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Hello!
I know everyone has mixed feelings about New Year’s resolutions, but my resolution this year is to be better about doing monthly updates. So, happy last day of January, I hope everyone had a wonderful start to the new year!
A few weeks ago I officially moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to begin my partnership with Raising a Voice, after completing my commitment with World Race America in November. I was home with my family for a little over a month during the holidays, which was nice. I was able to get some much needed rest after a really wild and hectic year! I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t rest well, so it was nice to be home with no to-do list. I spent a lot of my time at home reflecting on what my life has looked like over the last few years, and one thing I realized is that I have been very busy. During my time with Adventures in Missions, the World Race’s parent organization, I have traveled to over 14 countries, 27 states, directly discipled 18 college age students, and worked along side over 40 different ministries. These past few years have felt like a lifetime, but I realized that I have also never felt more alive.
In my month of reflecting, I thought about what ministries in particular had captured my heart. I thought about the Deaf ministries that I was able to work with overseas, and how life giving those experiences were. I thought about my ministry host in Austin, Texas, and the work she does with foster children. I thought about the women I met in the back of a strip club in Georgia, and the women on the street that I encountered here in Tennessee. I feel called to work with unreached and vulnerable people groups, and looking back, it’s awesome to see how each of these ministries allowed me to partner alongside them in doing that. I know that I am walking away with such a wealth of knowledge and experience that is priceless. I also plan to be working in ministry for many years to come, and I am so incredibly thankful that the Lord has allowed me this season of training and equipping so that I am better able to step into my long term ministry when the time comes.
I am not writing this just to tell you about what I’ve been processing, but also about what I am doing here in Knoxville! Right now I am spending my days partnering with Raising a Voice (RAV) and their fellowship. One of RAV’s goals is to help grow and equip others to step into full-time ministry. What that has looked like for me, is small group training and lectures from seasoned ministry veterans, along side hands on work in the community, like picking up shifts at RAV’s Women’s Drop-In Center and assisting with local outreaches. I am also heading up a project for the ministry to help them streamline their intake process for new international ministry partners as well as helping with international ministry expansion (I have LOVED what I have been doing so far). Have been working specifically with new ministry partners in Rwanda and Indonesia. It has been very fulfilling work and it keeps me on my toes for sure! RAV has several other well established, international bases overseas that I hope to be visiting this year, Covid/government permitting. One in Kenya, and one in Argentina, each working in unique culturally relevant ways to combat sex trafficking.
I feel so incredibly blessed that I get to partner in all that the Lord has been and is doing around the world and within our own country. It gets to be my everyday job to bring kingdom and fight against evil, what more could I ask for? If you are receiving this email, it is because you have given me your email, or you have supported me in the past. None of what I do would be possible without my support system that has encouraged and loved me so well through this journey. Thank you so much for all of the ways that y’all have empowered me to live out this vision and for making my journey, your journey.
Please be praying/celebrating with me in the following areas:
- Financial stability, and that the Lord continues to provide as I support raise through out this year. I will be keeping y’all up to date on my needs in this area, currently I around $3,000 left to raise to cover my expenses through my commitment with RAV.
- This February (Feb. 4th actually), I am celebrating 4 years free from self harm! This is a huge victory for me as it comes following 8 years of struggling in silence. I am finally in a place where I feel like I have the freedom to share my journey and have already been able to minister to other through my story, which is really encouraging. Jesus is the great redeemer!!
- Protection over mind, body, and spirit. As I have begun working more closely with women in prostitution and have been hearing their stories and learning about this industry more, I have noticed the toll that it has taken on my body and my mind. It is hard to exist around so much corruption and filth without becoming discouraged. Please pray that the Lord continues to show me His hand in all of this.
I would love to know how I can be praying for you and your family!
With Love in Christ,
Morgan
