June 2013

Thurman Update!

Dear Ryan, We hope this update finds you doing well.  Life is good for us our kids have officially started summer and we have found a good rhythm to life and we are enjoying working in the community garden these days.  It gives us many opportunities as a family to love the broken and needy in our neighborhood.   Email us back, we would love to hear how you are doing and how we can pray for you.

A Growing Vision for Europe It has been almost twenty years since I first went to Bosnia as a teenager.  I didn't know then that God would mark upon my heart a love and call to Europe.   Ten years ago Noleen and I went to Germany to connect with George and Hanna in their ministry of Reconciliation (click here to see photos from these early days) ever since we have been deeply connected in friendship and ministry with them.    Another European initiative that we have been involved with these past few years is Wittenberg 2017 -a proposed international gathering in Wittenberg, Germany concerning October 31, 2017 - the 500th anniversary of Luther's nailing of the 95 theses to the door of All Saint's Church beginning the Protestant Reformation. The envisioned purpose of the gathering is to worship Jesus and join Him in His pain over the divisions in the church, and in His prayers for the unity of His Bride.  click here to read more about Wittenberg 2017    A2J Phoenix is in a wonderful process of leadership transition as Danny and Evelynn begin to take a more upfront role and Noleen and I move more towards equipping their leadership and the emerging A2J Phoenix Team.  We believe in the coming years we will begin to have a greater role in the European expression of Antioch Network as a whole and the birthing of an A2J European expression.     Germany Bound At the end of this month I will be flying to Germany to be with George and Hanna.  This Summer appears to be a culmination of the past 10+ years of prayer and ministry.  Hanna's role as the patron of Gemund's 800th anniversary is opening up many doors.  On June 23rd she will give a speech representing the former Jewish population and on July 1st the remembrance stones remembering the silenced Jews of Gemund will be laid.  Hann'a book comes out soon and I plan to take copies with me so George and Hanna can have them. Would you consider a special financial gift towards this trip.  You can do so by clicking here. Thank You! Developing a language for Reconciliation Beginning Monday June 3rd and lasting 8 weeks.  A2J will be offering a study on the history of Church divisions.  This study is designed to help us form this language by revealing the nature of the realities that have divided the church, but also providing a context and approach in which we can engage this story and one another from a platform of prayer, humility, and personal transformation.  click here for more info   A2J Woodland Community Garden Our Garden is flourishing and continues to be a center piece in the ministry to our neighborhood.   We created a photo tribute showing the journey of this garden and our thanks to all who have contributed to make it happen. click here to see it

We are Grateful,   Ryan and Noleen