Prospect Ridge Academy

As Isaac will be ready to attend kindergarten in the fall of 2011, we have spent much time thinking through what to do regarding his schooling. Last year, we heard about a new charter school that was in processes of being built in our area. As we did more research, we got excited about their approach to curriculum and education and really like the values this school holds and wants to instill into the children that attend. Luckily, Isaac got accepted and is now enrolled at PRA. Being a new charter school, there are many opportunities and needs for parents to get involved at PRA with their kids’ education and extra-curricular activities. We are still waiting patiently for the district to approve the final construction site for the school, but once it is built, we are looking for ways to be involved with sports, music, and hopefully even serving on the school board. Please pray that God would guide us to the areas were we can have the greatest impact in this school and in children’s lives.

 PRA Website:
http://prospectridgeacademy.org/

Watermark Community Church

Once we moved back to Colorado from New Zealand, we spent time praying for God to lead us to a vibrant and gospel-centered church with an emphasis on engaging in the community with a Christ-like love and service. We are so very thankful that God has led us to Watermark Community Church. Watermark is a young church plant in Broomfield, CO and part of the Acts 29 church planting network. The network was started by Mars Hill Church in Seattle and has grown to include church plants around the world. “Watermark Church's Mission is to participate in God's passion to transform lives and the city through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The vision is to see a new community formed that is passionately pursuing God’s glory, changed lives, and serving the lost and hurting” (quoted from website). Maybe starting new things is just in our blood… but we’re excited to be a part of helping pioneer this local movement of faith. We are eager to use our God-given gifts, abilities, and experiences to serve in and through our new church home!

Related Websites:

www.watermarkdenver.org 

 www.acts29network.org

Investing In Our Community

commūnitās (n) < Latin - a community; public spirit, a sense of duty and willingness to serve one’s community.

It was only 7-1/2 months ago that we completed our overseas mission, packed up our bags, and left our ‘New Zealand lives’ behind. It can be hard letting go of a place you’ve dwelt in, gotten to know, and developed community in. This has been true for us. But on the other hand, there has been excitement, novelty, and joy as we’ve returned to the United States and begun to establish ourselves amidst our new community in Broomfield, CO. Often, settling into a new community is a gradual process. It takes time and has its share of challenges and barriers as we seek out new friendships and ultimately work toward the goal of knowing others and being known. I’ve devoted this month’s blogging to sharing with you about some of the ways the Lord has led us to be involved with and serve our community. As always we are trusting the Lord to use these venues as channels for us to minister to and reach out to lost and hurting people around us. Pray that we would be salt and light Christ calls us to be while living in commūnitās.

Is He Really My Lord?

“… so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus…”
(Acts 20:24)

Joy comes from seeing the complete fulfillment of the specific purpose for which I was created and born again, not from successfully doing something of my own choosing. The joy our Lord experienced came from doing what the Father sent Him to do. And he says to us, “As the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (John 20:21). Have you received a ministry from the Lord? If so, you must be faithful to it—to consider your life valuable only for the purpose of fulfilling that ministry. Knowing that you have done what Jesus sent you to do, think how satisfying it will be to hear Him say to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We each have to find a niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive a ministry from the Lord. To do this we must have close fellowship with Jesus and must know Him as more than our personal Savior. And we must be willing to experience the full impact of Acts 9:16—” I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.”
“Do you love Me?” Then, “Feed My sheep” (John 21:17). He is not offering us a choice of how we can serve Him; He is asking for absolute loyalty to His commission, a faithfulness to what we discern when we are in the closest possible fellowship with God. If you have received a ministry from the Lord Jesus, you will know that the need is not the same as the call—the need is the opportunity to exercise the call. The call is to be faithful to the ministry you received when you were in true fellowship with Him. This does not imply that there is a whole series of differing ministries marked out for you. It does mean that you must be sensitive to what God has called you to do, and this may sometimes require ignoring demands for service in other areas.
[Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest—In Today’s Language]

Breathing Space

Respite (n) - a delay or cessation for a time, especially of anything distressing or trying; an interval of relief.

Sometimes, we all need to stop and take inventory of our lives. We need to pause and assess our spiritual, emotional, and physical condition. Over the past decade, we have been dedicated to pursuing lost students for Christ with but a few moments to step away from the mission and reflect on our journey and personal well-being. Needless to say, we’ve realized we are overdue for a such a time.
In the midst of this transition in our ministry assignments, we are using the next several months to seek some rest amidst the major changes and challenges we’ve encountered over the past few years. Before we report to our next assignment, we plan to spend some valuable time listening closely to the Lord, resting in Him, and seeking His direction for the days ahead.
We also find ourselves in a season where it has become important and necessary for us to reconnect with our ministry partners (so you might be hearing from us soon) and to build our team of financial partners.
Before God enables us to begin working in the new areas of our calling, please pray for us. Pray that we would experience a sweet time of refreshment, connection, transformation, adjustment, and fine-tuning in our walks with the Lord.

