Chris Mancl

Living Life on Purpose

2009-11-09T19:16:00.000-08:00

Today I was reading an interview of Joel and Victoria Olsteen in Success Magazine. There was a profound quote by Joel Osteen that jumped out at me. Joel says, "If you woke up and God gave you breath to breath, then you've got something else you need to do. Somebody needs what you have. You have an assignment. You have something to offer the world."

As I thought about these words I was struck by a deep sense of purpose for my days. I think often about long-term purpose; what my vision and goals are for the next 6 months, one year or five years but rarely think about my day to day purpose. Recently I have thought about the importance of waking up every morning with purpose. What should I do today? Who should I impact today? Who shoulld I talk to today? Who should I encourage today?

What if we all woke up everyday with a sense of purpose for the next 24 hours. What will my mission be for the next 24 hours? How will I accomplish this mission? I would say that waking up everyday with purpose for the next 24 hours would yeild much more productivity in my life and work. My challenge is to live life on purpose!

Summer 2009

2009-06-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

What an incredible, busy, full, powerful, exciting and moving summer I have had. I would like to say a huge thank you to Oklahoma, Northern Missouri, North Carolina, Indiana and North Texas for allowing me to share in the camp experience with your students.

Camp is an incredible opportunity in the lives of every student. I am always blown away by the testimonies of God's grace, love and peace each week at camp. This summer was no different. Each week there were dozens who responded in the altars to commit their lives to Jesus Christ; hundreds were filled with the Holy Spirit and dozens of physical and emotional healings.

I will never forget during the altars one night in Northern Missouri a young lady walked up to me holding crutches in her hands. I noticed her right away and recognized that she had been walking on those very same crutches all week long. With tears streaming down her face, she said "I've been healed! I've been healed!" I rejoiced with her and then pulled her up on the stage to give a testimony. As she stood before her peers and testified to God's great power to heal in her body, there were many others who began to receive the healing touch of the Lord in that room. It was truly a powerful sight!

Hosea 7:6 says, "Their hearts are like an oven, they approach him with intrigue. Their passion smolders all night; in the morning in blazes like a flaming fire." This summer I watched God spark and smolder a passion in the lives of hundreds of students. Paul commands us to ..."fan into flame the gift of God inside of us"... My prayer is that we would continue to fan into flame an intense burning passion for the presence of God. That this generation would be the generation that would live with an unsatisfied hunger for God! Father, let this be the generation!

My first time speaking in Spanish

2009-06-11T20:36:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here in the airport in Guatemala City waiting for my flight back to the states. I'm reflecting on the last two weeks here in Guatemala. Latin America has truly captured my heart. There are so many incredible things that have happened in the last two weeks, it is hard to know where to start.

First, I graduated from Grade B and moved on to Grade C in my Spanish studies. I find the burden to learn this language deeper than ever. It was great to see missionary friends whom I haven't seen in a while again. I had the pleasure of sitting down over breakfast with Wayne Monson, who is a missionary here in Antigua. It was great to hear his heart and hear testimonies of what God is doing in and through their ministry. Ministering alongside Jonathan and Alicia Farrant is always an honor and was a highlight of this trip. They are great friends and it is always a pleasure to get to hang out with them and work alongside them.

The school assemblies were indescribable. For the first time ever, I spoke in a school assembly completely in Spanish. I cannot even describe the excitement that I felt. Ever since I have been making these trips down to Guatemala for language school I have dreamed of being able to speak and preach in Spanish. That dream is finally beginning to happen!

God is opening up a tremendous amount of opportunity for me here in Guatemala and I have a great deal of anticipation for the future. Below are some pictures from the school assemblies yesterday. Check it out!

