First After Effects Project

I recently completed my first ever Adobe After Effects project for the Brethren in Christ Church. Before this project any motion video projects I needed to work on was done through Apple’s Motion application. I have an old version of Motion and rather then upgrading I made the switch to AE and it was a pleasure to use and create the following project celebrating 2009 in Cooperative Ministries. The project is done, definitely some things I have learned this time that I will change for the next project but I think it is a good start. Let me know what you think of the video!

I have a new Job!

Well, kinda…As of Sunday’s church council meeting vote my full time position at Pequea Church has now been approved. Previously I had served as the technical arts director for both Pequea Church and the Brethren in Christ Denomination. Now I am full time with Pequea Church as the director of technical arts and impact ministries (young adults) and all the praise goes to God!

While I am really sorry to have to leave my position with the BIC general church I am excited about focusing my work and ministry life. Over the last year, it became very clear that I was stretching my time too thin and it was effecting the quality of my work. I was spending lots of additional hours out of the office late at night working to complete projects in a timely manner. On some weeks I easily was working my two, 20 hour a week jobs as two 40 hour a week jobs. In ministry it is all to easy to get burned out and for me to loose focus on God’s plan for my life. In November my girlfriend of 4 years and I got engaged and we are now planning a June 2010 wedding. I had to begin thinking about my “Family or Church“.

Although my new position will still be filled with a lot of work and projects and even new responsibilities I am excited about where God has me and what he has in store for me in the near future. I thank God daily that I am able to have a job like this and get paid for ministry, doing something that I love.

My passion for Nicaragua

In February 2008 I was given my first opportunity to serve on a cross cultural experience by going with a team from Pequea Church to Esteli Nicaragua. The trip changed my life and perspective on how God is at work all around the world. My God, choose to show me how He is accomplishing His mission beyond my over-saturated views of North American “church”. With my role as a technical arts director at a church in North America it is very easy to become so wrapped up in the programs and worship services of our local church and totally miss what God is doing around the world.

In January of 2010 I have been given a chance to return to Nicaragua. A team of young adults from Pequea Church will travel to El Viejo Brethren In Christ Church to serve this church and help replace a failing roof. Although we will be serving the church in this way, so much more of this trip will be focused on meeting the families, neighbors, and children of this community. It is my desire to better understand the story of the people of Nicaragua and bring that story home to share with our congregation. I am certain that God is at work in me, preparing me for something unexpected, my prayer is that I will be open to His leading me in this experience. Throughout the trip I will be blogging daily updates with photos and hopefully some video from our time in Nicaragua over on the churches blog. If you are willing to support me with prayer please just leave a comment or shoot me an email.

Service is a means of bringing about change within ourselves, making us not the “givers” in the interaction but fellow recipients with those we serve. – Jeremy Tyrrell

Family to Family

The Brethren in Christ World Hunger Fund has focused on Zimbabwe, this is a place of immediate need. Through the Brethren in Christ initiative you, your family, or small group have the ability to give just $75 to feed an entire family for one month. I created a new version of our Family to Family video for use in our churches. You can learn more about the Family to Family campaign by clicking here.

Family to Family Village to Village

The crisis in Zimbabwe continues, and we can help. I recently worked on a video project with my position at the Brethren in Christ Church to create a second “Hope For Zimbabwe” video. This is the “children’s version”. Our hope is that the video will be used at summer VBS programs and children’s clubs programs in the fall to help connect North American kids with the kids from Zimbabwe who are in need. Take a look at the video. If you interested in more resources or would like to donate to help feed a village click here.