Devistating 6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits New Zealand

News Coverage for Haiti Meails

 

Meals for Haiti

http://www.kdvr.com/news/kdvr-students-come-to-denver-to-pr-122910,0,1909921.story

Regional Field Office

Some of the strengths that have become clear about me over the years is my ability to organize, steward, and manage tools, materials, resources, and people. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to me since I studied construction management at Purdue University. Not only have I been able to use what I’ve learned at college for use in ministry but it is also something I apparently have a knack for . Having a musical and somewhat artistic background as well, I’ve also gravitated toward finding ways to use the creative arts to help communicate the Truths of God’s word to students I work with.

Therefore I will be taking on the role of Director of Design in our region, leading in three key areas:
Ÿ Project Management (Conferences & Events)
Ÿ Resource Stewardship
Ÿ Creative Media Production and Development

Another area that I have become passionate about is helping our organization build significant relationships with local churches and other Christian groups on or around our university campuses. A huge reason for this is the desire to help every student who is a part of our campus movements to be connected to a strong local church. I believe this is vital for our students to really continue to serve Christ and the body of believers beyond college. And in partnering with other Christians on campus, we can do more together to impact the university and display a united spirit in following Jesus Christ. So, in addition to the above areas, I hope to help pave the way for Campus Crusade to have greater collaboration with local churches and other groups, establishing some of the framework and values for partnership.

[Josh]


Over the last 12 years on staff it has become more and more apparent to me how God has uniquely gifted me. No matter where I live I always end up reaching out to my neighbors, offering prayer to those around me, endeavoring to be a good listener, and desiring more than ever for people to know how God has created them and specially made them.

Being an athlete throughout my life, one of my favorite aspects about being on a team was encouraging and cheering for my fellow teammates. When they won, I won! I can see that playing out spiritually in who I am today as I want so much for those around me to see and experience the love of God. I want them to win in life, and that can only be done by knowing Christ; and knowing who He has made them to be. Being on staff can be really hard sometimes; especially for those who are new. I believe God can use me to come alongside new staff members and teammates to help them see more of who God has designed them to be, and help them thrive on staff in their early years.

Some of the areas I am interested in helping with in our region are:
Ÿ Leadership Development
Ÿ Coaching/Encouraging/Praying
Ÿ Strengths and Gifts Assessment

Thankfully, God has already connected me with an awesome mentor on staff in Colorado. Nancy McKinney will be meeting with me a few times a month to coach and help me clearly define my role on the woman’s side of ministry. There are several ways that I can see God using me, so this will help me know if I am landing in right place for my gifts and abilities.

As a mom, I continue to build into my boys on a day to day basis. This of course requires a lot of time and energy; especially when you have two little boys as curious and excited about life as our boys! In my free time I will be attempting to get to know my neighbors better. I hosted a book party two weeks ago at our house and it was an easy way to get to know my neighbors in a non-threatening environment. I can’t wait to have people over again during the holidays! We love opening up our home and entertaining.

[Jill]

Transitions :: Same Family. Same Mission. Different Role.

As you already know, we have dedicated our lives to following Christ, serving as career missionaries with Campus Crusade for Christ. It’s hard to believe, but we have now been serving for more than 10 years together on staff, extending the Gospel of Truth to university students in the United States and around the world. Through our involvement with Campus Crusade, we have been given amazing opportunities to impact the lives of countless young men and women in Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, Mexico, Spain, Chile, Albania, Fiji, New Zealand, and from other places we may not even realize – all with the desire to see the Lord “turn lost students into Christ-centered laborers.”

Throughout our staff careers we have also taken on many roles in several different environments over the years. We have worked as new staff, senior staff, summer mission project leaders, STINT team leaders, and as local team leaders or ministry directors. We’ve had the privilege to work with teams and students in the context of large university campuses, metropolitan catalytic movements, international exchange projects, and pioneering new movements at universities overseas.

Wow! As we look back over all these experiences, we see the many lives God has allowed us to touch in conjunction with your prayers and support. Along the way, God has called us forward with the steps of faith, ones He has helped us to take for our own growth and sanctification as we follow Christ. We can also see clearly how He has orchestrated all of these experiences, leading us steadily into what will be our next set of roles on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ.

In Romans 12, the Apostle Paul says, “… I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” He goes on to share with us that, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” He also expresses that these gifts are unique to us and that we bring glory to God when we use those gifts in proportion to the faith and ability given to us.

For Jill and myself, with the multiple roles we’ve done on staff, with all the places we’ve served Christ, and with the reality that while we have often put ourselves in positions where we have worked out of weakness (allowing God to show us His power and greatness!) we have also learned more and more about the gifts, strengths, and passions that God has instilled in us. As we realize how He’s made us, we want to humbly seek to be great at what He’s made us for and to present our whole selves to serving Him with these strengths.

So, we invite you to read on in my additional posts about the roles we are moving into with the Great Plains International Regional Team, where there is a great need for our help and opportunities to pursue roles that will help us leverage our ministry experience and skills.

Amazing God + Remarkable Journey = Incredible Story

[Above: Leaving Wellington, New Zealand.Getting on our first plane home.]

