Greetings from the Forest!  We have several bits of news to share with you all.  When we first moved to the Ocala National Forest as missionaries it was a true step of faith for us.  And, God is calling us to take another step of faith.  As we trusted the Lord coming here, we quit our jobs, used our savings, and began to depend on the support of others to stay on the mission field.  We told the Lord that we were ready to go and trusted that as long as He wanted us here, He would provide for our financial needs.  In the past several months much or our support has ended and we feel God is telling us this season is over.

This is our final week working as the youth pastors for Salt Life Church, and we will be moving back to Palatka.  Although we will be sad to leave our students and the church here, we truly have peace that God is taking us back home for a new season of ministry.  We are not certain what is next, but in the following months we will keep pursuing God's will for our family. 

Jason and I both hope to continue getting our credentials.  Please pray that God provides a job for Jason and an apartment for our family.  We are excited to move on to the next leg of this journey.  Thank you all so much for your prayer and support the past 8 months.  We love you all and are trusting that God is working on your hearts to keep pursuing His will for your own lives.

To our Salt Life/Camp Sozo family...We love you! We will still visit when we can and are praying for the Lord's blessings on you all.

Greetings from the Ocala National Forest!  We have been on the mission field for a little over 6 months now, and it has been quite a wild ride so far.  God is challenging us and teaching us more about being aware of His presence every day.  It is an honor to pastor the youth of Salt Life Church and we are seeing fruit in the lives of our students.  His plans are perfect and He is guiding our steps.  The Lord is giving us vision and purpose for the future.

New Beginnings:  A new addition to the ministry has been a restaurant called “The Filling Station.”  Jason is currently helping manage the restaurant so he is gone a lot.  Everyone working is made up of our teenagers and other staff members.  It has been hard work, but the community is really responding positively.  In the fall the ministry will be hosting a culinary arts program, the ultimate goal of the restaurant is to provide job experience and to teach good worth ethic to the young people in the program and the community.  If you're in the area come and visit or if you'd like to volunteer give us a call.

What’s in store for the future:  We are looking forward to starting a student leadership program with our youth to prepare them for campus missions.  We hope to have at least one campus missionary in every school represented by our youth group in the next year.  We will be working closely with “Youth Alive” to make this happen!  We couldn't be more proud of our students.  We are excited to see what God has in store for this school year.

Prayer Request:  Please pray for Alex as she will be homeschooling the kids this year.  Pray for Jason as he invests so much time into different aspects of the ministry.  Pray we will have God inspired focus and vision for our student ministry.  Also pray that we will reach our financial support goal. 

 

The Need:  We have still not met our financial support goal.  We need around $1000 per month to handle gas, living expenses, and ministry training.  We have several monthly sponsors at this time but we need more. 

 

You Can Help!

 

For those of you who have already helped financially or through prayer, thank you so much.  Any amount of money you can give is a HUGE help, and allows us to stay in this ministry. If you would like to send financial support you can:

1.       Make a check out to us personally or to “The Help Agency.”  If you make a check payable to The Help Agency please do not write our names on the check memo.  Send a separate note with it instructing that the funds are for our family.  Mail to the address in our contact information above.

2.       Make a donation or monthly automatic payment through Pay Pal by clicking the button above.  Please send us an email (212slym@gmail.com) letting us know you did so we can let the administrator know.

 

 

 

 

212

Our big name reveal was a success! The new name of our student ministry is "212"  For those of you thinking, "why 212?" I will tell you. This was a name that the youth group had already considered and liked so we decided to go with it.  212 is the boiling point of water, the point at which water changes from it's liquid state to a gas. 

Teenagers are at a point in their life where they are in a constant state of decision and change.  We encouraged our group to let Jesus be at the center of that change and every decision they have to make. We want our students to be an example to everyone they come in contact with of the transforming power of Jesus Christ.

We have to remember that when Jesus calls us to change and live a life for Him, it will cost us everything.  In many parts of the world peopel are litterally losing their lives for Him.  We are so blessed to live in a country where it is still legal to worship, and with the times as they are, we have to realize we may not always have that liberty.  We have to decide now how far we are willing to go for Jesus.

Jesus never asked us to give more than He has, in fact it's just the truth, that when you love God their will be those who hate you.  We cannot worry about things that are temporary though, we have to fix our hearts on the things that are eternal.  I want to encourage you that just like our students we all have daily decisions to "be like Jesus."  For some it may mean helping out a family member, for others it may mean going the extra mile for a neighbor, others may need to raise the standard of integrity in their life, and for some it may mean selling everything you have and stepping out in faith to go where He leads.  The one thing I do know is that no matter what the cost, it is worth it. 

