Dear Praying Friends,

Did you know that this list now contains more than 400 email addresses? It is so encouraging for us to know that each Wednesday there are at least 400 people who receive an email and read it (hopefully!) and pray for us (double hopefully!).

Each year, at Envision Berlin, we go through several different stages of review and planning for the coming year. We will do a quarterly retrospective, reviewing the quarter we just finished (in this case, quarters - since our home assignment schedule made a Q3 retrospective challenging!). We will have a strategy meeting with our Envision national office leaders, and will also have several planning meetings at our site to plan our programs (and publishing/media projects) for the coming year.

We also ask each person to complete a Personal and Professional Growth and Development Plan.

Does that sound like a lot? It kind of is - but over time we have found these processes to be helpful in developing a mindset of small and consistent growth over time. We are trying to develop, as Nietzsche wrote and Eugene Peterson borrowed, "long obedience in the same direction." This planning has been occupying my thoughts and prayer time for the last week(s).

We also have the opportunity to speak at Crown in February - and need to finalize our messages for our time there. Could you please pray for us as we do that in the coming weeks? We are excited to have the chance to speak on campus and want to challenge young people to continue to take next steps in their journey with God. We will have 5 messages, a debriefing, and a Q&A time.

And!! Tomorrow we fly to visit Elissa's parents at their new home in Florida! We are excited to see them again. We will be doing some of our writing as we enjoy a warmer climate.

Here are some other prayer requests:

1. Our daughter Johannah started a new job this week! Please pray for her to be able to get full-time hours consistently at her new workplace!
2. Pray for safe travel for Elissa and I (you have been praying overtime for this request over the last months!)
3. Pray for sensitivety to the Holy Spirit as we plan for the coming year.
4. Pray for us to hear what God wants us to share with the students at Crown.
5. Pray for ongoing financial support.

Thank you for your prayers!

Blessings,

mike