Moving your family overseas is no small feat. Perhaps our move was a little simpler because we decided to sell pretty much everything we had acquired while in New Zealand. In the end, we shipped 17 boxes of books, photos, and personal items. For our journey back to the United States we had 8 large bags, a double stroller, a car seat, and 6 carry-ons to shuffle through 4 airports. With all of this luggage, we were prepared to be paying ‘out the nose’ for additional baggage fees, but we had no other way to get the rest of our things home. Well, once again, God had to prove to us that He is bigger than airline regulations and fees. So our story starts with leaving Wellington. Being a domestic flight in NZ, the clerk at the ticket counter informed us that they have a 1-bag policy for all their customers. We told her we understood why they had the policy in place and told her we were missionaries moving back to the USA. We kindly told her we were willing to do whatever it takes to get our bags home and asked her what our options were. She replied saying that she really didn’t know what to tell us because 1-bag is the limit. But then she said, “You’ve been so nice and understanding with me, let me go back and talk to my supervisor.” She returned and stood next to us in front of the counter, leaned over to us and in a half whisper said, “I’ve gotten the okay and I’m going to waive your bags through at no charge.” Jill almost immediately started to cry tears of joy and hugged her. She was a little shocked, but we think it made her day. It definitely made ours!

Our flight from Wellington ended up arriving late into Auckland and gave us only 1 hour and 45 minutes to get our luggage, transfer terminals, and check in for our international flight. We hurriedly made it to the ticket counter only to discover our flight had already left. Apparently, there had been a time change on the itinerary that we had never been informed of and our printed itinerary had the wrong time listed. We were shocked and beginning to feel slightly panicked (especially traveling with two kids under 5)! They sent us to customer service where we were greeted by this really nice older gentlemen who very quickly got us onto the next Air New Zealand flight leaving for the United States and he waived all of our extra baggage fees because of the mistake the airline had made with our flight itinerary. We were so thrilled as it actually gave our family a moment to pause, eat, and rest before our long flight. Plus, we had great seats on a better airline!

On the last leg of our journey, we had to fly domestically once again from LA to Denver. As we heaved our bags onto luggage carts and made our way through the line to the ticket counter, we finally thought that for sure we’d be swallowing the cost of our extra baggage. Just then, I noticed an add for the airline that read, “Your first bag flies for $20 and your second bag for only $1.” Coincidentally, they were running a limited time promotion that just so happened to be running during the month we decided to move home. So in the end, God made a way for all our luggage to travel from New Zealand to the United States for only $80! Thanks Lord!

Showing Love to our Neighbors

Even though we might not have known them as well as our close friends and teammates, we also wanted to say “goodbye” and share God’s “Good News” with our neighbors: family’s next door, store clerks, the butcher, owners of local dairy, and others in the area we lived in. As often as we tried to connect with each person on a spiritual level, most conversations did not lead to us being able to share the Gospel. We knew that we could not leave New Zealand unless we had offered each of these we interacted with weekly a way to hear about Christ. We decided to order 17 Jesus Films in different languages (Cambodian, Malaysian, Thai, Chinese, English, and even sign language), wrap them up in pretty paper with a beautiful blue bow on top, along with a personal letter, and give each of them a DVD. It was a small step, but we pray that God will use it for his Glory. Please join us in praying that God will work in each these people’s lives in a special way...that His Spirit will be at work drawing each person into a relationship with him. Please be praying for:

* Annabelle and John * Dave and Sarah * Bridget and her family * Ngaio and Alistair * Ross and his wife
* Deaf couple that lived next door * Allistair and Agnus * Osman, Maryann, and Rohana * Penny Rowley- family Doctor
* Sokri, Sareefa, Amira, and Raulphie * Michelle, Sam and James * Lance and Anne from the local butcher * Owner of Café Leafee
* Sweet family from the neighborhood dairy * Phil at the video store * Anne at the grocery store

Fond Farewells

As we approached the end of our time in New Zealand, we took the opportunity to spend quality time with some of our key students, our staff team, and our Kiwi friends. During the last couple months it was so enjoyable and rewarding to host parties, dinners, and desserts at our house - to recall fond memories and say our farewells. Here are some photos of these gatherings with our dear friends.



Josh with Cody Knox. Cody will be interning with Student Life in Wellington for 2011!

Jill getting hugs with all the girls from our Wellington campus staff team.

Students hang out at the Felix House.

Here we are with the NZ Leadership, Justin O’Malley & Roger Osbaldiston (back right) & Great Lakes Coordinators, Jeff & Suzie Daratony (Left).

Celebrating God’s work in our lives and the lives of Kiwi students

As we’ve been settling back into life in the United States, we recall the innumerable ways that God has used us, grown us, and blessed us in the process of launching a new campus ministry in a foreign country. It has been amazing to see His provision and faithfulness from the day we set foot in Wellington until the final hours before we stepped onto a plane heading home from our mission overseas!
We wanted to use this next (belated) prayer letter not just to update you, but to celebrate with you all that God has done through your partnership with us in the Gospel and how His Spirit has forever impacted the face of New Zealand for His glory!