The week, the work, and me

This week has been very busy, but I'd rather be busy than bored. Laura and I have been working hard to create a fun and productive curriculum for the spring semester of drama classes. Laura has been doing a great job of reading tons of plays and narrowing down the list possible source material. We are both very excited and optimistic about the future of this program, but the responsibilities of a teacher are immense. (God bless you if you are teacher of any kind). We currently have short parable plays we've written for the younger students and some David Ives, Gospel dramas, etc. for the high school students. This leaves the middle school group. They are a hard group to find decent material for, so if you have any suggestions let us know. All this while continually support raising.

Support raising has been fun and aggravating all at the same time. I love asking for prayer support, but find it horribly difficult to talk about money. My co-workers have been great encouragers through this process, and God continues to provide for Laura and I in so many ways. So if you're reading this and haven't gotten a call from me it's probably because every time I pick up the phone to call you I press 9 to dial out then sit there dreading the idea of mentioning money. I know God wants me here and I see the need all around me, but then I hang up. Someone told me it might be because I am man and we have a hard time asking for money. If that's true I'll have my wife call you. I think God is just growing my faith and conquering my pride. I mean I grew up in Cleveland hating Pittsburgh and now I'm thinking about rooting for the Steelers in the Superbowl, talk about God breaking down walls.

Outside of Urban Impact Laura and I have both kept busy with theatre. I am currently finishing up a Children's Show of Sword in the Stone at the Gemini Theatre and opening a Quantum theatre show called Mouth to Mouth. I go from playing Merlyn, an ancient white bearded wizard, to Phillip, a young careless 15 year old. As for Laura she has been working with The Pittsburgh CLO's educational theatre going to schools performing the innovations of Pittsburgh. If you ever wonder what great things came out of Pittsburgh just ask her and she can sing you a song about the Polio vaccine.

Prayer Requests:
Feel free to pray for more things than these

Thursday we have our first drama class.

Support Raising.

Middle School material for drama class.

How I got here and a glimpse at the story.

In August I was married to my beautiful wife and soon moved to Pittsburgh. On arrival I felt like illegal alien, hiding my Cleveland heritage from the now Super Bowl bound Steelers Country. Not knowing a soul other then my new wife and our Great Aunt Dot, I began praying for God to open and close door for me. And this is where the journey began...

We started going to church on the North Side, an area stricken by poverty and crime. Soon after we began attending my wife got wind of a drama organization in need of volunteers. The Urban Impact Performing Arts Department sent a call to local churches asking for volunteers to help with their Choir and Drama classes. With time to spare, my wife and I answered and began volunteering. As the doors opened and God guided volunteering became leading and leading became working.

So now I am a missionary! In Pittsburgh? Yes, on the North Side of the Steel City. I am blistering with excitement about the impact God is going to have on these kids and how he is already using my wife and I in the process. I am now planning and teaching four Drama Classes at the Performing Arts Academy, designing for the performing arts, continuing to volunteer with the choir, and raising support for Laura and I while we are North Side missionaries. This is exciting and God has already blessed so much of it, and I am happy to say I am almost 1/3 of the way through support raising.

You may ask, "What can I do to help?" First of all PRAY, PRAY, PRAY. This is the best place to start. To know that you are praying for my wife and I and our ministry blesses us more than a money ever would or will. If you want to give, it will help, but please remember us in your prayers. If you want to give some time, money, equipment, etc. let me know I'm sure Urban Impact will put it to good use. Also if you have any questions or want specific prayer requests from me or Urban Impact this is a great place to ask for them.

All in all, keep in touch and us in your prayers.

Thank you all

On this page I will show and tell you the latest and greatest updates in my life from working with Urban Impact, professional theatre, life with the wife, and everything else that happens. I will also be posting ways that you can help in Laura's and my ministry: prayer requests, finacial support, volunteering, etc.

enjoy and be blessed