Hello again!

It's been a busy year and we wanted to share a quick update on all that's been going on.

TODD GRADUATED FROM THE PASTORS COLLEGE

We were amazed and humbled at how quickly God provided the funds back in August for Todd to attend the Sovereign Grace Pastors College. Thank you to each of you who helped make this happen!! It has been a rich, challenging, and rewarding 10 months for us. To give you a better idea of what the PC entailed, here's a summary from the Sovereign Grace Churches website: 

Students complete 36 modular-style courses over a 10-month period, covering a full range of biblical, theological, and pastoral studies. Biblical Greek is also taught throughout the year (Advanced Greek is offered for students who test out of Introductory Greek.)

Along with the academic program, the students and their wives participate in a rich community of fellowship and discipleship. The Pastors College uses a cohort model in which students participate together in all courses and other aspects of our program. The intent is to deepen relationships which strengthen both learning and transformation, and which help foster ministry partnership beyond the Pastors College year.

This training takes place in the context of a specific local church, Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. From beginning to end, our ecclesiology informs both the format and context of our program, precisely because our students are being equipped to serve the local church. 

Our fervent prayer is that these various components will equip our students to be godly, skilled, and faithful shepherds who lead and care for “the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).

On Saturday, June 3, Todd graduated from the Sovereign Grace Pastors College! Todd has persevered throughout this year, caring for and leading our family so well as we added a new baby into our lives while still adjusting to being back stateside. We learned so much this year, and grew in our marriage, parenting, and spiritual lives.

By God's grace, we're coming out of this year humbled, stronger, and happier. We're excited to see what the future holds!

RIVER ANN BORN ENTERED OUR LIVES

On February 1, we welcomed our sweet River into the world. She has brought SO much joy to our little family. Zion loves his "Sis-Sis" and talks to her every chance he can get. She is a GREAT sleeper and loves people and taking naps outside.

Just as Eve was created to be a life-giver, our prayer for River has been (as her name represents) that she would be a source of life and blessing to all those around her for the glory of God and the building of His Kingdom. 

ZION TURNED TWO

On Friday, June 2, Zion turned two years old! We have  experienced pure joy watching him grow into a little man. He is very attentive to detail, methodical, observant, tender-hearted, courageous, hard-working, and just a lot of fun. 😆 He enthusiastically loves his family, friends, and animals. And we continue to pray that God redeems his life for His glory.

THE GCC GAINED MOMENTUM

Brittany has continued to work with Mack and Leeann Stiles as they head up an initiative called the Great Commission Council to strengthen ecclesiology and methodology on the mission field. Todd is also going to start helping out in a more official role in the near future. In order to go "on staff" in these roles, we will need to raise financial support. 

Be on the lookout for more information on how you can be a part of supporting this work! We would love for you to get to be a part of this.The council of around 60 missionaries will reconvene next month, having added some new members, to work on creating and approving more statements about healthy church-based missions. The goal is to get somewhere around 50 statements (with background and supporting material) that we will publish and distribute to a broader audience. 

We will also be recording a number of videos during this week (inspired by the content in the statements) that will be shown at the

CROSS Conference

in January. 

Please pray that all of this effort would result in much Christ-exalting fruit and growth in the Western Church's understanding of and pursuit of missions! 

WHAT'S NEXT?

Initially, we're going to spend a little more time in Louisville, "sucking all the marrow" (as our friend Mack would describe) out of being members of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville and being near family. Todd will devote some time to helping develop a culture and healthy practice in missions at SGCL. One example of this will be helping lead a "Globally Local" day in a refugee area of Louisville later this year in order to expose church members who are interested in missions to real life, hands on experience interacting with people from other countries.

Todd is also busy exploring potential apprenticeship opportunities in other Sovereign Grace churches with the long-term goal of being sent out as part of a church plant internationally. That could happen as soon as next year or a ways down the road. This week we're in Boston, MA exploring a possible apprenticeship with the Sovereign Grace Church here. We would appreciate your prayers and trust that God will continue to make that clear as we walk in obedience to His Word! 

JOIN US IN PRAYER

• For our trip to Boston, MA this week as we visit a Sovereign Grace Church here and explore the possibility of an apprenticeship for Todd. 

• For the salvation of our children, Zion and River, and wisdom for us as we seek to raise them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 

• For growth in the areas of gracious communication and charitable judgment in our marriage.

• That we would be faithful stewards of our time in Louisville, building the church, learning, and investing in meaningful relationships.

• That the efforts of Great Commission Council would bear long-lasting fruit in the Church. Pray for Christ-centered clarity in the purpose and direction of GCC in the coming years. And pray for me (Brittany) as I seek to balance my time and energy between caring for the kids, serving Todd, and administrating GCC. 

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."Ephesians 3:20-21