I’m Coming Home!

Today marks 148 days in Pittsburgh…almost 5 full months. It has been a wild ride and some of the most challenging and rewarding times in my life. And I am still very confident of God’s call on my life to be here.

In fact, I have committed to another year at Urban Impact! (June 2014-June 2015)

One of the main reasons for this is because I still feel like I am laying a foundation here. I am still learning what Urban Impact is all about. And the more I learn about their vision and mission, the more excited I am to be a part of it! I also believe I am still trying to find my sweet spot…and can see that happening in a second year here.

And SO, I am coming home to Colorado for about a month in December! I cannot wait to catch up with family and friends. I am excited to rest and rejuvenate in the beautiful country that is Buena Vista, Colorado.

And I am also coming home to share stories of what God has done in me and through me in Pittsburgh. I am coming home to share my vision for the next year and a half. And I am coming home to raise more support.

Why do I raise financial support??

God has been re-confirming this idea in me as an incredible honor, rather than a scary obligation to get things done here. No, “raising financial support is far more than raising money. It is ministry. It is relationships. It is watching God work His eternal program for the ages in a practical way.” (People Raising by William P. Dillon)

Here are a few of the reasons I believe in support raising:

• It IS ministry!

It’s not begging for money. It is sharing the vision God has placed on my heart. And then people are prompted and challenged to be a part of the Great Commission through me.

I truly believe God gives YOU credit for the fruit I bear. How cool is that?? We are a team!

• It is Biblical!

About 700 direct statements in the Bible relate to wealth and finances. God talks a lot about stewardship and “often relates our use of wealth with our commitment to him.” (Dillon, 21) The Levites were the first missionaries God set apart to do His work at the Tent of Meeting. They had no income but that of which was provided by God’s people. (Exodus 25, Numbers 8, Deuteronomy 14:27)

• It stretches my faith!

We rarely grow when things are easy. Asking for financial support is hard…it really pushes me out of my comfort zone. But then it forces me to be dependent on God, remembering that He is my provider FIRST! I cannot put my trust in man, but I can trust My God, who will prompt the hearts of those He is calling to give.

• Prayer follows financial support

Sometimes I take for granted how powerful prayer is. But if I did not have the base of prayer support, I would not have the strength to carry on. When people are investing in me financially, it also alerts the importance of prayer.

SO, I fly home to Colorado on December 14! I fly back to Pittsburgh on January 7.

I have reserved December 23-31^st to rest and spend time with family and friends. The other days I would like to spend meeting with you(DEC 16-DEC 21 and JAN 1-JAN 6). I want to speak at church, I want to take you to coffee or a meal, I want to have a dinner nights or worship nights where I can share the vision God has given me. And I want you to be a part of it! If God does not call you to give, then don’t! But I would be honored to get the chance for you to listen and pray.

I will be contacting some of you personally to set times up. But if you would like to contact me to set time up, please let me know! My contact information is below.

Girls Bible Study that I help lead. I LOVE these girls so much!

“The fact that we are workers together, sharing our various resources—including money—to achieve goals for God…” is incredible work for the Kingdom! Thank you for prayerfully considering how God is asking to be a part.

Ruth Cortese

719-640-8040

ruth.cortese@yahoo.com

Support Update: Before my last Newsletter (sent October 18, 2013), I needed about $4,500 to finish out my first year’s salary of about $29,000 at UI. Since then, I have received 3 more monthly pledges totaling $60 of new monthly support. That adds up to $720 for a year! This puts me well under $4000, Praise God! I will be communicating next year’s salary goals as I learn those numbers from Urban Impact.

Fall Snapshot!

I apologize for being so sporadic with updates. I’m all of the sudden super busy again and Fall programs at Urban Impact are in full swing.

I am finally feeling settled in…it only took about 4 months, haha. I don’t have a solid church home yet, but community is starting to happen. Pittsburgh is slowly becoming “home,” although I think it will take me years to learn about all the small divisions of townships/communities that make up the whole of Pittsburgh (for example…I live in Pittsburgh, but on the North Side in Perry hilltop off of Perrysville Ave)…its very confusing but I am learning (the story of my life lately).

