Bosnia Trip Summary
- Confirmation that Bosnia is long-term ministry focus for our family
- Work of reconciliation and discipleship was affirmed after meeting with key leaders
- Reconnection with young men I discipled 7 years ago while living in Mostar
- Confirmation that we are to continue our ministry of encouragement and support to the Bosnian leadership & strengthen the relationships with the men I have been discipling.
- We also believe that the discipleship model that is developing with ‘Apprenticeship to Jesus’ here in Phoenix can be reproduced in Bosnia in the future.
To see photos and captions of the Bosnia trip click here: http://thurmanupdates.blogspot.com/
Apprenticeship to Jesus (A2J)
You have been hearing a lot about this for over two years. We just finished taking our second group through a six month training. We are getting ready to begin our first full ‘year’ long training this month. God has graciously provided two houses for us to rent for the next year. In these houses we now have 4 apprentices living there, with another 3 who are hoping to move in beginning second session in January 09. If you want more details about this please contact me or come to our next update September 28th @ the apprenticeship property. (115 N. 12th Ave)
Upcoming schedule
September 8th—‘Take my life’ conference planning meeting http://takemylife.org/
September 15th—Apprenticeship to Jesus training begins
September 28th— Barbecue and Ministry Update @ Apprenticeship Houses
September 30th—Downtown ASU campus ministry kick off (partnering with Shane Copeland)
October 2-4th—-Renovare Conference with apprentices http://renovare.org/
Developing work
Part of the vision of A2J is to give the apprentices opportunities to be trained in cross-cultural ministry. We have recognized that more and more the ‘nations’ are coming to us. This year alone Phoenix is expected to get over 5000 refugees from all over the world. We believe working with these refugees will be a great opportunity to connect with God’s heart for the vulnerable and ‘foreign among you’ as well as give us opportunities to grow in cross-cultural ministry. We are asking God for another property in our community to use to house refugees so that we can minister to them in an everyday relational way. There are 1300 refugees expected to arrive from Iraq, we have a special burden to serve these families in hopes that our love and service towards them could be a used of God to bring redemption and peace out of the brokenness from the conflict that has ravaged their country and lives over the past 7 years. Please pray about this
We are grateful for your prayers and support,
Love,
Ryan, Noleen, Ethan, Keilah, and Micah
Ryan, Noleen, Ethan, Keilah, and Micah
Rethinking and Restoring Biblical Discipleship
Jesus’ enduring relevance is based on his historically proven ability to speak to, to heal and empower the individual human condition. He matters because of what he brought and what he still brings to ordinary human beings, living their ordinary lives and coping daily with their surroundings. He promises wholeness for their lives. In sharing our weakness he gives us strength and imparts through his companionship a life that has the quality of eternity. He comes where we are, and he brings us the life we hunger for. An early report reads, “Life was in him, life that made sense of human existence” (John 1:4).
-Dallas Willard
