Jon wrote a book!

We are pleased to announce that after much prayer and hard work, Jon is a published author! Fast-Food Church is on sale now at Amazon.com in paperback or e-book. Please join us in the celebration!

Book Synopsis: 

Are you hungry for something more from your Christian faith? In Fast-Food Church, Pastor Jon Newlin takes a closer look at the parallels between the church and the combo meal. He shares the dangers of viewing the church as a drive-up window dispensing grace on the go. With personal stories, humorous illustrations, and insightful looks at the life of Jesus, readers are challenged to re-think their perspectives of the church. Gently confronting misconceptions of the church, Fast-Food Church is a must read for anyone seeking to better understand their role in the church and the church's role in the world.

Jon also wrote a book study guide to go with! Click here to see

when dreams actually do come true

I know with that title you are probably expecting me to have some big news...to you, this may not be...but for me, it is amazing

While we were in Rwanda working with Azizi Life, I helped Christi and an artisan group overcome a major design challenge...the product order that we needed to fill for a company called Global Mothers included a wood carved lion that a child could play with...the samples that the artisans were bringing to us though looked like an astronaut Martian lion or a lion with a bad case of helmet hair. It was not looking good for our order...

I was sitting at my desk when Christi came to the realization that we had hit a roadblock in communicating what we needed from the artisans to make this figurine actually look like a lion. To put it nicely, Christi was frustrated :) I don't know what made me think that I could contribute something, but I got up and inserted myself in the confusion. After a while, Christi and I had created a prototype of what we wanted as far as a mane went...it was a pen with a paper lion head and mane...but I guess it got the point across...

The next week, the artisan returned with a lion that was almost exactly what I had envisioned! It was a miracle! And as of this month...they are being sold through Global Mothers...just amazing.

If you understood the barriers that international social entrepreneurships have to go through to be successful, you would be celebrating just as much as me.

This time, everyone wins...especially the lion...

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

the story of a job

After four months of praying (by me and my entire network of love), I started work at Cossatot Community College University of Arkansas as Recruiter and Admissions Advisor. Although the news of getting a job is WONDERFUL, the best part of this whole situation is the story of how God worked.

Rarely does God give me a clear direction...He usually gives me peace about my choices if I am fervently seeking His will. I feel like He says, "You are in my will, therefore, go and live and I'll take care of you wherever you end up!"

Over the holidays, Jon and I spent some time with his family in Little Rock and I began applying for jobs. The one job that I found that I really wanted was this recruiting job...so I applied, interviewed for a committee of like 10 people, and then waited for the call. Before the interview in January, I really felt like God told me to be confident and positive in the interview...and I was...but I saw some other interviewees and lost my confidence a bit...But I knew that God had me and my next job all sorted out in His time. So when I was told that I did not get the job, I was sad but still at peace.

The job search continued with no success...interview after interview...I had to tell myself that nothing was wrong with me...and that God had a different plan than whatever job I wasn't getting. At the same time, I felt some relief in thinking that God would make it clear to me what job I should take since I would probably only have to choose between being unemployed and taking one certain job.
Then, I decided to check the Arkansas Department of Human Services website one evening and found a position that would essentially allow me to interview individuals for food stamps, Medicaid and temporary financial assistance. So I applied, interviewed, and waited for the call...while I was waiting for the call (after being told that I would receive a letter if I had not been offered the position) and checking the mail for disappointment, I got a call from the CCCUA about the recruiting position. Apparently the position was open again and they wanted me to come in the next morning at 10am to interview again. That alone was amazing to me! I agreed and was pumped for my interview.

I interviewed for a committee of only four the next morning, felt SUPER confident, and was on my way home from CCCUA when I checked my phone. At 10:15 am I received a call from DHS...meaning that I was being offered the job as a case worker...and then I knew...I was going to be offered the job as a recruiter, too...and I was going to have to choose. I started lauging...it was like an inside joke between best friends. The way God worked it all out just tickled me to death, and I knew that waiting on Him was THE best choice I could ever make.

Ultimately, I chose the job that fit my personality and experience the best...the one with the most marketing :) I am now happily housed in an office of smiles, hard work, and appreciation...which contributes to a relaxed atmosphere. Glory to God...He knew exactly what I needed and what I wanted...and He gave it to me...amazing.

I found out later that a woman in our church was praying that whoever got this job instead of me in the winter would leave so that I could have it...yeah, I know...that is a story for another day :)

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

it would seem that life has gotten boring...