Guatemala June 10, 2009

2009-06-10T21:08:00.000-07:00

Hola Mis Amigos,

Wow, what an incredible day of ministry here in Guatemala. Today I spoke in school assemblies in Chimaltanango with Jonathan Farrant (the missionary here). Together we impacted the lives of over 1700 students. The youth team here from Minnesota performed drama's and gave testimonies in the assemblies. It was an incredible day. We saw hundreds of students respond to commit their lives to Jesus Christ. I will never forget watching the tears stream down the faces of dozens of students as we shared the hope of Jesus Christ and they found healing.

Here are some pictures from the School assemblies...

Guatemala Update

2009-06-09T19:24:00.000-07:00

I have been in Guatemala for just over a week so far. Last week I was studying Spanish at Christian Spanish Academy in Antigua, Guatemala. It has been a tremendous trip. I took my test for grade B and am into Grade C now. I'm super excited to think about preaching in Spanish soon.

On Monday a team of 29 students from Minnesota flew down to work with us. The past few days we have been diligently preparing for some incredible school assemblies here in Guatemala. Today we did an assembly in an orphanage for a couple of hundred students. There was a great response as many students responded to the message and the drama's. Tomorrow and Thursday we will be doing three schools each day, speaking to over 2,000 students. I am thrilled at the opportunity before us. I know that we will see hundreds come to know Christ.

Here are a few pictures from the Orphanage today...

Mesquite, Texas

2009-04-13T17:38:00.001-07:00

I was just recently speaking at a youth and young adult revival in Mesquite, Texas. The Presence of God was so powerful in those services. We saw many people saved, physically and emotionally healed and filled with the Holy Spirit.

On Thursday night we had an incredible prayer time where we prayed for the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It was incredible to watch people lay hands on each other and prophesy and pray for healing in their lives.

Here are some pictures of those incredible moments.

Supernatural Encounters

2009-04-05T15:37:00.000-07:00

I recently read a book called "The Ultimate Treasure Hunt" by Kevin Dedmon. This book was about evangelism through supernatural encounters. I was hung on every word as I read the dozens and dozens of stories about Christians engaging lost and broken people with supernatural encounters.

I thought about some of the times that I have had the opportunity to be a part of these types of supernatural encounters with people. I thought about the youth rally in Lexington, Minnesota where we saw so many supernatural healing s. I thought about the camp in North Carolina where we took testimonies for nearly an hour of people who had been supernaturally healed in their bodies. I thought about the times when God had spoken words of knowledge to me in order for me to minister to someone in their time of need. I was reminded of the many times I have seen God work in supernatural signs and wonders. I was also filled with a burden to see more of what God desires to do in the lives of people.

In Matthew 10:7-8 Jesus says, "7. And proclaim as you go, saying, 'The Kingdom of heaven is at hand. 8. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You recieved without paying; give without pay." As Jesus sent out the seventy two he was very clear on the following points:

1. proclaim the Kingdom of God
2. heal the sick
3. cleanse lepers
4. cast out devils

There is a mandate for supernatural ministry in Jesus' words. We were destined to carry the anointing and power of God in our lives. We are commanded to be carriers of the supernatural power of God to lost and broken people. It takes an incredible amount of trust and a leap of faith to step out into this type of ministry. It requires faith and trust in our heavenly father to step out and take a risk in supernatural ministry. When we finally get out of our comfort zone and take a risk the rewards and testimonies are huge. We will see people healed, delivered, saved and filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

As I have been challenged in my own heart, I would like to challenge you to a life of supernatural ministry. A life of daily stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risk. Let's see what God will do!

Watford City, North Dakota

2009-03-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

I am sitting here in the Williston, North Dakota airport. In the last 24 hours I have had flights cancelled and delayed. Now, I am just hoping and praying that I make it home sometime today. As I sit here I am thinking about the incredible week that I have had here in Watford City. I did an assembly in the High school and middle school. We had close to 100 students in attendance at the night rally.

The greatest moment was at the altar call when 56 students responded to give their lives to Jesus Christ. It was a powerful moment!

