URBN Experience: Round 2

After a summer long hiatus, I'm back!

I am beyond excited to start this new year with URBN Experience! For those of you who are new to my blog, Welcome! Here is a quick rundown to get you all, new and old readers, up to date: Last year I made the move from the great state of Georgia (God's Country..Go Braves!)to the inner city of Louisville, KY. to join Sojourn Community Church's local outreach program URBN Experience(UE). During this past year I worked two jobs, one as an administrative assistant for the UE program and one as a nanny to two wonderful children. My job as an administrative assistant allowed for me to be in the neighborhood a lot and experience some of the same ministry that those who were doing full time ministry got to experience. Through this God began to change my heart for the community and my desire to be in Shelby Park grew more and more each day. After many conversations, prayer, and affirmation I decided that I would quit both of my jobs and do full time ministry the following year, and that leads us to now.

Last year the URBN Experience team had 14 members and this year, by God's grace, there are 21 members! Praise God! How awesome is that?!? We are currently in our orientation stage of the program and will soon be embarking on a whole year's worth of experiences within the inner city of Louisville, KY. As a full time ministry team member, I will spend 15 hours a week doing neighborhood ministry, 15 hours a week of development (readings and even class), and 15 hours a week at a partner ministry. Oh, you're curious to know more about this partner ministry thing? Why didn't you say so?

This year the full time ministry team members will be partnering and working with four different non-profits in the Louisville community. These four include, Jefferson Street Baptist Center, A Woman's Choice/Necole's Place, Refuge, and Scarlet Hope. ***Each partner name has their website link attached*** I will be partnering and working with Scarlet Hope. Here is a description from their website that gives more detail as to what I will be doing:

"Scarlet Hope’s mission is to share the Hope and Love of Jesus Christ with women in the adult entertainment industry. By sharing the gospel message with these women through action and words, we are proclaiming the name of Jesus, who is their only Hope to be free from bondage.

Scarlet Hope provide resources such as transitional-living, career counseling, housing, mentoring, transportation, and drug rehabilitation. Our mission is to share the gospel of Jesus with each dancer, bouncer, prostitute, and club owner that God puts in our path.

Vision Statement:
Our hearts desire is to meet each woman right where they are at in their life and point them continually to Jesus, who is our only Hope. We are dedicated to teaching women from the industry to obey the Lord’s loving commands and making disciples that make disciples. (Matt 27:28)"

I know that this next year will be a challenging one and one that will produce much fruit. I am both excited and nervous to begin this journey. God is far greater than anything I could ever imagine and I trust that He will do great and big things this year not only through these four partner ministries but through the neighborhood of Shelby Park!

As I mentioned above I am engaging in full time, support based, ministry this year. I have not yet reached my support goal of $27,000 and am still looking for people to join me this year as I live missionally within the inner city of Louisville. I need both one time and monthly donors. If you are interested please click HERE! I am praying and believing that God will provide what is needed in order for me to take the Gospel to those here in Louisville and ask that you would prayfully consider doing the same.

To God be the Glory!