Patience and Calling: Update 27 (from the US)
- Josh Hayden
- Nov 17, 2024
- 4 min read
“Patience with others is love. Patience with self is hope. Patience with God is faith.”
- Adel Bestavros
Dear family and friends;
After 4 months of an intensive discernment process that has included wise counsel, debriefing, spiritual direction, prayer, and lots of listening to God by us and so many faithful people, we have been led to return to Prague to continue the ministry God has given us. It is clear that God is continuing to use the abundant spiritual resources he has given us through our family, our church community, and our faithful friends to care for students and refugees in Prague who do not have these resources. We will return to Prague in mid-January for a 3 year continued commitment with Global Scholars. Additionally, Anna will continue to partner with colleagues from Greater Europe Mission in the ministry with displaced Ukrainian families (the Czech Republic per captia has now taken on more Ukrainians than any other country in the EU, and that number may grow depending on what happens in the war).
As a reminder, Global Scholars equips over 1,350 Christian professors in 71 different countries to have a redemptive influence in secular universities. Josh is one of the Global Scholars Fellows sent to universities that have no campus ministries. We are passionate about being salt and light in a secular university and a post-Christian society, and offering community building and healing to refugees through the arts.
Our discernment process has been marked by so many graces and gifts. The input of our children was an encouragement in how God has been moving in their lives and has given them a vision for our ministry. They have transitioned to US life well, which has given us much consolation in terms of their adaptability and resilience. The discernment group at St. Bartholomew’s Church that has been meeting and praying with us has helped us weigh our decision carefully. We found the church community of St. B’s almost 20 years ago, and it is amazing to reflect on the ways that our faith has been shaped and sustained there. This group has asked thoughtful questions, done research for us, used their experience, and given us their time and energy. God brought each person to that group for a reason, and we are so thankful to our Rector for shepherding the process. Countless close friends have walked, talked, and prayed with us.
Our time as a family at Tributary Ministry in Arkansas in October was refreshing and encouraging. As a couple, we spent 15 hours in intensive sessions with the directors of Tributary where we debriefed our experiences over the past 5 years. Each afternoon we had an assignment and brought the conversation and activities back to our kids. It was deep spiritual and internal work. At the end of our time at Tributary, we felt freer and lighter to hear clearly from the Lord.
We want to end with a passage one of the members of the discernment group read at our last meeting from II Corinthians 2:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.”
We see now more clearly that “the new has come” and we return to a ministry of reconciliation in Central Europe with renewed energy.
How can you (continue to) partner with us?
Financial needs:
34 more people at $175 per month will take care of our family and ministry needs. Since we have two middle schoolers and a high schooler, the cost of school has risen, even though Anna teaches at CISP to cut the cost of tuition down.
We are raising most of our support through Global Scholars. To join our support team as a monthly or annual donor, go to: https://global-scholars.org/donations/hayden-josh/
Pray for us:
For God’s provision and grace in all the logistics of returning to Prague in mid-January
For a dyslexia trained reading tutor for Abigail that can do tutoring on Mondays (we already have someone who can tutor her the rest of the week - huge answer to prayer!)
For continued favor with faculty and students at Anglo-American University.
For the summer Ukrainian camp Anna has started to plan. We hope two dear friends will be able to come from Ukraine to help with the camp if the situation is stable.
We are incredibly thankful for all of you, your love and support of us during this discernment period. May God bring you patience and peace in the season ahead.
In Christ's love,
The Haydens
Recent happenings:
Josh presented at the International Leadership Association’s International Conference in Chicago on humor and leadership in November, and published an article on the ethics of hope. Check it out! (email Josh if interested in reading)
Abigail is preparing to perform in the Nashville Ballet’s Nutcracker in December as a Garden Fairy.
Anna is choreographing a piece as part of worship in St. Batholomew’s Lessons and Carols service.
Joseph just finished a fun season of soccer with Covenant.
Collier enjoyed a weekend Young Life camp at Sharptop Cove
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