Building The Body of Christ

Spring blooming at Jess’ favourite spot for solitude

Stories. Solitude. Service. School. Four very different ways we are building up the body of Christ in our current season. Intrigued? You’ll have to read on.

But we first want to say thank you. Each of you have been part of building up the body in ways both seen and unseen. Thank you for your stories that encourage us. Thank you for your solitary (and communal) prayer that God would work through us. Thank you for giving generously so we can serve here in Melbourne

Please keep praying for us, that we would be faithful in building up the body in each of the different ways God has given us.

If you would like to receive more frequent prayer updates from us, please let us know by emailing partnership@heyhortins.com, and we will add you to our WhatsApp broadcast channel. Your details will not be seen by anyone else, and you will receive a private message from Jess when there are prayer updates.

We want to see people of every nation …

Thank you for praying for our recent training!

As Jess completed Worldwide Wycliffe, she was immersed in Wycliffe Australia’s vision statement, and many stories of how God has worked through Wycliffe Australia. A retired couple shared about their work in Nepal, and how they poured years into a translation project, at times with little visible fruit. But there was one young man whose faith had a great impact on his community ‘all because he heard the gospel in his own language, around a hearth side, in a remote village in Nepal.’ What a joy it is to be a small part of such a wonderful work God is doing! Watch Jess share the rest of the vision statement in Aloysius’ heart language – check it out here.

In the following week, Jarod completed Ready, Set, Thrive, a week in developing and maintaining communication skills, spiritual vitality, and healthy ministry practices. He found it helpful to reflect on his identity as God’s beloved, as well as embracing his need for solitude to refresh and connect with God.

We were both encouraged in our heads and hearts and have had some helpful conversations about how to honour God and serve him wisely in our current season.

Praise God for the opportunity to be trained and learn about ourselves, each other and the organisation. 
Please pray we would keep looking to Jesus in our work and our parenting.

Hi ho hi ho, it’s off to work we go!

She is also enjoying being able to connect with the other staff on her day in the office and regularly attending staff meeting, where they hear from a different ministry each week.

Jess will also be teaching 6 of the sessions in the upcoming training on Partnership Development (10–14 November)

Praise God for the opportunity for Jess to spend a day a week in the office, and the way this is benefiting the whole family!
Pray for wisdom for Jess as she spends time in the office and that God would give her the opportunities to care for people within her capacity. And pray for her teaching week

What does Jarod actually do?

A new opportunity

The adjustment to our work/parenting
rhythm has meant that we are no longer participating in our church’s outreach playgroup. It was a gift for the two months we attended, and now we look forwards to another new opportunity – school!

Aloysius is enrolled in the local preschool for 3-year-old kinder next year (the Victorian equivalent of pre-kindy). 

We’ve already met his teachers and the coordinator, who are incredibly attentive and proactive. It will be a busy few months as we prepare him and the teaching staff, but we are excited to see what God will do. We will have two orientation sessions with other parents and kids, which will be a great opportunity to get to know our new community and begin grow some new friendships. Aloysius has also been invited into a preschool readiness program for children who are delayed, run in the same setting.

Praise God for the fantastic preschool on our road, and for the supports available to him. 

Please pray for us to trust God as we organise supports, meet other parents and children, and prepare Aloysius for this new season. And pray that Aloysius would make friends!

Prayer summary:

Thank God for:

• your partnership in the gospel
• the fruitful training where we learnt about ourselves, each other and the organisation
• the opportunity for Jess to spend a day a week in the office
• the fantastic preschool on our road, and for the supports available to Aloysius.

Please pray for:

• us to be faithful in building up the body in each of the different ways God has given us
• us to keep looking to Jesus in our work and our parenting
• wisdom for Jess as she works, and that God would give her the opportunities to care for people within her capacity
• Jess as she teaches in the Partnership Development workshop
• Jarod and the team to work well together
• wisdom, energy, and grace as he leads the team while also being the primary programmer
• us to trust God as we prepare for this new season of preschool for Aloysius, and as we meet parents
• Aloysius to make friends!