Legacy Shepherding Ministries, Inc. – Randy’s March 2008 Update
A friend pointed out a typo in last month’s Update. The book title for the Fear Bonds-Love Bonds chart is “Living From the HEART Jesus Gave You.” My letter said “Living From the HEAT Jesus Gave You”. My friend liked my title better.
This month’s update is in the form of Prayer Requests:
1) I’m in the process of a periodic re-evaluation of the mentoring/discipleship relationships I have been investing in. I would love your prayers in the discernment process: how to optimize the current opportunities, which to continue, and which (if any) new opportunities to invest in. I want to be right where God wants me to be, joining him where he is working.
Some potential new opportunities might be: a) bringing some of the leaders I meet with one-on-one together into a transformational small group – there are aspects of growth that happen best in group settings, yet I don’t want to overtax the leaders with one more involvement, b) a 28 year-old woman with a heart for discipleship within the 20something generation, c) a pastor considering a House Church structure for his flock, d) a 23 year-old man desiring to mentor/disciple people within his ministry, e) opportunities a rising via a Church study showing a strong desire in people to be spiritually mentored and the importance of disciple making, and f) possible opportunities within the expanding 20something ministry at Willow Creek.
Those are some of the new opportunities on the horizon. Please pray for discernment, that God would continue to make me aware of which opportunities he desires for me to invest in.
2) Discernment and guidance for some young leaders (and me!) as they wrestle with questions and doubts brought up by their interactions with people of other faiths, the societal views they grew up with, the complexity of our world, personal issues they struggle with, and new ideas within the Christian church world. It can be very confusing and scary. Thankfully, wrestling with questions is growth producing. I think that’s why Jesus often raised more questions than gave answers, and why some things are left rather vague, forcing us to wrestle with life’s issues and paradoxes. We could use your prayers as we journey this together. It can be hard, scary, exciting, and life-changing, all at the same time.
3) Leadership support and community. I believe it is important for leaders (and everyone else) to have a solid support community around them – a community that knows them, loves them, understands ministry life, is a safe place for them to process – a Christ-centered community that fills up their love tanks, so they can truly give out of the love overflow rather than dipping into their own needed love reserves. Community like that isn’t always easy to find. Please pray for these young leaders and myself for the love and support we all need to lead, live, and love well.
4) Support-raising. For 2008, I am at about 67% of my support-raising goal. Please pray that God would continue to put this ministry on people hearts, that he would lead people to support it generously, and that he’d bless those who support it. I hope you all realize how much your prayers and financial support are making a difference in people’s lives.
Recently one young man wrote, “I’m a changed person through this experience and hope others have the same opportunity that I have.”
Thanks for all your prayers. Keep living from the HEAT Jesus gave you!
Love,
Randy
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