the rice report - ministry updates · )*0)
TRANSCRIPT
Summer Greetings from Budapest! This June marks 12 years since our move from Romania to Hungary! We will never forget leaving Bucuresti: on the road at 4:00 am with the sun shining through the rain clouds and creating a magnificent rainbow, a reminder of God’s promise and leading. Genny was a rising first grader, Hannah entering 4th and Kathryn 5th. Life that summer had been full of goodbyes in Romania, buying and owning a home for the first time here in Hungary, remodeling and settling into a new place with a strange language and new responsibilities as our focus shifted from Romania to the 19 countries of Eastern Europe and Russia. There were more changes and transitions than we could foresee or were prepared for and now twelve years later we find ourselves again in a time of transition. As we look back there is so much of God’s goodness and faithfulness to celebrate and to give thanks for.
The Rice Report June 22, 2016
Genny graduated from high school on June 11th; Kathryn graduated from Anderson University in May with a degree in Nursing, while Hannah is a rising senior at Anderson. This summer Kathryn is preparing and taking her National Nursing Exam, Hannah and Genny are here with us preparing to staff the Hungarian Speak Out English camp for the summer.
As Genny and Kathryn graduate…we remember the girls starting school in Budapest, 2004
Rice’s on the Move Change for some is a happy, exciting word, for others it raises a disturbing pit of anxiety in the stomach and for many like us, maybe a little of both. Over the past few years Susan and I have had a growing sense of God leading us to prepare for a transition and challenge others to our roles. While there are aspects of this change that are frightening and unknown, there is also a deep sense of God’s care shepherding us and His leading and provision. Just as when we were first called to Romania back in 1989-‐90, God is giving clear leading and direction. We are expectant and excited about this next phase of life and ministry and the opportunity God is giving us for this next year as a part of our longer-‐term transition. First: What we are leaving: This transition does not mean we are leaving ministry or even necessarily long-‐term future service overseas, but it does mean that we are bringing our years and roles in Hungary to a close. Over the past three years Susan and I have sensed and communicated with our leadership a growing desire to see others in the roles and leading with the responsibilities we have carried.
For both of us there were two main reasons. First, we believe that our gifting is in the area of pioneering, launching, laying foundations and direction. In both of our roles the start-‐up and foundational phase has been completed and moved into a developmental and exponential growth phase. This new phase of ministry calls for different gifts than ours in order to continue moving forward. And secondly, we both feel called to promote younger leaders and those who are Eastern European or nationals to their Area. We have been working for several years to see others step into our roles: Susan as Associate director for student ministries in Eastern Europe and Russia, and for me leading our Global Catalytic student ministry expansion efforts since 2007. Beginning in January for me and in April for Susan those transitions have been taking place. Natalia, the Ukrainian woman who has been the Associate national student ministries leader for Ukraine has agreed to step into Susan's role and is moving to Budapest. Susan has been working with Natalia, mentoring, coaching, and
investing in her life for the past 4 years so this is a great development and answer to prayer. In addition to Natalia, there are now 4 other women that Susan has helped train and mentor who are leading on the Area level. For both of us we are truly thrilled that it is not an
Susan has been working with Natalia(right) and Alina for the past 4 years. Natalia will take Susan’s role for Eastern Europe and Russia, while Alina will step into Natalia’s role for
Ukraine
individual that is taking our old role, but God has raised up 5-‐6 people with different gifts and abilities who will be leading the work forward.
The expansion of our volunteer led/church partner student ministries has grown exponentially both in geographical coverage as well as numbers of trained staff and volunteers. When I started in this role in 2007 we had beginning Catalytic ministries in 2 Areas of the world, now every Area of the world has growing models and there are several hundred trained staff as catalytic has become one of the top strategic priorities for the Global student ministry of Cru. The Lord has worked in amazing ways as staff and volunteers have taken Him at His word and gone out to launch new ministries. Foundations have
been laid and models are developing and multiplying in most areas of the world. To serve the growing need and this new phase of Catalytic growth, last year we launched a distributed team to focus on Catalytic that will lead and serve the Catalytic effort as we trust God to see ministry in 50% of the worlds universities by 2020. This is a great moment for Catalytic ministry going forward. As we look at how God has raised up qualified young leaders with heart, gifting and skills for going forward, we are overwhelmed with God's gracious provision and the future that is ahead for both Eastern Europe and for Catalytic Globally.
