January

HAPPY NEW YEARS FRIENDS!
After being in Michigan for two weeks for Christmas, I have returned to Georgia, and I have jumped into a lot of exciting things happening here at AIM!
 
Right before leaving for Christmas I was asked by a friend of mine, who works for the Kingdom Dreams department at AIM, if I would be willing to be a coach for a small group of World Racers for an event called Project: Searchlight.
 
I realize, that if you are reading this and you don’t work at AIM, this probably doesn’t mean anything. 
It is filled with AIM phrases and jargon that no one outside of AIM would ever use in a sentence.  So, I  want to briefly introduce you to the AIM programs that I mentioned above: Kingdom  Dreams, The World Race, and Project: Searchlight. 
 
Kingdom Dreamsis a program designed to help people identify a dream, or calling, that the Lord has for them, and take steps to see that dream/calling come into maturity.  It is designed to help those who haven’t discovered their kingdom dream identify what that their dream may be.  And it helps those who have identified their dream, develop steps that will help them move toward reaching their dream.  Kingdom Dreams provides tools, resources, and coaching in order to help you flourish in the dream that the Lord has for you.
 
The World Raceis an 11-month mission trip designed for 21-35 year olds. The World Race participants travel to 11 different countries over 11 months, going to “serve the least of these” around the world.  They leave their earthly possessions, and the traditional American lifestyle, in order to experience the nature of God’s kingdom while living and serving in community with others.
 
Project: Searchlightis a week-long workshop designed for those who have been on the WorldRace and have returned, not knowing exactly what to do with their life post-Race. Many Racersreturn to the  US, after having spent a year overseas, living a very different way of life, and are confident that they  want to continue living a radical Christ centered life, but are simply unsure where or how to best serve.  Project: Searchlight is about helping these participants take practical steps towards the next thing that  God has for them.  Project: Searchlight provides teaching, training, and personal coaching in order to  empower these young leaders to keep moving forward towards the dream that God has for their life.
 
Right before leaving for Christmas, a friend of mine, who works for the Kingdom Dreams department at AIM, asked me if I would be willing to be a coach for a small group of World Racers for Project: Searchlight.  It would take place the 2^nd week of January. I agreed to help, and let me tell you, what a privilege it was!
 
We had an incredible week!!! I was honored to be able to coach and walk alongside this group of World Racers…to hear their stories, help them process, help them identify their dreams, help them develop steps to move toward their dreams, and launch into amazing kingdom work.  It brought ME so much life! 
 
The first night I came home from coaching, I told my friend, “I know I am just volunteering to coach with Project: Searchlight, but I feel like this is what I was created to do! ” 

Last Friday, I received a call, from the head of the Kingdom Dreams department, asking me if I would consider joining their team.  To make it even better, my current supervisor, who I needed to seek permission from in order to change departments, not only gave me his blessing to do so, but said that that’s where he saw me moving the whole time.  It was his also his desire for me to join Kingdom Dreams.  Needless to say, I am incredibly excited!
 
I will be joining the Kingdom Dreams team, and I will be taking a few different responsibilities.  First of all, I will be working to follow up with over 100 of the World Racers who participated in Project: Searchlight, providing care and support and continuing to help them move forward in pursuing their kingdom dream/calling. In addition to providing Project: Searchlight, Kingdom Dreams has a travelling team that travels the US, meeting with people to talk about their dreams, and offering workshops.  I will be the Kingdom Dreams in-house liaison to offer support with logistics, setting up venues, and building a strong prayer team for them.
 
Being the Dreams Team In House representative is also a very natural fit: just this week I called to check in on the traveling team to simply see how they were doing, and was able to help them find someone to stay with during their travels in Florida.  It was great to be able to help them, but looking at it now…it’s a wonderful when the things that naturally do ecomes your job.  And lastly, in terms of my role, the Kingdom Dreams team has decided to start a new tour in April and May.  This tour will be focused on college campuses!  So, the KD team is going to have me traveling with the team during April and May, talking about Kingdom Dreams with college students…  I don’t think this job could get any better!!!
 
To top it all off…
When I first moved to work at AIM in May, I had a desire to start a women’s community house in which young women who worked for AIM would be able to be discipled and live in community together.   I wanted to have a house that was a place for not only for women to live in community, but also a place that offered radical hospitality to others.  My only dilemma was that I just didn’t have what I needed to make this a reality: I needed to have a house (without having much money).  I needed to have women to disciple.   AND I needed these women to have a heart for discipleship, community, and hospitality.  A lot to ask right?  Not for God! 
 
During Project: Searchlight many of the women that I was coaching came up to me and told me that they would be moving to Gainesville to take an apprenticeship with AIM, but they weren’t sure what to do about housing.  They wanted to live in community and they also wanted to be mentored, and they were wondering if I might be willing to mentor them if they moved to Gainesville.  So, I knew it was time to start looking for a house. 
 
I looked at quite a few houses, but none of them seemed to be ideal.  And yet, there was one house, less than a mile down the road from AIM’s headquarters that was “for rent” that I could not get out of my mind.  I had even called about the house the week prior, just to see how much the rent was, and knew there was no way I could ever afford it. However, a week later, I called to see if I could meet with the property manager, just see the inside of the house.   On my way there, I prayed that somehow, someway, that miraculously the owner would take a lower offer, even though he had said the number was firm.  Well, it just so happened that at the SAME TIME I was driving and praying about the house, the owner of the house called the property manager and said, “I have changed my mind, I might be willing to come down in price.”  So, I made a lower offer, the owner accepted, and as of March 1^st we will be moving into this house!  God is so good!
 
We currently have 5 of the 6 women needed to fill the house, so if you want to join me in praying for the house, and to find a 6^th roommate, I would greatly appreciate it.  Last time I sent a newsletter, I asked you to pray about my housing situation…and look what happened!   Your prayers and financial support are truly making a difference! If you would be interested in partnering with me in prayer, I would love if you would pray for a) our community house, b) my new role at AIM, and my ministry there, and c) for monthly financial partners to join with me in this ministry.  If you would be interested in partnering with me financially, there are two ways you can do so: 1) You can do so online: simply go to http://julieengelsman.myadventures.organd click on the “support me!” link on the left hand side. 2) You can mail your tax deductible gift to PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353.  Please designate “Staff Support: Julie Engelsman” on your check.
Blessings to you in 2012,
Julie