July 2011

News from Ryan & Noleen Thurman

Dear Ryan, Living in a world that values bigger and better and going wide instead of deep it can be quite challenging to pursue a life of doing few things and doing them well.  We are experiencing the tension that comes from growth.  We are convinced that growth in community requires expansion but it must be accompanied by deepening. And this is often quite and hidden it deals with the hearts of those living and serving together.  It leads to deeper rooting in prayer in Jesus and creates a culture of love and forgiveness and a greater compassion and welcome to the poor and disheartened among us and a tangible peace that secures the heart. It has been a beautiful process of growth as a community and developing work of God.  We are learning that the work and service we do is intimately connected with who we are becoming in Christ. The A2J Leadership team is strongest it ever has been.  There is much to celebrate.  We are in the midst of an important discerning process with six young people who are considering participating in our Apprenticeship Training that will begin this September.  Two of them would come on as interns.  We are trying to raise $10,000 to cover half of their yearly expenses and ask them to raise the other half.  Their potential involvement will greatly strengthen this work. Would you consider giving a financial gift towards our internship program? A Center for Spiritual Formation & Mission Training, equipping, and releasing followers of Jesus into the life he created them for by becoming like him.   We believe healing, maturing, and forming of Christ in the inner person takes place as we follow the call of discipleship and learn to be with Jesus.    We are learning this through a shared life of prayer, study, and mission. Community is like a Mosaic "A mosaic consists of thousands of little stones. Some are blue, some are green, some are yellow, some are gold. When we bring our faces close to the mosaic, we can admire the beauty of each stone. But as we step back from it, we can see that all these little stones reveal to us a beautiful picture, telling a story none of these stones can tell by itself.   That is what our life in community is about. Each of us is like a little stone, but together we reveal the face of God to the world. Nobody can say: "I make God visible." But others who see us together can say: "They make God visible." Community is where humility and glory touch."  -Henri Nouwen  Come Celebrate 3 Years with us! Please mark your Calendar for Saturday September 10th and Tuesday September 13th. Both of these will be in the evening.  Final details will follow soon.  Like we have done the past two years we will again celebrate all God has done this past year as well as share where we believe God is leading us as we begin our fourth year.  We would be encouraged and strengthened by your presence with us. Report from Europe The AN Council and me  Berlin I spent a week in Berlin with the Antioch Network Council discerning its future role in Europe, Noleen and I continue to ask the Lord to unfold what role we are to play in Europe Praying together in Wittenberg  Wittenberg We also spent a day in Wittenberg seeking God concerning a proposed initiative of repentance and prayer for the healing of divisions among Christians on October 31, 2017, the 500th anniversary of Luther nailing his 95 Theses on the church door here.      Taize  Young people lingering in the silent presence of God after Evening Prayer  Danny and I were able to spend almost a week together in this beautiful community. We came for our own restoration but also to learn from this community which has been a source of living water to the nations for almost 60 years.  Each month thousands of young people from all around the world come seeking God.  I was powerfully impacted by the deep joy that characterizes the brothers' lives.  A2J Community Life Gathering to study & worship together we are studying Jean Vanier's Community and Growth  Working hard in the Community Garden; a place to unite the larger Woodland Neighborhood in Kingdom principals   Morning Prayer allow us to seek God together and pray for our neighborhood and city Partnering With Us  We hope you can come to our Celebration and Information evening.  We will be able to share more ways to be involved in praying, studying and being on mission with us.