God & Keynote & The Utts

Check out the November edition of our update letter here: click here

October already!

I just can't believe it is October already. The chill of the autumn air just hit me this week and it seems like fall isn't waiting for the leaves to be off the trees first. I am trying to grasp on to the rush the Lord has us on for this month. I truly believe that October is going to be a big month for us and the mission of finding ministry partners. Looking back into the month of September, I feel astonished in how we finished the month. The lord provided with so many opportunities to share about Keynote. This month our prayer is to watch the Lord work and believe it can be an amazing month! We have a dollar amount we are praying for this month and are diligently pursuing the Lord's guidance in how to achieve it. October is going to be awesome!
-T

Making a Difference.

We have all had the thought run through our mind: "Am I really making a difference in (fill in the blank)?" I really don't know, and I'm not trying to answer that question for you....sometimes we probably are, and sometimes we probably are not.

I recently read something about how Christians sometimes think, "Oh, I really want to do something great for God". Or, we even ask God to have us to do great things for Him. Well, then we've missed the point. What I was reading pointed out that "the purpose of our being here is for God to use us for His greatness. A wiser prayer is probably to ask God to do great things. Then, we can be profoundly humbled if we get to participate in the process in any small way."

That way certainly is a different way to think. But, I like it.

Sometimes, what God is doing is like a 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzle...and we're just suppose to help with one or two pieces in the whole puzzle....not necessarily knowing what the puzzle is even suppose to look like in the end. [If you haven't read our September Newsletter update, please do. Our friend, Scott, talks more about this. Click here to download a .pdf]

All said, hopefully you are encouraged! Here are a couple jigsaw puzzle pieces currently happening....ask God if you're suppose to participate in any way:

*A Keynote band is gearing up to spend a month in Asia - Click here to take a proactive journey with this team, covering them in prayer throughout the month they will be overseas.

*Buddy Walk - Click here to meet our nephew, Connor, and see what we're so jazzed about this weekend! We'd love for you to pray for this event as you think about it on Saturday. If you are able to give financially, there's a place off of that link to do so also.


Thanks for listening!
Love,
Tony & Jonelle

Make a difference on the other side of the Earth!

Really? Yep!

One of the Keynote bands, blue sky nine, is heading to Asia for month long tour to partner with different ministries and help them connect with their target audiences! They fly out next Tuesday, Sept 29 at 6am!

Thank you for joining us in praying for Keynote and things that we relay to you. Your prayers certainly do make a difference! Here are some highlights about this trip [and how you can pray specifically]:

***One concert on a campus will possibly be recorded for a local TV station. Pray that this will happen and will be used throughout the country.

***The band will be helping a local music ministry with training [sound tech & music evangelism training]. Pray for clear communication and that 'blue sky nine' can help equip the local ministry.

We look forward to letting you know how God moves while they are on tour! Do you want to have a bigger investment? CLICK HERE ...to download a prayer calendar that highlights each day that the band is on tour and how you can specifically pray for them!

blue sky nine thanks you for being intentional....

Buddy Walk for Connor!

Meet our nephew, Connor:



Connor is a funny little dude. He just discovered the dog’s water dish. He also recently discovered the drawer in the kitchen where his mom keeps her Tupperware. ☺

Our family is walking in the Buddy Walk this year on September 26 to show our support for Connor and the other 400,000+ individuals with Down syndrome in the USA. The money raised goes towards advocacy programs that benefit and serve people in the Miami Valley with Down syndrome and their families.

The walk was started in 1995 to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. There are now 260 walks – at least one in every state and in five different countries!

Please consider making a donation towards our Buddy Walk Team for our little Connor-Man! No donation is too small - seriously! Click here to donate online!

September Update!

Click here to read our September update!

Just a Story?

This summer, one of Keynote's summer project bands Young Isaac had the exciting opportunity to connect with ministries and people in Australia! During concerts, one of the band members, Ryan, talked about how he learned to trust God after the death of his best friend.

