Priscilla & Aquila

Tentmakers from Rome

Under persecution by Claudius like other Jews

Moved to Greece where they met

And for 18 months hosted Paul

Sharing with him

God’s blessings to them

Ministering to many

One of which was named Apollo

Whom they discipled by bringing him into their home

To correct and call out

To extend love and teaching to

Out of a place of love for truth

Partners

Supporters

Teachers

Refugees

Disiminators of truth

A marriage that was safest on mission

Providing all they had to expand God’s kingdom

For they operated out of true freedom

July 30, 2021

This past month the Lord has been “flexin” as my friend Antwon recently said. One testimony of this was how I was having a really hard week and was feeling low in self confidence. The Lord drew my attention to a woman selling sunflowers in the middle of the street. The woman gave me some for free and I felt Jesus saying they were to show he loves me and that I am beautiful to Him! This past weekend I went home for a short visit which was nice. I got spend time with my friends and enjoy a picnic in the park with them.

The trip home was good but not as restful as I was hoping in that I learned my Dad’s cancer came back and of some other difficult things my family has been facing. But the Lord gave me a lot of peace on the car ride home when I gave it to Him in prayer. I even was thankful to be able to rejoice with the Lord that I have a place away from home that I also now call home in Ohio.

I have had so many ministry opportunities lately which has been very nice but also has changed me a lot. Obeying the Lord recently has looked like spending less time with the people I love and more time with strangers. This has meant making some difficult decisions recently including ending a close relationship. However, it’s also meant starting some new friendships including one with a girl I met who has been a huge blessing to my ministry.

One verse I’ve been carrying with me and has brought me much encouragement is:

1 Corinthians 15:58
“Stand firm let nothing move you always give yourself fully for nothing you do for the Lord will come back in vain”.

The Lord has been working in crazy ways. In just the past two weeks He has: protected me from many harmful people, allowed me to speak truth to those under the enemy’s hold, protected me from rock being thrown at me, helped to delivered a woman from her abusive family, & doubled money in front of my eyes.

These are just a few of the testimonies of His work in and through me here. He has told me His plans of some BIG things ahead including going to DC next month to be a part of worship conference on the National Mall.

Please pray with me for:

1.) Continued protection for my ministry and all those who work in it.

2.) For provision as I am still in need of support partners!

3.) For blessings of the Lord over my ministry and the students I mentor.

56

Be gracious to me O God

For my attackers know I’m flawed

& take pride in my oppression

Forgive my fears and transgressions

So that when I am afraid

I put my trust in You

No longer fearing what others can do

For there will always be those

Who slander and oppose

Who stir up strife

Who seek after my life

But Your wrath is impossible to escape

So for Your perfect judgment will I await

Knowing you collect every tear

You hold every fear

And every prayer you hear

This I know-that God is for me

No longer will I be afraid

For I put my trust in You

No longer fearing what others do

Focused only on praise

As I render offerings of thanks

To You who delivered my soul from death

& feet from falling that I may walk

before You, O God

The One whom I owe my every breath

June 12, 2021

The Lord has been so good to me. He has provided protection & provision continually. This past month many blessings have come my way including on July 5th when I entered a relationship with a very sweet boy I met named Kyle.

I’ve kept many of you informed of this and have loved receiving calls from my supporters weekly. I am very excited to see many of you when I return home to visit this weekend! I also am looking forward to celebrating with others one of my best friend’s birthday.

I’ve informed many of you about how ministry here has looked like celebrating with others. One thing the Lord has been teaching me recently is how to help spread joy even when there is despair. The community’s around Cincinnati have suffered many deaths this year. It’s overwhelming and tragic to see how it impacts everyone including those we work with.

On July 4th I went to watch the fireworks over the Kentucky river. Later that night we heard in that same area was a mass shooting in which two people were killed. That night the spiritual warfare weighed heavily on me.

Psalm 34 was read at a recent BLOC staff meeting and it has been on my heart and brought comfort. Especially verse 7 which says: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.”

