kellyphelan.com » Durban

A big request!

Kelly — Thu, 20 May 2010 03:44:55 +0000

I’m moving to Durban in less than a week! How crazy is that! Time has flown by. I remember sitting in my missions pastor’s office talking about Durban for the first time over eight months ago but what seems like just yesterday.

My mind was spinning with the possibility of me serving as an international missionary building a campus of The Life Church in Durban. The idea had just begun taking shape and here I am eight months later about to leave. I sometimes can’t believe that I get the opportunity to do this!

I know it won’t be the easiest experience. It won’t be all downhill. But it will be a life changing year. I have made this commitment and am fully and wholeheartedly relying on God through it. He is the only one who gives Life and who sustains me. It is because of Him and for Him that I live life to the fullest!

It is with that knowledge that I ask you to partner with me on this trip. I have a financial goal of $17,000 for the year. At this moment, I still need $7,077. That’s less than half my goal! I am looking to have all this by this weekend, Friday May 21st. It’s a huge goal but I believe it is possible.

Will you think about how you can be involved? What about a financial donation to help send me on this internship? This is a great opportunity to donate especially if you have been thinking about it. C’mon! What’s stopping ya!?

Here are the various ways you can donate:

**Make a check payable to “Go Global Missions” with my name in the memo line

Drop the check off at The Life Church or mail it to:

Go Global Missions
1800 N. Germantown Pkwy.
Cordova, TN 38016

**You can also make a payment online by visiting Go Global Missions website.

Select your desired donation frequency and amount
Select my name in the Area box
Continue following PayPal prompts

Make sure to send me your email so I can send you updates throughout the year!

Durban skyline

Kids ministry space at the Durban campus

Kelly — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 03:39:04 +0000

Last time I showed you pictures of the main level for The Life Church of Durban. This next picture was taken upstairs of the Next Generation ministries space:

The church campus needs renovation in order to hold services and that includes the space for the children’s ministry. Guys from the Friday night Bible Study and friends from another church helped paint some of the rooms. There is more work to be done so I know I’ll get my fair share! It is so exciting thinking about all the details that are taking place. Not too long from now we will be holding our kids ministry in those very rooms!

This is so exciting for me because my heart definitely lies in kids ministry. I started teaching Sunday School for two and three-year-olds when I was only in middle school. Now, I am on a team of coordinators for the Nursery/Preschool here at The Life Church. We do everything from teaching in classrooms to coordinating the Nursery/Preschool classrooms and services. It is one of my favorite times in church. I have so much fun imparting life and His love to all the kids that come into the classrooms. It’s also a lot of fun doing life with my team! To think that I will be a part of building this for The Life Church of Durban is so honoring and thrilling!

The Life Church of Durban campus!

Kelly — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 13:02:42 +0000

The Life Church of Durban has a home!

Not long ago, we leased a building for the location of the Durban church. It’s a very exciting time! In six weeks I’ll finally be able to see it for myself. For now, I’ll be relaying information from Greg and Kristin Evans the church planters in Durban. A recent blog post from Kristin describes the details of the campus location…

We started renovations in new (old) building that will be The Life Church of Durban! The address is 30 Cato Street, Durban, South Africa – to see on Googlemaps, click here. (Isn’t technology INCREDIBLE!!)

As you can see, we are near the beach and the port. Very fun location! All around us are tall buildings with flat/apartments in them. Just down the street a new night club just moved in this week and we’ve already seen the other night life that comes out at night. Plenty of outreach opportunities all around us!

I know this move will be a complete change of life for me. It won’t be a 9:00-5:00 job that’s for sure. The building where we will meet is not a new building but is new to us. We have three floors and from what I remember the first floor is a lobby, the second is the auditorium and the third floor is for the Next Generation ministry. These pictures were taken by Greg. Kassie (fellow intern) shared them on her blog a few weeks ago. The pictures show the middle floor pre-renovations.

The space requires renovations for us to use it as we would like. Some friends and contacts of Greg and Kristin have started to help with the work. My next post will include some of those details along with my favorite…the Next Generation ministry space!

Why I’m going to Durban and what you are giving towards

Kelly — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:16:38 +0000

Every year our church hosts a conference called Make Room. It’s an amazing, jammed packed weekend of strategic principles and resources for building your local church. We go all out to host pastors, leaders and church staff to provide them with anything and everything to help their church succeed. There are so many great elements to the conference – it’s hard to not be involved in everything.

Last year Greg and Kristin Evans came for a short trip to the States during this conference. This year Greg is in town. It is so refreshing to see Greg! I already equate him with my African home. I can’t wait to move!

Seeing Greg definitely makes me more excited to move to Durban. I only saw him briefly last night but we were already talking about what is in the mix for The Life Church Durban campus.

Reality hit a little bit closer tonight. And not necessarily in a home-sweet-home kind of way.

It was more of a put-on-the-gloves-ready-to-fight kind of stirring.

