DIRT Update

God has done great things over the last 10+ years and the time is long overdue for all our DIRT Crew partners and friends to come together and celebrate! This will be a wonderful evening of fellowship and rejoicing so please plan to join us because it will not be the same without you!

DIRT Crew Celebration Dinner
Date: Saturday, April 16, 2011
Time: Starting at 4 p.m.
Place: First Baptist Acworth

We want you to feel the excitement of DIRT Crew as you enjoy the talents and hear the stories of our students. You will be introduced to our DIRT Crew ministry leaders and enjoy a presentation of gratitude to our faithful supporters. Then we will all share in a wonderful time of fellowship over dinner as we celebrate God’s blessings together.

This Event is R.S.V.P. Only (so that we may be good stewards of God's resources.)
There are three ways to R.S.V.P. and the deadline is Saturday, April 2, 2011.

1. Register Online:    A very fast and easy process.

2. Register by Email: Click here to tell us you are attending.

3. Register by Phone: Call Barry Dollar at 678-773-6102.

Bring a Friend - You may R.S.V.P. for yourself and those who will be attending with you.


PRAYER REQUESTS: Thank you for remembering us in your prayers!


• Thursday, March 17 - I am speaking to the Baptist Collegiate Ministry at Young Harris College.

• Saturday, March 19 - We have a “Mystery Mission” planned for FBA students.

• Tuesday, March 29 - I am preaching the youth night of revival at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church.

• Summer DIRT Camp planning is in full swing and we need some very specific prayers answered.

I can’t wait to see you!

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

“DIRT Crew University” That has a nice ring to it!
The picture above has special meaning to me because it is one of the first of its kind. This was a weekend reunion of college students who served at DIRT Camp this summer. They wanted to get back together before school and work fills their time again. On this particular morning we hiked up one side of Kennesaw Mountain and down the other. Sitting on the rocks right there we opened God’s Word and talked about the fact that Faith is a journey.

Now why is that so special? Because its a new place on the journey, the next level, DIRT Crew college students. They represent the first generation who have come up through the ranks of this ministry and now they are leaders of the ministry! I am praying that this will be the first of many generations of students who will grow to become great Christian influencers in this world.

There is one great story from this outing that I want to share. As I lead the Bible study I noticed a fellow hiker had stopped to listen. Later as we came down the mountain and I was approaching the end of the trail this same man in passing asked me about our group. He spoke of how impressed he was with the students and the Word that was shared. He even gave twenty dollars on the spot to go toward lunch. I am happy to say this is not uncommon. Everywhere we go people stop us and ask about our amazing group of students. I am so thankful the DIRT Crew stands out in a good way.

Last month I shared my heart’s prayer for the DIRT Crew. I want to ask you again to pray with us the prayer of Jabez for our ministry together... [1 Chronicles 4:10]


We are already planning our Winter DIRT Camp. This is hard work that demands commitment and sacrifice from our college and adult leaders; a volunteer force that either work or go to school full time. So why do we keep doing it? Because EVERY TIME at EVERY CAMP souls are saved and lives are forever changed. Please pray for Winter DIRT Camp and pray for the DIRT Crew!

With our new location at Sequoyah Caverns and 98 participants, DIRT Camp could not have been anything less than “The Best DIRT Camp Ever”.  Students loved the worship time in the caverns’ “Ball Room” where lives were changed every night. We experienced 6 salvations, 31 rededications, and 29 other spiritual decisions!

Each morning the students went out and got their hands dirty while racking up over 550 volunteer-hours of community service. They served at assisted living and nursing homes, remodeled an elderly man’s bathroom, cut fire wood, did yard work, cleaned-up people’s property, cool sealed roofs and anything else we ask them to do. Each day two teams went to downtown Chattanooga to respectfully share their faith through conversations and tracting. Many students said this was one of the highlights of camp!

As a new twist this year, we let the students choose their adventures. We offered Caving, Skeet Shooting, Horseback Riding, Kayaking, Canoeing, Disk Golf, Ultimate Frisbee, Swimming, Mountain Hiking and of course the famous Mud Bowl! We also had exciting games, food challenges and the “Mayonnaise Skit” (you just had to be there!). Soon we will have a camp video available that can be viewed on our web site. The video will include the “Mayonnaise Skit”.

As always, camp was not without it’s challenges. Many students stayed in tents this year and we had some storms that drove us into a local community center one night. We picked-up a few bumps and bruises and by the end of camp we were all worn out, but without all that it would not be camp.

For all of you who have prayed and all who have given donations to sponsor students and underwrite this camp, there are no words to express our gratitude. Because of your partnership in this ministry many students and adults have been touched spiritually. You are the heroes of DIRT Camp. You may not have been there physically, but I carried you in my heart every moment of camp...

THANK YOU!

The Mission Metroplex
For the fourth year in a row, Brian Lee has headed up a spring break mission trip. Brian is a DIRT Crew board member and youth pastor at Eastwood Baptist in Marietta, Georgia. This year Brian took his team of leaders and students to Arlington, Texas. Every morning to early afternoon they served the Mission Metroplex which consists of multiple ministry outlets including food, furniture and clothing warehouses and a medical clinic. In the afternoons they presented the “Rainbow Express” backyard Bible club at a local apartment community. During the week five children prayed to received Christ! Congratulations to Brian and his team for a mission well done.

