Back in July we came out to the Tahoe Family Encampment (www.tahoefamilyencampment.com) to do some preliminary recruiting for West Coast Missions. The experience was enlightening. We had a handful of people who were (are?) interested in what we are offering~ primarily a life changing experience through a deeper relationship with Jesus. Though we only had a few who were interested, we were not discouraged, rather we were greatly encouraged. We know that God will send us those who are willing servants with willing hearts to be more like Jesus.
Well, we arrived in California on September 27, 2010. We recently lost much of our support right before our big transition move. Please keep us in your prayers for support. Since we have limited income at this time, we are currently staying with Steve's parents while Jewel is looking for a job and Steve is looking for support.
We've had some opportunity to begin developing an application process. Our goal is to get one up soon on the website. So far it looks like a typical application, with some references and short essay questions. All this information gathering is designed to help us get some initial insights into the applicant as a dedicated Christian, who's connected to the body through healthy relationships and hopefully will give a glimpse into their character.
Since this is "new" and we're starting out with a small class, we have decided to be somewhat particular who we accept as a student this first year as we begin. So the application and interview process is key. We hope to be able to interview prospective students face to face to gain even greater insight into them as Christians.
Eli went beck to Texas for the Theology Lab with Missions Alive and Gaylin Van Rheenen's ministry preparation team (www.missionalive.org). We had an opportunity a year ago to participate in the Discovery Lab weekend as a team, which was very insightful. We weren't able to go because of lack of funds available to us at this time, but we look forward to hearing Eli's report and what we can learn from what he gleaned from years of wisdom and experience.
In the time being, we've had a lot of time to be in prayer for this "new" ministry we're engaging in. I say "new" because it's a ministry that's not established out here on the West Coast, and it's in quotes because discipleship is not new. Please be in prayer for us, our team, the ministry, our potential students, our current and potential supporters and the hearts of those whom we will influence for Jesus.
Here are some pictures of our travel from Lubbock to California:
Saying Good-byes:
Amy Chilson and Aspen Stover playing while waiting for a table for dinner in Kemah, TX.
Spending a day with Jay Weddel, a gentlemen from the Tulia congregation that we've gotten to know over the last few years~ very dear to us. We took him to a museum where the last known wolf on the South Plains was killed back in 1917. Wolves haven't been around the South Plains since.
Sept. 26, 2010~ waving good-bye from the new tenants: Jewel's sister. The dog thought he was supposed to come with us. :( But alas, we were only the caretakers.
Leaving our street in Lubbock
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