Here is a picture of the altar call in Watford City, North Dakota. This was a huge win for the Church and community.

This was a powerful week of ministry. It is incredible to see what God is doing in this generation. I am very excited about what is happening and how God is moving in the lives of students.

The Shack

2009-01-03T01:27:00.000-08:00

I am reading an incredible book right now called The Shack. If you have read it then you know that I am behind since I am just now reading it. If you have not read it then you need to stop reading this and go get a copy of it right now! I'm only about a quarter of the way into the book but already it is changing my life. This may be one of the greatest pieces of fiction in our generation.

It is a powerful story of the struggle that every person has in connecting with God. The problem of pain, the heartache of life. How do we as broken human beings connect with a sovereign, compassionate, loving God?

If you have not yet gotten a copy of this book, I strongly admonish you to check it out. I am being deeply encouraged by it and I know you will be too.

Happy New Years

2009-01-01T21:29:00.000-08:00

Here we are jumping into a new year! I love the beginning of the year because my heart is filled with so much expectation for the coming twelve months. I believe with all of my heart that the best is yet to come. This will be a year of God's favor and blessing. I can't wait to see the miracles and all the incredible, unexpected moments that are sure to come.

Get ready for something amazing. I am filled with a sense of shock and awe as I think about what God will do this year. I pray for my faith to be built stronger than ever. Together, let's believe God for miracles this year. Let's believe for the supernatural and trust a powerful, sovereign God who has our best at heart! It's going to be amazing.

Together, let's reach a Generation!

Ministry Administration

2008-08-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

I am in my office today; staying incredibly busy. Writing emails, returning dozens of phone calls duplicating CDs and creating ministry resources and writing correspondence. Yeah, it's a busy day. Not to mention that I have been out on the road for the last five weeks straight and will leave shortly for another trip.

It is easy to think that an evangelist just has time off when they are not out on the road speaking but quite the opposite is true. The administrative tasks are just the beginning. I will have several meetings with staff members of my church this week just to connect after a long summer and let them know what has been happening. I will be catching up on the reading and studying necessary to keep myself sharp and fresh. I will pack and prepare for the next trip which will begin in just a couple of days. Most importantly, I will spend time with my family since they have not seen too much of me this summer.

Although the day to day tasks of ministry can seem somewhat mundane and pointless, they are a vital component of what happens out on the road, in services and rallies and in the lives of students. May we all keep a sharp focus on the goals and vision that we carry; even when it comes to the mundane but necessary administration of ministry.

Together let's reach a generation,

Chris Mancl
ATC

Heading Out Tomorrow

2008-07-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning I will be getting up at 3:00 am and heading to the airport in order to catch a 5:30 flight to Raleigh, North Carolina. I will be speaking at North Carolina Youth camp this week. I am anticipating an incredible week of hanging out with Students and youth Pastors; eating camp food; and most importantly seeing lives changed each night in the services.

The urgency and expectancy I always feel the night before I leave for a ministry trip is an incredible feeling. I have racing thoughts of what God could do this week. I find myself reciting messages in my mind and heart over and over again and asking the Lord constantly to have his way this week. This is the life of an evangelist. It is a great pleasure for me to have a voice with this group of students this week, and it is an honor that I do not take for grated.

Lord, Thank you for the opportunities you have given me.

Please pray for us and the students of North Carolina this week. Stay posted to hear updates from the camp. Thank you and God bless!

Guatemala Highlights

2008-05-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

I am back from Guatemala. We did have an incredible trip. Here are some of the highlights from the trip.

School Assemblies:

In Guatemala I spoke in six school assemblies to around 1300 students. It was powerful to see God impact the lives of those students in the assemblies. We saw dozens of students respond to give their lives to Jesus Christ in the assemblies.

On the first day of school our team did four school assemblies back to back. It was a very intense day. The energy was through the roof from the moment we started the music and pulled those teachers up on the stage to dance. The students were engaged and impacted through the presentations.

