July Opens a New Door

July has been a significant month for us for a long time, and this one is no different—it marks the beginning of a new journey for our family. We want to invite you to join us in an exciting step of faith. Your relationship is valuable to us in this, we want this open door to be an opportunity for you also!

In July exactly twelve years ago, Kim and I received acceptance to World Impact’s missionary staff, and began communicating with many of you—seeking prayer and financial partnership for a plunge into full-time camp ministry. As we’ve been a part of World Impact’s mission among the urban poor, empowering indigenous Christian leaders, it has been a rich time, never boring, and full of valuable relationships and amazing blessings. July each year at camp is our prime-time ministry for youth events. The fifteenth summer camp season just began last night. Many campers now represent a new generation from when Kim and I began ministering here in college fifteen years ago. Our fire circle leader has frequently shared his memories of sitting as a timid camper on the benches, and how is in a position to lead. What an honor it is to see lasting fruit and spiritual transformation through thousands of campers!

In July five years ago, Kim and I began a year of foster care. Two placements of baby girls during that year led our lives to be turned around, and eyes opened. We knew we were graced with many blessings, and still learning to raise a young family; yet we sensed God had particular ways he wanted to use our time, energy and focus in pouring out for those without a stable family. Within a year the opportunity to continue foster care closed, and we wondered what would be next—knowing we’d glimpsed something further to be revealed.

In February of this year, I was invited by a cousin to join his trip to Monterrey, Mexico with Back2Back Ministries. I heard the founder Beth speak at an event in Northern California a few weeks later. Suddenly Kim and I felt we were observing an organization and model of ministry which matched the call God had put on us, and ways we knew we wanted to be used with our gifts, time and future for vulnerable children.

Back2Back Ministries is an international Christian non-profit organization dedicated to being a voice for the 163 million orphans around the world, through trauma competent care and holistic child development partnerships. The organization exists to love and care for orphans and vulnerable children by meeting their spiritual, physical, educational, emotional, and social needs so they may overcome their life circumstances and break free from the cycle of generational poverty. Back2Back Ministries currently partners with orphanages in Mexico, Nigeria, Haiti, Dominican Republic, and India to increase the standard of care of orphanages and to offer hope through the Gospel. After seeing this firsthand in Mexico last month, I believe they have a unique and professional way of delivering a demonstration of the gospel toward a group which desperately needs it. We encourage you to watch the short video below to get an overview of Back2Back's mission.

It is now July 2017, which will mark a new season for us. Last Friday I accepted the position of IT Director for Back2Back Ministries. In this role, based at the home office in Mason, Ohio, I will use my 11 years of experience managing IT and web at The Oaks Camp to fill a need that the office has and will help support the growing ministry so that Back2Back can reach more kids, more effectively. Once funds have been raised for the position, we will transition from The Oaks Camp in California to Back2Back in Mason, Ohio. God has been so good to us through seasons of life and ministry. We see his faithfulness in this new season also.

This new role allows for exciting ways of communicating transformation for orphans around the world, supporting a ministry through professional skills, and opportunity for short-term trips which we would like to invite you personally join us in over the next few years.

There are many ways to partner with us. We would encourage you to seek God’s leading in how you can respond with us to the holistic needs of orphan children.

• Please pray for us as we relocate to a new area of the country and seek to finish well here. Also pray with us for every orphan and vulnerable child to have the opportunity for success through care for today and hope for tomorrow.
• We ask you to consider financially partnering with us. All staff (international and stateside) at Back2Back raise 100% of their support, enabling the ministry to further impact the lives of orphans and vulnerable children around the world. We believe that God is the ultimate, abundant provider and sustainer of our lives and of the lives of all of the children Back2Back serves, and He provides through His people. We have witnessed this again and again in our ministry at The Oaks, due to many of you giving generously and consistently--we thank you for that! It leaves us humbled and awe-struck. We are excited to further witness God's provision in this new season.You can begin giving now by visiting www.back2back.org/donate. Select Staff Support as the reason for your gift, enter the amount, and be sure to write Jared Meidal in the memo line. Or you can download this form for ACH transfers. Those of you who are currently supporting us at The Oaks, stay tuned for more information on the timing of your transfer. We'll be sending this out soon. 
• Consider giving toward our moving expenses and initial funds needed for the move. One-time gifts toward this area directly affects our timeline to make the move this fall to Ohio. Use the above link, designating "Jared Meidal: moving expenses" if you'd like to give toward these expenses. 

Please contact us with questions and for further information. And thank you so much for your partnership with us in this new adventure!

taken during Jared's trip to Monterrey, Mexico