Hey everyone, happy spring! Well I know I shouldn’t be too optimistic but with all the sunshine we’ve had and nicer temps it sure is nice to know that the worst of the winter is behind us. We are so thankful for all of you and your prayers, and also for your support in other ways. We hope that this update finds you well and remember that if there is anything that you need prayer for please let us know, we’d love to reciprocate.
Health Update: Raelyn’s teeth seem to finally be in! She slept well for a few nights before she caught a cold and then wasn’t sleeping again because of that. Rebecca caught it at the same time. I thought I’d escaped it but came down with it about a week and a half ago, right after they were done with it. It’s still hanging on to me but I’m feeling better each day. We’ve enjoyed some full nights of sleep and WOW, what a difference that makes! Praise Jesus! Raelyn seems now to be struggling with another cold or allergies, we’re not sure which, but it’s not too bad thankfully. Thanks for all of your prayers, we are hoping that this continues now for a long time.
Church Position Transition: I’ve always had a heart for outreach and when we came to Gold Ave Church we knew that the harvest was ripe here in this neighborhood. We started off working mainly with the children and youth, hence my title of Director of Children and Youth Ministries. These ministries have been very fruitful and blessed over the years. I have enjoyed also doing some neighborhood outreach and prayer for the neighbors, and over the last year have been feeling a shift in my calling more towards this. I also have been feeling drawn to improve how we connect with visitors and how we help people become a part of our church family, from serving to finding opportunities to grow spiritually. I’ve been discerning this with the pastors and we have really sensed the Lord leading. Therefore I will soon be transitioning to be the Director of Outreach and Enfolding. We have two others who have been in a similar discernment process, and they will both also be coming on as Urban Missionaries, one as Pastor of Care and Connection and the other as Director of Spiritual Growth and Communication. Together we three will form the Worship and Care Team, under which the children and youth ministries will be. We are laying the foundations for being an equipping church and we feel like we are on the verge of an amazing harvest, so we want to be ready! I am excited for this shift and where the Lord is leading, and ask for your prayers for continued wisdom and discernment as we go in this direction. (we are working on our job descriptions, already discerning new ministries, etc so we do need lots of wisdom!)
CYM: As I make this transition I am praying for more help with our children and youth ministries, they need some administrative leadership so that I can focus on my new initiatives. I have been working with the teams for a while now to empower them to function without much intervention from myself, so that is great. I also plan to continue in our Middle/High School youth group as it still encompasses both areas of my ministry of outreach and enfolding. Would you please continue to pray for more workers in these ministries, and specifically a few people who would like to and are able to help administratively?
Youth group continues to go well, we have seen the youth open up so much lately, we’re going through the book of Mark and asking some very deep questions. We’ve prayed for healing and for their spiritual growth in the last few weeks and they’ve been experiencing answered prayers! We continue to face difficulties too with their schedules and with different challenges, including clear enemy interference, so we ask that you pray for protection, wisdom and love in this ministry.
Leadership Development Retreat: We had asked for prayers for this special weekend that took place about a month ago. Raelyn had a great time with grandparents and slept well, praise Jesus. We enjoyed the retreat, we were also very challenged to grow by what we learned. The topic was the Eneagram, which is a “personality type” tool which focuses on how we are each created in the image of God and how we can invite him to work in our areas of brokenness. It was very helpful to identify and understand why we act and react how we do, what areas we need healing, and how to invite the Lord into that. We have both been growing much since then, we are thankful that Jesus continues his healing work to this day! We pray for more healing to happen, as we move towards wholeness in our relationship as a married couple, our relationships with Jesus, and with others.
Prayer Ministry: Things have been going well with prayer ministry, but it seems like since the Polar Vortex, things have really picked up! Rebecca has been scheduling all of our healing prayer appointments and our prayer partners, and it is a lot! There are lots of moving pieces with so many people’s schedules and challenges of finding the time. We are thankful that we have a great prayer team and that they are excited to see more people receive healing and deliverance. Please pray for wisdom and perseverance for Rebecca as she continues to be busy doing this, and also for all those who are waiting a while for their appointments because we have so many in waiting.
