- M
- J
For all of my adult life I have found that people want to talk to me about the deep things in their hearts. They come up to me and start sharing their challenges and troubles. As they share, I feel a connection and a burden and I want to be there for them in some way.
For example, Jessie (not her real name) was not interested. Though her Christian friends had invited her numerous times to Christian events, she held onto her outsider status. She was too different, and her worldview didn't align with Christian standards. “Who has time to answer my questions?”, she thought, “without being scared of them or condemning me for them?”
We met often, and she threw so many issues my way. She was texting me, trying to discern who she could trust with her true heart's cry. She wasn't going to step foot in a Christian event until she knew someone was there who understood her. By God’s grace, what seemed impossible happened. She showed up at church and sat next to me. She felt safe at last.
Kristin was a different story, but no less relevant. She had already graduated, but I knew God wanted me to continue to meet with her. So we met mid-way at a small-town diner, inconspicuous, every month, as she wrestled with questions of vocation. We met for months as I listened to her heart. Then one ordinary day, God's presence invaded! Instead of a burning bush, it happened over a steaming cup of coffee. Kristin received a clear call to ministry, one that has sustained her through today. 10+ years of fruitful full-time ministry!
Those are just a few moments I treasure in my heart. I believe God designed me for moments like these! After 20 years of serving Jesus in ministry, I notice a pattern of how our God works through my life. This pattern is unique. It’s like I'm part of the special ops forces of Heaven; sent out on strategic missions. Many of those I have worked with have affectionately called me the “soul ninja.”
While funny at first, this title has grown on me. What I do is personal and relates to the specific sensitivities of each individual. It's incredibly fruitful, as individuals God has led me are now influencing whole communities of faith, and this calling has not lessened in me over the years. In fact, I feel it is growing. My heart desires to influence these souls that God loves and calls to Himself in an even greater way!
God is stretching me and I do not want to limit Him. I've started two books, one inspired by Genesis and the other by Jeremiah. I am tailoring these towards specific audiences - young parents and church leaders. I hope to continue in this direction, to write books for specific audiences with a particular book of the Bible as my muse. I also feel God calling me to become a Spiritual Director; someone who enters into a person's life at a specific season to help them discern how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's promptings and grow in intimacy with God.
These two desires are coming together at a time where God is opening the door to further formal education in my life, a Masters in Spiritual Formation. Just think of the impact officially receiving training and endorsement could bring me. I will be even more effective in helping ministry leaders during transition periods or towards individuals in quarter-life and mid-life crises, times of disillusionment or living through the temptation to deconstruct their faith. It leads me to this question, “How much more do people today need spiritual direction in their lives than ever before?”
My husband Nathan often says God is calling us “further up and further in.” I feel that call strongly right now in a very tangible way. More intensive education will influence my writing, opening it up to impact those I can't sit down with one-on-one. It will also prepare me for God’s specific draw to become an official Spiritual Director, a person who vocationally helps others facilitate individual discernment and intimacy with God.
I thought a Master's degree was something out of my reach. I sat through Nathan getting his and really longed for my opportunity, but wondered if it had faded from me. So, when God dropped the idea of pursuing my degree in Spiritual Formation, my reaction was 'really, now is the time!?" Isn’t that like our God, to stretch our faith? The more I pursued God, the more it became clear!
Out of obedience and with a feeling of sheer joy, I applied and was accepted to Portland Seminary's Master's of Spiritual Formation for this coming Fall. In fact, I can see that God’s favor was with me, even in my initial interview. The feedback they gave me from it was amazingly confirming. To give an idea of some courses I will be taking, here are a few:
Identity and the Purpose of Christ
Restorative Justice and the Shalom of God
Sacred Stories of Formation, and
The Theology of Suffering and Healing
As I think about these, I can’t help but get excited for their relevance and how much I will be able to help others grow through them. What God does in you he wants to do through you. This opportunity will multiply my learning, as I sow into the Kingdom of God extravagantly through writing and spiritual direction.
So, here is where I am asking you to become a part of my dream. I want to enter into it unhindered by debt. Debt can so easily tie us down, rendering us unable to give our time and mental capacity to God’s calling. My family’s resources are limited, but God’s are not.
--We are in a ministry transition ourselves and may be facing a season of unemployment while diligently searching for our next pastoral assignment
--Though my academic record and ministry experience is very strong, I am finding that many seminary scholarships are geared toward young ministers just beginning their journey.
Even with this looming, I know that God spoke this call into existence in 2021, already knowing what would face us in 2022. And though I've questioned the timing of this before Him many times in the last couple of months, I believe there is a clear directive from the Holy Spirit to trust Him and stay on track.
It would be truly amazing for me to have you partner with me in these next steps of obedience; to invest in my development and future. I know I cannot do this alone. I see that God has given me a wonderful community of faith to remind me that he can make what seems impossible possible. There is no amount of money that is too great for God. I ask you to prayerfully respond to cover this cost of $21,600, by making a generous donation. Some of you can pay much of this cost while others little, but God has given us together the capacity to meet every need.
The full cost of my education is the primary target, but my most immediate need is $6,880 by August 1st in order to pay for the first semester. I will not be able to attend if I do not provide this payment by that time. Thank you for investing in my calling and future.
