Hello Friends and Family,
For many of you, it has been a long time since you heard from me. I am currently attending a one-year program in Texas called the Honor Academy. It is a ministry internship that also has classes for college credit. My ministry placement (job) is in Software Development in the Information Technology department. The purpose of this email and those following is to keep you updated on my progress in personal growth and to share my experiences with you. If you don’t want to receive periodic emails from me, tell me and I will take you off my list. If you know someone who wants to receive these updates, have them email me so I can put them on my list.
My communication skills are one of the largest things God is developing in me while I am here. As evidence, I am going to send four updates in close succession for two reasons. 1) I have a lot of stuff to recap. 2) I don’t think you want a 6 page email!!! I know I don’t have time to read that!
That said, here it comes: This one was written a bit ago, though I didn’t end up sending it.
_______
Hello, my name is Ryan Iley.
On August 14th I arrived at Teen Mania’s Honor Academy and immediately started the first Life Transforming Event (LTE) of the year, called Gauntlet. Gauntlet is designed to strip the popular culture off of a person, immerse them into the Honor Academy culture, and plunge them into the presence of God. Essentially, each of us was purified as much as is possible in a week’s time, and made fully aware of the one year commitment we were about to make at the end of Gauntlet.
During Gauntlet, God really tore my heart apart in a lot of ways. Most of the things I heard in sessions were things I already knew, but it was different this time. The speakers had the power and authority of God behind them and concluded every message with a call-to-action. In addition, everything we did was wrapped in intense worship.
Although Gauntlet officially ends at the Commitment Banquet, in my mind, its conclusion is when the interns receive their ministry placement. My ministry placement is in Information Technology. I am currently working as a Help Desk Technician, but I hope to eventually develop new software. Whether or not it is God’s will for me to develop software, I know that He will use my talents in computer science to further His Kingdom in this position.
The next LTE is called ESOAL, which stands for Emotionally Stretching Opportunity of A Lifetime. ESOAL is a several-day-long event, during which we role-play as soldiers in boot camp. We don’t know much about what ESOAL really is because it is supposed to be primarily emotionally stretching and if you know what is coming, it doesn’t work as well. However, I do know that it involves a very large amount of physical exercise, and it will not be comfortable. In addition to that, I am doing something called “Bring It”, which means that my experience will be much more stretching than it already would be.
The rule in ESOAL is that you must attempt everything asked of you. For example, if I am only physically capable at this moment of doing 30 push-ups, and they ask me to do 50, I give my 100% and when I get to the 31st one, I try and try and try to do it, but am physically unable. That’s ok. The purpose of ESOAL is NOT to train you physically, but rather to teach you how to give your 100% – and then rely on God for more.
ESOAL is voluntary, and you can stop at any time. However, I intend to finish. I intend to rely on God’s strength and push through everything that comes my way. I will not quit. I will give my 100%. God will give the rest.
–
The next update describes how ESOAL went. (it was really good)
God’s blessings to you,
Ryan
Advertisement
