Looking Back: Reflecting with Gratefulness

It's hard to believe that it's already nearing the end of June 2013, when it seems like just yesterday the new year was beginning. This year, in January, I knew generally what was going to happen, I just didn't know exactly how everything would play out. Which is a world apart from these last few years. I knew in March I'd be beginning my internship with YWAM Winnipeg, and when it was over in May I'd be planing as much as I could of our upcoming wedding. I knew now, in June, it'd be just around the corner.

Going over immigration papers for permanent residence in Canada and recording all the places I've been since I was 18 for legal purposes, I was reminded how atypical this kind of year has been so far. It seems I bounced half way across America and back since my junior year of high school. In reality, I bounced all the way across America, then out, and up to Canada! I've couch surfed in Colorado, landed to help out with my talents in graphic design in Colorado Springs, drove on over to San Francisco and ended up spending over two years on staff with YWAM. Spent a few weeks here and there in Utah, occasional trips to Ohio; A lot of which over the 6 or so years since I was 18 I didn't know I'd be doing until a few months or weeks before. Funny what all some paperwork can remind you of.

It's been such a crazy journey. Such a crazy picture of God's hand in our lives. While it's true that nothing we do would be possible without God, it really shows when what your doing seems insane and all over the place. Well, I've landed now in Winnipeg Manitoba for now, and even that God has led me though safely. It's hard to live into ministry and write about it, feeling like your words will be mistaken as justification for what you've done, not thankfulness for what He's taken you though. We as Christians have been misunderstood this way many times, sometimes rightfully. But I can say, in all the things I've done, God has never been my justification, but has always been my provider; whenever I look back and think about all that's happened, I can't but thank a Creator for making the way safely and with provision.

As I look back on years passed, I also couldn't have done it without the help of my supporters, financially and prayerfully. If you've supported me financially, or in prayer, thank you so much for all you've been to me, as a support and a blessing.

Looking forward, my fiancé Joelle and I will be planning our wedding coming up mid-July. In the meantime, I'll be meeting with the directors of YWAM Winnipeg to see how I can help with them in their ministry starting in August. Your prayers and consideration would be greatly appreciated as we plan and figure out our future as a couple.

Big Push: Peace & Justice Internship

For those of you who've been keeping track of where I'm at, you'll know that I'm currently on a Peace & Justice Internship with YWAM Winnipeg. So far, the internship has been a wonderful opportunity to get involved and learn to understand Winnipeg, my likely home for a while, as well as get a sense for God's heart in peace and justice issues. You can check out some of the blog posts about the internship here.

Along with doing the internship, comes finances. So far, through the gracious support of those behind me financially, and those who've donated, I've been able to raise most of the money I need to complete the internship. I started a campaign online to raise the rest of the money, and I've been able to reach 50% of my goal. So, being half way there, I only have to raise another $750 before I have all my finances! So I would like to ask if you would consider supporting me in this internship, and spreading the word to those you know to help with this good cause. You can share the page links on the left bar.

Settling In

Every day, in the new house I inhabit, there is a set of stairs that goes one flight up to the bathroom I use. In the morning, the stairs creek so loudly is causes me to jump, but by the afternoon they're the same as any other surface in the house. The older I get, the more this is my experience with new places. The stairs are wood. They settle by the end of the day from frequent traffic, but since they're organic, they expand and detract all night. Wood is durable, pliable, easy to attach to itself, and sturdy. It also creeks as it ages.

Northward & Forward

It's hard to believe that it's already February, almost March. Time has flown by this year's beginning. I've been so blessed through all the travel and transfer, up from SF, and now in Winnipeg. It's crazy to think I'll be starting YWAM Winnipeg's Peace & Justice Internship in just two weeks from today!

I'm so excited to see what's in store for this next season of life. I'll be coming alongside, at this point, two other individuals as we learn more about how to live a life of peace and justice for Christ's kingdom. Living in the West End neighborhood (pictured above) of Winnipeg, we'll be finding out ways to incarnate peace the way Christ would among the people of the neighborhood. Each week we'll have different lectures on elements of the Kingdom way of embodying peace to others around us in ways that transcend our average lives. Find out more about the internship here.

Please pray for me as I set out to live in a new place, interact with new people, and face issues I've never been face to face with in this new relational dynamic in ministry. I'll be posting periodic updates about my time in the internship, things I'm learning, and things you can pray for. Thank you so much for all your support and prayer in my ministry with YWAM wherever I am.

Through the support of those generous enough to give to my ministry, much of the internship is already paid for. But I still need to raise a bit more for living expenses and to make up for conversion rates in Canada. If you feel lead to support me in this effort, check out my support page here.

Prayer Requests for December

Well, it's December 6th as I'm writing this, and today is my last official day at YWAM San Francisco.  In 6 days, I'll be moving on to Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, where I'll be spending the holidays with Joelle, and preparing for my upcoming Peace & Justice Internship at the base in Winnipeg. It's been a wonderful just about 2.5 years with YWAMSF, full of genuine people, deep challenges, and fulfillment in ministry for Christ.  Here's how you can be praying for me as I transition:

This Year, I'm Thankful

It's been a great year for me with YWAM.  I have a lot to be thankful for.  I've been able to help alongside YWAMSF in drawing people to participate with God in the Tenderloin, and the way is paved for me to help with YWAM Winnipeg as I prepare for my internship in the new year.

November Prayer Requests!

My mind's been preparing to leave SF, and this month I've been a little frazzled on the blogging front, but here it is, November's prayer requests:

•Pray for transition to Winnipeg! I've been with YWAMSF for 2 years now and it's been a wonderful time.  Now it's off to the next step of the journey!  I'll be doing an internship with YWAM in Winnipeg this upcoming year, and I'm going ahead of time to spend the holidays with Joelle's family.

•Pray for finances for my upcoming internship.  I've got my plane ticket and I'm ready to go to Winnipeg, but the internship will cost around $2,150.  Please pray that God would provide these finances, and please let me know if you'd want to help by emailing me at Jon.T.Owen@gmail.com

•Pray for preparation for this next season and the upcoming internship.  I'll be spending tim with Joelle's family for the holidays, and debriefing my time here in SF as I reflect back on these last two years of ministry.  Pray that I can be prepared for the Peace & Justice Internship I'll be doing with YWAM Winnipeg.  I'm really excited to dig in there, as I've been reading the book the base director wrote called The Cost of Community.  The base director Jamie and his wife Kim seem to have built a really great intentional community in the lower income neighborhood of the West End in Winnipeg.  Please pray that God would prepare me with the right spirit to go in, learn, and most of all serve.


It's an exciting next season! It's so weird to imagine I'll be leaving my home of two years.  I've been selling all my big things, and giving away a lot of my stuff as I prepare to move everything I own to a new country.  It's a little unnerving! Thank you all so much for your prayers in the midst of all my ministry.