Two Minute Tuesday | March 26

Thank you for tithing two minutes this week to pray for us and our journey.

This week, Tony is helping with Keynote's Comm Lab this week (there's another one next week, too!). People from all over the US are here, learning how to be more effective communicators. The training from our different coaches helps people to have their content & message remembered rather than how they presented it. Today, Tony met a Cru staff member from California who is a part of this training - Matt may or may not be enjoying our March snow in Indiana!

Jonelle is in charge of photography for the Comm Labs and is working with two other photographers to capture engaging, welcoming photos that Keynote can use to promote Comm Lab in the future. This is the 4th year we've had Comm Lab, and look forward to seing it continue to grow!

Please pray for...

• our daily walk with Christ.

• continued bookings for our summer tour with Rhymz Suhreal. Also, we may be helping out with the music for a junior high youth camp this summer (separate from our Keynote tour)!

• Jonelle, as she navigates through combatting her allergies through a new meal plan.

Please send us any prayer requests you have! We love praying for you.

In Christ,
Tony and Jonelle

Day Two

Today is day two of my (Jonelle's) new meal plan to help combat allergies. After recommendations by two doctors and loads of research, my new mean plan is no yeast, no soy, no sugar (including fruit), and no corn for one month of cleansing.

What?!?

Yep. My reaction was most likely similar. I was a big girl and didn't cry right there in the doctor's office.

I waited until I got home. :)

This girl loves bread...and brownies....and I won't even get started on my peanut butter addiction. There is a light towards the end of this tunnel, though. After a month, I can add some things back into my lifestyle, like fruit and limited amounts of corn/corn products. On the positive side, I love coconut, almonds, pecans, eggplant, and eggs - all of which I can freely chow down on.

I am really looking forward to feeling better. Also, this meal plan (purposefully not calling it a 'diet') may significantly reduce my allergy symptoms in the spring and fall, which would be a huge win!

I'm not sure what the future holds with my new little meal plan, but my breakfast on day one wasn't that bad at all - a huge omelet filled with veggies! Yum!

Day two...well...there may or may not have been more tears.

Rediscovering Writing

One of my (Jonelle's) jobs at Keynote is to write stories. I enjoyed my time in high school on the school newspaper and yearbook staff - but that was high school! Our 10th year reunion was this past summer, and 10 years is a long time to be writing infrequently.

I was a little nervous, yet excited, when I learned that there was a big need for writers on my team at Keynote. All of the external communication from Keynote (blog updates, brochures, recruiting pieces, etc...) stems from my team.

Since reporting last summer, I have been given the role of senior editor of writing and photography at Keynote. I love being able to capture stories of God changing lives through writing and photography! The writers and photographers whom I work with are phenomenal!

I'd like to share my latest story with you. It is a glimpse into the spiritual journey of a college student from Portland, Oregon.

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Sowing Seeds in Portland

“Who is the real God – Allah or the God of the Bible?”
 
Matthew, a college student in Portland, asked this question. His dad is a Muslim, and his mom is Catholic. While in Jordan last summer with his dad’s family, he read the Quran resulting in more questions about Islam and Christianity.

This situation is not surprising to John Rozzelle, Cru campus staff member in Portland. He believes that the rough spiritual soil in Portland brings unique challenges. As a result, more time is needed to cultivate relationships so spiritual conversations about Jesus can happen.

Continue reading about Matthew's journey...