cupoftea

Idumpedawholecupofteaintomycomputerandnowthespacebarandenterkeyarebusted.butthankGodiwasabletogetthefilesout.

help send emily to zimbabwe

Friends, I've been to Zimbabwe twice. At first, it seemed like an unlikely partnership, but both trips have been literally life-changing. Now, my amazing girlfriend electric Emily is going in April. (Editorial note: Emily made her decision to go independently of our relationship).

Here's Emily's support letter; let me know if you want to help send her to Zim!

Dear friends and family,

It’s with sheer excitement and anticipation that I write to you! A few months ago, I met with friends and was given the opportunity to join a team of young adults heading to Zimbabwe, Africa – a desire I’ve had for a many years. After prayerfully considering if this was God’s leading, I seized the opportunity to join the team with great enthusiasm!

Though I signed up with eagerness, I wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into. I have heard stories over the last few months from friends who have been a part of the Zimbabwe Missions team in the past, and was educated on the nation’s history and current state of affairs. Not a pretty picture to say the least.

Once a thriving nation and Africa’s “bread basket,” Zimbabwe has fallen hard during the rule of their corrupt president. With an AIDS epidemic seizing lives, extreme poverty, an economic collapse, a tragic youth crisis and a recent cholera outbreak, Zimbabwe is at the top of the world’s list in need of urgent rescue.

But hope is not lost.

Through Vital Connections, the long-standing ministry in Zimbabwe that has been sending teams from the States, Kingdom bridges have been built and have proved to withstand storms that continue to hit the nation. It is the message of hope that we take to Zimbabwe: “There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” (Proverbs 23:18)

The group I have the privilege of joining through Vital Connections and Kentwood Community Church will be sending our team out April 8th – April 23rd to Harare and Chinoyi, Zimbabwe. Our team will have the opportunity to participate in a number of service projects. We’ll be leading two youth weekend conferences for about 80-100 local men and women between 18 and 28 years old. As you’re probably aware of, I have a huge calling and passion for youth. I’m anxious to see the ways in which God challenges me and our team as we reach out to the youth of Zimbabwe.

We’ll also be traveling to local villages to work in feeding centers and orphanages, delivering much needed supplies. The team will be developing a children’s program that we can perform many times to connect with children and their families.

Our goal is to involve as many friends, family, and community members as possible for this missions project. Involvement will be in the form of support teams:

• Team members traveling to Zimbabwe: Josh, Chris, Andria, Deanne, Tim, Emily

• Prayer supporters

• Financial supporters

I don’t want to sound cliché, but prayer truly is the foundation in which this trip is possible. Our team wants to be following the Spirit’s direction in which He takes us—both before and during our time in Zimbabwe.

Because of this, we will need as many prayer supporters rallying for us in Christ.

Though our economy is tight, I strongly believe the Body can work together to do Kingdom work and continue to build this bridge to Zimbabwe. I humbly ask you for your financial support. I need to raise $2,500 to cover the cost of the trip. If you feel God leading you to support in this way, you can make out a check to Kentwood Community Church (with my name in the footnote) and send it to:

Kentwood Community Church

c/o Kim Rankens

1200 60th St Se

Kentwood, MI 49508

I want to thank you ahead of time in joining me on this great adventure Christ has impressed upon my heart.

Your friendship, prayer and financial support makes all this possible. I‘m eager to report back to you the ways in which Christ moved in the hearts of our team and the new friendships we will have in Zimbabwe.

In Christ,

Emily

short film article + party

Rapid Growth covered the short-film debut happening in downtown Grand Rapids next Thursday night. You're invited. Click here to check it out. If you want to sign up for our company updates, enter your email below.

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our latest short film trailer

Visit the GR Press blog to watch...

love: three-thousand-words

unexpected places

Much has happened in the last few months.

So many stories have become endangered of falling away, if not captured soon. Last night, after the show, I was thinking about my lack of focused prayer, but this morning, I’ve realized there have been so many answers.

My car beloved Jetta broke down. My sister gave me her car for Christmas. My friend Bobby Cheeks had given us an extra Mac that we couldn’t use at the office, so I wrapped it in a box and gave it to Ali for Christmas.

She had been praying for a Mac that week.

Another time, as I was leaving work, Doug, a neighbor from upstairs asked me where I was playing that night. We talked music for awhile (I was carrying my guitar; he’s a drummer), then he got up real close and stared into my eyes, slurring his speech, "You must have the Spirit of Christ."

