Suzette and I just returned from Grand Teton National Park where we dropped off our Summer Interns. It was an incredible time as we got to know these people. We had the privilege of watching as many of them saw the Rocky Mountains for the first time.
By the time we left them they had already seen bear, moose, elk, antelope, and bison up close. We look forward to hearing of their experiences this summer as they learn to minister to people from all walks of life in an area that is outside their normal comfort zone.
Most of the interns will return in mid August. Some will be staying through September. Thank you to everyone who made their summer possible.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Base of Operations
We have been given the support of the Alderman over Hyde Park to proceed with purchasing and rehabbing this building for our base of operations. This is a critical first step in our future relocation of Sun Ministries to North St. Louis.
We have enough money to pay the purchase price of the property but before we can buy it we must raise the money needed to completely rehab it. We plan to apply for an option for the property that will give us some time to raise the money. If you can help with cash or material donations please contact me.
Our teams continue to work and serve in the area as we prepare to take the Isaiah 61 Initiative to North St. Louis. This property will give us a much needed presence in the community and be instrumental in helping our missionaries to relocate to the area.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Internship
The 2009 Summer Internship is about to begin. We have 12 leaders and interns preparing to leave for the summer. We will gather them in St. Louis for an intense 3 day training starting on the 16th and then off to Wyoming on the 19th.
Thank you to everyone that has supported our interns financially. Without your help they could not have participated. Thank you for your prayer support. The goal of the internship is to raise up the next generation of spiritual leaders that will minister in non-traditional ways in the most oppressed parts of the world. We are excited to see these groups from St. Louis and Indiana take this step.
Some have asked me how I can think that sending them to Wyoming can accomplish this task? Jackson Hole is a very transient society in the summer. Many people travel their to seek summer employment or to vacation. What our interns will find in Jackson Hole is an area with a large diverse population and limited ministry resources. There will be homeless, druggies, transients, foreigners, wealthy, and many others. If you want to experience a mixed culture with limited ministry resources then this is the perfect place.
The population of Jackson surges in the summer. The valley boasts a year round population of about 5000. The average summer population is around 60,000. There is no ministry comfort zone in such an environment. You cannot rely on your church to reach out. You cannot understand the demographic of the population you are in because it is so diverse. We see this trip as the first step into a new way of looking at the world and our ministry calling. I am sure that some of the interns will meet someone of a race, culture, or lifestyle for the very first time. We look forward to a fun eye opening experience for our interns.
Thank you to everyone that has supported our interns financially. Without your help they could not have participated. Thank you for your prayer support. The goal of the internship is to raise up the next generation of spiritual leaders that will minister in non-traditional ways in the most oppressed parts of the world. We are excited to see these groups from St. Louis and Indiana take this step.
Some have asked me how I can think that sending them to Wyoming can accomplish this task? Jackson Hole is a very transient society in the summer. Many people travel their to seek summer employment or to vacation. What our interns will find in Jackson Hole is an area with a large diverse population and limited ministry resources. There will be homeless, druggies, transients, foreigners, wealthy, and many others. If you want to experience a mixed culture with limited ministry resources then this is the perfect place.
The population of Jackson surges in the summer. The valley boasts a year round population of about 5000. The average summer population is around 60,000. There is no ministry comfort zone in such an environment. You cannot rely on your church to reach out. You cannot understand the demographic of the population you are in because it is so diverse. We see this trip as the first step into a new way of looking at the world and our ministry calling. I am sure that some of the interns will meet someone of a race, culture, or lifestyle for the very first time. We look forward to a fun eye opening experience for our interns.
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