December 28, 2012
We're coming to the end of 2012 and also the end of our sabbatical. It has been a great time of listening to the Lord. As I have drawn near to the Lord He has drawn near to me. I sense His presence in a deeper way and also know that He is pleased with me because of the presence of Jesus in my life.
The key time for Susan and me was our time in Sanibel, Florida. Each morning I would get time with God as I was reading in the Gospels. I would pray that the Lord would lift a word or a phrase from my reading that was a word from Him to me. I knew that He was drawing near to me and revealing Himself to me.  "It is I" were His words to me and they came up repeatedly in the Gospels and in Isaiah. Susan and I read in Isaiah. I sensed that my soul was being restored and strengthened. I am on a quest to know Christ more and more.

Now we move toward what we will be doing in the new year. We have talked with our supervisor Matt Martin, with our Sabbatical supervisors, Mike and Norma Merritt, our sabbatical team and our Kansas City Staff about our future.  We worked through some Job Descriptions and have narrowed one down for  now.
We would like to go at a slower pace, have a narrower focus and a deeper walk resulting in an Impact for Christ.
slower pace:      If thinking terms of hours per week   30 hours instead of 40. More time with family.
narrower focus  Function in my strengths of Encouragement and Evangelism.  Susan and I have been leading
                         the KC Nav Staff team. We will no longer lead the staff but continue on the team.
deeper walk:      Continue on a quest to know Christ. Making time to be alone with the Lord and learn from
                          Him.

Key Elements of our Job Description for 2013

I.  Ministry to and among Nav Staff
    A. To be a engaged member of the KC Nav Staff Team
    B. To be intentional about encouraging the KS Staff
    C. To encourage and assist in recruiting new staff for KC

II. Personal ministry

    A. To come alongside the lost in evangelism
    B. To disciple new believers
    C. To be an encouragement to mature believers

Desired outcomes:

I.      To have a staff group that relates well to each other and networks to create effective ministry in KC.
II.     To see new couples/singles join our staff group, as the Lord provides
III.    To see the lost coming to Christ
IV.    To see new believers growing in their walk with Christ and beginning to reach out to others.
LOOKING  FORWARD TO THE NEW YEAR!  God Bless. Dave