Ourministry E-update #1 :: Oct. 29, 2008

This is a copy of my first email update to supporters.  If you did not receive this email and would like to, please email me at jordan.kologe@gmail.com and request to start receiving updates via email.

Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008

Hello everyone —  hope you are enjoying the fall…
You are receiving this email because you are one of the select few, incredibly elite, very important people who fall into one or more of the following categories…


1. You have already begun financial support

Thank you guys!  I can’t say THANK YOU enough.  Especially in these economically uncertain times.  I know that you have given sacrificially and it humbles and teaches me.  I am sincerely grateful for your generosity that enables this ministry.

2. You have either (a) shown interest/talked about the possibility of support in the future (b) pledged to support me but have not decided on the specifics yet

(a) Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, look at my blog, meet with me, and consider the possibility of your role in this ministry.  I’m 30% supported as of today, which means there is still a huge need for your help!

(b) If there is anything I can do to help you make a final decision please write or call me and I would be happy to talk with you and answer questions.  My goal is to reach 60% by December. This will only include gifts given and officially pledged (signed up for EFT online or begun giving through envelope) before November 20th (3 weeks away) due to IV processing and deposit times.  At this point the majority of you fall into this category, and I am hoping and praying to hear back from many of you within the next two weeks. (jordan.kologe@gmail.com / 615.306.9417).  Please know that each one of your individual contributions is a huge blessing and brings me a step closer to getting on campus with the students.

3. You have shown interest in praying for me and this ministry

Most of us can agree that we kid ourselves if we think anything real, lasting, and significant is going to be accomplished on our own strength.  Financial support makes the ministry possible, and prayers make it effective.  Those of you who are faithfully praying for me and the ministry here at Lindenwood have as great a role as any of us in impacting this campus and these students with the Gospel.

4. Your place in my heart disallows you from not at least pretending to be interested and don’t really have a choice in the matter.

No joke.  You know who you are. 

You are now what I consider to be an official member of my ministry support team!

Welcome to the team!  Right now I am in St. Charles in a little coffee shop called Picasso’s on Main street.  Its just down the street from Lindenwood’s Campus.  Main street is an old cobblestone district along the river with lots of antique shops, pubs, and family owned restaurants.  I actually just had a conversation with the owner about working here at Picasso’s part time while I finish raising support after I move here in January.  I am here in St. Charles to spend some time on campus, meet the other IV staff from around the St. Louis area, and am doing some InterVarsity central region fund raising training on Thursday and Friday.  I’ll be flying back to Charlotte on Saturday and be there until I move in January

This visit has been a little hard, but mostly really encouraging to be here.  Hard because everything is unfamiliar and new.  This place will be the backdrop for the next five years of my life.  With any big change there is at least a hint of sadness for the things you leave behind.  In this case, I know it will be hard to be far from my family, friends, Church, and of course the climate in Charlotte.  With that said, it has really been incredibly exciting to be here and see IV’s vision for Lindenwood of “real community, real impact” come to life. Last night I stayed overnight in the dorm with two of IV’s key student leaders, Caleb and Wes.  We spent the evening at an IV game and movie night.  We played brutal UNO and poker and watched some ridiculous Halloween movie about angry attacking tomatoes.  This morning we met for prayer at 7:30 and around 10 students came.  There are between 30-40 students who come to the various IV activities throughout the week.  We are doing weekly scripture studies, discipleship times, game and movie nights, outreach events, as well as two prayer gatherings a week.  IV is also doing a grocery shuttle for international students who can’t get to the store on their own.  In between all those things, Janet (the lead staff), Krissy and Maria (IV interns and former Lindenwood students) spend time on campus just hanging out with the students to build relationships.  It’s really awesome to see otherwise isolated and lonely students be drawn into a loving and intentional Christ focussed community.  I’ve really loved being able to connect with a lot of the international students through stories about my adventures with Ywam.  I met a group of Aussie guys at dinner.  I’ve been to a small villiage in Nepal where a whole group of freshman are from – at first they didn’t believe me when I told them I had been there.  I ate breakfast with a student from Jakarta, where I spent April and and May of this year.  Talking with these students about their cultures and showing some knowledge of them creates an instant bond which serves as the foundation for ministering to them.  Its just been really good for me to get to know individuals and see the faces of these students.  They are real people with real stories, not just the focus of a ministry.  This really will be a real community, with real impact.

prayer requests

• Provision, wisdom, and guidance to raise the remaining 70% of my budget in the coming months.
• Spiritual and emotional preparation for my first year as IV staff.
• For the students and faculty at Lindenwood to give their lives to God and his purposes
• For a roommate, apartment, and part time employment while I finish raising support in St. Charles starting next year
• For the other IV staff at Lindenwood: Janet, Krissy, and Maria.  Their fundraising, faith, and ministry.

needs and giving
I am 30% supported as of 10/29/08.  As previously mentioned, I am prayerful that this number will dramatically increase over the next two weeks as many of you reach a final decision concerning financial support.  Right now I have 7 committed monthly supporters, and my goal is 50+

# of Partners (monthly supporters):      7
One Time gifts:    7
Total Partners:    14

TOTALS                          Annually                   Monthly
Total Pledged                 $12,360                     $1,030/mo
Total One Time Gifts        $4,600                         —

Total Raised                   $16,960                   $1,413/mo
Fundraising Goal            $56,893                    $4,741/mo

% Budget Raised    30%
Over/(Short)     $(39,933)

give online

The easiest way to give is EFT (electronic funds transfer).  It is simple and totally safe to set up automatic payments and one time gifts online at =>

www.intervarsity.org/donate

• There will be a link to [Automatic bank withdrawals]
• Follow that to [Enroll in EFT today (monthly)].
• Enter my name: Jordan Kologe under search.  Click the circle to designate the gift.
• Enter the desired amount, click [Add this designation]
• It will ask you if you have an InterVarsity account and you click [Create one today!]
• Follow the steps until you receive confirmation that the process is complete.  InterVarsity will then send a tax-deductible receipt for these transactions.

Thank you for your generosity that is making this ministry possible!