Thank you so much for praying. We desperately need prayer coverage and as we continue to step out onto the front lines we need the armor and protection from the enemy’s attacks. Our church seeks this too as many area churches are looking to us as an example of how the Lord can and does work today. Thank you for being a part of this awesome work!
Health Update: Raelyn’s teeth seem to finally be in! She slept well for a few nights before she caught a cold and then wasn’t sleeping again because of that. Rebecca caught it at the same time. I thought I’d escaped it but came down with it about a week and a half ago, right after they were done with it. It’s still hanging on to me but I’m feeling better each day. We’ve enjoyed some full nights of sleep and WOW, what a difference that makes! Praise Jesus! Raelyn seems now to be struggling with another cold or allergies, we’re not sure which, but it’s not too bad thankfully. Thanks for all of your prayers, we are hoping that this continues now for a long time.
Church Position Transition: I’ve always had a heart for outreach and when we came to Gold Ave Church we knew that the harvest was ripe here in this neighborhood. We started off working mainly with the children and youth, hence my title of Director of Children and Youth Ministries. These ministries have been very fruitful and blessed over the years. I have enjoyed also doing some neighborhood outreach and prayer for the neighbors, and over the last year have been feeling a shift in my calling more towards this. I also have been feeling drawn to improve how we connect with visitors and how we help people become a part of our church family, from serving to finding opportunities to grow spiritually. I’ve been discerning this with the pastors and we have really sensed the Lord leading. Therefore I will soon be transitioning to be the Director of Outreach and Enfolding. We have two others who have been in a similar discernment process, and they will both also be coming on as Urban Missionaries, one as Pastor of Care and Connection and the other as Director of Spiritual Growth and Communication. Together we three will form the Worship and Care Team, under which the children and youth ministries will be. We are laying the foundations for being an equipping church and we feel like we are on the verge of an amazing harvest, so we want to be ready! I am excited for this shift and where the Lord is leading, and ask for your prayers for continued wisdom and discernment as we go in this direction. (we are working on our job descriptions, already discerning new ministries, etc so we do need lots of wisdom!)
CYM: As I make this transition I am praying for more help with our children and youth ministries, they need some administrative leadership so that I can focus on my new initiatives. I have been working with the teams for a while now to empower them to function without much intervention from myself, so that is great. I also plan to continue in our Middle/High School youth group as it still encompasses both areas of my ministry of outreach and enfolding. Would you please continue to pray for more workers in these ministries, and specifically a few people who would like to and are able to help administratively?
Youth group continues to go well, we have seen the youth open up so much lately, we’re going through the book of Mark and asking some very deep questions. We’ve prayed for healing and for their spiritual growth in the last few weeks and they’ve been experiencing answered prayers! We continue to face difficulties too with their schedules and with different challenges, including clear enemy interference, so we ask that you pray for protection, wisdom and love in this ministry.
Leadership Development Retreat: We had asked for prayers for this special weekend that took place about a month ago. Raelyn had a great time with grandparents and slept well, praise Jesus. We enjoyed the retreat, we were also very challenged to grow by what we learned. The topic was the Eneagram, which is a “personality type” tool which focuses on how we are each created in the image of God and how we can invite him to work in our areas of brokenness. It was very helpful to identify and understand why we act and react how we do, what areas we need healing, and how to invite the Lord into that. We have both been growing much since then, we are thankful that Jesus continues his healing work to this day! We pray for more healing to happen, as we move towards wholeness in our relationship as a married couple, our relationships with Jesus, and with others.
Prayer Ministry: Things have been going well with prayer ministry, but it seems like since the Polar Vortex, things have really picked up! Rebecca has been scheduling all of our healing prayer appointments and our prayer partners, and it is a lot! There are lots of moving pieces with so many people’s schedules and challenges of finding the time. We are thankful that we have a great prayer team and that they are excited to see more people receive healing and deliverance. Please pray for wisdom and perseverance for Rebecca as she continues to be busy doing this, and also for all those who are waiting a while for their appointments because we have so many in waiting.
Thank you so much for praying. We desperately need prayer coverage and as we continue to step out onto the front lines we need the armor and protection from the enemy’s attacks. Our church seeks this too as many area churches are looking to us as an example of how the Lord can and does work today. Thank you for being a part of this awesome work!
