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As a global ministry, Campus Outreach continues to be an interdenominational college ministry targeting strategic college campuses with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Founded in 1978 at Briarwood Presbyterian Church (Birmingham, AL), Campus Outreach has grown to impact over 100 campuses in over 30 regions in 12 countries.
Campus Outreach SERVE was formed in 2019 as an equipping, resourcing, and serving agency that will help the entire CO movement respond to global churches requesting help in building leaders. As we "empower and expand CO ministries under the authority of local churches", we will reach more students, develop more laborers, and deploy more leaders.
See these two videos for more about how my new role fits into the overall global mission of Campus Outreach through the CO SERVE team.
Transition
A Special Season of Giving
in Support, Transition
Today is November 28, 2023, Giving Tuesday around the nonprofit world. Here's a quick explanation: the Friday after Thanksgiving is known as Black Friday due to the increase in sales for the upcoming Christmas season (to put retailers in the "black"). Online merchants got on board this marketing train and began to run sales the following Monday calling it "Cyber Monday". Then, with this wave of capitalism running hot, those of us in the fundraising world wanted to participate and began what is called "Giving Tuesday" as we understood that as much as 30% of donations occur within the last 6 weeks of the year.
This year, we enter this Special Season of Giving for our partners amidst our year-long transition from Brazil to the USA for our next season of life and ministry. We invite you to read the summary below of where we are and what the need is for us to begin 2024 in a great position.
Over the past 5 years, we have lost significant monthly support, have not raised enough new support to offset that loss, all while our family's expenses have increased. We have been in a positive support position because of our faithful monthly supporters and our one-time campaigns.
Our transition to a US-based staff has significantly increased our tax and insurance burden, beyond what I had expected. Thus, our support account has gone into a concerning deficit, currently around negative $15,000.
We will participate in a Debrief and Rest for long-term missionaries returning from the field with Mission Training International in Colorado in February. The cost for the program and travel is around $5000.
Just 2 years ago God provided $20,000 for our 20 year celebration, and those funds have been instrumental in our current financial health in the midst of a major life event - uprooting from Brazil and bringing our reality to Birmingham, AL. That was only possible because our partners believed in our labor and our ministry, under God's provision.
Would you consider participating in this Special Season on Giving for these specific needs and help us raise another $20,000 to position our family to begin 2024 in our new role and new season for expanded impact of even more CO Staff and Regions around the globe?
Our online giving link is here: https://www.campusoutreach.org/donate/jon-elam/
New Role with CO SERVE
Before I explain about the coming season of life and ministry, I want to begin by voicing how grateful our family is for the care that Campus Outreach SERVE (CO SERVE) has provided for our transition: allowing time to settle, constant check-ins from Member Care, referrals to other resources and personal touches as we finalized my new role.
Over the past year, I have had multiple conversations with directors in the CO SERVE office. In October, I submitted a proposal that reflected my desire for even greater impact on the global work of Campus Outreach. Over the past 20 years I have come to understand what motivates me, my profile as a team player, my gifts, abilities and the vision I believe in that drives me to continue working under the mission and ministry of Campus Outreach. I am happy to say that I believe my next chapter will fit me well and will leverage what God has done in our lives to expand our impact even further.
Over the 21 years in Brazil, I wore a lot of hats and served in many roles. A few things were always present that came from my gifting and my education in Communications. Design, advertising, operations and project management were always part of what I found myself engaged in - even in the midst of front-line, interpersonal college ministry. I loved the personal ministry, but I also loved making things happen for others through behind-the-scenes setup, details and thinking about how to develop the team around me. One highlight of the conversations over the past months with the CO SERVE directors has been that my unique blend of Staff experience, profile, gifting and international perspective set me up to lead in a way that someone who was hired without those elements would not be able to.
I am happy to announce that my new role is Creative Content and Media Specialist with Campus Outreach SERVE, while also dedicating time each week to directly assisting regional field teams in Latin America and the UK.
That may not mean a lot to some people, so let me give some highlights:
Production of the CO SERVE Annual Report for its public of 13,000 financial partners and 200 domestic and international staff.
Take on oversight and production of the podcast series "CO Staff Cast" directed at the over 700 Campus Outreach staff around the globe.
Content management for the www.campusoutreach.org and COSERVE.org websites with their over 45,000 unique visitors over the past year, including 7000 from outside the US.
Resource and consult for administrative teams from regional teams in Latin America and the UK based on 20 years of experience in Brazil.
This is a great opportunity to not only continue to impact the colleges of the world with the gospel, but also to expand our personal impact on the global reach of Campus Outreach while stepping into a role for which God has been shaping me over the past 25 years. It is humbling to see God's care, sovereignty and goodness to have us right here, right now.