On a positive note, a very uplifting experience I was able to recently be a part of was a bloc party that randomly occurred last Tuesday. There was a car accident outside our after-school program that resulted in a fire hydrant spraying out water. Neighbors and students had fun playing in the water together on this hot summer day. The best part was when the firefighters came and joined us. To respond to a call like this was probably a nice break from all the first response calls they get.

Here is some encouragement from my reading today. Psalm 34:18 says “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Continue to pray for my ministry here:

1.) For protection of students and families here

2.) For my relationships with students I mentor

3.) For the hope of the Lord to impact our community

Deborah

When Israel was in a time of oppression

Deborah rose up and led God’s army to succession

Siersa and his nine hundred chariots appeared

undefeatable

And though her strategy seemed unbelievable

Deborah’s ability to see in the spirit brought Israel it’s victory

Her prophetic words inspired Israel’s faith and changed history

Under her palm tree she led many conflicts to peace

This is where she shared military strategy with Barak as God’s mouthpiece

And explained that Siersa’s defeat would be credited to a woman

As a woman she modeled that though we all serve with different faith, we are all human

We can leave behind a legacy like Deborah’s; focused on honoring God, not seeking credit

So that in the midst of transition and chaos we can bring peace to others so that they may spread it

70

I’m working out some inner battles with the Lord and I’ve been pretty distant lately. But the He is so good in that I’ve still been surrounded by support of others who are ok with my awkwardness.

Two weeks ago my brother spiraled and under the influence ended up in a mental hospital. Thankfully he was only a week in when they decided to release him. For those of you who know my brother’s history you know this isn’t a new thing for him. However his battle with depression is on going and is something I recently had to surrender again to the Lord. I want so much more for my brother but I know he has to want it for himself. His life is so precious to the Lord I pray He values his life and recognizes the Lords love more everyday.

I’ve been studying Nehemiah and have been learning of the Lord as a friend. I’ve found comfort in His words and His presence in dwelling in these verses. This verse I especially love “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

I’ve spent so much time with the Lord and have had so much fun getting to know Him in ways of celebrating. The other night I went to a worship concert in a park and danced with some children. I love how the Lord has brought me into the freedom of being His child and everyday is a celebration of this!

I do often dwell on the trails both family and friends face daily or on the daily battle within my own mind. But the Lord has brought me so much joy it’s no longer something that consumes me. One way many of you know I work out my doubts and question the Lord is through the art of poetry.

Here is one I recently wrote in the midst of my affliction:

70

Come quickly my Lord, do not delay

Be gracious to me for I need your help today

To those who seek my downfall I pray that you are put to shame

Because I’ve seen others suffer by evil’s hands and I don’t wish to endure the same

Let those who seek after You rejoice in Your name

Let those who glorify You be glad

For here I am afflicted and poor

And no longer do I wish to be sad

So in You I place my hope

For You are my deliverer and without You I cannot cope

I need You Lord and so again and again I’ll pray:

Come quickly to me O Lord, do not delay

June 1st, 2021

These past few weeks the Lord was speaking to me about my ministry here and how I will be growing in my passion for church planting. I went on a retreat to the mountains last weekend and received a word that I would start ministering to adults and learn to embrace my gifting in leadership. This confirmation gave me so much peace since the week before I was reading Judges and the Lord prompted me to receive Deborah’s anointing and I was still dwelling on this.

Anyways…in response to the Lord’s leading this past week I took on a leadership role with the house church I am a member of (which I’ll explain below). If this is your first time reading my blog feel free to reach out to me by commenting/messaging through WordPress.

I work with and live at a mission center called BLOC. It is an urban missions center in Price Hill, Ohio. Our mission is to bring hope and community to our neighborhood that in return expand God’s kingdom. Essentially, to live out Ephesians 4:4-6 in the understanding that we are called to serve where we live as one body.

BLOC supports both those who work under and add to the ministry. They understand that it’s not just our mission but the communities and partners with surrounding churches and organizations to expand God’s kingdom together.

The discipleship pastor here at BLOC named Russ is also the leader of Praxis which is the training ground for micro-house church’s. The goal of Praxis is to create micro-house churches in every neighborhood of Cincinnati.

This is accomplished through training and equipping through 3 weekly practices or as Russ calls them -rhythms

Like Jesus we enjoy life with God, together with others, for the good of the world.