"That's right," I said. He does too. He shared a bit of his testimony about his struggle with alcoholism and the hope he’s found in Christ. Then he gave me his white teddy bear, saying, "I don't know what to do, man. We need to hang out or something. That's all I have."

He asked me what I was doing that night, and I told him I was meeting up with my girlfriend. “Oh, you lucky dog,” Doug says, smirking.

“I know it,” I reply.

Later the next week I stopped to talk to him on the sidewalk outside the ministry. He introduced himself again. "Hi, I’m Doug. Have we met?" he said. "Yeah, we talked last weekend," I replied. "Was I hammered?" he asked.

"You had a few drinks in you," I reply.

But yet, the Spirit of Christ rests on him, regardless of the alcohol on his breath.

Another day, a man named Clay came into our office. Big and tall, in his 60’s with a graying beard and dark black skin and piercing eyes, he immediately informs me to not judge him by his appearance.

We talk about what we do, and he starts telling me about his passion.

“I’m a handyman by trade, but I love poetry. Christian poetry.”

I nod my head.

“Mind if I share some?” he asks politely.

I comply, and he looks directly in my eyes, explaining the piece is “taken from the book of Genesis.” His rich, deep voice speaks poetry for seven minutes with little pauses or mistakes. He rhymes clearly and simply about the Garden state, the fall, Eve taken from Adam’s ribs, obeying God’s commands and reconciliation through Christ.

After it’s over, I give him my card. He calls back the next day and we schedule a meeting.

On Monday he came in and he met the guys, calling them by name, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Matt and Mr. Derek,” and again, shares the seven minute poem with the guys. Then he starts telling his testimony of his adolescence somewhere in or near Chicago.

“When I was sixteen, five boys were selected go away who could read and write, but I couldn’t. You know, I cried about that. But then I was in my room, someone came in, and said there was a terrible car accident. Those five boys were killed just after they left, and I would’ve been the sixth if I could read and write,” he says.

“God saved my life. He’s just given me this poetry,” he says. “I know it’s from God.”

We record Clay’s poem in our studio on-camera, telling him we just need a record of it. “I know you aren’t trying to take advantage of me,” he says. “I can see it in your eyes.”

And perhaps, despite my lack of perseverance in prayer, I am privileged that Christ meets us in different places.

fiction family

Emily and Danimal and I checked out Fiction Family last night. It's Jon Foreman of Switchfoot and Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek. Seabird opened and were fantastic.

After the show, Jon and Sean held a Q&A in the auditorium, talking about their art. Jon said that if songs are real, music will traverse from the writer to listener, and vise-versa.

The music was tight. The inspiration was better.

mini-show this weekend

Dan and I are playing a few songs Saturday night for a show...

Date: Saturday, January 17
Time: 6 p.m.
Who: Jake Smith, Dan & Aaron, Little Tree Worship, Josiah Gentry.
Cost: $5

Keystone Eastside
2119 Lake Dr. SE, East Grand Rapids, MI 49506

Hope to see you!

words and emotions

Parking downtown isn't easy, but we have great metered parking on our side street. However, the city blocked four or five spots to make way for a trash dumpster and trucks and workers tearing up the space next door.

Last week, I was looking at the tag on one of the unusable meters.

It read, "The City of Grand Rapids Has Reserved This Space for: Quality Air."

"Quality Air?"

Immediately I started ranting inside my head about the loss of a great space and the underlying belief that eliminating one parking place is going to somehow save the city and the environment. People are going to drive, I reasoned, why waste a perfectly proximal space to my building?

Fireworks were blazing. I spewed to a few people about it.

Then, just now, on my short walk to drop a bill in the mail, a truck was parked in the space.

The side of the vehicle read, "Quality Air Heating/Cooling."

And I am a fool.

thanks everyone

Thanks to everyone who came out to Tour//Creo on Friday night.

We had a great turnout and a lot of fun celebrating the new space.

If you missed it, contact us to set up a time for your own tour.

rip: 1996-today

The Jetta died today.

(It's not technically "dead," but dangerous to drive and the fix-it bill is ridiculous.)

I'm still in shock. It hasn't sunk in. We've been through so much.

If anyone hears any amazing deals on crappy cars, let me know.

media: studio launch

The Business Review wrote this story on our studio launch. Remember to check out our launch party on Friday, December 12 from 6-10 p.m. at 40 S. Division, as seen below.