Our week is filled with so many things that are not easy, but the result of the work is lasting.  Camp Sozo, Sozo Kids, Turning Point Mentor Centers, The Help Agency, and Salt Life Church are some of the many areas we help with...it is a blessing to be a part of a ministry that is truly a light in a dark place.  Jason picks up food every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday that helps feed over 6,000 people a month.  The students we are reaching come from homes with generations of drug abuse, alcoholism, physical and sexual abuse, extreme poverty, and homes where they are not valued or loved.  Not every home is terrible, but it is definitely a huge issue.  It is our goal to raise up leaders among this community who will stop these generational curses, and continue to reach thier neighbors with hope.  For some of them we are the only people showing them the love of God.  There is a video posted in the blog below this one that explains our ministry more.

Please remember to pray for us. Our family needs strength and wisdom.  We will soon be expanding our bus ministry and we know that will take our numbers in the youth group to a whole new level.  Many of the students we are reaching out to have a difficult home life, and the idea of living a life for Jesus isn't even on their radar.  They are all searching though and we want to encourage them to keep searching and knocking.  We want the love of God to change their hearts, and for them to have an encounter with Jesus that will change them forever. 

Also, our family is still in need of financial support.  I don't like to ask for money, it has never been something I have liked, but the fact is when you're on the mission field it is what it is.  Every penny that is given to us is a blessing and allows us to continue the work that we do. I would like to break things down just a little bit.  God has blessed us with a home but we still have bills and expenses to cover.  We have a monthly budget of about $1000 for us to handle all our monthly bills plus childcare and living expenses comfortably, we absolutly need at least $500 a month to survive.  We are receiving $125 a month in support as of right now.  Our goal may seem like a lot, but some people may be able to give as little as $10 a month...every little bit helps.  It has been our goal to get 20 poeple or groups to commit to $25 a month to help cover the urgent financial needs. Please pray about how you could help and please pass on our information to others.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support.  We couldn't do what we do without you!

Send correspondance and financial support to:

19186 NE 13th St

Silver Springs, FL 34488

or click on the PayPal button on this page

*if you need tax credit for your giving please follow these instructions

If you send a check, make the check payable to The Help Agency, Do Not put our name on the check, include a note that says the money is for our family.

If you chose to send a donation through PayPal please send us an email 212slym@gmail.com or Pastor Dave an email david.saltlife@gmail.com letting us know you have sent it electronically for our family.

Sozo Video

For those of you who are interested in seeing a little more about what we do, here is a great video that describes the ministry we work for.

Summer is almost here!

I can't believe it, summer is almost here!  The kids will be out of school soon, and summer camps are just around the corner. We have been so busy lately.  It has been hard to sit down and get any blogging done, but I am resolved to sit here tonight until I have shared a little. 

Every day has had it's teachable moments, and every week God is proving His faithfulness to us.  We have had the privilege of family and friends visiting. Jason is finding out that every strange or seemingly meaningless job he has ever worked at, has given him unique skills that he uses every day.  For me personally God has me on a journey through His word that offers fresh revelation every time I turn the page.

This week we will be revealing the new name of our youth group, I will have to share that next week so I don't ruin the surprise. We actually have a car wash coming up this Saturday in Salt Springs if anyone is in the area.  We will be located at Bass Champions on Hwy 314.

Jason and I are enjoying being youth pastors, we have some great students.  We are constantly looking for new ways to teach them and reach them.  It is our hope to soon begin a bus ministry to several neighborhoods. We have so many students in our area that need love and acceptance.  It is also our goal to begin to raise up leaders among the students we have now.  Please keep us in prayer as we try to impart wisdom to them and encourage them to grow in their faith in Christ.

I can't tell you how much your prayers and encouragement mean.  Since we are only an hour away from Palatka it is hard sometimes for people to consider us as missionaries, but let me assure you we are.  We go through some of the same things missionaries on foreign soil go through. We work hard and minister to people that are hard to reach.  The enemy uses things like loneliness, depression, anger, discomfort, impatience, fatigue, frustration, bullies, and confusion to wear us down.  It is amazing though, when you call on the name of Jesus how quickly He will answer.