1.Enjoy- Wednesday nights is when the church invites anyone in to come experience the Lord through worship (this is a service that has a traditional feel to it but is focused solely on enjoying the Lord)

2. Together – Thursday mornings are prayer meetings and every month we have fun nights (to play games together) these meetings are focused on community and practices spending time with God together

3. Good – Sunday mornings are where those with a missional mindset focused on learning how to replicate Jesus’ ministry are invited to gather to practice these spiritual rhythms in a safe space so that they can take them out and plant other micro churches for the good of the world

In partnering with Praxis I will be helping lead Sunday morning meetings as well as training others outside of Praxis (like missions groups with BLOC, church groups, etc.)

We also partner with ministries like Russell school of ministry.

If you’d like to know more about our work, partnering with us, or would like help sponsor my ministry please let me know!

how to donate:

1) online at http://www.onebloc.org– click on “donate”.  In the box to specify who to donate to, scroll to “other” and then manually enter “Jordan Greene”.  Online donations have a 3% transaction fee (max $10).  Donors have the option to cover the fees or not.  If they do not cover the fees, the 3% will be held from your donation to cover the fees.  or

2) donors can send a check payable to the following:

BLOC Ministries

911 W 8th Street

Cincinnati, OH 45203

Memo line – Jordan Greene

131

When I close my eyes and open my heart

I feel Your love and know my part

In the stillness I know who You are

For You are a fortress

A shelter for those in need

A forgiving Father

In You we are redeemed

With an unshakable kingdom

Graciously You impart wisdom

You delight in me

so I delight in You

I carry Your truth

And though I don’t concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me

I desire to know the gospel’s simplicity

And while my striving may never cease

I will be a conduit of peace

For I’ve put my hope in You O Lord

Both now & forevermore

May 10, 2021

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19

Recently I went on a staff retreat and got to know the staff of BLOC. The focus of the retreat was to have a weekend with God and learn more about discipleship to our community. The discipleship focus was on Matthew 4:19 and the discussion was how to live an obedient life in response to our call to be fishers of men.

We discussed how this was a physical call & how it was for everyone including men like Peter in ministry. I really appreciated our focus and reflection on the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”. This movie was a beautiful example of how to disciple. Watching this movie for the second time I relearned some very important things the Lords been teaching me. Including that to just “be” is my first calling.

We also discussed trauma care which I’ve been studying about in my down time. Though I often am aware of how new I am to everything this weekend I had the chance to put that mindset aside and focus on how alike I am with the staff in interests, games, and faith. I had a great trip and really enjoyed hiking, playing volleyball, and sitting around a campfire with my new friends.

I’ve connected with some other parts of BLOC and am excited to be more involved. The other night the church I attended had a cookout at the after school program I work out which was a lot of fun. Getting to know some of the kids better I’ve gotten to talk with a few of them about their understanding of Jesus.

This past weekend I caught up on rend collectives podcast series “Where’s the Joy in That”, join a gym, wrote a new poem for my Bible character collection, met up with a new friend I met using an app, dog sat for my neighbor, and did some laundry.

I hope each of you had a restful weekend and are continually blessed so you too can be a blessing to others!

Prayer Requests:

1.) Continue to pray for opportunities for connection as I find financial supporters

2.) For BLOC staff and those we minister to

3.) For the health of my Dad

Timothy

Entrusted by Paul Timothy was sent

Young but very passionate

From a Greek and Jewish family

Timothy had a unique understanding

of the surrounding culture’s spirituality

Entrusted to call out false teachers

he appointed new church elders

that were worthy of leading

He modeled a life “honoring to God”

This was his given name’s meaning

Inexperienced he was instructed by Paul’s letters how to conduct himself in ministry

Avoiding the temptations of false knowledge

Timothy struggled in that he was full of empathy

And though Paul praised him for his authenticity

He also reminded him to not be ashamed of Jesus’ testimony

To set the pace and not swerve from the faith

To teach salvation has nothing to do with anything we’ve done but because of His own purpose and grace

To help others fight the good fight

To finish the race

To endure persecution and await the coming day