MAY 2013 UPDATEFROM TAYLOR M. POOL

ENGAGEMENT

As most of you know I have been engaged for four months now! I asked Ruth on our one year anniversary (Jan 16th) to marry me. After having a five week Christmas vacation in the States and England, it was evident to us that we were ready to move forward in the next step of our relationship. Although a wedding date has not yet been set, we are currently receiving pre-marriage counseling (which is amazing) and dreaming, thinking, and talking about future ministry and what life will look like as a married couple in missions. Also, we are both being very conscious about raising more financial support since we’ve heard from so many families and couples in missions that you need at least double the amount of financial support when you marry.

VIDEOGRAPHY

Since January this year I have started something new inside my personal ministry. As you all know I have been doing photography during missions for five years now and have used that as my main tool in reaching out to people. Now I have stepped into videography and have decided to create four short documentaries ( a ro u n d e i g ht min u t e s l o n g ) showcasing four individual missionary-artists. These videos will educate and challenge the viewer with regard to how you can use your gifting to bring change in the area around you. Right now I’m already at the editing stage of my first episode where you will see how Josh uses his cello to do missions around the world. I believe these videos will reach thousands of people and will call people into missions and some into a relationship with Jesus. One thing I can never underestimate is how God uses art to speak to every culture and language. Therefore I’m excited to see what the outcome of these videos will be and how far they will go online and in the world.

tour

Once again tour season is here! Liz and the Lions is heading back on tour on May 20th around Germany, Austria, and Poland for 3 weeks. The past years I have been on tour with Liz and the Lions as their road manager; logistically helping set up their concerts, connect with booking agents, and making sure everything is running smoothly. Every tour is also a great time to make new friendships with people, churches, pubs, and different existing ministries. I love seeing how God moves through music and uses Liz and the Lions songs, lyrics, and music to touch p e o p l e s h e a r t s a n d in s p i re conversations with them afterwards. It’s also great to be traveling alongside Ruth, my fiance, as she is the keyboard and accordion player of the band. Please pray for us as we’re about to leave on tour. The band is still needing some finances for gas, and also a new RV to tour in. We are definitely needing to see God move in the next week!

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic

FINANCES

One major thing which has flipped my world upside down is finances! Since Sept 2012, I have been learning major life lessons about budgeting, saving, and spending. I have always been terrible in this area of my life, and it was time to take control of my bad habits and bring long term change. Last year I went on amazing outreaches to Eastern Europe, US, and the UK. I was able to attend a few conferences about arts and missions, have an art gallery in London during the Olympics, go on tour for a month with a band and reach thousands of people and visit gypsies in Romania. All those things left me with a debt of 1,400 Euros/$1,800. I did not know how to get out of debt and was seeking serious help. While praying about what to do, God showed me simple steps of giving fifty Euros every week towards my debt. Ever since being obedient in giving this small amount I am now only in 180 Euros/$235 in debt, which will be paid off this month! I have learned so much about living by faith with finances, which has also prepared me for marriage.

leadership

I have been a part of an arts and justice ministry called Pick A Pocket since April 2009. Pick a Pocket is a ministry of 30 people from Youth with a Mission Herrnhut, Germany. Our focus is to embody the Gospel wherever we go, serve people trapped in extreme poverty, create art, raise awareness about ways to transform communities, and forge new connections between the developed and developing world. We have had a shift in leadership within Pick A Pocket the past couple months; from 4 leaders, down to 2, and now back up to 4. The 2 leaders approached me 3 weeks ago asking if I would consider joining the leadership team of Pick A Pocket. I felt so honored to be asked this question, and to take the next step further into the ministry that I’ve been a part of for 4 years now. Now I am a part of the leadership team of Pick A Pocket! I’m excited to see what God has in store for me in this area and to see how He guides me in practical ways of taking this new role on. As months go by, I will be able to further explain what this actually means and update you.

Prague, Czech Republic

Prague, Czech Republic

SUPPORT TEAM

If you are not a monthly financial supporter of mine, I’d like to ask for you to pray about that and see if God is asking you to be on my support team! I could not do missions without the monthly donations of others. I recognize it’s not about the money, but it’s about the relationship with people, working together with my supporters hand in hand. If you want to be a part of missions but you are not able to physically be on the field, then here is your chance to be a part of missions by funding someone who is on the field! With your monthly donations, I’m able to reach people all over the world and preach the message of Jesus. Again, I cannot do this without the help of others. Pray about joining my financial or prayer support team. If you feel like God is calling you to give or pray monthly, then please respond to this email and let’s connect.

Here is information that will help you to understand where I’m at

and what I need.

What I now receive monthly :

$1,075 - $1,230/ 823 − 940 Euros

My end goal :

$2,000 / 1,500 Euros

What I’m looking for :

23 supporters who are able to give monthly:

15 Euros / $20 : 4 people

25 Euros / $30 : 6 people

30 Euros / $40 : 2 people

50 Euros / $65 : 4 people

75 Euros / $100 : 3 people

100 Euros / $130 : 2 people

115 Euros / $150 : 2 people

Thank you for reading my latest newsletter! If you feel led to become a new monthly supporter of mine, let’s connect via email!

I appreciate your support and friendship the past 4.5 years. 2012 was an exciting year for me and I’m anxious to see what’s going to happen in 2013.

Taylor M. Pool

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