Finally an update

Me at Loyola University

Hello everyone...I know it's been ages and I apologize. Lots of things have been going on. This is my letter I've sent out to people. I'll begin to update more once again. Thank you for your understanding. Blessings!

This year has been one of the most difficult and challenging times of my life. My life’s journey has taken a path into the unexpected, akin to that of Frodo Baggins in Tolkein’s Lord of the Rings. Although an often used analogy, I honestly feel that I have traveled from the Shire, to unknown lands, and finally to the dark recesses of Mordor. Yet, there is always hope, things have and will change!

You may recall that last year I had planned on working in New Zealand with TSCF (a campus ministry like Intervarsity). Through various circumstances, I came to realize that New Zealand was not where I was meant to be at this time. This change has been a hard thing to accept since I was so sure that TSCF was what was “next” for me. So what is “next” for me?
This coming Summer I will be moving to New Orleans to work with a mission organization called Church Resource Ministries (CRM). In October, I had the opportunity to visit New Orleans and stay with Mike and Susanne Brantley, who I had met in New Zealand in 2005, through mutual friends from NieuCommunities (a branch of CRM). Last year, the Brantley’s moved from New Zealand to New Orleans to begin a new ministry called Communitas, of which I have been invited to join.

There is a reality today that a 65-85% of people in Western cultures have no desire or context for conventional church. The core of Communitas is to innovate models of mission and church by being a relevant and authentic community of people, who love and display Jesus to those beyond the reach of church. We desire to live sacrificial lives, loving the world into the Kingdom of Jesus, and creating a genuine place for people to come and talk about God and spirituality.
Jackson Square

New Orleans is still a place that is in pain even nearly two years after hurricane Katrina and is “a place Jesus would go”. I want to be a part of the healing emotionally, spiritually and physically, bringing hope in real ways to hurting individuals. I am dedicated to birth a church so Biblical, but in form is culturally relevant that I along with my team (Brantley’s & Chad and Cindy Carlson) can demonstrate a holistic Gospel that those people can “see”, “understand” and engage in real relationships.

When I was in New Orleans, I saw the desperate need for developing the next generation of leaders and creating a safe place for students to talk about God and spiritual issues. My vision is to work with young leaders, being a spiritual catalyst, journeying together, empowering them, developing their love for Christ through the Word, Prayer, Community and Mission, so that they might go out and make Jesus known.

Burbon Street and Touchdown Jesus

I invite you to be a part of this crucial ministry with me and to share in its blessings by either supporting me with your prayers, letters, calls, personal visits, and/or financial gifts. I need to raise monthly support of $3700 before I leave in August. This would cover my stipend, housing, ministry expenses, health insurance and continued ministry education. While this seems a lot, it is merely 37 people at $100/month, 53 people at $70/month, 72 people at $50/month, etc. (Go to www.crmleaders.org and hit Support link) Thank you so much for journeying along with me through the good and hard times and for your support as I head to New Orleans.
Beth :)