Since 2007, training and working with staff from around the world willing to pioneer new movements has been one of my greatest joys. Going forward these and many other trained Catalytic “Champions” will be leading the effort going forward
to have ministry presence or partners in 50% of the worlds universities by 2020.
SPC’s refer to Student Population Centers; this graph shows some of the expansion of new
ministries since 2011
Over the past 3 years the number of countries without any known campus ministry has gone down from 64 to 33
Last February marked 25 years since we first arrived in Eastern Europe. As we stepped back and entered transition we also have evaluated where we are personally and what God is calling us to as we look at the next season of life and ministry. We had been planning a longer furlough or home leave for 2016 but realized it would be beneficial to focus intentionally on our internal growth and transition. While we could "jump into the next thing" we have felt the Lord calling us to slow down and give more space for Him to speak and for us to transition.
Looking ahead: As we looked at possibilities for this next year, the option that best fit our desire to move toward a long-‐term vision for the next season of life and ministry is something called Lake Hart Stint. This is a program Cru offers for staff in transition. It is based in Orlando and combines a job at the Cru headquarters with coaching, mentoring, and development and community with others who are in similar seasons of life. It will give us a way to contribute while we transition and to also have the space to listen to the Lord and process both the past 25 years as well as to get a sense of God's direction for this next season. Another factor in our decision has been a desire to be closer to our moms and to the girls and a little more involved in their lives and college experience. We will have work responsibilities during this 9 month period: Susan will be working with “Sending” branch of Cru, and I will be working with the US Campus Ministry in their communications strategy. One of the greatest benefits of these months though, is the time and space to listen to the Lord and focus more on the interior journey of our hearts with the Lord and what He desires for this next stage of life. We will look forward to having more opportunity to connect with you as well during this period of time. As Susan and I have crossed the 50 year mark (two years ago J ) our sense of calling is as strong as ever, however, our values and how we think about investing our lives in the next season is changing. By God’s grace and if He tarries, we hope that the next 20 or more years can be some of the most fruitful years of our lives for God and His Kingdom, but we feel we need this season to seek His will and to focus on our continued preparation. During this time of transition we would ask for your prayers. We have been so blessed with our home here in Hungary. When we moved it was the first time we had owned a home, having always rented in Romania. With the dollar so strong and the current housing market here in Hungary it is a difficult time to sell. Please pray for a buyer for our home here.
24 years ago, together with our first Romanian new staff. Seeing God raise up others who continue to serve and lead has been a part of our vision since the beginning of
our work in Eastern Europe
For the girls this move represents the dissolution of the physical place they most think of as home and the closing of a chapter of their lives. For Genny, having started first grade here in 2004, this is a big transition.
There are so many things to do in closing our lives up here in Hungary, both relationships and moving. Since we are not moving to a permanent assignment we are getting rid of over half of our furniture and household goods and will be sending the rest to keep in storage in Greenville until we discern God’s leading for the next step. Even though we don’t know our long-‐term direction, even for this next year we will have significant needs which include shipping costs for a container and procuring a car in the US so your prayers for God’s provision for each of these needs is appreciated. As we look back there is so much to celebrate and for which to give God glory. Your partnership through the years has been an integral part of all that God has done. In order to pursue this next season and guidance we need you to continue to partner with us. We don’t know what the future will hold, but we have a deep sense of God’s leading and shepherding and are expectant of how He will use this next year both in our lives and for His kingdom.
We are a team in this kingdom work and we consider you a vital and valuable part of this team! We ask you to stay with us in supporting us financially and in prayers. We look forward for to this season to being on the same continent and to have times to be able to connect with you and share more personally what God is doing and how we understand His ongoing leading as we seek to follow Him. In our next letter…Celebrating 25 years of God’s faithfulness in Eastern Europe. Thank you for your investment in our lives and faithfulness in this work.
Kathryn will be applying for nursing Jobs in Orlando. She wants to combine nursing with volunteering for Mk2Mk, a Cru ministry to Missionary kids
around the world. We are thrilled that at least for these 9 months we will be in the same city J.
Contact info: [email protected], [email protected] Tel. 1-864-335-8136; Cell: +36309649816, address: Tarnoki ut.128, 2030 Erd, Hungary, US Cell # 864-553-1767, Cru Account 0381462
https:/ /give.cru.org/0381462