We have IMPORTANT NEWS that we want to share. We’ve asked friends and family to pray for the past months as we felt led to begin conversations with Time to Revive about how Jeff and I could better stand together in the ministry. We have felt all of the prayers, and God answered in a big way…
Over the past year or so as we have volunteered with Time to Revive and then transitioned to missionary roles, our job descriptions have settled into a unique pattern. Jeff’s gifting in worship has been most needed at the state level (leading worship in the Indiana cities), and my gifting in writing has been most needed at the national level (assisting the Dallas-based team and telling stories from national cities). From the very beginning of our journey with Time to Revive, God has made it clear that we are to do this together as a family. So as Jeff has been needed in the Indiana cities, and I have been needed in the national cities (Dallas and Ohio most recently), we have been traveling to all of those locations together. And it has been a lot for our family. God has been providing strength for us and the kiddos and it hasn’t been too much, yet, but it became clear that this couldn’t be a long term pattern for us. And so with incredible peace from God, prayer covering from our friends and family, and very clear direction that it was the right time, we approached TTR leadership and asked them to prayerfully help us figure out how we could better stand together instead of going in two different directions.
And God answered immediately. As we talked with leadership, they shared that they had been praying about the same thing. A need had been developing nationally for someone gifted in both worship and administration to stand beside Jon (the national worship leader) and help lead the overall worship of Time to Revive. The Lord had placed Jeff on their hearts, and they began praying about asking Jeff to transition to that national role. Our approaching them about standing together was a confirmation that this was indeed from God. And it was a confirmation in our hearts that this was the answer to our prayers. God had already been working on our behalf unbeknownst to us, creating a position for Jeff so that we could stand next to each other in ministry. We were shocked and amazed.
And then the details hit us straight in the face. In order for Jeff and me to best accomplish our roles with the Dallas-based national team, we need to be in Dallas. Whoa. This decision was presented to us and was left entirely up to us by TTR leadership. We have spent the last weeks pouring our hearts out in prayer and asking for wisdom and counsel from family and spiritual mentors. And as others have prayed for us, God has made it clear and confirmed over and over again that it is right for us to move to Dallas, Texas in January.
This is another huge leap of faith for us. If you know Jeff and I at all, you know that we are Hoosiers to the core. Indiana has always been our home, and we never expected that to change. All of our family is here, our friends are here, our church home is here. God knew that we would need incredibly clear direction from Him and certainty that this was His will, or we wouldn’t be able to do it. And He has provided that direction and certainty. So just as we held our breaths and leapt from the mountain’s edge into the unknown to become missionaries, we are preparing to leap into the unknown again and move to Texas this January.
What all of that means we still don’t know for sure. We are committed to taking one step at a time in line with God’s leading. We are feeling lots of mixed emotions right now: excitement for what’s ahead and thanks that God has answered our prayers to stand together so clearly, sadness and grief over moving away from family and friends, fear of the unknown and overwhelm in the face of all the details. But above all we are sensing His peace that this is the right next step. God is clearly moving us increasingly into our “sweet spot” where our giftings and the ministry’s needs and our family’s health all converge. The move to the national level allows God to use us not only to impact Indiana, but also in every state that God influences through TTR. It’s an incredible honor, and we are humbled to partner with God in this way.
Thank you for your continued love, support and prayers. They are needed now more than ever as we lean into God in a way we never expected. We have never been more sure that this ministry is worth every investment we are able to make. So much so that we’re willing to leave our home and follow God into His plans for us in Texas. Thank you for the strength and encouragement that you give us. We’re so thankful God has placed you beside us to walk this journey together…
His peace and abundant love over you,
Jeff & Betsy
and Rylan, Kora, Kennedy & Declan
“Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.’”
–Mark 8: 35-36
