Ways to Pray for Blake and Katy in 2011

As missionaries, Katy and I rely on the support of friends, family, and churches not only financially but spiritually. Here are a few ways you can pray specifically for us in 2011.

Please pray with us for…

• Healing – Katy has been having some physical issues over the past 2 years. We are praying for complete healing and perfect physical health for Katy as we commit our lives to God’s work in Dublin, Ireland.
• Money – for all moneys to be raised by September 2011. We have approximately 35% of our monthly budget raised. In addition, we need to raise $50,000 to fund our ministry for three years.
• Apartment in Dublin – cost effective and in a strategic location near Trinity College.
• Student’s hearts – for God to begin preparing the hearts of students we will meet in Dublin.

These are a few things that are in the forefront of our mind. We are humbled and privileged to have such an amazing team of financial and spiritual supporters. If you would like to join the team, keep following the blog and check out the giving online tab. Thank you so much.

New Years Day

Jeremiah 29:13 says “If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.”

2011 will bring many “firsts” for Katy and I.

1. We are going to be debt free
2. We will be moving to a different country
3. We will be embarking on ministry together for the first time

These things will take lots of hard work, but I believe with God’s grace and favor He will get us there. My prayer for 2011 is for focus. Not just for our work and mission, but seek and focus on God. Look at what it means to seek God “wholeheartedly” or “with all your heart”.

whole+heart+ed [hohl-hahr-tid] – adjective

• fully or completely sincere, enthusiastic, energetic, etc.; hearty; earnest

The Hebrew word in Jeremiah 29:13 is “lebab” [lay-bawb’] – noun masculine

• It means inner man, mind, will, heart (of man), soul (of man), understanding, inner part, midst (of things), knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory, inclination, resolution, determination (of will), conscience, heart (of moral character), as seat of appetites, as seat of emotions and passions, as seat of courage
When we truly seek God with our “lebab”, we find much more than a person. In this journey of seeking and finding Him, we find direction we need, wisdom for decisions to make, miracles we need in our life; they lie in the simple process of seeking Him with our “lebab”…wholeheartedly.

Why? Our selfish desires, tendencies, and motives are out of the way. When we can focus on God with our whole heart, then He can begin to shape us, move us, and put us into the positions He has created for us.

As Katy and I seek God wholeheartedly in 2011 we pray…

• to be debt free.
• great health for Katy and I.
• for our full support budget to come quickly.
• to be in Ireland in 2011.

The U2 song “New Years Day” (posted above) is about being one, breaking through, making this journey together. Let us challenge each other in this New Year to focus together on God. Let’s all seek him first in 2011 and see what happens! Matthew 6:33

Please pray with us as we continue on our journey. We are in this together. Katy and I can’t do what God has called us to do without you praying and giving. Thank you for being a part of our team. And HAPPY NEW YEARS!

How Chi Alpha Changed My Life

After almost seven years of working with them, I have decided to dedicate this blog to Chi Alpha Campus Ministries (XA). I would like to share 2 of the MANY things I’ve learned through this leg of my journey. I will blog separately about each of these soon so I can go deeper into how they’ve impacted me.

1. Discipleship: XA’s DNA is discipleship. I knew from the beginning that this was the primary reason God wanted me to walk down this road. I believe that discipleship is the lost art of the church. Discipleship is uncomfortable. Discipleship multiplies. Discipleship is diverse. Discipleship is servanthood. Discipleship is intentional. Discipleship is doing life together. XA has absolutely changed my view of Matthew 28:19.

2. Hidden Gifts: As I was making the decision to be a XA Missionary I had several options on the table. All of the others would have used me in my obvious strengths (worship, media, etc.). The very moment I saw that XA was the one thing that did not fit the mold, I knew it was what I had to do.  I can honestly tell you that the ministry I’ve done through XA can be nothing other than God. Going to Ireland as a missionary to do college ministry is by far the biggest leap of faith my wife and I have ever made, and I cannot WAIT to see what God is going to do. The level of risk we’re willing to take is directly proportional to his ability to use us. 2 Corinthians 5:15

These are two of many areas that God has developed in my life through working with XA. I want to go deeper into each of these so I’ll be dedicating an individual blog to each of these very soon.

Thank you Chi Alpha and thanks to all the XA missionaries out there making an impact for the Kingdom. You are my family and friends, and you are truly influencing the culture of America.

Blake