Real Lives... Real Challenges...Real Solutions...

Real Lives... A shabby looking man came up to me at the ice cream shop asking for change. As I talked with him, I learned Michael was a long-time heroin user who desperately wanted to quit.
We've become close to a couple living together in our neighborhood. The man is an alcoholic and the woman does not want to be alone. Several times she has called crying because of the fighting that goes on between them.
I was talking with a partially crippled man at the park one evening about how he had experienced a lot of pain from not having a steady father figure in his life. He’s now searching for advice about his engagement as he has feelings for another woman.

Real Challenges... The common theme with these ‘neighbors’ is that the church is a place where they don’t feel comfortable. Whether due to a bad experience, cultural differences, or a preconceived misconception, these people are not willing to let the church help them with their struggles. What lasting help can they find apart from the Gospel? ‘Can a blind man lead a blind man?’ Luke 6:39

Real Solutions... Just as a tree branch provides covering and shade so God invites us to come under His covering through Jesus; who died and paid the price for sin. We believe the church should be incarnating this message in all segments of society. We desire God to use us to be His branches, extending this covering to those around us. As it is promised… “He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, and the Lord gives sight to the blind…The Lord watches over the sojourner and sustains the fatherless and the widow…” Psalm 146: 7-9a

During my time in seminary, we are committing to approximately 15 hours a week of ministry. Some of this will be coordinating social services for the community, such as job fairs, craft days for kids, health and fitness classes, tax advising, Bible study, counseling, etc. This job will provide us with free rent and allow us to develop relationships without having any personal expenses.
In order for us to minister part time while I attend seminary, we are asking for partners in prayer and financial giving. We are so thankful to have been offered a 40% scholarship for this academic year. However, we are still in need of $1330 a month because of the rest of our living expenses and tuition. If you would like to partner with us please see the giving info on the right hand side of the homepage.

Prayer to Praise...

I was "thumbing" through old pictures of Jackson on my computer last night and it stood out to me that in many of his pictures there was a white glare in the pupil of his eyes. It probably wouldn't have concerned me if I hadn't learned a few months earlier that to detect infant eye tumors early on is to notice a white reflection in the eyes in color photos. It was a random medical fact one of Jack's friends mentioned to us simply because of another baby they were concerned about & praying for who was having eye problems. I did a little research on-line and looked at other photos we had around the house as well as photos from other cameras just to make sure it wasn't just our camera. There were 3 photos that stood out to us that focused more on his right eye. We quickly began to pray about it and ask the Lord to help us not get ahead of ourselves until we knew there was actually something to be concerned

about. We also prayed we could get Jackson into a Dr. before leaving town this Thurs. for Memorial Day. Not too long after praying Jack remembered a friend of ours from college, Jave Rush, who has a bother here who is an eye doctor! He put a call in and Sloan (The Dr.) responded that we should get him in as soon as possible but that there was a long waiting list and would call tomorrow to see what he could do. Well, he called bright and early to tell us we could come in at 10:30 am! We were so thankful.

After a long visit and a few Dr.'s shining lights into Jackson's eyes, making him very unhappy by the way, we learned that from the pictures the Dr. would normally be very concerned but the tests showed NOTHING there that detected tumors or cataracts. However, he did notices that Jackson is already showing a slight astigmatism in his right eye and at certain angles of light from cameras could very easily give the white glaring appearance. He recommend a Dr. in Dallas we could go back to, to look more carefully at the astigmatism. He said detecting something like this in a baby so early on could be concerning because he could end up favoring his left eye causing his right eye to become "lazy". To prevent a lazy eye little Jackson would need glasses! I cannot imagine a baby around 1 year old wearing glasses??? But the Dr. said they DO make them for babies to fit tight around the back of their ears and it's up to Mommy & Daddy to train them to wear them. Won't that be fun!

Needless to say we were soooo thankful we got into a Dr. so quickly and that Jackson was clear of any type of eye cancer, tumors or cataracts! We'll keep you posted if Jackson will be sporting some specs in the future!

From Dorms to Dallas

No, we have not been living in dorms on campus but we are saying goodbye to campus ministry at Texas Tech and moving to Dallas this July! We will never forget how God interrupted out lives in the dark dorm life on the college campus nor will we forget going back to walking down those same dorm hallways in anticipation of what God would be doing in the hearts behind those doors. For the past two years we have been on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ at Texas Tech. That means we have knocked on a lot of dorm doors and because of those steps of faith we have seen first hand God working in the lives of students. We were both significantly impacted through Campus Crusade in college at Tech and have richly enjoyed serving on staff with them. However, over these past two years of growth and development we have also been praying about how God has gifted us along with the desires He's given us and asking Him where He would be leading us next. His next stop for us is Westminster Seminary in Dallas, Texas! Jack has had an ongoing desire to develop more theologically and practically through seminary. Our passions are Biblical theology, Biblical Counseling and urban missions. Jack and I both grew up in the upper-middle class suburbs of Houston. Needless to say urban missions is pretty much like foreign missions to us, but we believe God has clearly led us to move toward this setting. We are looking forward to living in a town home complex built to provide affordable housing for low-income families while Jack is in seminary. We do this in faith & prayer that He would use us for His glory among the community and give us some first hand experience in a more urban setting. Some may wonder is this wise or is this safe? I readily confess I have asked the same questions, especially now with a baby. One truth that keeps me focused on Christ is that the safest place for me to be is to be where He asks me to be. I recently read this quote by John MacArther, " When believers are in a place of obedience they are in a place of safety, no matter the circumstances. The place of security is not the place of favorable circumstances, but the place of obedience to God's will..." We are excited to enter into this next adventure with the Lord!

"Whoever receives one such child in my name receives Me..."Matt.18:5

We became parents August 1st, 2008 after giving birth to a healthy baby boy, Jackson Mark Murphy. Our lives have never been the same. Parenting is probably the hardest job I have ever had but the most rewarding calling I've ever entered into.