October 2013

Health Update, Redemption Story, Rome bound & Finances October, 2013
Dear Ryan, I hope this note finds you and yours well. For the past few months we have been trying to figure out what has been causing some health issues for Noleen.  After meeting with a Neurologist and going through a series of tests, Noleen was diagnosed last Thursday with complex partial seizure disorder (Epilepsy).  Please pray for helaing and for wisdom as we are in the process of doing research on all her options how to address and live with this if God chooses not to heal.  The house- we met with the owners last week and they continue to ask way more than the house is worth and more than we could afford.  So we have peace to lay this down for now and trust God's best for our family.  Thanks for your love of our family and this ministry.  We are grateful,  Ryan and Noleen    "The place where God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
Spotlight on Shelly - A Story of Redemption We met Shelly about seven years ago when we moved downtown into the Woodland Historic neighborhood. She was homeless and living in the backyard of the house next to the A2J Prayer House. She was lost and without hope.  Recently while giving a presentation at our church Shelly said, "I used to watch how they  (A2J) not only loved one another but the whole neighborhood and I saw something in them that I wanted." This was the beginning of Jesus drawing Shelly to Himself. It began with conversations that turned into potlucks and bible studies. She soon chose to put her trust in Jesus and has been following Him since.      Shelly is now part of the long-term A2J team and is well respected in the neighborhood and leads many of the outreach and compassion work within the ministry including living in and running the A2J Hope House.                                                        "The story of any one of us is in some measure the story of us all." Off to Rome and Germany This Sunday I leave with Matt Rucker for Rome, Italy.  We will be connecting with Todd and Christie Kincaid, who are fellow Antioch Network staff.  We will make up a team of nine that are there to support the Kincaids as they prepare to move to Rome early next year.  The Kincaids have a strong desire to establish a new work in Rome that will be in partnership with A2J.  I am honored to get to be a part this process.  After our time in Rome we will fly to Germany on the 20th to connect with Noleen, Justan and Amber Jesse (from the A2J team) where we will attend the Antioch Network Gathering that will be in Volkenroda.  We believe this meeting will be instrumental in hearing from God, for our future developing roles with Antioch Network and A2J in Europe.   "Jesus did not come into this world and live His life on a mountaintop isolated from human suffering. He walked among us, ate with us, and shared in our humanity. He did not heal lepers form a distance, but touched them into wholeness. He pressed His disciples and prayed for them to be in the world but not of the world. The focus of their three years together was not the salvation of the Twelve, but their ministry to the whole world"    The Vision A Movement and Way of Life with Jesus: Calling people to pursue a distinct life of discipleship and mission that transforms individuals and communities The Mission Starting and supporting intentional discipleship communities networked locally and around the world