Intentional Partnership Tuesday...

Hello, friends!

Here's hoping you had a lovely Thanksgiving full of food, fun, family, and football. Oh, and if you got some shopping in there too, more power to you. =0). We are back from a wonderful week in SoDak visiting with Meg's side of the family.

Friends, have you noticed that the "days" surrounding Thanksgiving have become more numerous in past years? First it was Thanksgiving Day, which makes sense. After that, it's Black Friday. After Black Friday comes Small Business Saturday. I don't think there's anything for Sunday but Cyber Monday comes next. Then we end up here, on Giving Tuesday.

Look, I am all for good marketing and I totally get it. Black Friday is about getting a good deal for your Christmas gifts. American Express wants people to shop locally so they created Small Business Saturday. The online retailers decided to get in on the action for Cyber Monday. Then the non-profit sector hopped on the train for Giving Tuesday. It's the end of the year and folk are looking to maximize their charitable contributions so it makes total sense.

The thing for me is this: my new role next year is going to be a Regional Coordinator focused on Ministry Partnership Development. A big part of my job is going to changing the culture of Ministry Partnership Development in our Region so we can avoid the trap of thinking of it as a chore or something we need to do in order to get on campus but rather as an act of worship, a part of our ministry, and mutual blessing to us as well as our partners. I'm not sure how Giving Tuesday fits into that culture change.

What I really want to see is Intentional Partnership Tuesday. For ministry partners, I don't want your inbox to be flooded with emails asking you to give today, only for you to forget where you gave because there were so many requests. For staff, I don't want us to get into the habit of relying on marketing to bring in money when what we should really desire is the opportunity to cast vision and partner with those we know to bring the Gospel to every corner of the campus. I want our partnerships to be relational and worshipful, not just transactional.

So, here is my proposal:
- IF YOU ARE A MINISTRY PARTNER: If you choose to give to a particular cause or ministry, would you also prayerfully consider partnering with that cause or ministry beyond today? Maybe it means becoming a monthly donor. Maybe it means volunteering. Maybe it means telling your friends about where you're giving so you can give too. The key is to see if there are ways that your giving can turn into tangible partnership.
- IF YOU ARE STAFF: Pray for your ministry partners as you send out your emails. Make sure you have a plan for follow up if folk do choose to give. Write thank you notes and make sure they get Christmas cards. Be sure to add new partners to your address book so you don't forget the wonderful gift they've committed to you. Let's make sure we're caring for our partners well.

If you feel so inclined and would like to partner with the work that Meg and I are doing with InterVarsity, perhaps I could direct your attention to the Mid-Missouri Scholarship fund. Each Year, this fund helps send dozens of students to various InterVarsity conferences at reduced cost, allowing them to enjoy all that God has for them without having to worry about the finances. We have a plethora of conferences in the Spring while we are on Sabbatical, for White, Black, Asian American, LatinX, and international students, as well as conferences in Anaheim for students who want to plant new ministries and for students who want to be missionaries in the Greek system on their campus. We'd love for you to consider partnering with us through the scholarship fund. I promise we'll follow up well. =0).

CLICK HERE TO PARTNER    

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Big News from the Leongs!!!

Hello, friends!

For your viewing pleasure, please watch the video below. If you'd rather read the text, it's below the video.

Have an excellent day!

Go (North) west, young family! 

When Adam first moved to Columbia in 2007, the best piece of advice he got from a veteran staff was that if he wanted to be successful in a new place, he needed to completely adopt his new town as his own. Adam bought into that idea and for the past 10+ years, Columbia has been home. It has been a home full of great joy, great pain, great triumphs, and great trials, but it has been home nonetheless.

After spending our first year of marriage in St. Louis, we moved to CoMO and here we've found a church home and community, started a family, and seen God do amazing things in the lives of college students here in Mid-Missouri. God has been really good to us here but after much prayer and discernment, we have decided that in 2018, we will be moving to Omaha, Nebraska. The thought of leaving is hard but we are expectant for what God has for us for this new season of life.

What's Next?

We aren't totally sure of the details yet but there are a few things that we do know. We know we'll be moving to Omaha sometime in early 2018. We know that we will still be working for InterVarsity but in slightly different capacities than what we are doing now. We know that Megan will continue to influence the International Student Ministry in our Region and that Adam will be working with Ministry Partnership Development for our Region. We know that we are thankful that we will be closer to Meg's side of the family in South Dakota.

What now?

For now, there are still a lot of details to cover. We are in the process of buying a house in Omaha and getting ready to move. We are finishing up our ministry responsibilities here in CoMO and beginning the hand-off of tasks to the staff who will be taking over. We are also preparing to take a Sabbatical in the first part of 2018, so we can focus on moving and getting established in our new community. 

Until Then?

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for a big transition. Saying goodbye, not just to ministry but also to community will be hard. While we are excited about what God has for us for the future, we still want to stay fully present where we are.

Have an excellent day!

~The Leongs

The Updates are Coming, The Updates are Coming!!!

Hello, friends!

Happy November to you all! As the calendar and the leaves turn, we are one day closer to one of the greatest of all the Fall traditions. It's more satisfying than Thanksgiving dinner. It's more fun than the Macy's parade. It's more impactful than a day of college football... That's right, Meg and I are getting ready to send our end of the year update and partnership ask. Get excited!!! =0).

Friends, if you're reading this blog, you probably already get our updates by email and/or by mail. Thank you so much for being a part of the team and for all of your love, support, and partnership. But maybe you've moved recently and have to update your address? Maybe you have a friend or two who you think would be blessed by learning more about the work that we do with InterVarsity. Maybe you'd like to get some snail mail this holiday season THAT MAY OR MAY NOT INCLUDE A PHOTO OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. If that's you, please take a second to fill out the form below.

As, always, have an excellent day!

~Adam