Emily's Australia Church Plant Fund
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Hello beloved friends and family!
As some of you may already know, I am about to embark on the first great leap of faith in my life! Over the course of the next few months and all throughout the year that follows, I will be packing up and moving to Sydney, Australia to be a part of the planting team of another Everyday Church: Everyday Sydney! Outside of the bit of nervousness I'm experiencing - which I am assured is entirely normal - I could not be more excited, thrilled, and absolutely blessed to be a part of this!
But before I get into all of that - for those of you who may not know me, my name is Emily Robey (that's me on the far right in the photo), and I live in a wonderful little town called Atascadero on the central coast of California. I was born and raised by two incredible parents who were always careful to show me what it meant to be kind, generous, uplifting, hopeful, and to genuinely love people. As lovers of Christ, it's long been a belief of my family's that the real purpose of life is to go out and show that very same love through the building of relationships, aiding where there's need, learning to be selfless, self-sacrificing, and always making sure that in everything we do, we're displaying the loving, grace-filled heart of God. Our greatest purpose is in buliding Kingdom family!
So what does that look like for me at this current place in life?
I believe that God is calling me out to put into practice all that I've learned up to this point. I believe that the next place and time of growth for me lies beyond the borders of everything I've known so far. And I believe that this opportunity is one of empowerment and freedom in my life!
The long story:
Growing up I'd been riddled with sickness - both major and minor, both physical and mental. At nine, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, which had initially thrown life quite a bit off kilter. It was a drastic and unexpected change that had nearly taken my life. It was a week in the hospital teaching a nine year old how to give herself injections. It was the emotional toll of realizing that many things were not ever going to be the same again. But the blessing was that I had survived and I was so well equipped with an incredible system of friends and family to support me.
In the years that followed, however, I found myself stuck in a place of brokenness, hopelessness, and severe denial. The already substancial ache of growing up had paired itself with the fact I had not been taking care of myself or managing the disease as I should, which I believe played well into a long-term battle with severe depression, an attempt at suicide, and a barrage of consequent health concerns - both major and minor. I had lost the feeling in both of my legs, lost a great deal of vision - which led to two subsequent eye surgeries for lens replacement (and a few other laser treatments), my kidneys had begun to fail, my heart was overworked, and my body was near incapable of healing itself from anything and everything that was thrown its way. I was in and out of doctor's offices, emergency rooms, and urgent care centers like they were second homes. And then finally, one of those doctors had begun to tell me that if I didn't change things soon, he doubted I would live to see 25.
All of that was pretty frightening, but still did nothing to heal the wound that had grown in my heart.
Did I even want to save myself? Did I even want to live?
God, however - in his mighty grace, beautiful mercy, and perfect love - had different plans.
At 19 years old, I found myself once more contemplating an attempt at suicide. My health and my mental state were worse than they'd ever been and I couldn't fathom a way to dig myself out of the hole that seemed to grow deeper and deeper, without end - (funny how those are the times when we suddenly allow God to move!). With an open, albeit hopeless heart, I told God that he needed to save me, that I was going to give him one chance.
And of course, he did.
In a single move, he'd swept through and filled a world I'd long believed to be nothing but darkness with beautiful, brilliant light. He'd started to repair my heart, as damaged as I'd believed it to be, and I knew that in time, my body would follow. I began to take care of myself and to value myself - making sure I was taking my insulin - and treating my body right. I began to learn how to love myself and started figuring out who I was and what that meant. I then soon began to recognize what I was worth, why was I here, who was I supposed to be, and what was that was supposed to look like. I started seeing myself through my Heavenly Father's eyes and recognizing all the ways he loves me, believes in me, and wants me to succeed.
It's been six years now and I can say, with complete honesty and wild excitement, that I am not the same person I once was. Not by a longshot; not even close. It's been a long and difficult road, but I believe I am finally starting to walk in the destiny God has set for me, and this is the next big step!