We are still in need of financial support.  I can't express to you how grateful we are to those of you who have been sending money.  Every donation has been right on time to meet a need.  We had paid our phone bill and insurance in advance to help as we moved, but we will soon need to start a regular payment plan again.  We are looking for 20 people, this includes (individuals, Sunday school classes, businesses, church groups, etc.) who can support us at $25 dollars a month.  This will cover our bills and other monthly expenses such as clothing, gas, etc.  However, any amount no matter how big or small is appreciated and blesses us very much.

 If you are interested in sponsoring us please call us at 386-538-4119 if you have any questions.  You may send checks directly to us at the address below. If you need tax credit for your donation please make the check payable to "The Help Agency"  do not print our names in the memo space on your check, send a separate note with the check letting us know who it is for.  If you chose to make a donation on this blog site please send us an email letting us know, david.saltlife@gmail.com

We'd love to hear from you. Our address is 19186 NE 13th St  Silver Springs, FL 34488

Slowing Down and Speeding Up

In the past few months since coming to Camp Sozo we have removed a lot of things from our daily lives, but that doesn't mean our pace has slowed down.  We no longer have television, so we just watch movies together as a family when we have the time.  We no longer have internet in our home so we are not on Facebook and other sites as much.  Luckily we have internet in the office so we can keep in touch more often.  We are also no longer just a few minutes from shopping and school and, so we rarely go anywhere.  At first I think this was a shock to the system, and it took a few weeks to figure out what to do with any spare time we may have.  Now we get a chance to enjoy each other's company and the peace and quiet that surrounds us. The kids spend a good chunk of their time outside and we spend a good chunk of our time with them. 

It was hard to understand that we were missing out on anything since we were so busy filling our time with other things.  My time with the Lord is becoming my most precious part of the day, and our time with the kids is better spent.  I would encourage any one to take some time to get away from the things that are time stealers in your life. 

Even though we are learning the value of our time together, we are very busy as well.  With camps and missions teams coming in and our church being envolved in so much outreach we are at full speed ahead here.  We usually have early mornings and long days.  Summer is only 8 weeks away which will add a whole new dynamic as well, the kids will be at home all day and the ministrie'
s mentor center kids will be here most of the time for day camp.  It should be a ton of fun for everyone. 

Please keep us in your prayers.  I am personally endeavoring to get our ministry "on the map" so to speak with new marketing and promotional ideas.  Jason and I are both getting ready to launch some new things with our youth group, and we have many fundraising events coming for all the summer missions trips. Also continue to pray for our finances.  We are looking for monthly sponsors.  As little as $10 a month would be a blessing.  Our monthly expenses are not huge, but there is still a need.  Please follow the instructions below if you are interested.

We love being a part of such an active and loving ministry.  We are learning more and more every day what it means to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 




For those who are interested in making donations or partnering with us please send all checks to 19186 NE13th St   Silver Springs, FL 34488  If you would like the ministry to keep a record of your giving please make checks payable to Help Agency and include a separate letter stating that the money is for the Grennan Family.  If you make a donation by selecting the PayPal link on this blog send us an email letting us know so we can keep it for our records  (jasonandalexgrennan@gmail.com)

Our first month

Our new billboard

Hello everyone! Our first month at Camp Sozo has been an adventure.  The kids are starting to get accustomed to our new schedule, and Violet is even being featured on a few billboards and advertisements for www.sozokids.org.  Salt Life Church is great.  Even though we miss our family at First Assembly, we feel right at home.  I think the biggest adjustment for us may be the role of youth pastor.  We have a much higher appreciation for what it takes to make a church service happen, and with that I must add, remember to love on your pastors.  They have a tremendous job, but it comes with great blessings as well.  It is a privilege to be a part of our youth group in it’s infancy.  We have a great bunch of students.

Camp Sozo is an interesting place
live at times

This month is going to be a whirlwind for the ministry and the church.  We have camps coming in every weekend and the Easter season is upon us, which means tons of outreach opportunities.  Our church will be involved in several large outreaches.  The first is a community-wide rib cook off, in which our church will compete.  That morning the host of the event is going to turn over things to our pastor, he will be bringing our Palm Sunday message right there in the middle of the event.  It is a great chance to bring church to the people where they are, which is the heart of Salt Life church.  We are praying for the Holy Spirit to be working on the hearts of the people attending, and believing for a great harvest. The second event is our Community Easter Egg Hunt.  We will have over 10,000 eggs, food, fun, and prizes.  We are estimating around 1,200 to attend.  It is our prayer that Christ’s annointing will be on everything and that lives will be changed with the message of God’s love. 

