Sometimes, God Just Blows You Away...

First of all, thank you all so much for your much needed prayer support. It is extremely obvious that enormous amounts of prayers have been sent up for our family. And I would personally like to briefly share with you JUST HOW your prayers...and our prayers have begun to be answered.

This past Friday, a pending offer on Dad's Place was removed from the table. I cannot tell you just how I felt in the pit of my stomach. I had honestly felt all week that 'this was the real deal'. I was so wrong. The 'last minute-ness' of this situation was overwhelming. This meant that on Saturday, the very next day, I was going to have to remove all of the furnishings and equipment from Dad's Place and put it into storage (not to mention all of the other details that went along with it). Late into the evening, I was on the phone with people who had expressed an interest in purchasing the business, but all to no avail...until the very last phone call. And would you believe that we agreed to terms in the 'literal' 11:00pm hour! Amazing how God allows us to actually get to the end of our ropes...and the rope has begun to unravel...and THEN He steps in!

After numerous conversations late into the evening, negotiating this and discussing that, we were blessed with a contingency offer from an incredible family to purchase Dad's Place. Prayerfully, this will be final in a few days to a couple of weeks. This will mean that I will have to be back in Arkansas for a couple of days to complete this business deal and to train the new owners.

You absolutely have no idea what kind of a burden was lifted off of me.

I headed back to Ohio on Saturday morning to stay until the offer is ready to be finalized. But not until God wanted to bless us again. Before I could leave Arkansas, an incredible young family wanted to give to our ministry...a gift of almost $700. This was for travel expenses, meals, and for two weeks rent on our temporary home in Ohio. You know who you are...and we thank you and love you so very much!

I arrived home at 2:30am Sunday morning...call it road lag or jet lag, I was exhausted. Physically...mentally...emotionally...and even spiritually...I was a train wreck. Being back with one's family after days of seperation has a means of reviving one's well being. For those of you who know me, you KNOW just how much I love my family, and being with them means so much to me.

Sunday also brought two great messages from our pastor, here in Ohio. Even though I probably looked like a zombie setting in the sanctuary, I was able to absorb every word. Thank you Bro. Jerry for speaking to 'me'.

Today, brought more blessings. We were presented with a check from three groups of people who have been led to financially support our ministry. One family in Arkansas gave us a one-time gift of $30. Another family in Arkansas gave us a gift of $100 and committed to sending $100 per month for one year. To both families...may God's richest blessings fall on you. Then we were absolutely blown-away with a one time gift of $1000 from a local association of churches in eastern Ohio. Our support check today totalled $1130.00! "Thank you God so very much for providing for our family! Please bless each and every one that has lifted us up in prayer and has given financially to our ministry. May Your richest blessings be theirs."

Please continue your prayers for our family as we push forward for His Kingdom.

Yesterday and today, I have been making a few changes in my blogs. After today, this blog, I Espresso'd Myself, will go back to my regular devotions and short stories. Writing is such a big part of my ministry, and I appreciate each of you for dropping by and sharing your comments with me. Dad's Daily Grind is a new blog that I've started to share about our personal ministry and what's going on with our family. Kind of a personal journal in a way, where I'll be listing prayer requests, ministry needs, personal needs, etc. Please make sure you stop over at 'the Grind to stay up with the Whaley family.

I have also launched a new blog for our collegiate ministry in Ohio. h2o...for all who thirst will be used strictly as a ministry tool on campus. You are more than welcome to dive in the h20 as often as you like to see what's happening on campus. Thank you again for your faithfulness. Please make sure you check out the new blogs.

Until...

Jim

Hello From Jim...

Hey Everyone,

I certainly appreciate each of you for staying up-to-date on our relocation and new ministry. As soon as I can get somewhat 'smoothed' out, I have so many things to share with you about what God has done for our family. It's my prayer that everything you read here, will be of great encouragement and hope for you. So please keep coming back to stay in touch with our family! And I certainly don't mind if you forward our blog to any and all of your fellow bloggers. I also would love to hear from you personally. I know that I have a tremendous amount of readers, but I don't hear from many. How's this, if you would rather send me something via email, INSTEAD of leaving a comment, then click here and send it to me. I would love to hear from you each time you stop by. I'm currently working on a new blog for the new ministry in Ohio. And you are certainly welcome to stop by anytime on that blog as well. I'll keep you posted when it's up and running!

