In A New Place...

For the last three years, on this particular week, Cory and I have spent our summers in Clinton, TN.  Each year we travel to this remote part of the country to attend the Children's Defense Fund Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry.  That particular conference has served 3 main purposes for us.  First and foremost, it has been a time of rest.  Each year, there is powerful preaching that takes a depleted Team Jenkins and pours back into us what we need...a powerful Word from the Lord.  Secondly, we are able to connect with old and new colleagues. I have made such wonderful connections over the years and I am grateful for them.  Finally, we are empowered to go back to our congregations and "DO" ministry.  In fact, I am working hard to bring the Children's Defense Fund Freedom School to Euclid Avenue Congregational Church in the Summer of 2012 if I can find the funding.

So while, we are not there in Clinton, TN, and we find ourselves here in Israel-Palestine, we feel as though the Lord is still accomplishing these same 3 objectives, just in a new place.  Thank God for a new place to accomplish what needs to be done.  This world we live in is vast and deep and we are privalaged to travel and see it.

So this is our prayer: that we would be filled up, that we would make international connections and that we would be empowered to return to Cleveland and "DO" ministry. Amen!

Air Born...

We pray this message finds you healthy and blessed.

As many of you know we are departing (literally right now we're in the air) from Cleveland for 3 weeks traveling to Israel-Palestine and Greece.  We have been offered this wonderful opportunity to see the world and we are both humbled and grateful.   It is our prayer that this trip will be a pivotal moment in our marriage and in our ministry.

Since our move to Cleveland, have been working tirelessly in the vineyards the Lord has assigned (Shiloh and Euclid Avenue).  As many of you know, pastoring is no small task.  We sense, in the midst of this moment, that the Lord has divinely ordered the timing of this trip. 
We are both tired and in need of a "fresh wind and a fresh fire." Three weeks away will do us some good and offer us a great deal of time for prayer and vision formation.

We ask that you keep us in your prayers as we travel to portions of the world where there is civil unrest and conflict.  We are trusting that God will keep us from all hurt, harm and danger.  We trust that your prayers will go with us.

We have set up a blog if you would like to follow us from the comforts of your own home.  our blog is http://www.teamjenkinsjourney.blogspot.com/  .Here,we will try to chronicle our experience, post photos and video. It is our intention to write daily as long as our schedule provides and Internet access is readily available.

We have also made arrangements for skype (Username(s): Courtney.Clayton.Jenkins and Cory.Jenkins81). FYI: there is a 7hr time difference between the East Coast and Tel Aviv. We are not yet sure about Athens, Greece.

Finally, pray with us that the Holy Spirit would be the only spirit that rests upon our congregations in our absence.  It can be a little frightening, as a new pastor, to leave your congregation for an extended period of time.  However, because we believe the Lord has ordered our steps at this time, we trust God would lead and guide our congregations during this time as well.

We look forward to sharing with you from afar.

With excitement for what is to come,

Cory & Courtney

Welcome

Well we have a HUGE "to do" list between now and when we get on our flight Monday morning, but we are excited about the journey ahead. 

On Monday, we will travel to the Sabeel Conference for Young Adults.

We plan to post updates here about our travels and what we are learning.  Our trip will take us to Israel, Palestine and Greece.  It should be exciting.  Please keep us in your prayers as we make this trip to the other side of the world.

Please follow us on Facebook:  Cory & Courtney
Please follow us on Twitter: Courtney

We will keep you posted!  Let the fun begin.