Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Update #4

It is hard to believe that it has been one full year since our last post.  So much has happened over this past year, but in the meantime…
We are in the full heat of summer, and it is INCREDIBLY humid down here in Louisiana. (Fortunately we have a pool behind our apartment, so we are grateful!)

Allow us to recap several highlights that took place over this past year:

WORK:
Lindsey completed her full time work at the architecture/engineering firm and began her final two years as a full time grad student. She has one year left, and it is going to be very demanding. Lindsey also began her internship, which is a big part of earning her Marriage and Family Therapy license.

God has provided an incredible mentor at a Christian counseling center in Baton Rouge, and Lindsey is having some of the best education and guidance we could have asked for. You can check out the counseling agency where Lindsey works at this website. (CLICK HERE)

In my (Jonathan’s) world, I have been working this past year as a music teacher at an elementary school (grades 4 and 5). This past year has been a great adventure, getting to hang out with about 650 kids, and I am looking forward to this next year (which will be our last year here in Baton Rouge).

Copper Mill Elementary ( website is HERE) along with the other schools in our district (Zachary Community School District) has been named #1 in the state for the third year in a row. The principal at Copper Mill, Dewey Davis, is a great leader and a passionate Christ follower and its a blessing to work with him and learn from him.

CHURCH
We still love being at our church here in Baton Rouge. The Ring Community Church (NEW WEBSITE HERE), has been growing and maturing this past year in many. After The Ring’s first two years meeting in another church building, we are moving our services to meet at the BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry) building at L.S.U. This building has just had a major remodeling, and it looks great. The cool thing is that our church had been helping weekly with the building and remodeling of this new facility, and we didn’t even know that we were going to worship there. This is just another cool testimony to see how God goes before us in his ministry.
Lindsey and I have been leading a community group for the past year.  God has giving us many opportunities to connect with people here, and we are very thankful.

ARTS CENTER

We are in great anticipation as we are working hard in our preparation for the commercial arts center. (Def of commercial arts: Types of art that are currently impacting culture—modern music, recording technology, graphic/web design, photography, and film). Our plan is to move back to Nashville and begin moving full-steam ahead next June, 2009. It’s going to come so fast!! (By the way---Commercial Arts Center official name and website are soon to come! We’ll keep you posted.)

Our goal is to have our first major draft of th
e business plan to be completed by July 1. I just spent a week out in Los Angeles with a friend in the video/film industry (currently working freelance) spending a time praying and brainstorming (and a little bit of sightseeing here and there ).
During the summer, I will be wo
rking full time on the business plan, and Lindsey will be working part-time at the architecture firm and part-time with me with the business plan. We are VERY excited to watch God’s vision being fleshed out.

FAMILY

Last Tuesday was our 2 year anniversary!!! In the grand scheme, this is really no time at all, 
but it is just crazy to think that two years have passed. God is continually growing our
 marriage...each day is another opportunity to learn and grow together and in the midst of it we're having a ton of fun!
Our extended family has been growing, as over the past year we have added another niece and nephew (totaling seven!). We love getting to spend time with our families when we have the chance.


With all this being said, here are some things you can be praying for:

1) Pray for Lindsey as she completes her last year at seminary and her last year in her internship. Pray that God will continue to give her the excellent preparation that he is giving, and ask God to use her as she is currently meeting with clients walking with them and guiding others towards their personal healing.

2) Pray as I (Jonathan) work my last year Copper Mill...that God will use me to bring His love to my students and co-workers.

3) Pray that God will continue to go before us as we are following Him in our preparation of the Commercial Arts Center. Pray that God will continue to bless us with times of innovative planning as we aim to complete the business plan. Pray specifically for the people who God will bring to us to join our staff. Finally, pray that God will use the arts center to redefine purpose in the creative industry where artists at all levels will be empowered to foster positive world change. Pray that through this process many will be led to become passionate seekers of the heart of Christ.

4) Pray for Lindsey and I as we grow in our marriage every day. It is our goal to pursue the holiness of God while being transparent with Him and each other. Pray that God will keep on giving us opportunities to serve together.

WE LOVE YOU GUYS A WHOLE BUNCH, AND WE GREATLY ANTICIPATE THE NEXT TIME WE GET TO SEE EACH OTHER! Thanks so much for your continued willingness to partner with us and pray!

Your Brother and Sister in Him,

Jonathan and Lindsey