The Liquid Highway
Another DIRT Crew board member, Chuck Carver, took his Venture Crew canoeing down the Santa Fe River in High Springs Florida. Four of the ten students are in the Juvenile Justice System. Here is a wonderful glimpse of the trip shared by Chuck in his update...

“We saw springs along the river some of which were producing twenty to thirty million gallons of water per day and so clear you could see all the way to the bottom. At the end of the day I could not pass up the opportunity to talk about  “Living Water”. During this trip we were able to build relationships with all the students and we look forward to camping and other activities with them in the future and more opportunities to share Jesus Christ. Please pray for the four guys in Juvenile Justice: Ty, Matthew, Brandon, and Jose. I hope that during this trip down the liquid highway that seeds took root in their hearts that would grow up into salvation.”

Brian and Chuck also serve as two of the primary leaders at DIRT Camp and I and so thankful to serve beside them. Speaking of DIRT Camp, I need you to keep praying because it is less than a month away! Pray for souls to be saved and lives to be forever changed. I can’t wait to see what God might do in answering our prayers and honoring your generous financial gifts.

When talking about DIRT Camp, every year we say, “This is going to be the best DIRT Camp ever!” and that statement alway proves to be true. Well, this year just saying, “best camp ever” is not big or grand enough to describe DIRT Camp 2010. This year’s camp is going to be EPIC in proportion compared to anything we have done in the past. That is why we are calling it “EPIC Adventure”.

Everyone involved senses something awesome shaping up that can only be described as “GOD-sized”. For example, I already have 17 young adults (college students and young professionals) who have applied to be our team leaders this year. Also, it is very likely that our attendance could double from last year. Wow! I am more excited about this year’s DIRT Camp than ever because more students means more lives being touched by Christ. I am most excited because I know there will be some students that will give their lives to Christ at camp. Praise God!

For the first time ever, I am going to reveal some of our big “Secrets” for this year’s camp. As many of you know we like to keep our camp plans a secret because we love the element of surprise. Although, this year I just can’t keep quiet about it so here goes:

Sequoyah Caverns - We are renting the entire property of Sequoyah Caverns! This property has a complete camp ground with bath houses, swimming pool, hiking trails, fishing ponds, and of course the caverns. By renting this property we will be able to offer an option to those who are interested in tent camping. Students can bring their own tents or they can bunk in one of the two large event tents we will have setup with cots.

Worship in the Cave - Now here is the best part of having the Sequoyah property. All of our worship gatherings will be inside the caverns! Have you ever heard singing in a cave? It’s like singing in the bathroom, everyone sounds good. I believe this is going to be an amazing experience and likely the only camp in America having worship services inside a cave.

More Activities - This year we are going to have almost twice as many activities for students to enjoy. Everything from swimming to extreme adventures of which I will keep secret for now (got to save something for the element of surprise).

More Missions - With twice as many students, that means twice as many missions. More serving in the community with the love of Christ. More lives touched, more good things accomplished, more students experiencing the blessings of service.

Now, Are You Excited About DIRT Camp?
I hope you are so excited about this year’s DIRT Camp that you will make a commitment to do your part:

We Need People to Pray
First and most important, we need people everywhere praying. This really is a God size event that is bigger than all of us. This is our Jordan to cross and we have already stepped into the water. We are trusting God to carry us amazingly through this EPIC adventure. Pray for the safety and protection of everyone attending the camp. Pray for our strength because this will be a physically and emotionally challenging week for both students and leaders. Pray for souls to be saved and lives to be forever changed.

We Need People to Give
Second, we need people to give financially. By faith we have committed more resources to camp than ever before. I know God can cover the cost easily through His people. That is how God pays for every ministry He leads. So I would ask you to consider what would be your part? Is it as one of our prayer warriors? Is it to be one of our financial champions? Please participate however you can. By your participation you can rejoice in the celebration once this camp has proven to be a “GOD-sized” success!

Click here for Camp registration information

WE WANT TO WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS...

Another year has come and is almost gone, but we still have Christmas! I am always excited about ending the year by looking to our Savior for joy and celebration as we spend some quality time with family and friends. I wish I could have a big party and invite all my friends, which definitely includes you. Maybe one day that will happen, but this year at least I can send a letter with sincere Christmas wishes for you and you family.

A lot has happened for the DIRT Crew this year and God has really blessed the ministry. So many lives have been touched with the love of Christ. It has not all been easy but it certainly has been worth it. If we could have that party I would invite everyone that we have ministered to, every student that has served and every adult that has supported the work. What a wonderful gathering that would be. However you fit in this picture I want to say THANK YOU! We love you and appreciate your service, prayers and support.

PARACHUTES FOR COLUMBIA
I am so proud of our middle schoolers at Piedmont Church. In 3 weeks time they raised almost $300 to buy materials to deliver parachutes to Voice of the Martyrs for the sake of dropping bibles and radios in the war torn jungles of Columbia. They not only raised the money but they also made  27 parachutes one Sunday afternoon. Along with the parachutes we provided the funds to purchase solar powered radios, spanish Bibles and other materials to be attached to each parachute. Pray with us that God would  guide each parachute to those who need the hope found in Christ.

WINTER DIRT CAMP WILL BE AWESOME
Please remember to pray for our first ever Winter DIRT Camp (Dec. 30 - Jan.2). I am so excited because the Lord has given us some brand new ideas that will make this camp very special. Because you give we can offer this camp below cost for students. We have many who could not come other wise. Thank you for believing in the DIRT Crew!