Eli,
I hope your trip is going well. We have been and will continue to pray for safety and fruitfulness throughout your trip. I did not read your email until Sunday as I had class work I due on Saturday. The last few days, Jane and I have been praying and discussing your questions.
We look forward to following up with you when you return.
Stephen
________________________________________
Our Frustrations
1. Budget
I know the number one area of frustration for us has been our budget. One reason we need this transition is the opportunity focus 100% on bring our budget so where ever we land we are on task for our marriage, our family, and the ministry.
2. Isolation
The last five years have been difficult. As our girls have grown older, …show more content…
The Presence
Through all the ups and downs of life and ministry knowing that God has always been present with our family has always been a source of hope. Whether it was working through Grace's medical issues or have a car die on the side of the road, God has always shown himself present in our lives and has provided the peace or financial resources to overcome every obstacle. Multiple times we have rehearsed God's faithful to one another and others much like David did before facing Goliath.
2. Healthy Family
Recently, a teacher assigned Evelyn’s class to write about someone who inspired them. About half way through this assignment, I came home after a men’s group and found a piece of paper taped to the living room wall with Evelyn's points for her paper. She and Jane had kept it a secret that Evelyn had chosen to write about me. With students growing up in broken or unhealthy homes, having a healthy family to share with students provides a sense of accomplishment and hope in our …show more content…
In the last 8 months, God has given us inroads into the international community at UTA than we had since I came to UTA. Beyond our weekly international dinners, both Jane and I have made connections with internationals personally where God leads the conversation back to him. In two weeks, we will host Thanksgiving at our home for at least a dozen international friends.
2. Mentoring / Counseling
Both Jane and I thrive in one on one and small group settings. The opportunity to empower new believers or young leaders to reach their full potential or to walk with pre-Christians and answer questions that bring them to a point of decision is energizing.
3. Spiritual Discernment and Words of Wisdom
Jane and I try to work as a team as much as possible. We recognize how God has blessed us with mutually beneficial gifts both socially and spiritually. Even after 17 years of ministry together and 15 years of marriage, I am still amazed by the detail God reveals to Jane as she prays for others. She has woken up, numerous times, in the night to pray for a student or friend and, the next day, there is a Facebook post about a need in their lives. God speaks to me through words of encouragement or wisdom as I pray with people personally. Sometimes, this can be specific or a general idea that makes sense to them even if it is unclear to me. We especially enjoy opportunities to pray for people as a team
I hope your trip is going well. We have been and will continue to pray for safety and fruitfulness throughout your trip. I did not read your email until Sunday as I had class work I due on Saturday. The last few days, Jane and I have been praying and discussing your questions.
We look forward to following up with you when you return.
Stephen
________________________________________
Our Frustrations
1. Budget
I know the number one area of frustration for us has been our budget. One reason we need this transition is the opportunity focus 100% on bring our budget so where ever we land we are on task for our marriage, our family, and the ministry.
2. Isolation
The last five years have been difficult. As our girls have grown older, …show more content…
The Presence
Through all the ups and downs of life and ministry knowing that God has always been present with our family has always been a source of hope. Whether it was working through Grace's medical issues or have a car die on the side of the road, God has always shown himself present in our lives and has provided the peace or financial resources to overcome every obstacle. Multiple times we have rehearsed God's faithful to one another and others much like David did before facing Goliath.
2. Healthy Family
Recently, a teacher assigned Evelyn’s class to write about someone who inspired them. About half way through this assignment, I came home after a men’s group and found a piece of paper taped to the living room wall with Evelyn's points for her paper. She and Jane had kept it a secret that Evelyn had chosen to write about me. With students growing up in broken or unhealthy homes, having a healthy family to share with students provides a sense of accomplishment and hope in our …show more content…
In the last 8 months, God has given us inroads into the international community at UTA than we had since I came to UTA. Beyond our weekly international dinners, both Jane and I have made connections with internationals personally where God leads the conversation back to him. In two weeks, we will host Thanksgiving at our home for at least a dozen international friends.
2. Mentoring / Counseling
Both Jane and I thrive in one on one and small group settings. The opportunity to empower new believers or young leaders to reach their full potential or to walk with pre-Christians and answer questions that bring them to a point of decision is energizing.
3. Spiritual Discernment and Words of Wisdom
Jane and I try to work as a team as much as possible. We recognize how God has blessed us with mutually beneficial gifts both socially and spiritually. Even after 17 years of ministry together and 15 years of marriage, I am still amazed by the detail God reveals to Jane as she prays for others. She has woken up, numerous times, in the night to pray for a student or friend and, the next day, there is a Facebook post about a need in their lives. God speaks to me through words of encouragement or wisdom as I pray with people personally. Sometimes, this can be specific or a general idea that makes sense to them even if it is unclear to me. We especially enjoy opportunities to pray for people as a team