I must ask you to please put my family and I on your daily prayer list. Denise and I have taken a serious look at our overall situation, and here is where we need your help. We have determined that if we can overcome the backlog of bills that keep mounting, then we can make great strides forward. When we accepted the call to become volunteer missionaries, our methods of income, changed very drastically. Our problem, is that we are incredibly behind on our bills, and it's easy to take our focus off of what we're supposed to be focusing on and see only the financial struggles. It reminds me of when Peter hopped over the side of the boat and started walking on the water to get to Jesus, when he took his eyes off of Christ and focused on the storms around him, he began to sink. It was when he re-focused on Christ, and reached out to Him, that Christ brought him back up on top of the sea with him.

I'm asking you to give serious prayer toward a way to eliminate these mounting bills. And I would also alk that you forward this to anyone that you have that is a prayer warrior in your family or church. And also, I would ask that if God is placing a burden on your heart to help us financially with our ministry, please contact me immediately.

You can send your gifts to:
Northcoast Baptist Association

Please mark your checks for: Jim Whaley Ministry in the 'Memo' section.

Please mail your gifts to:
Northcoast Baptist Association
980 Abbe Road
Elyria, Ohio 44035

Each of you have no idea just how much we appreciate you, your families and your churches. I pray one day, that we will have an opportunity to visit your church and share with your congregations in person just what God has done in, and through our lives. Thanks for your prayers and support.

Stay in touch,

Jim

Dad's Place For Sale...

After my last post, I did receive a few emails concerning the purchase of Dad's Place. However, I really don't think that I was taken as serious as I really am. I previously shared with you about our new calling and our relocation to Ohio, so as you can see, it's impossible for us to continue on with the day-to-day operation of Dad's Place. DP has become a virtual 'over-night' icon in Monticello. It IS the hangout of many high school and college students. And it is the location of many, many activities throughout each week that gives people the opportunity to get out of the house/dorm/apartment and fellowship with others in a family-friendly environment.

DP is the business opportunity of a lifetime. It is already established in the community with plenty of room for business growth...an established clientele...an incredible product...and a phenomenal location. And on top of that, it's just a great place to go!

If you are the SLIGHTEST BIT interested in this business opportunity, PLEASE contact me here. We are more-than-willing to work with you in any way possible. We will consider ALL OFFERS! And I DO MEAN all offers. Don't let this great opportunity slip by. I can't wait to hear from you! Email me TODAY!

Jim

Dad's Place Needs YOU...

Hello From Ohio,

I took a great opportunity on Friday to go home to Ohio. I hadn't seen my family in 3 weeks, so you can imagine what my adult ADHD was doing to me! :) Our family had moved to Ohio during the first part of July, and I returned to Monticello for the final sale of Dad's Place.

As so many of you know, Dad's Place was begun to minister to the 18 to 25 year olds in our community and surrounding area. What we didn't realize, was that the target audience was soooo much greater! Over the past three years, God allowed us to develop incredible relationships with many, many great people. All of which, I will always cherish. And in addition, we served great coffee too!

Upon arriving back in Arkansas from our move, we were notified that the purchase of Dad's Place did not grow through. As I shared in my previous post about our new calling, we will be heavily involved in ministry to college students in Ohio, however, it has always been our prayer and desire that someone would see the ministry and vision that we've had for Dad's Place and want to carry it on. At this time, it appears that at the end of August 2007...THIS month...Dad's Place will come to an end.

Here is where we need your help. If you or someone you know shares the vision and hunger for ministry as we do, and would like to carry on the ministry we know as Dad's Place and serve the best coffee and ice cream in south Arkansas, we would love to talk to you. You can email me here, and I'll get back to you as soon as I get the message. I would ask this, please no curiosity seekers...serious inquiries only.

And also one other favor...please pass this post on to all of YOUR blog readers, and link to us on your blog...we firmly believe that God desires that Dad's Place remain open in Monticello.

Could this be God's Call to you...


Thanks for your prayers,

Jim

Our New Calling...

To Our Dearest Friends And Faithful Bloggers,


Denise and I are blown away by a need that we have seen, and are humbled by a call that God has put on our lives. Thank you for taking the time to read and learn about our new adventure…and even pray about how God might want you, too, to be involved.

