Greetings and Happy New Year!
What a year 2013 turned out to be! As is so common in our journey and walk with the Lord, I had no idea when 2013 began how it would end. It has been a wild ride with some unexpected but most welcome twists and turns; the Lord has provided extravagantly, and I am inexpressibly grateful. Thank you for supporting in prayer and finances over this past year! Without your support, none of this would have been possible.
Here’s my 2013 at a glance:
- Received the all clear from my cardiologist (essentially putting an end cap on the heart-surgery season, December 2012)
- Believed that the timing was right to transition from full-time work to full-time ministry (Spring 2013)
- Heard about and felt led by God to apply to the Levite Praise Institute – a 2 month music/worship program being held in Germany – as an intense time of strategic preparation and equipping for the season ahead (July)
- Sent out my initial support letter, and was accepted to the Levite Praise Institute (LPI) (August)
- Received speedy provision, quit my job, and flew to Germany (August)
- Spent 9 life-changing weeks in Herrnhut, Germany, living at the Jesus-Haus and attending the Levite Praise Institute – see blog post here and previous entries for updates from my time there (September/October)
- Arrived home in Bellingham with renewed vision for the season ahead (November)
- Hit the ground running, working part time, while planning a top-secret (and last minute) trip to China to surprise my mother
- Hopped on a plane to China the day after Thanksgiving and spent a precious week with my parents and sister, celebrating both my parents’ birthdays and an early family Christmas (December)
- Returned home in the midst of the holidays and roommates moving out and new ones moving in (December/January 2014)
So, what does life look like now? I’m pressing on towards the goal of serving full time at Light of the World Prayer center as Worship Director. I am working part-time (thankful for the stable income), and am currently serving at LOWPC about 20 hours a week. I lead/participate in prayer and worship meetings (6 2-hour meetings weekly), staff meetings, and planning meetings for a 7 week summer internship (for which I will be doing much of the administration). Other things that I will do when I’m full-time in the house include facilitating our monthly 24 hour worship events, building/training worship teams and sound/tech teams, and networking/building relationship with worship leaders around Whatcom County to serve them and foster unity.
In addition to time spent in worship and intercession in the prayer room, LOWPC staff all have some sort of out-flow or service area. I’ve been dreaming for the past couple of years about teaching music lessons – guitar, piano, and music theory – especially to those who want to play for worship. It’s a place that I can sow into a generation (of all ages!) of worshipers, equipping the body of Christ with skillful, passionate, worshiping musicians. While working full-time, I didn’t have the time to do any teaching. Now, however, I do have time, and already have one steady student. The time at LPI reminded me how much I love teaching music and gave me a leg-up on content. I’d like to have 10-15 students taking weekly group or private lessons. This is a key prayer request as it has the potential to provide a portion of my needed income. Do you know of any worship team students to introduce to me? Please send them my way!
I am prayerfully hoping to move from part time work to full time ministry by mid-spring (April?) of 2014. In order to do this, LOWPC would like me to have a monthly support base of at least $1000 (of which I currently have about 25%), and 5-10 students taking weekly lessons. Please first join me in prayer for wisdom in how to do this! I have many ideas but want to lay a solid foundation on which to build something sustainable. I’m in this for the long haul! These transitional months promise to be busy, as planning and networking take time and brain-power on top of what I am already committed to at work and at LOWPC. I want to find and keep a place of balance, with the first thing (relationship with Christ!) in the first place, and doing everything else from the overflow of connecting with His heart and hearing His voice.
Again, thank you for your support, giving of your time in prayer and of your finances! Giving through LOWPC is tax-deductible and a year-end receipt will be provided. If you would consider being a part of my monthly support team, please let me know! I have included addresses and links for giving below. If you have any prayer requests, please send them to me – I would love to pray for you! I’ll be sending quarterly support and prayer updates. In addition, I would love to connect with you face to face (or Skype/Google Hangout) to share more in-depth about this past 6 months and the road ahead.
May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace (Numbers 6:24-26)! May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2)!
Tax deductable giving through LOWPC
By Mail – send to:
Light of the World Prayer Center
PO Box 31037
Bellingham, WA 98228
* Make checks to “LOWPC”. Please do NOT write my name anywhere on the check, but insert a note directing funds to Vanessa Smith.
Online (PayPal):
http://lowpc.org/donate/
* When giving online, please include a message in the PayPal notes directing funds to Vanessa Smith.
Giving directly to me – no tax receipt
By Mail – send to:
Vanessa Smith
107 Alexa Ln
Lynden, WA 98264
A Journey of the Heart 