...if you judge our life by our blog posts :)

Actually, our life is busier than ever...sometimes, I feel like I live at the church...and then, I kind of do being only a small parking lot away from the church at all times (at the parsonage). There is never a shortage of people to see and things to learn...the only thing missing from our life now is a job for me...and a cat :)

You know those times when you look at your life and you are proud of yourself because you know God is...that is how I feel about Jon and myself right now...I feel like these moments are so few in our lives because we get so distracted by our world that we leave little time for God to really communicate with us. I have finally gotten in the routine of morning quiet time again and am reaping wonderful benefits of our church's Tuesday night prayer meetings...and I know Jon is too.

This time to rest and not work has been fruitful for me...God is blessing it...like with sales through my Etsy crochet shop...but I'm not going to lie...I am getting a little anxious about this whole job situation...school loan payments will come due in a couple of months...yikes...but I do have a peace, too...God knew all of this was going to happen...and He still said He would provide just what I needed...so I guess I am more anxious about seeing Him work than providing for myself...

Okay, I guess that is it for this little update...just wanted to make sure you all knew we were alive and doing very well :)

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

join us!

It's been a while...let's just say that the adventures in Wickes aren't quite the same as those in Rwanda (or Philly...thank goodness!). It has been wonderful spending time with our new church family and seeing how God has prepared this place just for us...we couldn't ask for more loving friends!

If you are wondering what kind of preacher Jon is...I've got just the thing to quench your curiosity :) Every week we post the sermon form the last Sunday online. You can see them by CLICKING HERE.

Enjoy!

I am still looking for a job...it's obvious that it will take some time...but I am using my unemployment wisely (I think) and one way I am keeping busy is making my first quilt! Click here to see how that is going!

We hope you are enjoying this season of love...just because the 14th has passed does not mean that the lovin' has to end!

Much love,
Emily Elizabeth

hit the ground running

Jon + I have been in Arkansas for two weeks yesterday...and what a two weeks it has been! When we pulled up to the house two Mondays ago, I felt my nerves kicking in....but then I realized the song I was listening to was perfect...Switchfoot's "Where I Belong"...this is the home on Babylon's shores where I belong...it felt like a movie moment...

We are loving our new home and church family! We really feel that God put us exactly where we needed to be...to be appreciated and have a space to call our own...we have really missed having those two things together...and are feeling a bit spoiled!

This weekend, Jon's parents and some extended family + my parents came and spend some time with us. It is so wonderful to be so much closer to family! We had a wonderful time just sitting around and talking, playing games, and shopping for some things for the house.

The church also hosted a housewarming party in our home and loaded us up with lots of goodies. I even got a sewing machine (OH MY GOODNESS, right?) Now, I feel my craft room is complete :) The party was a wonderful time to get to know the beautiful women of our church...wonderful, wonderful.

I am still job hunting...I should hear something about interviews this week (hopefully) and am applying for anything that I feel God could use the skills He provides me to benefit our community. I'm more excited than worried about being employed...it'll come when He wants it to.

God is good...and I believe we are seeing it everyday, just like we did in Philly + Rwanda...this part of our story is off to a wonderful start!

Much Love,
Emily Elizabeth

home sweet home

I suppose if you don't have Facebook, you don't know that we made it back safely...and even before our arrival time on our plane tickets (like that ever happens!) We are very much enjoying being back in the States...Jon has hit the ground running, and I have only gone through mild culture shock (with fast internet, washing machines, trying to figure out my cell phone again...and people being really rude at stores...maybe they were in Rwanda, but I couldn't understand what they were saying...)

We are spending Christmas in Texas and loving time with my family. It has been such a blessing not to need my computer to communicate with them (thus why I have been slacking on blog posting :)) We move into our new home Jan. 2nd. I was worried about not having any furniture (due to our vagabond lifestyle) but God has really already taken care of it all...Friendly Chapel, a Nazarene church in Little Rock, Arkansas, got in several couch donations and are gifting us a HUGE sectional for our living room...my grandparents have given us several pieces, as well as our parents...now all we need is a washer and dryer...He always provides.

We are still trusting that He has the perfect job waiting for me at our new home...we will see about His timing, but being unemployed for the first time in what seems like my entire life could be a major stress...your prayers are always appreciated :)

We hope that you are enjoying this Christmastime with family and friends, and are finding time everyday to honor Christ and meditate on the wonder of the Christmas story. Also, we hope you enjoy looking back on this year of your life and recognize all that our Savior has done to take care of your family and you...and if you think of someone who has really been used by God in your life this year, won't you send them a note thanking God and them?

Merry Christmas,
The Newlin Weds