 We are calling Easter Sunday, “Fill the House.”  Our church’s vision for 2013 is to Win the One.  Our pastor has challenged us to view church as our training ground and see our time at work, school, even Wal-Mart shopping trips as our church time.  It is our goal for everyone to bring at least one visitor, and hopefully fill the house with double or triple our normal attendance.  We are anticipating God to move in a powerful way.

With that I would like to present you with the same challenge.  Use your time at work, school, going to the grocery store, sitting at a table in a restaurant, etc…sharing your story and your faith with those around you.  Church should be the place we get fueled up and prepared.  Take what you get and do church out in the rest of your daily life.  Let people see Jesus, even when it is hard to respond like He would, make it your mission for others to know Him through you.  You shouldn’t have to tell someone you’re a Christian for them to know that you’re different, just show them you’re different by letting them see God’s love displayed through you.

But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?  And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? Romans 10:14-15

We need your prayers desperately.  Even though we are adjusting there is still a lot that has changed for our family being in a new place.  We are also still in need of financial support.  We need $1,400.00 monthly to cover our living expenses and childcare.  We originally thought that childcare would be covered by a scholarship, but that is no longer going to be available to us.  Please pray about partnering with us and please pray that God continues to provide.  We love you all and thank you for your continued prayer and encouragement.

The best way to send funds to us is by mailing a check.  Our mailing address is 19186 NE 13^th St, Silver Springs, FL 32177.  If you need tax credit, please make the check payable to Help Agency, but do not write our name on the check. Place a separate note in the envelope with information on who the funds are for.  If you would like to sponsor us monthly through direct deposit or make a one-time donation click on the (PayPal) button at the top of the page, again we will need an email sent with specific instructions on who the funds are for since the ministry will be receiving the funds for us through PayPal.  You can send an email directly to us at jasonandalexgrennan@gmail.com.  Thank you again and God Bless!

New Direction (second edition)

 

Our trip to see Jason's family in Illinois this December

We are so excited to share what God is doing in our family this year. The New Year has brought much expectation and revelation of God’s faithfulness in our lives. In 2011 we were offered the opportunity to move to Mexico into full time missions. Not long after that our plans changed due to unstable social conditions in Mexico. Little did we know that while we were wondering what God had in mind after our door to Mexico was closed that He was opening another door here at home.

 




The Houck Family

 

We have been assisting Pastor David Houck, a missionary in the Ocala national forest, with designing websites for Camp SoZo and various other ministries he and his family oversee. They provide food, financial help, mentoring for teens and children, assistance and preventive services for pre-teen and teen pregnancy, as well as pastoring a church. As our relationship with the Houck family and their ministry has grown our hearts have connected with their vision. They truly are the hands and feet of Jesus to people living in rural poverty.  

 

An Amazing Opportunity!

Annual Back to School Outreach

An opportunity has been given to us to assist their ministry full time. We could not be more humbled and blessed to join them in their endeavor to rescue the abandoned, heal the broken hearted, and bring hope to the forgotten. Our responsibilities include…

 

· Youth Pastor

 

· Web design and site publishing

 

· Marketing for child sponsorship program

 

· Assist all ministries of Help Agency

 

 

How Can You Help?

 

· Pray for wisdom and increased compassion as we begin to pastor the youth of Salt Life Church.

· Pray for our children as they transition to a new home and new school.

· Pray for our faith to not falter as we believe for God’s provision.

· Pray about becoming a financial supporter of our ministry.

 



Deer Lake at Camp SoZo, our house is just beyond the dock

 

At Camp SoZo we will be fortunate to have a home and utilities provided to us, but things like gas for our car, insurance, and other living expenses will not be included. Our average monthly expenses should come to around $900. Please pray about God using you in this way. We understand that not everyone can give big, but remember that even as little as $10 a month will help.

 

You can easily process your donation online by selecting the "Donate" button or select "Subscribe" to be a monthly sponsor, if you choose this option please send us an emial with your contact information and the details of how much you are sending so we can forward it to the ministry. (jasonandalexgrennan@gmail.com)
 Funds can be sent to us directly at the street address below.  Checks can be made payable to Help Agency Inc. for tax credit (memo: Grennan) 

 

Phone: 386-312-1193 

19186 NE 13th St

Silver Springs, FL  34488