You may have noticed a new look for this month’s update letter.
It’s a blog! I’m officially a blogger now! I’m getting so updated, my brain is spinning. Next I’ll be on Facebook!
Doing these monthly letters in this format will make it easier to include photos of the people I’m referring to (like these Chicago 20somethings on a retreat in MI). Even if you’ve read the previous letters, take a look back at the photos. You’ll see pictures of Gabe, Troy, Nuree, a scene from San Diego, some of the flowers in my yard, and a group of 20somethings supporting me. I’ve included each month’s letter for 2008, as well as the last letter of 2007.
Another cool thing is that a notice will automatically be sent to you whenever I post a new entry (once a month). You’ll just click on the link and enter into Legacy Shepherding Ministries world.
On the blog site, I’ve included a Book Recommendations list (under the Pages section on the left) for those of you who would like to journey along with us on your own. The books listed are good books to start with. I’ll add books as we go.
FYI: One weekend this month I went with some guys to a Catholic retreat center designed for solitude and prayer. The 80-acre property in Stockton, IL has three secluded hermitages designed for one person each. People can spend time alone with God in nature. If you are looking for a personal get away. This would be a great spot. Check it out at:
“Christ In The Wilderness”.
The photo is of a small chapel on the grounds.
Prayer Requests:
1. I gathered together a group of 12 people I mentor (kinda like the 12 disciples. Hmmm. I wonder which one might be a Judas). We are engaging around how to intentionally shepherd and develop people. This time we focused on how to uncover and discern a person’s growth needs. I think it is wonderful, practical stuff. There seems to be a lot of excitement around our meetings and what we are discussing. Please pray for us as we put into practice what we are learning.
2. That God would give me discernment, wisdom, truth, and love in guiding the people I shepherd through their various struggles and strengths.
3. For support raising. It’s a given that this will be an on-going prayer request, so I hope you will never get tired of praying for the financial support of this ministry and ministries like it. It’s simply part of the beautiful package. What I love about this support-raising model is:
- It blesses me – It keeps me dependent on God (Oh man, does it ever!) and helps me to receive the wonderful, surprising gifts God has for me, as he provides them through you.
- It blesses the young people I shepherd – It allows young leaders to receive without earning or performing or giving back to the ones they are receiving from. They can only pay it forward. For some, this has been such a gift, realizing that people they don’t even know are blessing them, praying for them, and believing in them. Plus, most of these young leaders are used to being the givers. Part of their identities are tied to being the ones who give, not the ones who receive. For many it is a stretching challenge to be on the receiving end, receiving this opportunity and all the love without giving anything back – kind of like grace.
- It blesses those who invest – It allows others, like yourselves, to join with me in an investing, participatory way. It instills a spirit of generosity and giving, helping us all to be faithful in the little things (like money) so God can give us the big things. Ultimately, I believe it draws people’s hearts into this ministry, for where your treasures are, there will your hearts be also – and I truly want your hearts to be with the next generations and in discipling them the way Jesus modeled. We need to invest in young leaders and equip them so they can carry on in loving ways through future days.
4. For Praveen and Val (a young couple I met in a ministry for 20somethings) and for Val’s family, as the anniversary of Val’s brother’s death approaches. Val’s brother, Chris Foley, died on July 15, 2007 of a heroin overdose. He was 27 years old and had battled a drug addiction for over 10 years. He lost. His family has organized Chris’Walk to help raise money for Hearts of Hope to continue the battle against substance abuse. Please pray for their event – that it would be successful in bringing more awareness about substance abuse and provide help for those who struggle in this area.
Enjoy looking around the site.
Love,
Randy
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