Here is what I get to do this fall at Urban Impact:

•  The Middle School/High School Choir happens on Tuesdays where I make sure kids get to the right place and be an active role model as we learn and sing songs. I also will co-lead Monday Bible study with girls from the choir.
• The Option Resource Center is a pilot program at Perry High School where we will mentor about 60 seniors and help them make a plan for their future. We will be at the school all day on Wednesdays so that we are available to meet with students and support guidance counselors. Perry has opened their doors to Urban Impact and it is a great opportunity to reach more kids.
• Finally, Thursday is the Performing Arts Academy! This is an after school program that runs from 4:30-8pm where kids can participate in Art, Ballet, Praise Dance, Children’s Choir, Guitar, Bucket Band, Acting or Improv classes…to name a few. This is offered for 1^st grade to 12^th grade. I will be in charge of the elementary and middle school/high school buildings and will support volunteers and teachers with anything they need.
• Fridays are catch-up and support-raising days. I also help lead another bible study in the evening for our Shakes program girls.

   

Clockwise from top left: The choir praying out the night. Me and my buddy Ransom. Performing Arts Academy’s children’s choir. 

Most days after program I get home and think “What just Happened?” It is chaotic at times and happens so fast…and yet it happens! Kids come and are loved, hear the gospel, learn or improve upon a skill and ultimately God is glorified. I love being a part of it and am starting to get a handle on how to make things run smoothly.

Oh, and on the side, I’ve been asked to help teach lindy hop (my favorite type of swing dancing!) lessons every Monday night (after bible study). I will also teach some private lessons on Wednesday nights. AND, I get paid! This just basically fell into place after going to Swing City…a really cool dance venue in Pittsburgh. I’m so excited about this and am actually learning how to teach as I go…another challenge, but one I love!

God is such an awesome provider for His kids.

 

**Support Note: I still need about $4,000 to reach my yearly goal salary through June 2014 (and then possibly beyond!). Reoccurring support is most helpful at this point, but ANY donations keep me here doing life on the North Side of Pittsburgh. Will you pray about investing in me…but more importantly the Kingdom work happening in Pittsburgh?? Please do not give out of obligation or guilt but out of a desire to be part of building God’s kingdom.

You can donate by clicking the link on the left side of this page. Thank you!!!

Support Update!

As I sit here writing Thank-You notes, I am so blown away…and, well, thankful! In fact, I just ran out of thank-you cards because so many of you have responded. I am so encouraged by God’s faithfulness and people’s generosity!

So here is a quick support update:

When I wrote my last blog 2-ish weeks ago, I was at about $1000.

I was really struggling to see this becoming a reality in April as I hoped.

I was discouraged, and so I was honest with God and had to confess my mistrust.

And since then, I feel Like God has said, smiling, “Thank you for finally trusting me and allowing me to work. Now sit down and watch how I am providing for you.”

So, since my last blog, I have received approximately $13,000 in donations and recurring pledges. What?!

That is over half of the amount I need to get started in Pittsburgh and about 48% of what I need for a year of salary! This came from some anonymous donors (thank you for pledging $125 every month!), some unexpected donors, some strangers and some incredible friends.

I am blessed and humbled.

So here are the numbers again and where I am now:

Total Yearly Salary needed: $28,995

Total needed to leave CO and head to PA: $21,600

Total given/pledged: $13,410 (this is a rough estimate)

Amount still needed to fulfill yearly salary goal: $15, 585

 Again, here are some ways I can reach that goal for the rest of the year:

• If 38 people pledge $30/month for a year or more. Or,
• If 23 people pledged $50/month for a year or more. Or,
• If 17 people pledged $75/month for a year or more. Or,
• Or if 10 people pledged $75/month and 16 people pledged $25/month

You get the picture. Again, I ask that you pray about if and how much God would like you to give. I do not want any donations given out of guilt or obligation but rather out of a desire to invest in what God is calling me into.  It is an immense honor to work in God’s kingdom and it would be a pleasure to know you are working alongside me financially and spiritually in prayer.

So thank you thank you thank you for your support!  And may God bless you tenfold.