In the next few days, I will be posting more information about the financial impact of our transition to the US, our support goals for the next season and opportunities to partner with us and work together as God provides for our needs. Our year-end giving campaign will begin soon, and I will explain more via updates and personal meetings. Thanks to all our partners for your care and support.
Four Months in the US
in Personal, Transition
The whirlwind of the past 4 months is much too much to include in an update. From a "here we go - nope, not yet" departure from Brazil in June to a car accident (nothing serious) in Atlanta in August and now to the joys of Fall in October. This update will focus on us as a family in this first stage of transition to the US. The next updates will enter into detail to my transition to the Campus Outreach Serve Center here in Birmingham, AL and our fundraising season.
Departure: June 2023
We attempted to leave Belo Horizonte on June 13th - four family members, 11 checked bags, 5 carry-ons and our 14-year-old cat, Bell. The short version is that we didn't have the correct documentation for our cat to board our first flight out of Belo Horizonte, so we had to regroup and fly out two days later. The longer version includes the vet we hired to prepare the documentation who didn't do a very good job, Delta Airlines calling me from the US AFTER the first attempt informing they had made a mistake (3 individual ticketing agents) allowing me to include our cat as an cabin-boarded pet and that we could not fly with her. Had we boarded that first flight on a Brazilian domestic carrier, we would have been stuck in São Paulo, Brazil with no way to board, our 11 bags likely flying to the USA without us and finding a hotel that accepts cats at 11pm with no litter box. The next 24 hours were spent on the phone and online. God, in his mercy, reimbursed all charges from Delta, and worked out a flight with United and another domestic carrier to fly out on June 15th with no pet limitations. After 30 hours of travel time later (after 2 other delayed flights) we landed in Chattanooga very tired and ready for some showers because we were covered in cat hair and bad moods.
Chattanooga: June 2023
We spent almost 3 weeks in Chattanooga visiting family, unpacking some of our stuff, enjoying summer and resting after the whirlwind last month in Brazil. Since we were waiting on Tathiana's immigration process to be approved, we could not plan too far ahead. So, when her process was approved at the Consulate in mid-May, we quickly had to close-out our house, pack all our belongings, sell the rest, move to an AirBnB for 10 days then fly-out of the country.
Birmingham: July-October 2023
We moved to Birmingham the first week of July. We had two missionary houses lined up in Birmingham, one for July-August then another one from August until the end of the school year - such a blessing! We landed still in the summer and stickiness of an Alabama summer, and it was nice to reconnect with friends here, make new friends and begin to meet more of my future co-workers at the Campus Outreach Serve office.
We took a mini-vacation to Atlanta the first week of August before school started to give the kids some fun memories in the US before the march of the school year began. It was fun. It was a good memory-builder with some activities the kids really wanted to do like Lego discovery Center, The Georgia Aquarium, Jurassic Park Experience, etc. On our way home we had an accident on the Interstate in downtown Atlanta, so now I am amply versed in US Insurance ins-and-outs.
The kids began school in the Hoover City School district, and have really enjoyed it. We decided for both to repeat the grade they just finished in Brazil, and that has been confirmed over and over as a great decision as they transition to English as their primary language. The teachers have been great, the administration even more helpful and the overall feel of the school has been a welcome reality for both kids and parents. We've made some friends at the school, including a young Brazilian family who are still adjusting to the US reality.
The Big rocks:
As we reflect over the past months, we have to rejoice in the fact that the "BIG ROCKS" variables that so many others deal with in this transition have been very smooth for us. Housing has been very pleasant overall, school is a blessing, personal finances have not caused us undue stress and relationships have begun and rekindled in sweet ways. We do thank God for this. It has given us the opportunity to focus on our internal and emotional transition. We continue to walk with our counselors and help from Campus Outreach, as we try to help our children process what they are going through in this big transition.
What's Next?
In the next week, I will send an update more about specifics of our phase in ministry and contribution to the Campus Outreach ministries with CO Serve and the fundraising season I am embarking on as we transition from a field-contextualized budget to a US-reality budget.
Thank you all for your support, prayers and partnership!
We're in the USA
in Transition, Personal
Dinner at the airport in Belo Horizonte before our first flight.
After more hiccups than we wanted with our flights, we finally arrived in the USA on Friday, June 16th after 30 hours of flights and two days of delays. All 4 humans, 1 cat, 11 checked bags and 5 carry-ons made it!
We are a bit more rested and are already trying to get out and about and give the kids some vacation activities.
