June Update from Richmond!

Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support as we seek to serve the Lord and be obedient to His direction!

It has been a very interesting season over the last few months for us as a couple. God has been stirring in us our passions to be creative and to be intentional to develop and use the gifts that God has given us in ministry. This has led to some really cool things for us.

Monique is still teaching herself how to play the keyboard in effort to be more effective in leading and participating in worship and she has been progressing rapidly! It has been so life giving to overhear her practicing and singing beautiful songs to the Lord. She has also begun to write new music, in hopes to record some new songs in the near future.

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Toward the end of last year, I spent some time away with the Lord and realized that I hadn’t been the best steward of some of the tools the Lord had given me to use for His kingdom. This led to me being more open to the idea of speaking in different locations to serve the Church at large and the opportunities have come. I’ve been humbled to see God at work during these times and feel alive inside of the obedience to the call. Also, I had been interested in writing for some time and had never really pursued the opportunity to connect to this medium but the Lord opened the door for me to do it. On June 17^th my first published work will be available! It is a bible study series called Converge and the book is called Sharing The Gospel. Praise the Lord!

God has been continuing to move mightily in the discipleship groups that Monique and I get to lead in Richmond. God’s word is taking root in women and men’s hearts and their love for the gospel continues to increase. It is so amazing to see hearts and minds that have been distant from God continue be transformed by His love and grace. We are growing in grace and learning more and more everyday.

Our Food Bank outreach is growing. We are now serving well over 100 households with free produce every two weeks. This is also opening the door for more children in the community to hear about our Awana program.

Families forming a line to receive free produce

Monique is finding great satisfaction in her job at Abolition International. She is working to build church & community partnerships across the nation in order to bring quality aftercare to survivors of Human Trafficking. She was recently given the opportunity to help develop an international prayer community to intercede for survivors as they embark on the journey to healing from the deep wounds of repeated trauma. She too has been exploring the joys of writing and currently provides the prayer community with bi-weekly devotionals on the power of prayer. (If you’d like to join the community, click here.)

Monique is also leading our church staff in receiving training for street outreach to effectively minister to the women and adolescents in our neighborhood who are bound by a life of prostitution. Please pray for us as we connect with those who so desperately need a way out.

The USA's average age of entry into sex trafficking is just 12-14. California harbors 3 of FBI's top 13 highest child sex trafficking areas in the nation. We're seeking God as we map out ministry strategies to help change lives.

We appreciate your intercession for us as we seek the Lord for direction and vision in life and ministry. We continually feel the affects of the prayer that you offer on our behalf and would love to be able to return the favor!

Blessings…

The Zackery's

February News from Richmond

It's has been a little while since our last update but it has certainly been a really full and challenging season.

Over the past few months, God has continued to exhibit His faithfulness in the midst of challenges and loss. Monique and I have always had what we would call an amazing marriage but the past few months have connected us at a deeper level than we would have ever thought possible. I love her tremendously and am excited to journey through life with her.

Date night in February

Last month we were able to return to Franklin, TN for 10 days that simply sped by too quickly. We were able to connect with friends that we consider family and serve Strong Tower Bible Church by sharing a few songs on their "Hip Hop Sunday". During the stay in Tennessee, we were able to experience some teaching and fellowship that invigorated our pursuit of God and instructed us in many areas that we had been itching to grow as it pertains to our faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. We returned to Northern California refreshed and ready to pursue whatever The Lord would set before us.

Hip Hop Sunday at Strong Tower Bible Church in Tennessee

Growth continues in Richmond and at Living Hope Neighborhood Church. Many new relationships are being forged with individuals and some decisions are being made to begin the pursuit of God. Monique was a part of a leadership team for an event called "Victory Weekend" put on for the women of Living Hope. Similar to the vision Monique has for the "Girl Talk" event she has led in the past, the hope was for women to experience freedom in Christ and to understand their spiritual identity. There was a great response and there is certainly excitement in the air as it pertains to women's ministry in Richmond. 

Victory Weekend Worship

Women responding to the Word

We recently partnered with an organization that brings a truck to our church parking lot and gives away free produce to homes that qualify. This has been a huge blessing to get some healthy food for some folks who have very little. It also connects us with our neighbors by meeting felt needs. Another way that God has provided for me to connect with people has been at coffee shops in and around the city. He has provided the venue for some really encouraging and challenging conversation with people that have been "burned by churches", "are more spiritual than anything" or "don't really believe in God" by their own admission. Please pray that God would continue to use these chats for His glory.

The new bi-weekly Food Bank produce give away at Living Hope

Please pray for Monique as she continues forward with her education at Williamson College in Franklin. She's doing an amazing job of staying dedicated to her work and I'm so proud of her amazing G.P.A. It's challenging for her to be diligent in her work while life and ministry continues to happen around her. I know that her desire is to serve others well and her workload is substantial.

We have both been awakened in our desires to be more intentional about being creative. Monique has begun to teach herself how to play piano and it is extremely impressive to see how far she's come in just a few months. I've been focusing on writing and trying to record some new songs, as well as, be open to however The Lord would want to use me in speaking and writing endeavors. We both understand that God has given us the passion to connect with others for the kingdom through these creative means and just want to be good stewards of them. We are both seeking The Lord for direction and vision on how He is calling us to use these areas of our lives. We are also praying for the resources necessary to accomplish what we feel has been set before us.

Thank you so much for your continued prayer and love for us! We would love to know how to pray for you, as well.

All our love,

The Zackery's