{I haven't written a ministry update since the end of October, and so I feel like I should 'catch everyone up' so to speak. I wish there was more to report.}
1. Our family photo that we had taken for our ministry resume was getting old. We had taken it in early Summer, 2011, with the intention of using it until Fall/Winter. But with my pregnancy, and Samuel's haircut and my hair growing out etc. etc., we needed an updated one a bit sooner than we'd thought. So, we chose one of the pictures from our 2011 Christmas photo shoot. Now our ministry resume will be a bit more updated-looking until at least April/May, when we'll have to replace the photo with one that includes our new daughter.
2. David's work as the volunteer communion co-ordinator is still going strong. He's probably helping organize and prepare communion at least once a month, on average. Although we're happy that he has this ministry, we can't help but feel that our current church could be helping him acquire more ministry skills by letting him accompany a pastor on visitation or perhaps lead a small group. Even though he's been licensed now as a Wesleyan minister, he's never even been invited to speak, even at a prayer group. This is disappointing to us.
3. David does, however, have another preaching opportunity through the Anglican Church where I work. He'll be preaching on January 15th and this will be, I believe, his fourth sermon at this church. There's a good congregation here, and they're very supportive and encouraging to us, so I have no doubt that we'll enjoy the experience and the inevitable conversation afterwards!
4. I've been watching the Wesleyan website like a hawk for any opportunities, but so far, nothing has come up in Canada, only in the States. We had discussed going to the US for work when we first started our ministry journey, but I think we've decided that at this stage of our lives it wouldn't be prudent. With two Visas to acquire we've been quoted $4000 and at least a six-month waiting period, and that's on top of the hardship of being in another country, the paperwork, the lack of family and friends, the expensive move, etc. etc. It's sad that we have to cut ourselves out of these jobs, but on the other hand, it's nice that the decision is firmly made and we can move forward.
5. Finally, and this idea is very much 'still in the works' so I'm not sure how much to expand upon it in this space, but we've been wondering if God isn't calling us into an internship opportunity. The idea of forsaking a paid ministry job for another year, in favour of an unpaid internship at a church, isn't appealing on several fronts. To start with, there's the lack of money, and then the lack of benefits, insurance, etc. Plus, it's another year without a church. On the other hand, if David was appointed in an official capacity at a Wesleyan church, the time he spent there would count towards his ordination requirements (there's two years of appointed in-church work required for ordination) which would be helpful. He would also get the experience he's so desperately lacking at our home church here. As an unpaid assistant minister, he would be building his skills in leading services, visitation, Bible study leadership, etc. and that could only improve his chances at getting a job when and if one comes up in the next year. We have a church in mind to approach, but as I said, we're still very much in the preliminary stages of thinking about this. If you feel moved to do so, though, we've love your prayers!
That's about it right now. It doesn't seem like very much for almost three months, but those three months were slow ones. Now we're beginning to enter the resignation/hiring process period of the year for our denomination and, I hope, things will start to look up.
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