Official Prayer Letter

Dear friends and partners in Christ,

This is my first official prayer letter as I begin the early stages of my ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF).  “I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:3-6.  I do praise God for each of you and request that you join together in prayer for: me, my wife and family, for the campus at Washtenaw Community College (WCC) and for IVCF.  It is good to pray for one another and I also welcome your requests. 

It has been and is a long and difficult journey for me these past 9 months of unemployment, the application process, fund development, soon training and then planting a new ministry at WCC.  God has used this time to shape my character and grow my faith and trust in him.  It is no small task that lies ahead and our prayers and cries to the Lord who is full of mercy, grace, wisdom and truth are what will guide and direct my steps. 

It is my desire and passion to serve the Lord by proclaiming the gospel at WCC; it is God’s will that all men are saved, but how can they believe without hearing? Romans 10:10-17

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” 
1 John 5:14-15

Pray with me:  “I waited patiently for the LORD; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.” Psalm 40:1

v      Fund Development and partners - who will continually walk with me and support this strategic ministry with their prayers and finances. I’m currently at 33% of my financial goal and am praying for 90% by June 1.  This deadline is in order to be accepted into InterVarsity National Chapter Planters Cohort – where I will receive specialized training and some additional funding.  If I don’t meet this deadline I will have to wait to participate with this program until next June, 2011.  Most new church or campus chapter plants have 15% success rate; but so far with InterVarsity’s Cohort training the new campus groups have shown 85% success.  The cohort training will help me to plant a successful ministry that will bear much lasting fruit – with the help of God!  

v      Vision - for the ministry and campus at Washtenaw Community College; that I may see and hear clearly what the Lord says are the deep needs of this community.  Also that we will have the favor of God and of the campus staff/faculty and that there will be an open door for the gospel to be shared freely and without hindrance.  

v      Student leaders – that I would be able to discern and that God would lead the right student leaders to reach their campus.  Students who are full of the Spirit, wisdom, humble, full of faith, committed and teachable; that they would be passionate followers of Jesus Christ!  

v      For those outside of Christ (unbelievers) - who are caught in the bondage of sin, who struggle with illness, who are lonely, afraid, hurting and lost; for them to turn from their sin and idols and turn to Christ that they would experience a community filled with those who love as Jesus loves and who will receive grace as Christ apportioned it. Isaiah 58

v      Marriage & Family – can be easily neglected in the urgency and time required to care for others.  Please pray for Laina and me to have the proper boundaries to guard our time together and for our family.  As a leader in ministry please pray 1 Timothy 3:1-7 over me and other ministry leaders.

Closing Prayer:Ephesians 3:14-21  

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Please continue to follow my progress at www.toddjerdon.weebly.com or on Facebook.  I will be sending out periodic updates but always feel free to send me an email or give me a call.  This is an exciting and challenging time for me and Laina and I am so glad that we don’t have to go through it alone!  It reminds of a Bebo Norman song (one of Laina’s favorite Christian music artists): “Walk Down This Mountain”.

“So walk down this mountain with your heart held high
Follow in the footsteps of your Maker
And with this love that’s gone before you and these people at your side
If you offer up your broken cup
You will taste the meaning of this life”

I’ve been in a valley situation for a while now and I will soon begin the accent to another mountain top experience.  God’s love goes before me and you my friends are the people by my side.  Let us then continue upward together pressing on to reach the goal that God has called us to for such a time as this.  Thank you!

Those interested in financially supporting my ministry can donate online at www.InterVarsity.org click on Donate and then type in my name as the staff member you are donating to; or by mail with the enclosed envelope (if you received this letter by mail).  Write your check to “InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, but designate the donation to: "Todd Jerdon" in the memo line.  

Please consider partnering with me on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis to help me better plan for the year with a gift of: $25, $30, $50, $100 or $200 monthly?

Sincerely,
 
Todd B. Jerdon
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Washtenaw Community College

Send Donations to:

Attn: Donation Services
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA
PO Box 7895
Madison, WI  53791-9703