1:35 AM, Saturday morning, Long Island, NY. Can’t sleep. Three long, tiresome days of hunting, still no house. Every house that remotely fits our criteria requires more money to move in than we have in hand. Flight to go back to AZ leaves later this afternoon. Looks like I am going back without finding a place to live in NY. Still no renter in AZ. U-Haul comes on Tuesday. Should I cancel it? Is God really calling us to NY? I feel my vision and dreams slipping away. What about all those people praying for us to find a home – what will they think when I come home without a house? Will they doubt you too? God help me to sleep so I can regroup in the morning.
7:00 AM, Saturday morning. Wake up. Wow, it really helped to get a little sleep. I need to leave for airport at 1:30. Is it even possible to find a house and put down a deposit before I go back to AZ? First order of business: get up, make coffee, and spend some time praying and seeking God for vision and focus.
I was very distressed late Friday night when it appeared that I had failed in finding a house in NY. This really caused me to doubt and question our calling. I now have a new appreciation for David when he wrote: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Sometimes, even people who are truly seeking the Lord can feel as if God has abandoned them! However, like David, this feeling should drive us to cry out to God rather than forsake him.
After spending some time with the Lord on Saturday morning, I felt refreshed. I was convinced that we were indeed called to NY! I also decided that the $8,600 that God had provided for the move in costs up to that point was our limit. (In NY, the tenant pays a brokers fee, first month’s rent and a security deposit. On a modestly priced NY home that rents for $2,500, that translates to $8,600 in move in cost.) So, I called our realtor and asked him to make low offers on the two houses that did fit all of our criteria, but were too expensive. The offers were rejected.
11:30 AM. The phone rings, it is our realtor. “John, I just got a call from one of our other brokers who wants to put her investment home on the rental market. I told her not to bother, because I have the perfect renters! Can you get here right away? This house is perfect for you and is in your price range!”
With one hour left before I had to go back to Arizona, God provided the perfect home for us! Not only does it fit all of our criteria, but it is completely renovated with brand new flooring and brand new appliances! Also, it is only a 13 minute walk to the train station, has a guest room and finished basement, and is in a fantastic school district. It is way more than we could possibly imagine, and within the money that we had!
We are very excited because this home is extremely strategic for ministry. It is very close to several of the churches where we will be helping to train leaders, and also close to a church plant team that I will help coach. It is also in a very multi-ethnic area. The school that the boys will attend is 47% Asian! It is also a great neighborhood where we are looking forward to meeting and reaching our neighbors.
Thank you for your prayers! God answered our prayers more wonderfully than we could ever imagine. Now, we must trust him for a renter for our Arizona home. We have had many people look at it, but still no takers. Would you please pray that God would provide renters before we leave for New York this weekend? Thanks!
Love,
John and Caryn
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
July Updates
Many of our friends have asked for updates to our last prayer requests. Below are summaries of the requests, with the latest updates following each one. God has been working - Please keep praying!
1. Regarding finding a renter for our home in Arizona:
We have shown the house several times, and are encouraged by the amount of calls we have been getting. However, we still do not have a renter. Two families said that they are deciding, and will get back to us. We still have two weeks, so please pray that God brings a reliable renter soon.
2. Regarding our support team development:
We have had several people join our team, and have seen some support come in already. Thanks in part to a generous gift, we have about half of the outgoing expenses raised. We have also had some monthly support committed already. We have a long way to go, but we are off to an encouraging start. Please pray for diligence and wisdom for John in doing the work and making calls. Pray also that God will bring in all the support that we need.
3. Regarding finding a place in New York:
This has proven to be a bit of a challenge! We have found some places, but not one that fits all of our criteria yet. I am flying to NY next week, and while there I will have only 3 1/2 days to find a place! So please pray for that to go miraculously! We are still hoping to purchase a home if God provides enough down payment, but we are vigorously searching for both homes to rent and buy.
4. Regarding Michael preparing to go to NAU:
We are moving Michael to Flagstaff on the way to NY. He will then drive with us to NY, then we will fly him back to Arizona. So, we are both excited for his adventure, but to be honest, have heartache at the thought of saying goodbye.
5. Regarding our ministry in NY when we arrive:
I had a conversation Friday with a church planter in the area who is anxiously awaiting our arrival and our help. They are hoping to launch their church in October. They have a great vision to be missional with the many professionals who live on Long Island and work in New York City; and they are multi-ethnic. However, there are many obstacles such as a lack of trained leaders. Caryn and I are considering them as our first investment of our time and resources. Please pray for wisdom for us, and for God to bless them greatly.
1. Regarding finding a renter for our home in Arizona:
We have shown the house several times, and are encouraged by the amount of calls we have been getting. However, we still do not have a renter. Two families said that they are deciding, and will get back to us. We still have two weeks, so please pray that God brings a reliable renter soon.
