It has been an amazing season of watching God lead us, provide above and beyond our expectations, and encourage us through His people.This past week we have been able to share publicly for the first time the results of a year of prayer and seeking God's will for our family. Andy (my husband) sent out a letter to our family and friends that really tells so much of our story in a clear way. Here it is:
Dear Family and Friends,
Val and the kids will be moving back to Grand Rapids between August and September of this year. Our reasons are based on important needs within our own family. Elizabeth has exciting opportunities to serve the Lord with her music and teaching talents in Grand Rapids. Sarah Grace re-established herself in the dance community in Grand Rapids this past year and has multiple ministry and work opportunities to serve with her dance. Ben began a program in Grand Rapids this past May that is very important as he looks to his future. Val's health is a major consideration. Val had rheumatic fever in her youth and over the years it dramatically has affected her ability to deal with illness. Rest is crucial to her ongoing health. Our years of moving (12 homes in 25 years) need to be over for her health's sake.
Our family desires for me to complete this coming year (my 5th) as Executive Director of Miami Youth for Christ. This will also complete my 35th year of ministry with YFC. I plan to work here in Miami through April 2009, help transition this ministry staff and board towards new leadership, and bring to completion some important projects I am currently working on. Our family has encouraged me to end my years of YFC ministry well.
We will be closing on a lovely home we have purchased near Grand Rapids in a couple weeks (Val attached a picture of it at the top of this post.) The family will settle in there while I begin 7 months of intensive service here in Miami. I will be staying with friends from our church. I'll be traveling to Michigan to be with our family for a long weekend each month. We will spend the holidays together as well. Val plans to join me in Orlando this February as I celebrate my 35th Anniversary at our national convention. She will also be in Miami for our YFC Banquets in March.
We do not take our time of being apart lightly, indeed we ask for your prayers as we face a time that will certainly involve sacrifice as I complete things God has called me to do here in Miami while we also meet the needs of our children and Val in Michigan.
When I make my move next spring, I will be helping to develop a new ministry that friends of ours have been praying for and working towards for the past 10 years. Moriah Ministries will reach out to the 23,000 students of Grand Valley State University in Allendale, right outside Grand Rapids. It is a mentoring, discipling, and evangelistic ministry that we, as a family, are so excited about. Thanks for your prayers regarding this new opportunity to serve. We will update you in the coming months.
God is leading us back to Michigan. We are very pleased to be able to be near family and friends there. We will miss our extended YFC family and the wonderful staff and board here in Miami. We know God has a plan for them as well. Thank you for praying for our family and for Miami YFC during these 8 months of transition.
Resting in God's perfect plan and His provision,
Andy (for Valerie, Elizabeth, Sarah Grace, and Ben)
This has been an amazing season to go through - lots of potentials came our way. It was always good to see God close the doors we wondered about. When we were married the pastor who married us was Dick Wynn, who later became the President of Youth for Christ USA. He charged us at our wedding to put the Lord first in our lives and then to put our family second with our ministry to follow. That wisdom has been our measuring stick over the years as we walk this amazing road of ministry.
We anticipate amazing things as we continue to walk the path God has designed for us.
