Furey Fall 2015 update
J E S S E
A N D J E N N Y F U R E Y FA L L 2 0 1 5 U P D AT E
The Bonhoeffer Haus We have officially launched the Bonhoeffer Haus as a non-profit ministry dedicated to helping local churches train future church leaders through apprenticeships, theological development, and meaningful life together! We are really excited that God has brought us along the path He has and has given us this vision to see local churches planted, revitalized, and strengthened by the next generation of men and women trained through the Bonhoeffer Haus program. For the first few years of our ministry, I (Jesse) plan to focus on training Jonathan, Craig, and Michael while continuing to assist Isaac, our first Bonhoeffer Haus alumni who has recently planted Sojourn church in the nearby town of Floyd (see http://www.sojournfloyd.com/ for more about the church). Jonathan is apprenticing with Isaac in Floyd, while Craig and Michael are apprenticing with Bret (my best friend and our lead pastor at VBC) and I. These men have been a joy to work with and I am excited for the way that God is using them and growing them through their apprenticeships and training. Our hope is to connect more local churches together with more pastors who can and want to enter into meaningful mentorships with our trainees. We want to see local churches in our region coming together with a shared vision to invest in the next generation, and we believe that a shared vision like that can help unify churches in other ways as well. We’d love to see cross denominational prayer meetings and mission trips. To see churches supporting church plants outside of their affiliations. To see pastors with different theological leanings and backgrounds encouraging each other. And, in the future we hope to be able to offer training through the same three avenues (apprenticeships, theological development, and life together) to future missionaries and lay leaders as well.
Cru While focusing most of our efforts on the launch of the Bonhoeffer Haus, I am continuing to lead an upperclassmen men’s small group with the local Cru director (and my other best friend!) Jake, as well as teaching once or twice a semester in the large group meeting. I continue to love the students and being involved in the Cru movement, and we love the opportunity to prepare them for a lifelong walk with Jesus. Additionally, some of these student leaders will, we hope, be part of the next group of Bonhoeffer Haus trainees.
Our family We are enjoying these sweet (and often crazy) times with our kids all being so young and close together. They are becoming better and better friends with each other and are growing in their love for the Lord as well. One exciting aspect of family and home life you could be praying for is that we are planning to become foster parents to young children in need of a safe home. We have been through half of our 10 training sessions and our home study has already begun. By January or February we will be in the system as approved foster parents and we could receive a placement at any point after that. God has been putting foster care on our hearts for years, and we sensed Him moving us forward this year to be available...so we are! We are excited...and nervous! Our kids are already talking about how we are going to love whoever God brings into our family! Thank you for loving our family and supporting our ministry. You truly are part of our team and without you the work we are doing with the Bonhoeffer Haus and with Cru would not be possible!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Jesse and Jenny
1203 Farragut Drive Radford, VA 24141 ~ [email protected] ~ 540-641-3381
A N D J E N N Y F U R E Y FA L L 2 0 1 5 U P D AT E
The Bonhoeffer Haus We have officially launched the Bonhoeffer Haus as a non-profit ministry dedicated to helping local churches train future church leaders through apprenticeships, theological development, and meaningful life together! We are really excited that God has brought us along the path He has and has given us this vision to see local churches planted, revitalized, and strengthened by the next generation of men and women trained through the Bonhoeffer Haus program. For the first few years of our ministry, I (Jesse) plan to focus on training Jonathan, Craig, and Michael while continuing to assist Isaac, our first Bonhoeffer Haus alumni who has recently planted Sojourn church in the nearby town of Floyd (see http://www.sojournfloyd.com/ for more about the church). Jonathan is apprenticing with Isaac in Floyd, while Craig and Michael are apprenticing with Bret (my best friend and our lead pastor at VBC) and I. These men have been a joy to work with and I am excited for the way that God is using them and growing them through their apprenticeships and training. Our hope is to connect more local churches together with more pastors who can and want to enter into meaningful mentorships with our trainees. We want to see local churches in our region coming together with a shared vision to invest in the next generation, and we believe that a shared vision like that can help unify churches in other ways as well. We’d love to see cross denominational prayer meetings and mission trips. To see churches supporting church plants outside of their affiliations. To see pastors with different theological leanings and backgrounds encouraging each other. And, in the future we hope to be able to offer training through the same three avenues (apprenticeships, theological development, and life together) to future missionaries and lay leaders as well.
Cru While focusing most of our efforts on the launch of the Bonhoeffer Haus, I am continuing to lead an upperclassmen men’s small group with the local Cru director (and my other best friend!) Jake, as well as teaching once or twice a semester in the large group meeting. I continue to love the students and being involved in the Cru movement, and we love the opportunity to prepare them for a lifelong walk with Jesus. Additionally, some of these student leaders will, we hope, be part of the next group of Bonhoeffer Haus trainees.
Our family We are enjoying these sweet (and often crazy) times with our kids all being so young and close together. They are becoming better and better friends with each other and are growing in their love for the Lord as well. One exciting aspect of family and home life you could be praying for is that we are planning to become foster parents to young children in need of a safe home. We have been through half of our 10 training sessions and our home study has already begun. By January or February we will be in the system as approved foster parents and we could receive a placement at any point after that. God has been putting foster care on our hearts for years, and we sensed Him moving us forward this year to be available...so we are! We are excited...and nervous! Our kids are already talking about how we are going to love whoever God brings into our family! Thank you for loving our family and supporting our ministry. You truly are part of our team and without you the work we are doing with the Bonhoeffer Haus and with Cru would not be possible!! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Jesse and Jenny
1203 Farragut Drive Radford, VA 24141 ~ [email protected] ~ 540-641-3381