Having just planted an Everyday Church in Templeton (Everyday North County), California, alongside my wonderful parents and some of my closest friends, I'm currently helping to oversee children's and youth ministry - as kids and youth are, and always have been, so very close to my heart. I'm also very passionate about working with women in learning about identity: about loving themselves and what it looks like to truly know who you are and what you're worth. Along with these passions, I'm going to be taking everything I've learned and all the ways I've grown to Sydney, Austrailia, in the hopes I might affect others to walk deeper in the joy, love, and purpose God has for them!
The short story:
I believe God is calling me out to Sydney Australia! I believe he has such a heart for the people over there and in that, he's preparing the way for a radical movement of love and healing to sweep through, leaving nothing unchanged! This is the first time in my life I'll have traveled away from my home, from my family, and from the place of comfort and safety I've grown up knowing. And while it's scary, I feel that God is leading me to a place of greater trust and faith in him and I am so ready and willing to answer, but I need a bit of help!
My goals for Sydney:
• Help to lay the groundwork for and participate in the planting of an Everyday Sydney church.
• To affect positive change and help cultivate a culture of love, honor, and hope.
• To learn and grow and walk further in the plans God has for me.
Ways that you can help:
• Prayer! I could use lots of it! I'm confident that this is the path God's put me on, but I also know it won't be without its struggles and difficulties. I could use prayers for housing, work, financial provision, strength, guidance, and of course, lots of joy!
• By donations and financial support! I spent some time in prayer and felt like God had told me to ask for $5,000 in support. All of this will be going toward helping me prepare for the move: for future accomodations, airline tickets, travelers insurance, and other various expenses.
• Prayer again! Really, prayer is so powerful and so great.
• Pass the word on! I'd really appreciate it!
I will be taking a month long trip to Sydney at the beginning of September to help another member of my team get settled and situated, and then I'll be returning home in October to finalize all the preparations for my actual move, which will take place in January of next year. I am so excited and so very appreciative for all of you who have read this (it's so long, I know), and for those of you willing to support me in any way. My heart is so filled with joy and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me!
Many blessings, and I love you all!
For more information about Everyday, a part of Global Legacy and an Iris Ministries church and missions base in Southern California, please visit EverydayChurch.com.
Just a note: Since I don't currently have a Facebook, I've set it to use my beautiful mother's!
As some of you may already know, I am about to embark on the first great leap of faith in my life! Over the course of the next few months and all throughout the year that follows, I will be packing up and moving to Sydney, Australia to be a part of the planting team of another Everyday Church: Everyday Sydney! Outside of the bit of nervousness I'm experiencing - which I am assured is entirely normal - I could not be more excited, thrilled, and absolutely blessed to be a part of this!
But before I get into all of that - for those of you who may not know me, my name is Emily Robey (that's me on the far right in the photo), and I live in a wonderful little town called Atascadero on the central coast of California. I was born and raised by two incredible parents who were always careful to show me what it meant to be kind, generous, uplifting, hopeful, and to genuinely love people. As lovers of Christ, it's long been a belief of my family's that the real purpose of life is to go out and show that very same love through the building of relationships, aiding where there's need, learning to be selfless, self-sacrificing, and always making sure that in everything we do, we're displaying the loving, grace-filled heart of God. Our greatest purpose is in buliding Kingdom family!
So what does that look like for me at this current place in life?
I believe that God is calling me out to put into practice all that I've learned up to this point. I believe that the next place and time of growth for me lies beyond the borders of everything I've known so far. And I believe that this opportunity is one of empowerment and freedom in my life!
The long story:
Growing up I'd been riddled with sickness - both major and minor, both physical and mental. At nine, I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, which had initially thrown life quite a bit off kilter. It was a drastic and unexpected change that had nearly taken my life. It was a week in the hospital teaching a nine year old how to give herself injections. It was the emotional toll of realizing that many things were not ever going to be the same again. But the blessing was that I had survived and I was so well equipped with an incredible system of friends and family to support me.
In the years that followed, however, I found myself stuck in a place of brokenness, hopelessness, and severe denial. The already substancial ache of growing up had paired itself with the fact I had not been taking care of myself or managing the disease as I should, which I believe played well into a long-term battle with severe depression, an attempt at suicide, and a barrage of consequent health concerns - both major and minor. I had lost the feeling in both of my legs, lost a great deal of vision - which led to two subsequent eye surgeries for lens replacement (and a few other laser treatments), my kidneys had begun to fail, my heart was overworked, and my body was near incapable of healing itself from anything and everything that was thrown its way. I was in and out of doctor's offices, emergency rooms, and urgent care centers like they were second homes. And then finally, one of those doctors had begun to tell me that if I didn't change things soon, he doubted I would live to see 25.