God Bless,
Jaime
For example, Jessie (not her real name) was not interested. Though her Christian friends had invited her numerous times to Christian events, she held onto her outsider status. She was too different, and her worldview didn't align with Christian standards. “Who has time to answer my questions?”, she thought, “without being scared of them or condemning me for them?”
We met often, and she threw so many issues my way. She was texting me, trying to discern who she could trust with her true heart's cry. She wasn't going to step foot in a Christian event until she knew someone was there who understood her. By God’s grace, what seemed impossible happened. She showed up at church and sat next to me. She felt safe at last.
Kristin was a different story, but no less relevant. She had already graduated, but I knew God wanted me to continue to meet with her. So we met mid-way at a small-town diner, inconspicuous, every month, as she wrestled with questions of vocation. We met for months as I listened to her heart. Then one ordinary day, God's presence invaded! Instead of a burning bush, it happened over a steaming cup of coffee. Kristin received a clear call to ministry, one that has sustained her through today. 10+ years of fruitful full-time ministry!
Those are just a few moments I treasure in my heart. I believe God designed me for moments like these! After 20 years of serving Jesus in ministry, I notice a pattern of how our God works through my life. This pattern is unique. It’s like I'm part of the special ops forces of Heaven; sent out on strategic missions. Many of those I have worked with have affectionately called me the “soul ninja.”
While funny at first, this title has grown on me. What I do is personal and relates to the specific sensitivities of each individual. It's incredibly fruitful, as individuals God has led me are now influencing whole communities of faith, and this calling has not lessened in me over the years. In fact, I feel it is growing. My heart desires to influence these souls that God loves and calls to Himself in an even greater way!
God is stretching me and I do not want to limit Him. I've started two books, one inspired by Genesis and the other by Jeremiah. I am tailoring these towards specific audiences - young parents and church leaders. I hope to continue in this direction, to write books for specific audiences with a particular book of the Bible as my muse. I also feel God calling me to become a Spiritual Director; someone who enters into a person's life at a specific season to help them discern how to cooperate with the Holy Spirit's promptings and grow in intimacy with God.
These two desires are coming together at a time where God is opening the door to further formal education in my life, a Masters in Spiritual Formation. Just think of the impact officially receiving training and endorsement could bring me. I will be even more effective in helping ministry leaders during transition periods or towards individuals in quarter-life and mid-life crises, times of disillusionment or living through the temptation to deconstruct their faith. It leads me to this question, “How much more do people today need spiritual direction in their lives than ever before?”
My husband Nathan often says God is calling us “further up and further in.” I feel that call strongly right now in a very tangible way. More intensive education will influence my writing, opening it up to impact those I can't sit down with one-on-one. It will also prepare me for God’s specific draw to become an official Spiritual Director, a person who vocationally helps others facilitate individual discernment and intimacy with God.
I thought a Master's degree was something out of my reach. I sat through Nathan getting his and really longed for my opportunity, but wondered if it had faded from me. So, when God dropped the idea of pursuing my degree in Spiritual Formation, my reaction was 'really, now is the time!?" Isn’t that like our God, to stretch our faith? The more I pursued God, the more it became clear!
Out of obedience and with a feeling of sheer joy, I applied and was accepted to Portland Seminary's Master's of Spiritual Formation for this coming Fall. In fact, I can see that God’s favor was with me, even in my initial interview. The feedback they gave me from it was amazingly confirming. To give an idea of some courses I will be taking, here are a few:
Identity and the Purpose of Christ
Restorative Justice and the Shalom of God
Sacred Stories of Formation, and
The Theology of Suffering and Healing
As I think about these, I can’t help but get excited for their relevance and how much I will be able to help others grow through them. What God does in you he wants to do through you. This opportunity will multiply my learning, as I sow into the Kingdom of God extravagantly through writing and spiritual direction.
So, here is where I am asking you to become a part of my dream. I want to enter into it unhindered by debt. Debt can so easily tie us down, rendering us unable to give our time and mental capacity to God’s calling. My family’s resources are limited, but God’s are not.
--We are in a ministry transition ourselves and may be facing a season of unemployment while diligently searching for our next pastoral assignment
--Though my academic record and ministry experience is very strong, I am finding that many seminary scholarships are geared toward young ministers just beginning their journey.
Even with this looming, I know that God spoke this call into existence in 2021, already knowing what would face us in 2022. And though I've questioned the timing of this before Him many times in the last couple of months, I believe there is a clear directive from the Holy Spirit to trust Him and stay on track.
It would be truly amazing for me to have you partner with me in these next steps of obedience; to invest in my development and future. I know I cannot do this alone. I see that God has given me a wonderful community of faith to remind me that he can make what seems impossible possible. There is no amount of money that is too great for God. I ask you to prayerfully respond to cover this cost of $21,600, by making a generous donation. Some of you can pay much of this cost while others little, but God has given us together the capacity to meet every need.
The full cost of my education is the primary target, but my most immediate need is $6,880 by August 1st in order to pay for the first semester. I will not be able to attend if I do not provide this payment by that time. Thank you for investing in my calling and future.
God Bless,
Jaime