Today in North America, many college students will never have the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. College students, numbering approximately 16 million, are one of the most significant and unevangelized people groups in North America. The battle for the souls of collegians is growing more desperate each year.

Our love for collegians began many years ago when God allowed us to serve as the University Pastor for Nettleton Baptist Church in Jonesboro, AR. It was during this time, that we began to understand the needs, both spiritual and physical, that this particular people group has. It was the beginning of a love that has burned fervently in our hearts till this day. We always prayed that somehow, someway, God would allow us to return this ministry. He has…and that time is now.

Beginning this fall, I will begin my ministry as Campus Pastor of Crosswalk Ministries at both Tiffin University and Heidelberg College, in Tiffin, Ohio, and Denise will serve as Support Staff for the campus ministry. Crosswalk is the Collegiate Ministry of the Ohio Baptist State Convention. Tiffin is a beautiful community, located in North Central Ohio on the Sandusky River, near the North Coast of Lake Eerie, with a population of approximately 19,000. The two universities have a combined enrollment of approximately 5,000 students, with only a minimal evangelical presence on either campus. We are currently in the relocation process. Denise and Tabitha have already moved, along with our housing, I've returned to Monticello to wrap up a few loose ends and to sell Dad's Place.

Never before has Luke 10:2 come screaming so loud and clear: ‘Therefore He said unto them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth laborers into His harvest.”’


We will be serving as Mission Service Corp (MSC) Volunteer Missionaries through the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. What is needed now is for other Great Commission-minded churches and individuals to join this partnership through providing financial support and praying for our work. The amount to be raised per month is over $3000.00, so it will truly take a unified effort of Christ’s Church to see this vision fulfilled.

I’d like to ask you to please do two things:

1.) Please pray for our family, our mission and our mission field. As we are currently in the process of finalizing our relocation, there are so many ‘little things’ that need extra attention. We are truly praying to see a mighty work of God on both of these university campuses, and your prayer support is much needed and greatly appreciated. Also, we would encourage you to pray for the sell of Dad's Place in Monticello. It is our prayer and desire that this ministry would continue in Southeast Arkansas.

2.) Please pray about supporting our mission financially. We are in need of partners at many different levels of giving to make the vision of this Collegiate Ministry a reality. We truly believe the Lord who calls is the same Lord who provides.

We are constantly encouraged knowing that there are people like you with a kindred spirit toward taking the Gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth. Thanks for your prayers. I pray that Christ will bless you with every spiritual blessing today. Thanks for reading and praying. Drop back by often for updates, and, a new collegiate blog is on it's way!

For His Glory,

Jim & Denise Whaley

Partnership...

CrossWalk Collegiate Ministries of Tiffin
Jim & Denise Whaley ~ Missionaries
Tiffin, Ohio

We pray that God will lead people to come alongside this ministry and embrace the title of "armor bearers" both financially and prayerfully. It is has been the template of God set forth in Scripture for God and His people to partner together for kingdom ministry. Therefore, we are asking God's people to prayerfully consider joining us in the ministry of reaching the universities in Tiffin, Ohio with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

All financial investments to the Collegiate Ministry of Jim Whaley are tax deductible and all contributions will receive an end of the year giving statement for your personal records.

Thank you so much for being a vital part of this exciting ministry. We are humbled by your willingness to partner with us. Feel free to contact us at any time for additional information concerning this ministry.

All ministry contributions can be made out to: Northcoast Baptist Association.

Please mark your checks for: Jim Whaley Ministry in the ‘Memo’ section.

Please mail to:

Northcoast Baptist Association
980 Abbe Road
Elyria, Ohio 44035

Thank you for your Partnership! We look forward to sharing great and exciting news of God's Work with you. A new collegiate blog is in the works...stay tuned!


Jim & Denise Whaley

Anticipation...

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed (emphasis mine)." 1 Peter 4: 12-13

A Prayer For The Moment...

This was a prayer I received this morning in my email. Such a needed and comforting prayer. I hope it blesses you as much as it blessed me.
Jim

Be Blessed and may GOD's loving favour come upon you and your family. God still sits on the throne. If you are going through a tough time right now, God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can.

Father, I ask You to bless my friends, relatives and blog readers that are reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of Your love and power. Holy Spirit, I ask You to minister to their spirit at this very moment. Where there is pain, give them Your peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. In Jesus' precious name.
Amen.