Thank you so much for agreeing to be a part our PRAYER FOCUS. It has been both humbling and amazing to know that you are partnering with us in this season. We have had over 50 friends and family members commit to pray with us through the end of 2017.
In addition to the short video above, I have updated the bullet points below. Please don't get overwhelmed with the info. It is there if you need it, but we are confident that God will speak to you, even if you don't have time to read every bullet point. Adriane and Abigail both typed up a short update about how our prayer time has been going for them. Their updates are at the bottom of the page along with a form that our team made to make getting feedback from you easier!
Speaking of feedback, WOW! I am so thankful for those of you who took time to email and text us what you were sensing during your prayer time for us. People have sent videos, called and stopped by to visit to give us words. We really appreciate it and say MORE PLEASE! We are excited to see what God is up to and honored that you have joined us on our prayer journey!
5 PRAYER FOCUS POINTS (Updates in BOLD)
1. See TRANSITION Clearly
God has been speaking to us about the fact that finishing things well is important before moving on into the next season. Please pray for grace to finish several important projects well, so we can be free to step forward into the things that God has in front of us.
This week demonstrated our need for prayer in this area. We have three business projects due by the end of the year. Please pray for grace to finish these well, while following through with the other parts of life!
- Pray for clarity in areas of timing and other vital details of the transition. This is especially true with stewarding the transition of the consulting business.
God seems to be speaking to people about this area a lot. Several people have given feedback about timing. We will probably share some of the feedback next week after everyone has had a chance to pray, listen and respond.
- In September, Jim Erb (our precious friend, mentor and spiritual dad) went home to heaven. We have been a part of the network that Jim gave oversight to for almost 15 years. Our relationship with Jim was a place of great counsel, accountability and trusted leadership. Please pray that we will discern what God is doing in terms of how we are connecting with other leaders and clear direction in terms of the relationships that will provide ongoing oversight for us and our spiritual family.
I have two meetings with leaders this week, that relate to this prayer point. Please pray for clear communication and wisdom to discern what the Lord is speaking.
2. Grow Our FAMILY CONNECTION
- We are so blessed by God's faithfulness in our marriage. Please pray that we will to continue to grow in intimacy and our understanding of how to love each other.
YES! More Please! Keep praying for increase!
- We believe that a BIG PART of what this transition is about, is the ability for Adriane and I to spend more of our time doing life and ministry together. This transition will mean that we will be spending more time together, investing in the young families in our church, and by walking with leaders that have invited us into their journeys. We are excited for this, and are praying for grace to grow into this transition well.
We have had some great time together as a family this week, but it was also a very FULL week. We know that part of what God is speaking about through this season is to not allow ourselves to have too much on our plate. Honestly, we need wisdom / discernment in this area right now. As a family, we love where we sense God is taking us, but we want to be faithful to grow our connection on the journey.
- We LOVE our daughter!!! Please pray for Abigail, that she will continue to grow in her hunger for God and that we will know how to parent her to become who God made her to be. Also, please pray that God would send Abigail a friend in Grove City that is close to her age and that she can follow Jesus with.
It has been sweet to see how Abi is owning this! I encourage you to take time to read her update below!
3. GRACE and MOMENTUM for AOX (Our Church)
- We are in such an important, developmental stage in our growth as a church family. We have so many twenty-somethings, that are growing up, getting married and having babies. In this season of life, it can be easy to get caught up in everything that is happening. Please pray that we will grow more and more in collective hunger for Jesus and in boldness to share the gospel.
WOW! God is moving. We spent our Sunday gathering hearing testimonies of how God is moving in peoples' lives and were able to celebrate the baptism of Shawn, a young man who has made a commitment to follow Jesus! Praying for more!
- At the heart of this transition is trusting God and being more intentional to empower others to grow and step into leadership. Please pray for our church family to be FLOODED with grace and courage to stretch and grow in this area.
Please keep praying for this. God is doing it! Most of the testimonies came from some of the young leaders that I sense God is raising up.
- I truly believe that we are coming into a season of sending! Please pray that we would be ready to hear from the Lord and able to send people out well.
This is getting more real every week. We know of at least one family and several individuals who are praying into moving / being sent out in early 2018. We need to learn how to do this well. PLEASE PRAY FOR PRACTICAL WISDOM HERE!
4. Getting HEALTHY as a Family
- Earlier this year, we were really focused on nutrition and exercise and were experiencing a lot of breakthrough. I (Brad) suffered an injury that was very discouraging and limited my activity. Please pray for SPIRITUAL BREAKTHROUGH in this area as we commit to focus on our rhythms of exercise, nutrition, sleep and schedule as an act of worship.
Thank you for praying into this area with us. It is somewhat vulnerable, but I know God is working. Last week, we felt empowered to make good decisions as we knew that we were inviting people to be praying with us. I think it was the most intentional we have been in months about eating right and staying hydrated. We have a long way to GROW here, but we are encouraged.
- Pray for PHYSICAL HEALING and PROTECTION for Brad's back and knees.
Continued prayers needed! I experienced a lot of improvement last week. The pain in my back and knees were reduced by 80%! Today has been difficult, trying to stay encouraged and am believing for BREAKTHROUGH.
- Wisdom for how to make some pretty major adjustments to our schedule so we can exercise together as a family.
We need wisdom and discipline in this area. I know you are praying because God is working, leading us to repentance.
5. Understanding the FINANCIAL Piece of the Transition
- Pray for focus and breakthrough in our business throughout the rest of 2017. Completing all of our contracted projects and getting paid for them will allow us to build momentum for the transition as we move into 2018.
We have one project due next week and two others due by end of the year. Praying for grace to do a great job for our clients, finish on time and get paid on time!
- Pray for wisdom and favor as we prepare to call some new financial partners during the first quarter of 2018. We sense some specific direction in this area, and want to move with courage and confidence. We sense this is vital for allowing other areas of the transition to unfold smoothly.
Would you pray for God to show me where there is space to get alone with Him and listen about how to prepare for this? With everything else that is happening right now, I know that this is something that we are believing will really begin after the New Year, but I want to listen and be confident about how to prepare. I need time with Him on this.
- RESOURCE FUND: We are praying and believing for $20,000 to come in by the end of 2017. This will allow us to collaborate with several leaders and produce a series of resource packs. This will also allow us to launch FEWL (our resource app) at the beginning of the 2nd Quarter. Please pray for our funding campaign that will kick off on 11/28 and run through the end of the year.
I am really encouraged about this prayer point! Last week, I sensed God invite me into a new place of faith for the area of resources. We made some major breakthroughs on FEWL ( the resource app) and had a dear friend commit at least $1000 to this goal.
