200 by May

We need your prayers. Beginning immediately, we are launching a fundraising campaign in Ireland we’re calling “200 by May.”

Since the inception of Zoe Community, one of our longterm goals has been to become independently funded and led by the people of Ireland. We will eventually put Irish leadership into place, but first, we will trust God for Irish funding. Up until now, I (Blake) have been raising funds to cover all Zoe operational expenses. That amounts to approximately $3,500 per month (excluding our annual conference and other specialty expenses). We are a lean machine, but we have vision for so much more.

This campaign is to build a team of 200 people living in Ireland who will support Zoe Community for €25/month. God helping us to complete this team will be a game-changer for Katy and I, to say the least. That means the funds we continue to raise for Zoe will now be able to go towards vision and future endeavors (as well as allowing us to focus on our personal support once again).

Please pray…

• Pray God would speak to 200 people in Ireland to join this team by May 2026.

• Pray God would help us to raise our personal budget by July 2026 (more details next week).

• Pray God would build a stability in Zoe Community beyond Katy and I through the Irish people taking hold of the vision and responsibility of Zoe Community.

Thank you for making all of this possible. Without your prayers and support we would not have gotten this far, and we definitely won’t get to this next level. It’s exciting to see goals achieved, women supported, but most of all, hearts changed by the love and generosity of Jesus!

Brand New Training!

Last week we had the first session of our brand new Zoe Community training! Over the past few years, we have compiled content from professional therapists, leaders, pastors, and more who we have relationship with here in Ireland. They have helped us create a custom training for our Zoe Community volunteers, specifically our Advocate Volunteers (those on the web chat or meeting guests face to face in our physical location). We’ve seen a unique effect from this training as those attending not only are equipped to support those in crisis, but the attendees also find healing as we encourage them to face their past, their motives, and their “why”.

In 2025 Katy felt God pushing her to make this training available to individuals outside of the Zoe organisation, as this material is remarkably effective in the area of pastoral care. We brought in fresh eyes (a professor of pastoral care at the Irish Bible Institute and a professional content designer) to help us reimagine and repackage our training. The first draft of this product is in the pictured above. We were even able to print and bind them in-house thanks to the donation of a comb binding machine! (You can see my handiwork with in the pic above.)

Our first day was phenomenal with two new Zoe volunteers and three local church pastoral care team members in attendance. The content was relatable, connected well practically, and spoke to their hearts in powerful ways. As this is the first step, we’re believing to improve and expand this training to many more!

Thank you for being part of this. Because you give and pray, this kind of training can happen. Not only are we furthering Zoe Community, but now we’re able to support to local churches from across Ireland! Thank you!

Annual Prayer Retreat

Years ago I (Blake) started taking prayer retreats. It began over a few years of reading books books about rest, prayer, and solitude. I know that the pace I was keeping would not be sustainable in the longterm.

This past week I took yet another prayer retreat to a place that has become my go-to for this kind of thing. The Glendalough Hermitage Centre has it all from epic views, cozy yet modern quarters, peaceful grounds to walk through, and an incredibly kind staff of nuns creating space for prayer and contemplation.

By taking time at the beginning of the year, I have found peace, comfort, empowerment, direction, and so much more. Even with just a short getaway (two nights in the hermitage) has become the perfect way for me to begin each year. Plus it’s usually really cold, so I can take full advantage of their real wood-burning stove. (I love a good real wood fire.)

I just wanted to let you know that as we begin this year of soon-coming miracles in missionary support raising, helping women in unplanned pregnancy, and Irish fundraising, we are beginning by trusting in God.

I took time to pray for each of you individually. We, as a team, will see God do amazing things this coming year is Zoe Community and throughout Ireland! Thank you for being on this journey with us!