Christmas Greetings

Greetings from Yoe, PA, and blessings to you this Christmas.

The end of December is a wonderful time to give thanks to God for all that he has done throughout the year. I hope that in the midst of the busyness of the season, you remember that Emmanuel – God with us – became a man to journey with us.

Illustration of a Journey
When I think of a journey, I am reminded of my journey home from Kansas to Pennsylvania like the one I drove a few months ago. Before I leave, I always check my driving directions to make sure I know the way to go. Then, to keep the drive from being too exhausting, I plan stops along the way – to sleep, to refuel, to eat. And I celebrate steps along the journey. I set off driving to St. Louis. When I pass St. Louis, I say, "OK, let’s go to Indianapolis," and so on, until I get home, one leg of the journey at a time. While the journey is broken into these manageable steps, I continue on the right path continuing in the path already begun.

Driving home not that unlike the journey of life. (Go ahead, read my description of a journey again, and see how it compares with how we live life.) Let me share with you some of the highlights from my journey in 2007:

Ministry Preparation
I have just finished the first semester of my final year at Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. It feels good to be know graduation is in sight (May 11). What a journey the last three and a half years have been! The scores of hours in classes, hundreds of pages of papers written, and thousands of pages of books read – although a lot of work – have served to equip me for full-time ministry in ways unimaginable when I first moved to Kansas City.

In April I became a licensed minister in the Church of the Nazarene on the Mid-Atlantic District. Receiving my district license is the next step in the journey toward ordination and long-term missionary service.

Church Involvement
I have been involved at Overland Park Church of the Nazarene in a variety of ways, especially in the English as a Second Language (ESL) ministry. Each Wednesday night I teach a class of about 15-20 people from all over the world – China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Bulgaria – who wish to improve their English skills. Some of them are involved in churches in the area, for others, this is the only exposure they have to Christianity. In either case, this is an opportunity we have as a church to demonstrate Christ’s love and acceptance to them, helping them know the ins and outs of life in America. I am also involved in the ESL Sunday School class in which we explain the truths of the Gospel message in simple English. The students who regularly attend the Sunday School class are relatively new Christians, to whom the message is still new.

Family
My dad (Jeff) continues to work for LASA and drive school bus. He also continues to play a big part in the video ministry at church. Mom (Lynda) continues to work in the church library and teach the 4-year-old Sunday School class at Stillmeadow Church of the Nazarene. My brother Joseph is in his third year of college. He just participated in a Semester in Gettysburg program for history majors, where he had the opportunity to be immersed in studying the Civil War. He will be returning to York College in January.

In October, I went home to Pennsylvania to celebrate my grandma’s birthday. We hosted an open house for her birthday. Family, friends, and neighbors stopped by to celebrate her 90-year journey. I am home in Pennsylvania for Christmas and New Year’s. (Click on here to see pictures.)

A Shortened Journey
This year I have been reminded that how we live on the journey is as important as the destination at which we hope to arrive. In the summer, Anamaria Campean, a Romanian friend in the US studying social work, was diagnosed with cancer. After fighting the battle with cancer for four difficult months, Anamaria – the same age as I am – went home to be with her Savior the night before Thanksgiving.

Living in Lenexa
I continue to live with Derl and Karen Keefer in Lenexa, Kansas. In fact, 2007 is the first year since my high school graduation that my address did not change! As you may recall, the Keefers had two cats, Matthew and Marilla. (Click here for pictures.) In October, Marilla passed away. I work with Derl at Nazarene Headquarters, and Karen works as the seminary accountant.

Working at Nazarene Headquarters
For the past three years, I have been working at Nazarene Headquarters. In February, the General Board voted to expand the name from "Sunday School Ministries" to "Sunday School & Discipleship Ministries International." Let me tell you, our new name just rolls right off the tongue when answering the phone!

Nazarene Headquarters is currently in the process of building a new facility in Lenexa, Kansas – about 15 miles west of the current location. The new Global Ministry Center will be less than 2 ½ miles from where I live.

Post-Graduation Plans
After graduation on May 11, 2008, I plan to remain in the Kansas City area for a few months, working at Nazarene Headquarters. I’m not yet sure of the exact timetable, but in late 2008 or during 2009, I plan to return to Romania as a volunteer missionary through the Church of the Nazarene’s Mission Corps program. I plan to stay in Romania for 4-5 years as a volunteer. The ministry experience there will aid in the process toward ordination.

Staying Connected
As my plans become more concrete, I will keep you updated about my journeys and post information at my new blog, jepjon.blogspot.com. I’ve just created this page, so there’s not much there yet. It’s just one of the ways I hope to stay connected with friends around the world.