My heart was broken for the students in every assembly that I spoke in. I am excited for future trips to Guatemala to speak in more school assemblies.

The Crusade's:
I was in two crusades with another evangelist while in Guatemala. We were working with Jonathan and Alicia Farrant, missionaries to Guatemala. There was a crusade in Chimaltanengo and Nueve Concepcion. Between the two crusades there was an estimated attendance of about 6,000 people.

There were thousands who responded to receive Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior. It was incredible to see how God touched lives in each crusade. I will never forget the hundreds of heeling's and other manifestations of the Holy Spirit.

There are incredible things happening in Guatemala. I was honored to have a part in what God was doing during these past couple of weeks.

Spanish School:
I studied Spanish for a week at Christian Spanish Academy in Antigua, Guatemala. I am excited about the progress that I have been making in my language study. As I was preaching in a church in Guatemala I preached about five minutes of my message in Spanish. It was very excited. It will not be too much longer and I'll be preaching whole messages in Spanish. There is an incredible anticipation in my heart to continue ministry in Guatemala and throughout Latin America.

Leaving the Country

2008-05-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

In just two days I will be getting on a plane and flying into Guatemala. I'll be there for two weeks. Next week I will be speaking in nine schools in Guatemala. On Wednesday night and Friday night we will have a youth crusade with an anticipated attendance of 8,000 students.
The second week I will be attending language school and continuing to learn Spanish. I'm very excited about this trip and what is going to happen.

Please pray for myself and our team as we are ministering to students in the schools and the crusade. Pray that the gifts of the Spirit would be in operation and that we would see thousands of students saved in these crusades. Please pray for our missionary friends, Jonathan and Alisha Farrant.

I'll keep everyone updated on what is happening as we progress through the trip. Thanks!

Guatemala

2008-04-15T09:30:00.000-07:00

In just three short weeks I will be getting on a plane and heading to Guatemala for two weeks. I am thrilled at the opportunities ahead. This may be my most exciting trip to Guatemala yet. When I arrive I will be working for several days with a team going into schools and speaking in rally s throughout the country. This will create momentum for the end of the week. On the weekend there will be a huge open air youth crusade. We are expecting there to be close to 10,000 students in attendance. What an incredible opportunity!

I still have to raise another $1,500 for this trip. If you could help, please contact me at: chris@answeringthecries.com

Please pray for us! The team and I will be in Guatemala from May 4-May 17, 2008. Thank you and God bless!

Huntsville

2008-04-03T21:37:00.001-07:00

I just arrived in Huntsville, TX. Tommorow I will be in three school assemblies with my mentor Wayne. Tommorow night I will be speaking at a youth service here in Huntsville. On Saturday we will all be going into the prisons here to speak and minister to the inmates. I am thrilled at the opportunities for ministry and the expectation that I feel in the atmosphere. I know that God is going to do incredible things in the lives of students and people this weekend.

Using School Assemblies to Launch a Youth Ministry

2008-03-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

I was recently in Huntsville, TX. I did not have a trip scheduled for a couple of days and my mentor, Wayne, was doing some school assemblies a couple hours away in Huntsville. I decided to drive down for a couple of days and watch. While I was there I observed one of the coolest ideas for launching a new youth ministry.

The Church we were working with had just launched another Church in a nearby community. They had only been having services there, I believe, for less than a month. The staff had gotten Wayne into all the schools in that community. All together there was over 1000 students. That night there was great excitement and expectation for the turn out at the night rally.

At the night rally the church was packed full. There were approximately 200 students who responded for salvation that night. Their information was gathered by leaders. Each student was invited to come back that week for their youth service. They had over 100 new students added to their youth ministry that week.

I thought to myself; what an incredible start to launching a youth ministry! This model created incredible momentum for the youth ministry and the staff. I would urge us all to think creatively about how we further the Kingdom of God. Together lets reach a generation!