All of that was pretty frightening, but still did nothing to heal the wound that had grown in my heart.
Did I even want to save myself? Did I even want to live?
God, however - in his mighty grace, beautiful mercy, and perfect love - had different plans.
At 19 years old, I found myself once more contemplating an attempt at suicide. My health and my mental state were worse than they'd ever been and I couldn't fathom a way to dig myself out of the hole that seemed to grow deeper and deeper, without end - (funny how those are the times when we suddenly allow God to move!). With an open, albeit hopeless heart, I told God that he needed to save me, that I was going to give him one chance.
And of course, he did.
In a single move, he'd swept through and filled a world I'd long believed to be nothing but darkness with beautiful, brilliant light. He'd started to repair my heart, as damaged as I'd believed it to be, and I knew that in time, my body would follow. I began to take care of myself and to value myself - making sure I was taking my insulin - and treating my body right. I began to learn how to love myself and started figuring out who I was and what that meant. I then soon began to recognize what I was worth, why was I here, who was I supposed to be, and what was that was supposed to look like. I started seeing myself through my Heavenly Father's eyes and recognizing all the ways he loves me, believes in me, and wants me to succeed.
It's been six years now and I can say, with complete honesty and wild excitement, that I am not the same person I once was. Not by a longshot; not even close. It's been a long and difficult road, but I believe I am finally starting to walk in the destiny God has set for me, and this is the next big step!
Having just planted an Everyday Church in Templeton (Everyday North County), California, alongside my wonderful parents and some of my closest friends, I'm currently helping to oversee children's and youth ministry - as kids and youth are, and always have been, so very close to my heart. I'm also very passionate about working with women in learning about identity: about loving themselves and what it looks like to truly know who you are and what you're worth. Along with these passions, I'm going to be taking everything I've learned and all the ways I've grown to Sydney, Austrailia, in the hopes I might affect others to walk deeper in the joy, love, and purpose God has for them!
The short story:
I believe God is calling me out to Sydney Australia! I believe he has such a heart for the people over there and in that, he's preparing the way for a radical movement of love and healing to sweep through, leaving nothing unchanged! This is the first time in my life I'll have traveled away from my home, from my family, and from the place of comfort and safety I've grown up knowing. And while it's scary, I feel that God is leading me to a place of greater trust and faith in him and I am so ready and willing to answer, but I need a bit of help!
My goals for Sydney:
• Help to lay the groundwork for and participate in the planting of an Everyday Sydney church.
• To affect positive change and help cultivate a culture of love, honor, and hope.
• To learn and grow and walk further in the plans God has for me.
Ways that you can help:
• Prayer! I could use lots of it! I'm confident that this is the path God's put me on, but I also know it won't be without its struggles and difficulties. I could use prayers for housing, work, financial provision, strength, guidance, and of course, lots of joy!
• By donations and financial support! I spent some time in prayer and felt like God had told me to ask for $5,000 in support. All of this will be going toward helping me prepare for the move: for future accomodations, airline tickets, travelers insurance, and other various expenses.
• Prayer again! Really, prayer is so powerful and so great.
• Pass the word on! I'd really appreciate it!
I will be taking a month long trip to Sydney at the beginning of September to help another member of my team get settled and situated, and then I'll be returning home in October to finalize all the preparations for my actual move, which will take place in January of next year. I am so excited and so very appreciative for all of you who have read this (it's so long, I know), and for those of you willing to support me in any way. My heart is so filled with joy and I can't wait to see what God has in store for me!
Many blessings, and I love you all!
For more information about Everyday, a part of Global Legacy and an Iris Ministries church and missions base in Southern California, please visit EverydayChurch.com.
Just a note: Since I don't currently have a Facebook, I've set it to use my beautiful mother's!
Organisator
Emily Robey
Organisator
Atascadero, CA