Here is a snapshot of what students wrote on comment cards about Ryan's story:

“I know what it’s like to be mad at God, since my dad died it hasn’t been the same.”

“I really liked your show and Ryan’s story changed my perspective on life.”

“I still don’t understand why God takes our loved ones away from us, especially when they are young. This is what annoys me.”

“I liked your music. Ryan’s story was touching—made me realize the importance of life.”

“Thanks Ryan. You have opened my eyes to things I didn’t realize before.”

“Ryan’s story was very inspirational—gave me a lot to think about. I have a lot of problems with God and religion since my mom died.”

It is really neat to see the impact of what a story can have. This story, this piece of Ryan's life that he shared with others...it opened doors into comments and conversations that don't typically happen in your " 'hi, how are you doing'...'fine'...'okay great' " conversations. This summer, Ryan's story probably didn't help every person who heard. But, I bet it did encourage many people to think. To think about their life - to think about the questions they have about life - and to think about how God fits [or isn't fitting] in their life.

Don't be afraid to share your story. You do have one. Everyone has one. Isn't it worth it if it helps someone else to wrestle and really think about spiritual things?

blue sky nine: Back to Prison

A fellow Keynote friend posted this on his blog on Saturday. He plays the guitar in blue sky nine, who is currently on tour. They partnered with Bill Glass Prison Ministries back in the spring, and had the chance to partner again. Enjoy!

Last night, blue sky nine found our way back into Ellsworth Correctional Facility in Ellsworth, Kansas. We had played here over the weekend of April 24th and 25th, working in partnership with the great folks from Bill Glass Prison Ministries, and had a great reception. Since we were in the neighborhood on tour, we hooked up a return visit.

With the Bill Glass outreach, we were just a band playing as part of someone else’s program. This time, it was all us, and in addition to playing our music, I shared my story and how my relationship with Christ has changed my life.

We played for about 200 guys, and as always, they were very receptive and excited for us to be there. Not always for the right reasons, but we’ll take whatever chance we get to share with them. ’On the inside’, the guys feel very much forgotten by the rest of the world, and any contact with someone from the oustide is welcome.

We had a great time, and saw many dozens of the guys indicate interest in talking more about spiritual things or studying the Bible. And a small handful indicated they either made a decision to begin a relationship with God, or re-dedicated their lives to following Christ. Cool. We had lots of good one-on-one conversations afterward, and we used some comment cards to get feedback that we could leave with the chaplains there. Below are a few quotes from those cards…

• “Thank you- I’ve never been a religious person- but some of your words really got to me today—Thank you.”
• “I have had some hard times in my walls and your music and talking helped me with some of my problems.”
• “My wife left me today, so your concert was God sent. Thank you for lifting my spirits.”
• “I really don’t know where I am at, with my relationship with God, Jesus Christ . . . I’m not for sure . . . Yes, I pray, I read my Bible and all. I believe in God & that Jesus is God’s son. I’m not for sure if I am saved or not’?”
• “Really enjoyed & appreciated your concert & all you shared. Been having relationship issues & you all were right on time.”
• “I was inspired on April 24^th, 2009, to walk the path with Jesus. Thank you for everything that you have done…”
• “You have no idea how much we all love your group… Please please please please come back!”
• “I love your sound. It helped me forget where I was. But I got right with God. Thank you for helping brighten my day!”

Play music. Tell stories. See lives changed. Still can’t believe this is my job.

August Update!

Click here to see our update newsletter for August! We hope you are encouraged by reading some of the things that have happened this summer!

Swerve comes to Target Dayton

Even though we are officially on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ's ministry, Keynote, our assignment is to raise our initial monthly financial support. We are just over 1/3 of the way to our support goal, and are continually growing in excitement for when we can be working directly with the ministry in Indianapolis!