At first, Greg started sharing about the different opportunities for ministry. The possibilities here and there. The different groups we could work with. What we could work towards for the future. Then the conversation turned into personal stories from people’s lives through various encounters he had.

He started talking about the fact that every day he encounters prostitutes. Child prostitutes. Young men and women. And he says the numbers aren’t dwindling. They are actually growing because they are shipping them in for the FIFA World Cup later this year.

Straight up human trafficking.

Makes me sick.

Don’t forget about the other stories taking place: kids living from house to house or on the streets because one or both parents were lost to AIDS, kids not knowing the difference and stepping right into their parent’s destructive lifestyles, or those families barely surviving on the food they may or may not bring home.

Greg with kids from a Children's Cup feeding center

All these things are not fixed overnight. But we can make a difference. We are looking at the big picture but never forgetting the life of that one person needing Hope.

The actual work in Durban will probably take different shapes as time goes on. God might open the door for one inner city ministry and then something else later. The ministry that will start from the beginning though is building The Life Church Durban. The local church providing ministry, discipleship and community is absolutely vital to any outreach.

That’s why I’m going to Durban. To begin the journey for a thriving, life-giving local church in Durban where all walks of life can find Hope, Truth, Love, Healing, Life! and a fresh start through our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus.

A little one asking me to hold her

You may not be going on the plane with me but you can be just as much a part of it. (Of course I’ll take scores of pictures and videos so you think you’re going along) If you are praying for me, this trip, my fellow missionaries, the church – you are a part of it. You are investing in building God’s Kingdom. If you are partnering with me financially – you are a part of it. If you are going on one of the short term trips to Durban – well then, yes, I’d definitely say you’re a part of it. See the different ways you can be a part?

Here’s where I’m not going to be shy. I can’t really be a part of actually going unless I get all my funds. Talk about reality check!

I’ve still got a ways to go but that just means an opportunity for copious amounts of people to be a part of this landmark event! Look at the field before you! What do you say?

Let me know what you’re thinking! Send me an email, leave a comment, ask for a letter, donate below, twitter about my blog post, share my facebook page, tell your friends… yep, I’d say that’s about it!

Praying for Durban on Wednesdays

Kelly — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 02:33:05 +0000

My launch date to move to Durban, South Africa is getting closer and closer! I am moving to South Africa to help plant The Life Church Durban. It will be a campus of my home church The Life Church in Memphis, TN.

It is such an amazing opportunity to be able to serve my church and build God’s Kingdom on an international level! I am extremely excited to get to go!

Every Wednesday Greg Evans, the missionary living in Durban, meets with a group of people to pray for the city. Some of the things they have set forth to pray about are

* city officials
* leaders
* churches
* believers
* workers to reach the unbelievers
* The Life Church Durban

Greg meets with this group around the lunch hour (1pm) Durban time. Well, that translates to 5:00 too-early-in-the-morning a.m. Memphis time. I’ve tried to join them at that time and have all the intentions in the world. I mean, c’mon, to pray Hope for a city, to pray for Life and Light for people there, to pray for my future home? I can’t get up at 5:00am to pray at the same exact time that others are gathered doing the same?

My body has said no every time. Apparently I am not a morning person : )

I was starting to feel bad about not getting up at that hour. It would turn into guilt and getting distracted about the time instead of prayer! So instead I pray when I get up, when I eat, when I’m working, when I’m home and when I go to bed. Wednesday is my day to focus on the city of Durban.

You’re welcome to join us…

Let me know, leave a comment! Maybe you’re a morning person. You can join Greg and the others…I’ll still be sleeping though!

2009 in 100 words; starting 2010 with 50

Kelly — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:21:44 +0000

A look back at 2009 in 100 words:
(the word count just happened to turn out this way…didn’t plan it!)

Took one of the most fun road trips to a close friend’s wedding (miss you Allie)
Had a crazy start of the year at work but it turned into a promotion!
Welcomed my niece into the world in February (didn’t meet her until April though)
Made some great new friends
Spent two weeks in Swaziland and South Africa
Left my heart in Africa
Made the decision to retrieve my heart and move to South Africa
Heard Beth Moore for the first time and now love her
Ran my butt off at my second ever half-marathon
Enjoyed Christmas in New Hampshire

What I am looking forward to in 2010 in 50 words:
(I kinda planned this one to help out the 2009 list)

Leaving procrastination behind : )
Trying to fit a year’s worth of belongings into two suitcases…yeah right
Living in South Africa
The World Cup in Durban
More running!
Understanding South African life on South African turf
Building The Life Church Durban!
Serving with Kassie Perritt and Greg, Kristin and Isaiah Evans

Kassie and I on our way to Africa last May

196 days!

Kelly — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:57:03 +0000

196 days! There are only 196 days left until May 25th, 2010!

I will be moving to Durban, South Africa as an intern with The Life Church to our new Durban campus! This past weekend our 3rd BIG weekend of our In The House series was Campus weekend. We talked about the great blessing of the Jackson campus, new developments in the Cordova and Collierville campuses and finally…the Durban campus!

