Monday, November 28, 2011

Starting up support raising!

I am (finally) moving forward and taking the next step towards moving down to Santiago! I am putting everything together to officially send out my support letter and brochure.

2 things:
If you are ready to send a check or start monthly support you can send it to:

G.O. Ministries 
11501 plantside dr suite 14. Louisville ky 40299
Put Kyle Bradley in the memo

Also, if you would like your email and address to go on my support database so you get the support info please let me know. I have a lot of people on there but If you haven't received an email from me in the past few months you're probably not on there!

Thank you all so much for your support and love and encouragement. It means a ton to me

Kyle

Introducing G.O. Ministries

Friends and Family,

I am so excited to announce that I will be officially joining G.O. Ministries (GO) and returning to the DR as a full-time Missionary in June of 2012!  It has been my dream and passion to become fully involved in Sports Ministry in the DR, and specifically establishing a Christian Sports Complex. GO has been such an incredible answer to prayer confirming my next step and a testament to God’s perfect timing.  I was praying for wisdom, clarity and a feeling of peace while seeking a ministry partner, and that is exactly what I received before/during/after my visit to G.O. Ministries US headquarters in Louisville.

I am so grateful for my time in Constanza with Kids Alive International (KAI). I learned many valuable lessons and made life-long friendships. God blessed me in those 2 years, clearly preparing me for future work with Dominicans. I am excited to continue those established KAI relationships serving on the island.

I am humbled to see how God introduced me to GO and to see His hand guiding the whole process. I am excited to continue learning more about G.O. Ministries. As I take this step forward in faith, I want to share with you a little bit more about GO and the direction that God is taking this ministry!

GO has been in the DR for over 15 years and is committed to Sports Ministry. In addition to their work in Sports, they also serve their communities through church planting, nutrition centers, medical clinics, primary schools, ongoing training, water purification projects and kingdom businesses. GO is currently ministering in 3 different areas in the DR, as well as 5 other countries around the world. My main focus will be in Santiago, which is the 2nd largest city in the DR, 2 hours away from my former site in Constanza.

I truly believe that the key to transforming lives and communities is through partnerships with national leaders and I appreciate GO’s commitment to this model.  GO’s mission statement states very clearly what they are about,; “G.O. Ministries seeks to empower passionate, Local Leaders serving inside their cultures to Redeem people, Renew communities and Restore Creation by developing dynamic International Partnerships in Ministry that result in mutual transformation.”

I am excited that GO shares my passion in emphasizing small group discipleship. I can’t wait to really pour in to the lives of young men in the DR and fully invest in helping them become the leaders, examples, athletes and MEN that God calls them to be.

GO is currently preparing to launch their “Leadership Development Complex,” which is their collective plan to bring their ministry to the next level in the DR.  GO does an excellent job of laying out their vision on their website. Please visit http://www.go-ministries.org/projects/leadership-development-complex

This Leadership Development Complex will be a main part of my role with GO and I am excited to help see these plans become a reality. I feel strongly that this is an incredible way to reach the youth in Santiago and will open many doors to continue transforming this community and the sports world in the DR! Short term teams come serve alongside nationals to help with ongoing projects, as well as build powerful, long lasting relationships between the two cultures.

I am currently preparing to start my support-raising in order to move down to Santiago in June. I will send a more complete report through the mail.  If your address has changed in the past 2 years, please let me know. (Also let me know if you receive this email at multiple email addresses).

I covet your prayers during this time of preparation and would love to hear from you with words of encouragement or questions about my future plans with GO.   Feel free to call or email me at any time.

In Him,    Kyle Bradley                                    630.220.5953                                            KyleBradley23@gmail.com

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Ernest Shackleford

I am always so encouraged when I have the chance to worship at Glen Ellyn Bible Church during my visits to Wheaton. This Sunday, Pastor Kelly Brady, shared a tremendous parallel to how we need to be ready for Christ's 2nd coming.

Right before WWI, Ernest Shackleford was attempting to pass Antarctica from one coast to the other through the South pole. Long story short, they faced incredible weather and ice and their entire ship went under after 10 months of drifting in the ocean. They floated and survived for another 5 months before making it to Elephant Island. After 497 days they were finally on land again.

Shackleford realized that there was no hope for them to be rescued on Elephant Island, so he took off with 5 other men, leaving 22 behind. They survived a 17 day, 800 mile trek through treacherous waters. 21 months after the initial departure, Shackleford's full crew of 28 was saved.

I had heard this story dozens of times from my Grandfather, due to the incredible leadership and perseverance shown by Shackleford, but Pastor Brady shed a new light. When Shackleford returned to Elephant Island, he found his crew waiting patiently fully packed and ready to go. Every day they waited fully prepared, and every night after another day of waiting they unpacked everything they had and set up camp for the night. After months and months of this routine, they never wavered. What a great testament to how we need to prepare ourselves every single second for the return of Christ. What an eternal shame if we were to be caught unprepared.

(sorry if i messed up any details of this story!)