Dear Praying Friends,

As the days grow shorter and colder, and the time for my departure for the Czech Republic draws nearer ("soft" target date: around May 1, 2025!) I find myself getting caught up in waves of nostalgia. Every gathering with good friends becomes precious.

As we enter the Christmas season, I am more conscious of imminent change...and impermanence. Life will likely be quite different for me this time next year. I am looking forward to beginning a new adventure, but I also find myself wanting to fling myself in front of the rapidly-turning pages of the calendar and slow them down. (I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who feels like that!) I am thankful for a God who does not change, even when everything else around us does.

Amid the frantic, sometimes stressful Christmas season, May the Lord enable us to pause, slow down, and contemplate the wonder of Immanuel--God With Us!

Material Culture

Never have I ever been more conscious of the weight of stuff than I have been these past few months of sorting through it all! My parents have an ecclectic collection of things: iron-age swords, nuclear reactor components, Amazonian spears, a bunch of stuffed toy lambs, a small hammer once owned by infamous activist Carrie Nation, a 5,000-year-old clay pot from Jericho, ceramic cats and chickens...and a million other things. Part flea market, part science lab, part archaeological dig. And each item requires a decision. It is good practice in learning to let go, as I seek to live more lightly.

A common question I get is "What are you going to do with your house?" I'm working on a rental strategy, but all options are on the table. My daily prayer is for wisdom, insight, and clarity in time management and prioritizing tasks. (I would appreciate you joining me in that prayer!)

Partnership Development

The term partnership development sometimes gets a sideways glance as missionary "in-speak," but the reality is, it conveys an important truth: partnership in ministry is essential. None of us can do it alone, nor are we meant to. We are all called to work together to participate in Jesus' mission to bring His Kingdom to bear in our lives today, and to make Him known to all the world. I am seeking people who are committed to partner with me in prayer, and also those who will partner with me financially. As of this writing, I need to raise an additional $2600 per month to be fully supported. (If you want a more detailed and up-to-date explanation of my budget and financial situation--complete with colorful graphs--check out this link on my website.)

Several people have already told me, "I am unable support you financially...I can only pray." First of all, there is nothing "only" about prayer. Prayer taps the Eternal. I don't make requests for prayer support lightly. I know what prayer can do!

Prayer may be harder to quantify, but here's an attempt to do so: if 100 people committed to interceding on my behalf for an average of just one minute a day--with your morning coffee, the commute, folding laundry, or walking the dog--this would equal 50 hours of prayer each month. That would be a gift of incalculable value!

Utah Revisited

I traveled to Utah in October before the snows started to fly, and it was a great week of deep fellowship with many (but never enough) friends and comrades-in-arms (including some I'd not seen in decades!), laughing a lot, eating well...and talking about how to extract myself from all the work that I've been doing there for the past 21 years.

My official, paid employment with Main Street Church concludes on December 31st of this year.* It's a poignant close of a major and very meaningful chapter in my life. And it poses a big question: what happens to the work I've been doing once I'm gone? The skill set I've used in this work is quite esoteric, so finding someone with those skills (who also comes with outside funding!) is a pretty tall order. So this weighs on me, because I want the ministry to continue and flourish. However, an obvious way for that to happen--at least in its present form--hasn't yet presented itself. I will continue on a volunteer basis, as best I can, until I leave for the Czech Republic.

Next Travels...

In January, Lord willing, I will be traveling to Florida for a few days, and then onto Spain for the annual Shoulder to Shoulder "Singles on Mission" conference. It was a transformative and deeply encouraging experience for me last year; I am looking forward to diving deeper into these themes, making new connections and renewing friendships.

Knowing Who's In Charge

I admit it--panic sometimes nips at my heels when I look at the enormity of the tasks ahead of me. Not only that, I am a skilled "catastrophiser." If I could get paid for dreaming up worst-case scenarios, I'd have a thriving side hustle!

But I know that my upward call is to keep my eyes on the Lord, trusting that He is able to oversee the big things as well as the hundred thousand little things: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6). And Isaiah 26:3-4: "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD God is an everlasting rock." These are the sermons I preach to myself regularly!

A few weeks ago I was getting spun up with my usual list of worries, when an email popped into my inbox from, of all people, one of the guys from the Czech English camp who I've been corresponding with. Among other things, he reminded me, "God will take care of all your worries and problems with the move." So I took that as a fitting word from God at the right moment.

At camp this summer I had prayed with this fellow in his moment of crisis, and the Lord delivered...and now, he prays for me. This gives me great encouragement. And it also reminds me why I'm doing what I'm doing. The Czech Republic will be transformed through people like this young man. We need to raise up many more like him.

I would invite you to check out my website, www.scottinprague.com which contains more info, previous newsletters and updates. I've also put together a video presentation that shares in more detail what I expect to be doing, and the story of how God led me to this place. You can find that at www.scottinprague.com/media.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. --Ps. 23:2 FOR YOUR PRAYERS… Praise God for his faithfulness to each of us, and the fact that we truly can cast all of our cares on Him who cares for us. Praise Him for what He is doing, and will do, to draw many to Himself in the Czech Republic! Please pray for the ongoing process of my departure from the ministries at Main Street Church, and that the Lord would supply the means for these ministries to continue, according to His designs and purposes--whatever that may look like. Please pray for the daunting laundry list of things that need to happen and decisions that need to be made between now and my departure for Prague: partnership development, visa applications, getting my home ready for rent (or sale), figuring out living arrangements in the Czech Republic, and dozens of other things that I'm sure I haven't even thought of yet. One decision that I'm also wrestling with is options for language learning. There are several options on the table, each with their pros and cons. Pray that the Lord directs me to the best option. Pray also for my planned travels in January to Florida and Spain--for health, safety, and that it would be a time of refreshment, encouragement, and learning. Blessings in Christ,

CONTACT: Scott R. Johnson 1016 McPherson Ave Richland, WA 99354 mowglisj@gmail.com ~~~~~ ~~~~~ My Blog, "Among the Saints" amongthesaints.blogspot.com SUBSCRIBE TO MY EMAIL LIST ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FINANCIAL SUPPORT: I am receiving support & pledges on the Alongside Ministries Donation Page To donate or set up recurring donations, click on above link, select my name from the "Fund" drop-down menu, enter the desired amount, and recurrence information. Alternatively, checks can be sent to: Alongside Ministries PO Box 610 Langley, WA 98260 If you have already been supporting me through West Side Church, you do not need to change your giving method. These funds are now going directly to Alongside Ministries. If you wish to begin giving through West Side Church, you may designate it as a portion of your regular giving, or make checks out to "West Side Church" (not Alongside) with a note saying it is for my support. *If you have been giving directly to Main Street Church, as of January 2025, contributions to my support should go directly to Alongside Ministries. If you have set up any automatic payments, you may need to make arrangements with your bank or payment gateway to have that switched as of the beginning of 2025, or directly with Main Street Church. However, Main Street will forward any donations designated for my support directly to Alongside after January 1, but our faithful and diligent bookkeeper will want to close out that particular task as soon as possible. Thanks!