November

I was thankful to spend almost two whole weeks in Georgia! Every time I come home, it becomes harder to return to Illinois. I feel most at peace and most myself when I am down South. I hope this means I’ll be moving back home upon graduation… time will tell!

There are some interesting developments at school as of late. A few of my friends are interested in joining WDA staff or building training partnerships with us. Apparently, I’m quite the little recruiter! One couple spent 2 weekends with some WDA staff in Georgia and another friend may do an internship in Atlanta this summer. Pray for God’s will to be clear for those that are toying with the idea of joining WDA or beginning training partnerships with us. You’ll hear more on this later!

December

Once again, I am home, resting from academia, making Christmas gifts, helping my sister and brother-in-law paint their home, and visiting friends. I hope I get to see you! But, at the very least, thank you for reading about my life, loving me, and continually supporting me. Your faithfulness to give astounds me—especially admits the recession. Truly, I would not be able to do what I am doing without your giving and your friendship! So please, don’t stop ;)…and if you know of anyone who would like to join my support team, please email me at beccakristenbrown@gmail.com. If you would like to donate before the new year for one last tax write off, email me as well and I’ll get you the details! ;)

I wish you all the best this Chirstmas—joy and peace in Jesus as you celebrate his present and future redemption.

Love and gratitude,
Becca Kristen Brown

Staff Conference

I arrived in Johnson City, Tennessee yesterday. Johnson City is the home of WDA's annual All-staff conference... and to places like this...and yes, that is what the restaurant actually looks like.

Oh, country-bumpkin South, you are an interesting place indeed.

Yet, Johnson City has come to represent something altogether different for me. The city has come to represent a time of rest, encouragement, reunion, re-invisioning, worship, and prayer with WDA staff that I have come to dearly love. WDA's staff is comprised of veterans of ministry who know how to pray earnestly, trust courageously, love generously, speak the Word without shame, help others grow, and dream things that can only be accomplished by the power of God. These men and women have fought the good fight and come to understand that which is truly important.

Namely, one's character. As we discussed current events in our ministry, Bob, our president said, "I hate to hear about church meltdowns, but I love to hear about church meltdowns". This statement was made in reference to one of WDA's tasks: to cast a vision for discipleship. Before we blow the trumpet for disciple building, we must first convince the Church of their brokenness and need for restoration. This stance, we realize, wins us few friends but we believe "faithful are the wounds of a friend" and preach nonetheless. Sometimes, church meltdowns do the preaching for us: character is exposed and the need for Christlike maturity in the Church is felt.

While I'm saddened that crisis and dissension in the body often reveal the importance of "presenting every man mature"-- I rejoice if such a crisis births a renewed effort to genuinely shepherd, lead, and teach the people of God.

Being here with our staff also makes me so grateful to be a part of a group who understands the importance of Christlike character in the Kingdom-- "precrisis". I have been away this year and it's refreshing to be back and pray, dream, question, and fellowship.

Please pray for us this week as we update each other, pray for what God is doing in our midst, and plan for the days ahead. I am specifically asking God to provide "all wisdom and spiritual understanding" for me as I discern where to invest my time and energy in Chicago and beyond. I feel like I'm standing on the edge of many exciting opportunities and need to hear from the Lord. Pray that as I attune my heart and ear to the Spirit, I would not be anxious, but trust in the might and love of our ever-faithful God.

Seminary... a covert ministry opportunity??

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School... the home of boasted professors such as D.A. Carson, Dr. Vanhoozer, and Graham Cole; partnered with internationally renown leaders such as Ajith Fernando; the departure point of celebrated alumni ranging from missionaries hidden away in closed countries to world-traveling speakers such as Ravi Zacharias. As a school, TEDS' voice is loud in the who's who conversations of fame and significance.

However, Trinity is not just an educational institution. It is a community—a community of people committed to one overriding vision: a vision of loving God wholly, not only with their minds but with all their might, all their souls, and all their spirits. It is a community of people committed to one passion: that of serving God through his church.

The students of Trinity are also young, hungry to see a movement of God, filled with the power of the Spirit and with sound doctrine. Some students here are grounded in the Word, seasoned in ministry, certain of God's character, and aware of the calling on their lives to minister. Yet, this may not be the majority. Many here are on a journey... to know the Word, to know the Lord, to discern their purpose and calling, and to learn how to minister.

I have bee surprised by the "young-ness" of our student body. And surprised by the number of opportunities I have had to minister. Here's a synopsis:

1. An opportunity to affirm:

Trinity is a competitive environment that needs to hear the gospel. So I have the opportunity to say, "Jesus is gracious; it matters little if you are a Hebrew scholar, a smooth preacher, or a prolific writer. Success in ministry does not earn you security, privellage, or righteousness. In Christ, and him alone, you already have those things. He has made you are a minister of the gospel-- not because you are good at it, but because he is gracious. Trust the Spirit to use you and speak through you. Believe, rest, and cease striving."

2. An opportunity to yell like a prophet:

The Church needs the whole gospel. The church (and seminary) needs to hear they are justified by grace and called to walk in holiness. Pastors must preach the gospel and disciple their people. We must not neglect these crucial tasks; yet so often the church struggles to fulfill this call. We must learn to do both and do both well. In a place where pastor-in-the-making are being training, I have had the opportunity to say, "Learn to shepherd your friends, your family, your neighbors well. Knowing the Greek and Hebrew word for maturity or sin is world's away from responding to it in the church. Pray, plan strategically, and strive to build disciples and help others grow to maturity. Shepherding will demand your life-- your energy, your time, your money, and your pride-- but great is its reward!"

3. An opportunity for encouragement...

Seminary provides a space to boast in the Lord and in his body. Many times I have seen fear and discouragement overtake my peers. What place is there to fear when God has equipped his Church and promised to walk beside them in power? There is no room for fear in the midst of such promises! Yet, like children, we so often give into our fears. So, I have had the opportunity to say "If you have a word do not be afraid to speak it vulnerably, humorously, humbly, counter-culturally, cheerfully, and obediently. God has gifted and equipped you, walk humbly in his power."

Seminary is filled with broken people, seeking God... needing redemption. Perhaps the frightening thing is that these same people are the future leaders of the Church and the mission field. But isn't this the foolishness of the gospel? God using broken, weak people to glorify himself and grow his Church. Pray that Trinity, as strong of a voice as it may be in the who's who competition, would genuinely believe the gospel and grow God's people.

Blog Fail

Here we are again. It's been a few months. God has been ever faithful and life has been surprising and good. So much so, it's taken most of my energy to live it, leaving little to write about it. Perhaps my blog should be added to the fail blog site... to my friend's amusement.

Perhaps, there are a few dedicated people who check in here and there. If so, this one's for you!

Let me take a moment to update you from Fall semester... as I did give you a list. I think what's been neglected were these:

* Why I'm thinking about Sex Therapy
* Mercy Triumphs over Judgment
* Seminary isn't What it Seems
* Ministry, as a Covert Operation

Whew, some big topics and long explanations... but a worthy venture nonetheless, especially now that all my paper writing has ceased, at least for the summer.


Let's do this.