Greg and Kristin Evans moved to Durban in July 2009 to begin establishing the foundation for the new campus. They were the children’s pastors here at The Life Church Memphis before spending a year in Swaziland and then moving to Durban. They are a great family (expecting their first child in 2 weeks!) and I am so honored to be serving with them. I can’t wait to join them across the ocean!

When the Durban campus was announced in church, Greg and Kristin were able to be there via Skype! It was so neat to have them there and to share with the church about Durban. When Pastor John, our lead pastor, and the Evans were talking to everyone in the service I was so excited! My stomach was jumping the whole time! I could not keep a smile off my face.

I am so blessed and humbled to be a part of this great vision. It’s an honor to be a part of something God is doing not only here in Memphis but across the globe!

The Durban skyline

Facebook already knows this, but I don’t know if you do

Kelly — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:16:43 +0000

You know those notes passed around on Facebook about 25 random things about you? Well, I did that awhile ago but thought I’d share it here too. Here are some of the most random things about me. Enjoy.

1. One of my greatest accomplishments was running the St. Jude Half-Marathon in December 2008. I hope to one day run a full-marathon! {updated: I’m running the half again this December! Yay!}

2. I like to shop but shopping with others stresses me out. Don’t ever worry about having to go shopping with me. The opportunity probably won’t present itself.

3. I rather bake than cook anyday. And I hate cooking meat (I like to eat it though). Someone will always have to do that for me even though I am working to get over that. : )

4. I love Coke and the Boston Red Sox. What’s hilarious is that my roommate loves Pepsi and the St. Louis Cardinals.

5. I have never dove into a body of water. Mostly because I’m afraid of water, especially dark water.

6. I L.O.V.E. ice cream, specifically Extreme Moose Tracks made by Private Selection from Kroger and good ol’ vanilla.

7. I appreciate hard work/workers. When I have to work hard at something, when others work hard and when we see the result of that hard work!

8. I used to waste too much time watching television; now I just have it on in the background when I’m working on the computer.

9. One day (hopefully soon) I will live as a short-term missionary in Africa serving children. I’m currently taking steps for this to become a reality! {updated: This was written last February before my Engage internship was formed!}

10. I LOVE my church! Want to come see why? Come visit The Life Church

11. If I wasn’t required to do homework or have to pay for it, I would go to college classes for many years to come. I love learning! Although the class I learned the most in was not in school – it was in Damascus Road at The Life Church!

12. I never had allergies until I moved to the South.

13. I love traveling. I also love coming home from said travels.

14. I can’t stand if my house is dirty; messy maybe, but never dirty.

15. The best part of my life growing up was summers spent at Camp Good News. I was a camper, counselor-in-training, counselor, volunteer and secretary. I loved every minute of every summer. The people during my time there made an undeniable impact on my life. I will always be grateful for them.

16. My sister and brother know almost everything about every song out there. I, on the other hand, enjoy music but would be lucky to remember even two words in a song.

17. I used to get in trouble for sequestering myself in my room and reading all day. My parents sometimes made me stay downstairs to do my homework.

18. Please don’t ever literally look over my shoulder. It gives me the creeps.

19. I miss white winters, skiing, building snow forts, and anything with snow.

20. I adore my thick hair. I hope it never changes!

21. I don’t like coffee but love the smell of it.

22. I sympathize for anyone in embarrassing situations even fictional characters. I can’t even watch it on t.v. – I have to change the channel.

23. I speak fluent sarcasm.

24. I have a hard time finishing projects…

We can’t start off slow, now can we?

Kelly — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:35:04 +0000

Good morning.

Well, it may not be morning for you, but I have just finished formatting my blog this early morning hour. I am wicked excited about it and decided to forgo sleep to write my first post! Welcome to my new website! Please feel free to take a look around!

This website is just the beginning of a wonderful season ahead of me. I am preparing for a year long internship in Durban, South Africa. This blog will hopefully serve it’s purpose in informing, helping me communicate and become my base for when I move to Africa! Make sure to check out the About Me tab to find out all the details. I’m not going to lie and say I threw this website together. I wouldn’t have had the foggiest idea if it wasn’t for some pretty wonderful people in my life. Thanks Aimee, Cinda, Marieta, Peter and Amy Beth!

I wouldn’t know these people if it weren’t for The Life Church! (Well, except Amy Beth. We are college friends.) I am so blessed and grateful to know them as friends but also for this help during such a busy time. Our church is hard core gearing up for an amazing weekend with special guest Christine Caine! Not only will she be speaking at all of our services on the weekend, she will also be here for Chick Nite and Kingdom Partners! I highly encourage you that if you live in the Memphis area…come check out The Life Church this weekend! Even with all this going on (did I mention a Big Axis Night for the teens?) my friends have been great in helping me launch this site. Thank you and thank you again.

Thanks for checking in! I’m off to sleep in attempt save the last couple of hours before I have to go to work.

Goodbye, and I will see you soon.