Hello all. Happy quarantine! Or maybe not. The world sure has changed in the last week or two. Here is the Bay Area/Silicon Valley we have been told to shelter in place, and only go out for necessities, medical help, or if we work in what area considered essential industries (police, fire, medical, etc.). It’s been tough, but here is how we’re dealing with it, and the ministry adjustments I’m working on making.
Of course, we’re spending a lot more time at home. My wife Becky, a music teacher, has been able to transition most of her lessons online by using several online meeting apps, depending on what the parents are comfortable with. She’s using mostly Zoom and Whereby, and she’s teaching a flute lesson in the next room as I write this. My daughter Naomi, 20, is taking her college classes online, but sadly isn’t able to work. Our younger daughter Melody, 15, is pretty used to doing her work online, but misses her extra classes (pottery and circus arts). Both girls miss their friends terribly.
I’ve done better on the work front. My background is in private security management, so I’m getting some work, mostly at local universities who need extra eyes during this challenging time. But since most of my regular side-work is for concerts, sporting events and conferences, we’ve lost some income there. But my biggest struggle in not being able to hit the streets to tell people about Jesus. But I’ve done a couple of things to adjust as well.
- I’ll be working on research and updates for my website, particularly my What Abouts page where I post resources regarding commonly asked questions about the Christian faith. I’d encourage you to check it out. It might give you a way to pass the time and equip yourself too. If you have a question you don’t see answered there, send me a message. I’ll see what I can find and post, because if you have the question, chances are others do too.
- I’ve started online evangelism training via Zoom. Our first lesson was last night, and it went pretty well. It was session 1 of 4 on sharing the Gospel. It’s a course I’ve taught before, but never online, and it was an interesting experience. I will be teaching session 1 again today at 2PM, and you are welcome to attend. Just send me a message and I’ll send you the Zoom link. I’m planning on teaching sessions 2 and 3 next, Tuesday and Thursday. I also plan to load the recorded teaching sessions to YouTube later, but I think the interaction with me and the other students that the online class offers is better, so attend live if you can. Just contact me via private message for more info. (dan@yoursoulmatters.org)
- Finally, I’d love to tell you more about what I do. Getting out the word about Open Air Campaigners and fundraising is not something I’m good at, but it’s necessary if I want to stay on the streets sharing Christ, and there’s nothing I want to do more. So if you’d like to find out more about what I do (at least when I’m not quarantined) I’d love to chat. We can talk by phone, or by Zoom, where I can share some visual information too via screen share. Let me know if you’re interested.
So stay health, stay safe, and let me know if you’d like to talk, if you need prayer, or if there is any way I can encourage you. God bless!
Dan B.
www.yoursoulmatters.org
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