Our housing in Birmingham is almost closed out, just some details to nail down for an amazing temporary housing option for the next year, with a missionary house that is furnished, very easy on our finances allowing us to save and zoned for a school system we like.
We will take the next few weeks to enjoy Chattanooga and then make an initial move to Birmingham before school starts in August. Our time will be spent adjusting, investing in some transition exercises, making the move to two temporary houses and getting the kids registered for school in Birmingham.
Thank you for praying for our trip. It wasn't what we expected, but it was seasoned with God's protection and grace.
Enjoy some pics of the trip!
The Day is Almost Here...
in Personal, Transition
The day is almost here. We fly out of Brazil on Tuesday, June 13th - only a few days away. The day is almost here. We fly out of Brazil on Tuesday, June 13th - only a few days away.
There is a lot to process emotionally and spiritually. There are a lot of logistics to closing out house, finances, packing, selling things, donating what didn't sell, etc. But, my friend and our church pastor sent me this today,
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day…So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16,18
I wanted to inform everyone of our time line. We fly our on June 13th, will spend a few weeks in Chattanooga, TN then ventura to Birmingham in July and the kids will start school (still TBD) in August.
The next chapter of life and ministry are upon us, and there is excitement and mourning. That the Lord would be the desire of our hearts as in Psalm 73:25-26,
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Lots of people have asked how they can pray, here are some specifics:
For all that is involved in the flight to the US to be smooth. With 3 flights, 2 kids, 1 cat, and 10+ checked bags (including some oversized items) - there are lots of hiccups that could occur. And we honestly do not have the margin to deal with a lot of stress as parents right now.
There is a cold moving through our family these last days, and we would love to not have to fly sick - pray for healing and protection.
For our housing and school situation in Birmingham to finalize in time for registration in August. There are options; however, they are not finalized.
For no issues to arise as we still close out financial liabilities in Brazil even after we leave.
How can you help? Several people have asked me this, and I will be candid in my response:
Pray for the things above.
For any current or former supporters, extra 1-time gifts are much needed in these first months of moving from a Brazil-contextualized salary, taxes and benefits reality to a US-based reality.
Or, if anyone wants to help in a personal way, Gifts Cards are an excellent option. We will be purchasing basic things for us and kids these next months, and these gift cards are very helpful. A few suggestions of store options: Amazon, Walmart, Target, TJ Maxx/Marshalls.
My personal email for any electronic Gift cards is: jme.spambox@gmail.com
For physical address, please use my parent's Chattanooga address: 5778 N. Morgan Ln, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Thank you for your partnership, your care and your prayers!
Our attempt at being a Drink Offering
in Personal, Transition
We ended 2022 as the de facto closing to many of our ministry responsibilities with the Campus Outreach team here in Belo Horizonte. Our time has been dedicated to the lengthy and slow immigration process for Tathiana, closing up our life in Brazil, selling our possessions and still continuing to invest as much as possible in relationships and personal ministry.
Beyond the ins and outs of personal ministry, still engaged in evangelism and church leadership, we have dedicated a lot of energy to the emotional swings that ebb and flow around us as we attempt to prepare well for this transition.
I want to update about a few highlights over the past months so you, our supporters who make this possible, can rejoice in God's continued hand on us and ministry through us.
Church Leadership:
Jon continues to be dedicated to the church leadership elder board for our local church, Comunidade Horizonte. Each month there are many meetings and lots of discussion for our church as we decide on direction and strategy post-pandemic for our growing community. Pastoral needs are constant, and we are trying to shepherd well those who God has called to our community. In February, Jon organized a three-day elder retreat for the first time since our church officially organized 15 years ago. It was a great time for our elders and pastors to pray for one another, pray for members, and get away from the urgency to spend time and energy to look forward to where God is directing our church.
Investing in the Next Generation:
In March, Jon had the absolute privilege to take two new Brazilian staff to a support-raising bootcamp in Curitiba, Brazil. It was a great jump start for Vitor and Lorrayne's practical support-raising process. We are praying that these two national staff can begin to pave the way for increased support raising in Brazil. It was extremely encouraging to spend time with dedicated Brazilian missionaries and ministers who have labored for years and to see them embrace biblical principles for missionary funding.
Continuing to the Spiritual Friendships:
Both Tathiana and Jon continue to engage in specific relationships that are efforts to be the light of Christ to those who do not believe or in the midst of a personal battle for belief. We want to pour ourselves out as a drink offering, as Paul mentioned in Philippians 2:17, as much as possible before we end this chapter of our life and ministry.
Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Philippians 2:17 ESV