Another Transition

Wow! I last wrote a letter like this in December, anticipating a ministry transition from SportQuest to Renew Church. Of course, at the end of 2019, none of us guessed that as of March we would ALL be in a season of uncertainty and change (thanks to Covid-19). I am not sure what kinds of adjustments you have had to make, but the pandemic impacted my life and ministry in some surprising ways, as I am sure it did yours. 

Pandemic Ministry

Much of my pre-pandemic ministry was during after-school hours, but now I spend more time in Gardere during the regular workday (8-5pm). From March-May, my time was mostly dedicated to working with the Gardere Initiative to feed as many children as possible (ultimately, more than 500!). Since June, I have worked with the Gardere Initiative to help lead a youth summer program Monday-Thursday and deliver food (supplied by the public school system) on Fridays. 

As Louisiana has slowly reopened, I added the Tuesday night Refuge program and one soccer practice a week back into my ministry schedule. I have also been training the Refuge leadership team in disciple making strategies. I have handled social distancing by spending as much time outdoors as possible, and more time in Gardere but less time in other settings or with other people. The only remotely “normal” thing since March was FCA soccer camp in July, which we have now attended 3 summers in a row. 18 Gardere athletes attended and received Bibles!

There have been some upsides to these pandemic changes. Working daily with the Gardere Initiative has deepened relationships with other leaders who are involved. This summer I have spent so much time (20+ hours a week for 8 weeks) with the same small group of students that relationships that usually take years to form have developed in just a couple of months! In June, I moved into Gardere, something I had prayed about for a long time and waited on the Lord to say “yes” to. The move freed up commuting time that I have reinvested in Bible study, prayer and student discipleship. One student recently commented, “Ms. Danielle, your home is so peaceful and quiet! I really like it.” 

You might have noticed the phrase “a letter like this” in the first paragraph and wondered, a letter like what? This letter, like December, announces ministry changes. In December, I transitioned from SportQuest to Renew. Shortly after, the dangers of Covid-19 required Renew staff to decide between inward ministry (serving in church offices, helping with online services, etc.) and outward ministry (what I have been doing in Gardere). I’ve spent a majority of my time in the community and attended most church activities remotely. This isn’t ideal, but has anything really been “ideal” with Covid-19? 

God promises to work in all circumstances for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. A lot has changed since March, but God’s work and His promises don’t change (Praise Him!). In what could have been a season of isolation, He has provided me with even deeper relationships. With these relationships and the move, my heart has thrummed with a vision God gave me many years ago. In this case, rather than praying and waiting for a “yes” (like I did with the move), I have been praying and holding onto the edges of the open door frame for quite some time, waiting for God’s push. The reason for hesitation is that this vision requires me to step into expanded leadership roles. I have a lot of leadership experience (and a PhD!), but I have always led with the extra layer of security of working for others or a pre-existing organization. 

 

A New Thing

A vision from 2013-14 that seemed blurry, maybe a long way off, has come into focus in the past few months. God is asking me to use what I have been doing since 2012 – learning from other ministry leaders, building partnerships, getting to know the community and families – as the foundation for a mentoring organization and a home church. I have felt a mix of excitement and fear about this push of added clarity from God. Excitement because mentoring relationships can be life-changing; recruiting and training more people to serve will increase ministry capacity; and a home church movement will lead to more disciples of Christ in the neighborhood. Fear because, Am I cut out for this kind of leadership? What if I can’t raise the funds for a whole organization? Am I spiritually mature enough? Will I be able to build a team of leaders for the organization and within the church? A recent sermon at Renew was about responding to God’s call. Three examples were given: Jonah (“I won’t go”); Moses (“send someone else”); and Isaiah (“send me”). I have consistently been a go-er, so not Jonah. But I hover between Moses’ insecurity and Isaiah’s God-inspired confidence.

So, the purpose of this letter is to share the GOOD NEWS with you that I have decided to wade through fear and into excitement and an obedient response to God’s call. This requires me to trust God’s power in me, especially in my weaknesses. A couple weeks ago, I spoke to Renew and shared this vision, and Renew is supportive of the transition. In the coming months, I will establish a nonprofit organization that trains mentors to serve young people in Baton Rouge and offers opportunities for relationships between mentors and students to flourish (after school academic and recreational programs, extracurriculars, weekend getaways, etc.). This organization will partner with and support the ongoing work of those already engaged in Gardere and the surrounding community (Gardere Initiative, Gardere Youth Alliance, El Aposento Alto, Faith Chapel, The Chapel, Renew etc.).

While I lay the groundwork for this organization (board of directors, 501-3c paperwork, program infrastructure), I will also begin meeting with a home church (HC) in my apartment. In its most basic form, a HC is a small group of Jesus followers (and hopefully some seekers) meeting together weekly to study God’s Word. We will love God, love others, and make disciples in our community. I would love to share more with you about what this looks like, but it’s too much for this letter (click HERE or HERE or HERE if you want to learn some more about this). This is a different way of being the church than what I (and likely most of you) grew up with, but I believe it is the right model to make disciples in Gardere, a place where most people do not know Jesus, where there are few active churches, and where people are unlikely to leave the neighborhood to join a church. But they might come over to my apartment for dinner. I hope they do!

Pausing Monthly Support

After much prayer, and given the amount of time it will take to found an organization (6-8 months minimum, I am projecting), I have decided to release (pause) monthly financial support, for now. I am incredibly grateful for the support God has provided through your generosity and love over the past 3 years – I can’t articulate my thankfulness or the impact this support has had on me and the youth I serve in just a few sentences. The reason I am releasing this support for a season is because I will not be working under a 501-3c umbrella (until the organization is established) and because I am starting a new thing. I would like to give you and others the chance to see the organization – its mission, vision, values, practices etc. – and to decide to invest. Of course, if you would like to continue to invest as I transition, I would appreciate it. There will still be personal expenses and ministry expenses (the kids gotta eat – hah!). I’m also intending to find supplemental income opportunities (teaching/tutoring, research contracts, coaching, speaking, etc.) in the interim. I’m trusting God to provide for every need. He always has, and I know His infinite resources and love for me and all of His kids never changes (Praise Him!).

 

What does pausing financial support look like? After this month, August 2020, please stop the monthly donations you have been giving to Renew Church on my behalf.This may be as simple as not sending a check, but it may also mean you need to contact your bank (if they are automatically sending a check each month). If you give automatically online each month, you will need to log in to your Fellowship One account and cancel giving there. If you would like to continue to invest in me and the ministry outside of a 501-3c umbrella, please connect with me and I will share some opportunities (helping with certain monthly expenses, purchasing equipment or food for the youth, coming to Gardere to volunteer alongside me, etc.). I will continue to write monthly newsletters to share ongoing ministry, prayer requests, and progress in this new venture. When the time comes, I will ask to meet with you virtually (please, Jesus, let this Covid-19 season come to a close!) or in person to share all of the details and open the door for you to reinvest in the mentoring organization.

Thank you so much for your support & investment. I am praising Him (with you) in this new season (and in all others)!

 

Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:18-19

 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email or the phone (502-229-4030) with questions. I am happy to meet with you in person (socially-distanced, outside) or via zoom if you would like to chat face to face. I am traveling to see family from August 6 (today) until the 15th, so I may be a bit slower to respond for the next week. I am SO excited to see family and spend some time resting and recovering from a very busy season of life and ministry between March and the present.

With faith, hope, and love,

 

Danielle