This weekend, we had a special opportunity to work with Keynote - even though technically, that's not our assignment currently. :) We had the opportunity to work with one of the Summer Project bands.

[Summer project is a time at Keynote where college students come from all over the world to do what full-time staff at Keynote do on a smaller scale. They spend their first few weeks getting to know their band members, practicing, and learning how to share the Gospel using the platform of music. Then, they hit the road for a few more weeks to partner with ministries to share God's love!]

Swerve came to Dayton to do an outreach concert at Target Dayton Ministries, a local ministry that reaches out to the poor and homeless. We are rejoicing that through this partnership with Keynote & Target Dayton, we now have 30 new brothers & sisters in Christ! Praise Him!

We wanted to give you a picture of how Keynote musicians intertwine their life stories with Jesus and the Gospel. In the video below, Chelsie, shares some of her story. After a little bit of her story, the band plays a song ["Temporary" by Slaid Cleaves]. Chelsie then finishes her stories with how God rescued her and how He will do the same for anyone. [We apologize for the footage not being visually clear - the lighting wasn't the greatest and we weren't using a video camera.]

Here are some more glimpses into the evening.....


Setting up!

Jay, Fredric, & Arwen

About 250 people came to the show!

The concert is fun...but that's not what the night is about...

...it's about hearing people's stories and sharing Jesus!

Of course, a flat tire is the other ingredient in a quality tour, right?

Click here to see more pictures from the concert!

Summer Project Chain Reaction = Spiritual Multiplication

It isn’t often that we get to see what happens years down the road and how ministry to one person compounds on others. But recently we discovered this story:

For several years before coming to Keynote, one of our new staff discipled Ashleyne in NY State. Ashleyne came to Keynote’s summer project last summer with some hesitation and resistance where she was further discipled and challenged. But she accepted the coaching and training and was the student who shared the gospel message during her band’s (Young Isaac) concerts on tour.In Ohio, there was a 16 year old girl named Katia*. She and her brother Leonid* were adopted from Russia when they were 4 and 6 years old. By the time Katia was adopted and brought to the US she was a bit young to remember her life in Russia, but Leonid has many vivid memories and really struggles with abandonment and all that ntails having been adopted at an older age. Katia feels very close to her brother because he is her only blood relative, but because of his struggles, their relationship is very strained. Fortunately, they have a wonderful family with parents who are very loving. They go to church, but Katia has never been able to relate her church experience to her teenage life.

Katia's neighbor, Maryellen*, is very involved in Student Venture and has often invited her to activities, so when she heard about the Young Isaac concert (Keynote Summer Project band) last summer, she brought Katia along. Ashleyne shared her experience with a strained relationship during the gospel presentation. Her friend was struggling with depression and self-destruction. Eventually this friendship was broken off. Because of Katia’s relationship with her brother, she really connected with this story. When the gospel was shared that night, she didn't have to think very hard about asking Christ into her life.

Bethany (from Student Venture) has followed up with Katia and has continued to disciple her throughout the year. She also now attends a Bible study led by a college student. Katia has brought at least two of her friends to Student Venture meetings who have both accepted Christ! One is Katia's best friend, whose mother is fighting alcoholism. The other is a German exchange student! All three are truly growing in their faith.

(* names have been changed)


Keynote has several summer project bands again this year. In fact, they started their summer tours this week! Please pray for these summer project students: their safety as they tour during these next few weeks and opportunities to share the Gospel!

June Newsletter Update!

Click here to read our June update!

Keynote Golf Challenge

Last month, Keynote had their annual Golf Challenge fundraising events on opposite sides of the states! In the events in California & in Indianapolis, God provides more than $130,000 in sponsorship through our 55 golfers!

These golfers accepted the challenge of playing at least 100 holes of golf in one day in one of the two Golf Challenges. That's right - ONE HUNDRED HOLES!

