled about 7 tons of cement! 

As for this week, the measurements have been made for the first floor, the rebar has been installed, and the foundation is being laid!! Praise GOD! We are so thankful for the progress that has been made so far and for safety on the work-site.

Please continue to pray with us:

-For Chad, Sergio, Esteva (Steve), and the workers who are putting forth so much energy into building this project. Pray for their safety, physical health, and ability to get good rest.

-That God stir in the hearts of his people to come along on work trips to complete the studio (Stay tuned soon for more info coming about these trips!!)

-Thanksgiving for those who are supporting this project both prayerfully and financially. We appreciate you!!

-Wisdom about the financial decisions to be made as the dollar has become increasingly weaker in Mozambique. As a result, supplies and equipment have become much more expensive.

-That the focus remains on God and the work He is doing in Mozambique through Audio Scripture Ministries and the Crown of Victory Studio. This week there are readers coming to Xai-Xai to work on a recording for 3 weeks. Pray that God bless this process so that more people will have access to the Word in their heart language in a format that they can use and understand.

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Thank you to all who came out to the various Ugandan beaded jewelry sale fundraisers! We raised nearly $1,900- $950 for the studio project and $950 for the women in Uganda who made the beautiful jewelry! God is GOOD!

If you were not able to come to the sales and are interested in taking a look at the jewelry- or if you came but want more of it, please contact me, Kristen, at 616-218-4250. :o)

Parkhurst Chiropractic has graciously EXTENDED their Massages for Mozambique campaign through the end of May! Call now to schedule! 616-392-9500.

Parkhurst Chiropractic and Lakeshore Wellness Center are partnering with ASM during the entire month of March to help raise funds and awareness for the One Brick at a Time Campaign!!

They are offering $10 off your one-hour massage as well as donating $10 to ASM for every massage given! How awesome is that?! Call their office at 616-392-9500 now to schedule your appointment between March 1st and 31st.

Be sure to mention 'Massages for Mozambique' when making your appointment or bring in the bottom portion of the flyer below to get the discount. Tell your friends about this amazing offer as well- let's see how many people we can get massaging for Mozambique!

VALID 3/1/11- 3/31/11

This past Sunday we had the opportunity to present the project to Overisel Reformed Church in Holland, MI. A few weeks back, we put a note in everyone's mailboxes asking that they put spare change in shoe boxes with the goal of having $10 in each box (each box would represent one brick for the studio). We were planning on collecting them during the service and building a wall up front with them. To be honest, we were nervous that we would only get a few boxes and the idea would just become awkward. We trusted that it was in God's hands and not ours, and He completely blew us out of the water!! We had so many boxes come to the front!! Through the boxes, we raised nearly $1,300!!! Praise God!

After the service, we heard a story about how a 5 year old from the congregation emptied out EVERYTHING he had in his wallet into their shoebox. When his mom asked him if he really wanted to give all he had, his response was, "They could use it more than me." How incredible is that?! Thank you to everyone who participated!

I pray that everyone had a wonderful Christmas! Every year I am more and more blown away by the depth of God's love for us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to the world to save us. But our salvation was far from free- Jesus, the very Son of God, had to die a cruel death on a cross FOR US!! What an incredible sacrifice!

If not for this sacrifice, we would have no story to tell. But we do have this story and it is our RESPONSIBILITY to share it to the world!

Updates on the Project:

-Funds are beginning to come in...praise GOD! Thanks to all who have donated so far!

-We are still waiting on the land to be surveyed so it can be legally declared as ASM's. Please pray that this process happens soon and with no glitches.

-Please pray for Chad as he makes final preparations for his move to Xai-Xai- only a few weeks away!!

-ASM has hired a new staff member, Esteva (Steve) to help Sergio at the studio in Mozambique. Please pray for an easy transition.

-Please also pray for blessing over Sunday's service at Overisel Reformed Church. We are presenting the project there. (If you are a member of ORC, don't forget your donation boxes!) :o)

Lastly, if you think your church would like to get involved, we'd love to talk with you about it! Just fill out the contact form found under the 'contact' tab on the top right and we'll be in touch!

Thanks for your prayers!