March

 I can’t believe that it is already March 1^st… We are entering my favorite time of year.  March is my favorite month not just because I will turn 37 on the 16^th (wow 37).  I must confess that the older I get the less excited I get about the birthday thing.  It’s the most wonderful time of the year because of March Madness, not just because I love college basketball (which I do) but it’s because I love what it has meant to me.  It was always Father and Son time, my Dad and I would grab our brackets fill them out and set out on the journey of watching our Kentucky Wildcats try to win another National Championship (they have 7).   We started by watching the games, then we would talk about the games, and then we'd end up outside on our red clay court playing our own game (I can still remember the first time I ever beat my Dad in one on one it was a huge moment in my life). While I was dreaming of basketball glory he was dreaming of making his young son a man.

     Today I have the same dreams of growing strong, healthy, Christ-following children.  I want to make those lasting memories that shape the lives of my girls.  They probably won't be made by watching or playing basketball with them as it was for me . In fact to this point it has been eating a lot of imaginary food that they have made, listening to music, reading stories and watching many movies together over and over....and over again.  I am realizing that watching Souls Surfer or Lady and the Tramp for the 600^th time is the same to my girls as March Madness is to me. . . It’s just time with Dad.  Time to build confidence, faith and trust in their lives.  Little moments to as best as I can model the love of their Heavenly Father.

    

     At the end of the NCAA Basketball Championship, o the first Monday of April each yea,r they play a song called “One Shining Moment” (I am actually listening to it as I write) more times than not it moves me to tears not because my team won or lost but because I remember the many “Shining Moments”  I had and still have with my Dad.

Thanks Dad for March Madness. Go Cats!

Oh sorry I have to go. . . Soul Surfer is on. . . I’m coming Jalin & Abby

Called...

   Amanda and I are so blessed to be the parents of two beautiful little girls, Jalin Noelle and Abby Jenae.  It is amazing to see their faith in action, as we prepare to plant with Crossroads Church. Both of the girls have fallen in love with Lafayette and all things Cajun; including Beignets, Crawfish, and Alligator.  They have emabraced cheering for the New Orleans Saints and they absolutely love Pastor Jeff and Donna.  It has thrilled our hearts that they have felt so at home here, but what has been most amazing to us is that they are understanding of the calling on our lives… Yes, I said OUR lives. Even at this young age, they have come to the understanding that God did not just choose Amanda and I, but our whole family.  Jalin (7) is a worshiper and a soul winner who longs to be wise in God’s eyes. Abby (4) prays all the time and is filled with faith.  I am humbled and amazed at our girls.  They love Lafayette, but they can't wait to get to New Orleans to, as Jalin says, “help people love Jesus”.  She has said several times that "it's not that people don't love Jesus they just don’t know him yet."  How true is that? If you know him you can not help but love Him.

May they always be so passionate...

May I always be...

-Jason

Our Heart...

On January 5th Amanda and I celebrated 11 years of marriage and it was also the one year anniversary of the day we moved back to Louisiana to prepare to plant a church in New Orleans. As our close friends and family, I’d  like to let you in on this exciting time in our life and ministry. Each one of you have impacted us in some way. Some of you have helped grow and mature us spiritually as kids, some have been High School classmates, some have been a part of past ministry opportunities, but all are friends and mean a great deal to us.

We are so blessed to be called to the great city of New Orleans. Over the years I have always felt a strong draw to the "Big Easy.” Many of the most influential people in my life have come from South Louisiana and/or the city of New Orleans: Mel Rolls, Roger Brumbalow, Shell Osbon, and my mentor Jeff Ables are all from this area and I have been privileged to have been under their ministries. It seems that the Lord was giving me these divine appointments to begin to birth a love for our future home before the opportunity presented itself. And now my family and I are anxiously awaiting the day when we can officially call New Orleans, HOME.

In April of 2005 Amanda and I moved from Lafayette, LA to Califonia.  A few short months later, we watched with the nation as Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed an area that we had grown to love. With tears running down our faces we felt an immense desired to return to Louisiana and in particular New Orleans to be a part of the hand of God extended to lost people at the Crossroads of life in the "City that Care forgot".

We give thanks to the Lord that the cry of our hearts is not only being heard but answered. We are partnering with Pastor Jeff Ables and Crossroads Church in Lafayette, LA to plant a satellite church in New Orleans. I write today in hopes that you would consider partnering with us on this journey. Above all we need your prayers in the following areas:

-Please pray for New Orleans, that God would begin to open up the hearts and the minds of the people we want to reach and that He’d give us opportunity around every corner.

-Please pray that God will give us great favor and open up the doors to a facility in the right area. 

-Please pray for the team members that we will need to launch this plant.

-Please pray for a smooth and easy transition for our family. Jalin (7) and Abby (4) will be starting in a new school this fall and a we will be searching for a new home. 

This is the biggest step of faith we've ever taken and we are honored to be a part of the work that God is going to do.

For New Orleans

For Christ

-Jason