Going West and East

Over the last couple months, there have been some significant changes in our plan for the next year. I would like to tell you about them.

At the end of our first semester with Youthfront Mission Institute in 2008, we discovered some really important things about ourselves and our ministry.

First, I loved working with college students. I found that their intellectual ability, their availability, and their passion were so motivating and enjoyable for me that I could not see myself doing anything else. Not to mention, God seems to grant the most fruit in my ministry when I work with college students.

Second, the 24/7 ministry context we experienced for six months at YMI made us realize that such an all-consuming ministry was not sustainable for us as a family. Too much depended on me as director, and the seclusion kept us from the primary means by which we experience God’s encouragement, namely the local church.

Third, I discovered a desire to help people grow in the context of their everyday lives: doing their jobs, going to school, finding their spouses, raising their kids, reaching out to their friends, caring for their poor and elderly, and so on. There is tremendous value to seasons of rest and recovery. However, my desire is to help them maintain their faith and grow when they’re not at YMI or camp.

In addition to these discoveries, for the last few months it seems God has been transitioning us away from Youthfront. Through a series of events which includes the addition of a couple full-time YMI staff, God has made us willing to leave knowing the ministry we launched is not dependent on our involvement.

For these reasons (and a few others), Amanda and I have begun to transition our ministry.

This fall, we will move to Louisville, KY for about a year where I will complete my Masters of Divinity. Then, I will pursue a position which allows me to do ministry on or near a college campus. A particular city is not yet clear, but the opportunity to be daily equipping college students to reach and disciple people is very exciting to me.

Between now and September, I will be primarily doing three things.

First, I will be helping to pass-on YMI to different leaders. I will be mainly in a service role to help this next year of YMI run smoothly.

Second, because I will have more time in the spring and summer, we have decided to work one more summer at Youthfront Camp. Youthfront Camp West needed a Cabin Leader Supervisor, so I volunteered. As the cabin leader supervisor, I am responsible for hiring roughly 18 college students as cabin leaders, develop and lead the summer curriculum, and shepherd this small group of people for the summer.

Third, I will be trying to close the shortfall in my support account by taking on some Youthfront building maintenance duties and by raising a little more financial support.

If you have questions, I would be happy to talk with you. Feel free to email or call me.

Also, be sure to take a look at our prayer requests, and think about us as you spend time with God. We are, as always, desperately dependent on his care and guidance.