Fox 59 (an Indianapolis TV station) covered the event on the Morning Show. A surprise "frost delay" made for creative action shots to take the place of golfers actually beginning their rounds. We're thankful for the exposure for both Keynote's ministry and the Golf Challenge. Unfortunately, you cannot view Fox 59's coverage of the event, but we'd love to share with you the promo video for this fundraiser!

Giants of Silence Rocks Europe!

In May, Keynote's aggressive rock band, Giants of Silence, partnered with various ministries in Germany, Switzerland and France for an outreach tour. During the course of the tour, God used them in the lives of college students, high school students and military personnel. The band performed 10 concerts (two of them were worship events) in eight cities. Response cards were not used at each event, but we know that more than 60 people indicated significant spiritual decisions!

Misconceptions about God and Christianity as well as pressures of the culture around them, set the stage for these students to question a lot of things and become disillusioned with life. Jill's story about how God changed her life and helped her overcome depression really made an impact. The band's evanglelistic CD was a popular item as well as a photo postcard containing the gospel.

In Ferney, France the band had the opportunity to work with some "third culture" kids whose parents are diplomats or business men. While some of the students already have a relationship with God, others are searching for a place to belong as they move every couple of years. Many seeds were planted as the band members spent time with the students after the shows.

Band member, Bryan [left], talking after a show.

Keynote partner, Pepe Tolenen provided sound equipment and transportation as well as "moral support" throughout the tour. A recent email from Pepe gives a glimpse into the spiritual climate of Germany; "...I could not believe my eyes when I saw our listeners giving applause after the gospel presentations. I thought, this is NOT Germany when something like this happens!"

We can all relate to the tension between pleasing God and being accepted. "Adam", the teenage son of a concert host in Bamburg, Germany, was dealing with this same issue. He wrote on his comment card, "I want to please God but I also want to be cool around my friends".

Giants of Silence director, Ethan Ehrstine stayed with "Adam's" family. As they were leaving the next morning, Ethan remembered the comments and took time to talk with "Adam" about his struggle to please God and his friends. "Adam" was delighted that the band's guitar player not only took notice of his comment, but took time to talk to him and encourage him to take steps of faith.

Thank you for praying for Giants of Silence during their time overseas. The band members have been home for a couple of weeks and are now busy with helping to run Keynote's Summer Project. The band will tour again beginning in August.

Some of the band members in between shows.

One Thing After Another...

The last half of March seemed like a whirlwind month for us. First, Tony was sick and out of commission for a few days. Then, Jonelle sprained her knee and was on crutches for about a week. The latest is that Jonelle's allergies flared up and took her out for this past weekend. We'd appreciate it if you'd take a moment and pray for our physical health. It's been a crazy month, and we're praying that April brings more than shower....that it brings a season of renewed health for us!

blue sky nine talks about...blue sky nine

Keynote is constantly educating people about what exactly it is that we do and how different ministries can effectively use our artists to reach people for Christ. So, Keynote's Media Team and blue sky nine recently teamed up to produce a promotional video for concert hosts. Posting the video on youtube.com gives easy access and broader exposure. Enjoy!

Year In Review.

Here is a 4-minute video highlighting everywhere Keynote went in 2008. We are excited to be directly involved with this ministry, and pray that we can be there very soon!

Latest Press.

As our society continues to connect and explore over youtube.com, Keynote is realizing the potential to share more than just humor. With a passing suggestion and bit of editing, they took an already existing Gospel message from our ventriloquist, David Pendleton, and posted it to youtube.com. This link has seen over 3,400 hits in two months (with very little advertising)!





Keynote's full-time bands are spending a significant amount of time exploring how to further their impact using technology. They are not only developing Internet marketing; they are also creating online ministry opportunities. God is opening up doors for our communication training to potentially equip thousands of Campus Crusade staff to better reach millions of college students around the world....and our international influence has never been greater.

We are so excited about the vision of Keynote and cannot wait to report to Indy to begin working! Thank you for taking a jump and moving through this journey with us!