2. Regarding our support team development:
We have had several people join our team, and have seen some support come in already. Thanks in part to a generous gift, we have about half of the outgoing expenses raised. We have also had some monthly support committed already. We have a long way to go, but we are off to an encouraging start. Please pray for diligence and wisdom for John in doing the work and making calls. Pray also that God will bring in all the support that we need.
3. Regarding finding a place in New York:
This has proven to be a bit of a challenge! We have found some places, but not one that fits all of our criteria yet. I am flying to NY next week, and while there I will have only 3 1/2 days to find a place! So please pray for that to go miraculously! We are still hoping to purchase a home if God provides enough down payment, but we are vigorously searching for both homes to rent and buy.
4. Regarding Michael preparing to go to NAU:
We are moving Michael to Flagstaff on the way to NY. He will then drive with us to NY, then we will fly him back to Arizona. So, we are both excited for his adventure, but to be honest, have heartache at the thought of saying goodbye.
5. Regarding our ministry in NY when we arrive:
I had a conversation Friday with a church planter in the area who is anxiously awaiting our arrival and our help. They are hoping to launch their church in October. They have a great vision to be missional with the many professionals who live on Long Island and work in New York City; and they are multi-ethnic. However, there are many obstacles such as a lack of trained leaders. Caryn and I are considering them as our first investment of our time and resources. Please pray for wisdom for us, and for God to bless them greatly.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
How does packing boxes relate to riding into battle?
Most of us are familiar with the story of how God paired down Gideon’s army from 30,000 warriors to just 300 men who were chosen to fight the Midianites (Judges 7). However, it is what happens after that to which I can relate most this morning. With no idea what God was going to do to help, 300 warriors charged by faith carrying not swords, but horns, jars and torches. I can just imagine being one of the 300, approaching the army 135,000 men strong, thinking to myself “OK, if God doesn’t show up right now, this is going to be a really short battle!” God did show up just in time, causing confusion in the Midianite army, and gave Gideon and his men victory!
Our moving date, August 2nd, is less than a month away. As we pack our boxes, we still have much for which we must trust God to happen in order to move! So, just like one of the 300 who moved forward with no idea how God was going to provide, we are packing by faith, and trusting that God will provide all of our needs in His timing! Will you please pray with us?
1. We have been encouraged to have had several calls on our house in Arizona. We have scheduled a few appointments, but do not have a renter yet. Please pray that God would bring us a good renter soon!
2. We sent out our initial support letters last week, so we are still trusting God to raise the funds to move. Please pray that God will move on the hearts of many who have received those letters to be excited about the mission of Global Training Network in New York City and invest. Please pray that God will raise our outgoing expenses soon.
3. My family is helping us to look for a house in New York, but have not found the right place yet. There are many factors to consider such as proximity to ministry, size, affordability and quality of schools. Please pray that God will find us the perfect place to live which meets all of these needs.
4. Please keep praying for Michael as he prepares to go to NAU, and pray for his family who will miss him greatly! Please pray for financial provision, good Christian friends, and a good adjustment to a very different stage of life for him.
5. All of these requests are related primarily to the journey to New York. The whole reason that we are making this journey is to develop Christian leaders in New York and the world who are full of grace and truth. Will you please pray that God will prepare the way for us to be used by him in great ways when we arrive?
We are grateful for your prayers and are confident in God's abundant grace and provision in our lives -- Thanks!
John and Caryn
Our moving date, August 2nd, is less than a month away. As we pack our boxes, we still have much for which we must trust God to happen in order to move! So, just like one of the 300 who moved forward with no idea how God was going to provide, we are packing by faith, and trusting that God will provide all of our needs in His timing! Will you please pray with us?
1. We have been encouraged to have had several calls on our house in Arizona. We have scheduled a few appointments, but do not have a renter yet. Please pray that God would bring us a good renter soon!
2. We sent out our initial support letters last week, so we are still trusting God to raise the funds to move. Please pray that God will move on the hearts of many who have received those letters to be excited about the mission of Global Training Network in New York City and invest. Please pray that God will raise our outgoing expenses soon.
3. My family is helping us to look for a house in New York, but have not found the right place yet. There are many factors to consider such as proximity to ministry, size, affordability and quality of schools. Please pray that God will find us the perfect place to live which meets all of these needs.
4. Please keep praying for Michael as he prepares to go to NAU, and pray for his family who will miss him greatly! Please pray for financial provision, good Christian friends, and a good adjustment to a very different stage of life for him.
5. All of these requests are related primarily to the journey to New York. The whole reason that we are making this journey is to develop Christian leaders in New York and the world who are full of grace and truth. Will you please pray that God will prepare the way for us to be used by him in great ways when we arrive?
We are grateful for your prayers and are confident in God's abundant grace and provision in our lives -- Thanks!
John and Caryn
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