"You're on the Jersey side of the island!!"

 

hey, so i've been suspiciously absent from the blogisphere...well i've allowed myself to get busy and not stop to write to all my friends and family out there...so here we are another month gone...another rent check almost due...it's just not right writing out rent checks for this much money...who ever thought of real estate anyway...

well we are fantastic! tammy goes in to start here pre-job tests on monday, i will be up at our camps for the first part of the week for all staff meeting and some planing sessions. we have been busily working on a new financial model and business restructuring of the organization. our biggest challenge is perpetuating income. the organization has been running off private donations and funding with an immediate gratification sort of mentality where the funding came in and was immediately used, then we pray for more and it comes in and is immediately used...and so on and so on. this,i believe, is a side effect of an organization being led by visionaries with extreme faith. and that's a great testimony to the individuals and ministries but at times can lead to some real financial challenges. so in an attempt to maintain the faith living but become better stewards of our resources, we are full force (three of us =) attacking a new plan for the ministries. i again say, i have no business degree or experience but we are pumping out some really good plans. so thank you God for creativity, wisdom, and common sense! so we are busy doing that.

while we continue that path, we are assessing all the current programs for restructuring and modification so they can run smoother and become self perpetuating as well. then i, in my over zealousness, am currently working on a proposal for a new program called NYC Extreme (NYCX) which uses rock climbing, martial arts, white h2o rafting, and mountain biking to build community and mentor youth. i'm pretty stoked about it and it is intended to only be one aspect of the community center we hope to pursue and on the community center note, there is a building called the Dyckman marina that we are prayerfully going to try and pursue as a site for our community center. PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS BUILDING!!!! while i could bore you with all the details about why it'd be great, i'll simply say it is.

i start teaching martial arts again the first tuesday of october, this will be an ongoing class this time, not just for the summer. so there is another area for prayer, my capacity is probably 20-40 students if i can get a high schooler to help me out for the kids classes, and 20-30 with adults. i'm praying that God will bless this endeavor greatly. it's our commitment that as soon as we get out of debt (and we have a pretty solid plan of action on that) then all the profit, minus 10% will go back into funding ministry here and elsewhere. and this is one of our greatest desires to be able to bless others as we have been so greatly blessed by our supporters in prayers, gifts, and finances (thank you again for keeping our lights on! =)

the opportunity to bless others leads me to my next thought which is about a young couple we have staying with us named Daniel and Valerie, and they have a ridiculously funny and cute 6mo old named Vinnie. they received a message from God (through both having the exact same dream no less!) that they were to sell everything and move out here to NYC to do ministry. over the next year they prayed and sought confirmation about the move, and after receiving it they came about 2 weeks ago. we have been able to open our home to them as they look for employment and housing. they were able to put a deposit down on an apartment yesterday here in our building and Daniel is waiting to hear back from some job interviews they had this week. Now i'm sure this sounds ridiculously extreme for people to do, but i am humbled by the tangibility of the kingdom of God when we allow it to exist in our lives. Tammy and i prayed when we first got married and then again when we got this apartment that it would be a place of peace, refuge, and joy. that the doors would be open to people in need, and we have had such a great time struggling through the finer aspects of living in community with others, and it has been a wonderful growing experience. i have learned so much about my selfish perspective and how it constantly arises at the smallest thing. i am reminded almost daily how we can tear each other apart over insignificant matters, and i am reminded of my own failings and lack of compassion constantly. so this challenge has been beautiful, and i hope and pray that i will somehow maintain a heart humility and compassion in a society that screams indifference and selfish consumerism...

love to all from the greatest city in the world,
 
jonathan +)
(the reason the smiley face doesn't make sense is because he's a cyclops...figure it out)