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!

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!

There has been so much going on I don’t even know where to start. I guess I’m just going to hit the highlights that include pictures.

A few weeks ago, our church hosted Priscilla Shirer who is an amazing speaker. She preached at every service in Cordova and even in Collierville! That’s 5 services! Every time I hear her speak, she has an amazing message. I would definitely recommend getting a copy of her message from our resource center at church (thelifechurch.com).

Not only were church services awesome, the whole weekend was pretty fun. I got to spend time with the pastors’ children, the two older Shirer kids and their cousin. The Shirer’s have three boys around the ages  7, 5 and 18 months (if I can remember right).

It all started Friday night meeting each other and hanging out. It took a little bit for all the kids to feel comfortable with each other but the adjustment period wasn’t long. Movies, games, Legos and karaoke seemed to do the trick. The youngest one didn’t want to leave his mom’s side! By the end of the night Pastor John won him over and the little one was following him around.

On Saturday morning, I had a work event in the wee hours of the morning. Sometimes I can be a morning person. It all depends if I can psych myself up enough! I have to literally prepare my mind the night before so it’s almost as if my brain doesn’t have a chance to completely shut down. So early Saturday morning my work hosted a 5K walk partnering with St. Jude Hospital. The event was great but it was so cold for that weekend. (It didn’t have anything to do with the fact that we were there before the sun at 6:30am and it being the tail end of winter).

After the walk I still had three layers of running clothes on! This was the first time I had walked a course instead of running. I think I prefer the running : ) Much quicker and more gratifying.

I met up with Aimee later that morning and we drove to pick up the Shirer boys and the Siebeling kids for a fun afternoon. We had a great time enjoying the Memphis Zoo and a local fitness club swimming pool! I didn’t get any pictures of swimming but below are memories from the zoo. I’ll be back in a couple days with more updates on what I’m currently up to…for now I hope you enjoy these pictures! (Erin, I know you will appreciate the hat)

Transforming into a leopard!

The kids and I

'M' wanting to swim with the bears

'A' and I trying to take our picture

...much better! (Can you see the 3 layers on me?)

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!

It was a complete honor to be able to serve at the Collierville campus this past weekend. I had actually never served in Collierville before and was so excited to have the opportunity before I move to Durban. Now I only have to get to the Jackson campus at least one time!

I serve in the Nursery/Preschool section of our KidsLife ministries. Many times I teach in the classrooms but I generally coordinate the services in the Nursery/Preschool along with a great team. This time in Collierville, I was a service coordinator during the two services. I made sure to prepare ahead of time to document this monumental occasion for Collierville! We still have some work to do in the decorating department for Junior KidsLife and Nursery/Preschool but you can still get the idea of the church. These pictures are also for Greg and Kristin Evans serving in Africa to build our Durban campus. Greg and Kristin: I thought about you while building this Collierville Nursery/Preschool team! (captions correlate to photo above it)

Welcome to The Life Church Collierville!
Behind the camera is the side entrance with the main entrance and auditorium straight ahead through the double doors. The hallway to KidsLife School Age, Junior KidsLife and Nursery/Preschool is to the right.

Kinsey is an enthusiastic and friendly sight at your Connection desk!

Need to check-in your children to KidsLife? Visit Venus at guest services.

Our 3 and 4 year olds gathering to begin the Bible lesson Lil’ K.

It’s a dark picture (not the best photographer) but this is the 1 and 2 year old classroom dancing to Lil’ K.

Our baby classroom (above) with pictures of beautiful babies following…

Some great artwork done by the creative team! The kids loved it! They would be walking down the hallway with their heads turned towards the wall. Many a parent had to encourage their kids to watch where they were going.

Our KidsLife School Age room. Such a cool sight. I didn’t have my camera at the time they were singing and dancing but that was awesome too.

Sherrie is one-of-a-kind. She leads our Junior KidsLife and is the best. This picture was taken during first service. Every classroom had more kids then we expected and this classroom was no exception. I can’t remember how many came during first service but there were 33 five and six year olds during the second service! What an opportunity for ministry!

Thanks for visiting the Collierville campus with me! Join us at the actual campus next week: services at 9:00am and 11:00am. If you need directions or a friend to go with, let me know!

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.”

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!

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

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

]]> http://kellyphelan.com/2009/11/196-days/feed/ 0 http://kellyphelan.com/2009/10/facebook-already-knows-this-but-i-dont-know-if-you-do/ http://kellyphelan.com/2009/10/facebook-already-knows-this-but-i-dont-know-if-you-do/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 15:16:43 +0000 Kelly http://kellyphelan.com/?p=181 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.

The Beth Moore conference was starting in a mere hour and some odd minutes and I was running late because of a work errand. I had make the 30 minute commute home, pick up a friend who had come in town, drop my car off at my house and then meet Amy Beth and the group at another friend’s house. All this and we were still 30 minutes from the conference!

Finally we were on the road as a combined group. I had joined the group in Amy Beth’s car which including: Amy Beth (driving), Jenna, Melanie and Stephanie. (There was a second car behind us with SarahRuth, Hannah and Anna.) I have a little evidence of what our car ride downtown was like. It’s a dark video (shot at night while raining), but don’t worry, all you need is sound:

What you hear at the end is Amy Beth figuring out I’m recording. Yeah…I had to put the camera away in fear of my life. The only reason I’m able to put it on my blog now is because she’s almost 400 miles away. Hehe, we’re still friends, right Amy Beth?

We arrived at the conference in the nick of time. Jenna’s friends graciously saved some front section seats for us. The conference was amazing. I think a recap deserves its own post though, so that will be for next time. I can just tell you that I have now become a fan of Beth Moore!

The next morning the girls headed out to the morning sessions. I wasn’t able to go because I had a baby shower to attend! Greg and Kristin (whom I’ll be living with in Durban) are expecting! We had a baby shower for them via Skype. Our friends Aimee, Sonja and Samina came up with that awesome idea and pulled it off wonderfully! The video shower was so much fun and I can’t wait to see the baby.

{Side note: I’m training for a half-marathon in December. This definitely puts a twist to any plans because I have to make sure I’m able to run that day. The start to Saturday came really early, like 6:30 early. The girls left around 7:30 and I was out the door to fit in my training. Thankfully it was only around 4 miles! Not to bad for a busy weekend.}

The second car of girls at the conference had to make it home in time for prior commitments so they left just as the conference was ending. Because the group had two cars, Amy Beth, Jenna and Melanie were able to stay later. We took full advantage of the time. Lunch was at The Majestic Grille downtown – I love that restaurant! Wonderful atmosphere, great prices and always a good time. We then ventured to Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn outlets. Amy Beth couldn’t stop proclaiming her love of both. I think at one point, she might have said she loved it more than Beth Moore and her hair, which if you know her is quite the statement.

I was very happy a few girls were able to stay later because they were able to go with me to my church, The Life Church. It was an awesome service with a series from Pastor John Siebeling called In The House. That night was full of blessing because usually I teach/coordinate my two year old classroom but another adult stepped in for me! I was able to worship and listen to the message with my friends – a sweet time.

Ending the day (and this forever long post!) was dinner at our college friend’s house, Christan. She cooked delicious manicotti and garlic bread. One of my favorite meals! Our friends had to get on the road after dinner in order to start the journey back home. It wasn’t before Amy Beth requested to play American Idol on a game system though. Thankfully, it was a borrowed game and they didn’t have it anymore. If you are curious how it would have played out…please see the above video. I love you Amy Beth!

And that, is the weekend in recap. The long extended version. For us long-winded people.

Walking downtown Memphis

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