Brazil Music Ministry

Janie (Keynote's friend & partner in Brazil) just sent us this video link a few days ago. This is her 4th year to host a BMM (Brazil Music Ministry) Summer Project, and this song will give you a glimpse of how she’s doing as she is developing her ministry. This footage is from one of their summer project concerts.

It is so exciting to see what God is doing through music around the world! We love to see how other music ministries oversees are using their own music to share Jesus with their culture!

Could you pause for a moment and pray for Janie - that the Lord would provide resources for the ministry and real monthly support for her? Thanks!

BMM Summer Project Video

Making Sense out of Transition...

We are still in the midst of learning what life "should" look like now that Tony has a part-time job. This job is certainly way different from his previous job working with houses and appraisals, but that is okay! His co-workers at the branch are nice and they all work pretty well together, which is a plus! This week, he is going to "teller school". After this week is over, he will have a more concrete schedule, which will help us out so much as we continue to build our base of ministry partners and raise support. He'll be working 30-35 hours to start with. We are praying that the branch will be quick in their hiring of another teller so that Tony can drop his hours a little lower.

With all this transition, we are learning that God's timing is perfect. It's been one year since we've started this journey of building our team of ministry partners & raising support. In our minds, we would love to be closer to our goal than 30%, but we know that God's timing is perfect. When things happen that don't quite make sense or doubts creep into our mind about if this path is the path we should be taking....God "wows" us with provision that could only be from Him. He confirms that we are in His will, even though our concept of time is certainly not His!

On a side note, I wish to take a second and brag on my awesome husband who got me the most beautiful flowers for Valentine's Day! After working at a greenhouse for 10 or so years, I did not think that I "needed" flowers. I was wrong!

February Prayer Letter & More!

February prayer letter: click here

As you read [or will read soon] from this month's letter, we recently had the opportunity to help lead music and serve with friends for Target Dayton Ministries. We had a great time with the band, but we really enjoyed spending time with the people who we served dinner to afterwards. They had some interesting stories!

Below are clips of some of the songs we did that evening. Tony is back there on the drums, Jonelle is singing and playing her synthesizer keyboard, and the rest of the band is made up of good friends from our church! [We apologize for the loud buzzing you may hear - one of the joys of "live music". :)]



Mighty to Save



Lead me to the Cross



Here I am to Worship



From the Inside Out

Swagbucks.

Our latest love has been for Swagbucks. Swagbucks is a search engine that uses results found by Google & Ask.com. Through using the site as your search engine, you are awarded Swag Bucks just for searching. We haven't redeemed any of our Swag Bucks yet, but there are some neat things that you can get like gift cards, electronics, etc... It is just really fun to get a Swag Buck for doing a normal search. [For you fans of The Office...I feel that it ranks right up there with a "Schrute Buck"!]

Interested? Click on the picture at the top of this post to get started!

Our child...

This update is dedicated to my mom, because she faithfully checks our blog and told me I need to start updating it more than once a month. I said that we don't have kids that do crazy things that other people would find interesting.

So....you get a video of our dog! It's from this past Christmas. He's doing his trick, the only trick he knows.

-J

New Year! New Prayer Letter!

Thanks for continuing this journey with us! Here is the link to our latest prayer letter: January Update

Also, an added treat for checking out our blog. [We haven't emailed this news out yet.] Keynote has a new website. It has been totally redone and is loaded with info, videos, quotes, and more! Check it out! Click here!

Thank you for continuing to pray for Tony's job situation. We should hopefully hear something this week about both of last week's interviews!

Thank you!

Thank you so much for continuing to journey and pray with us about Tony's job situation. We are really looking forward to him finding a part-time job so that he can spend more time with support raising and ministry partner development. We are so excited to move out to Indy and work with Keynote full-time!

He had a few interviews this week, and the different places said that they were going to be making their decisions within this next coming week. We're trusting God that He opens and closes the right doors for us with this job situation!