Many of you in the “Class of 69” were in those early Bible Studies I led for students in the various high schools around the city and county.  Some of you also were an active part of The New Directions during your high school years and traveled with us to countries like Mexico, Canada, Jamaica, Haiti and the Grand Caymans.  We never imagined that God would grow that ministry from “Alamance County to around the world,” as I often describe it.  And like you, we have been celebrating 4 decades of God’s faithfulness.  For Patt and me it has been an ever-expanding ministry to the poor and needy in the Two-Thirds World in the love and compassion of Christ.

Little did I realize that one of your own, Lewis Lucke, would be on a parallel track helping to empower the poor through the USA Government.  As you can see from his attached picture and resume, Lew held prestigious and powerful positions with USAID in a number of underdeveloped countries.  He also held Ambassadorships along the way as America’s highest representative where he served.  Unfortunately, Lew and I were largely unaware of each other’s work to uplift and empower the poor – often in the same countries at the same time!  I am thankful and honored that he was also a musician for the NDs his senior year at WHS.  So he is also one of “our own” also.

Our loss of touch with each other all changed recently when Lew and I met in Haiti for a long weekend – the very days immediately following your Class Reunion!  We had a great time re-visiting a country that both of us passionately love – even though it continues to hold the sad title of: “The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere.”  To this day Haiti continues to be the country that NDI has had the most involvement in – leading groups there multiple times a year.  Some of you receiving this email went there on the very first trip in 1969.  Lew and I plan to meet there again sometime in 2010 – and would love to see some of you go with us.  Your classmate, Dan Apple has already signed on!

I have attached a few pictures of “Ambassador Lewis Lucke” in Haiti with me right after your Class Reunion.  Hope you enjoy them.  Lew is also a very gifted author and wrote a great book I highly recommend: Waiting For Rain; Life & development in Mali, West Africa.  Patt and I especially loved the book since we have traveled and ministered in the fabled city of Timbuktu, Mali, that Lew also writes about.  Order it through Amazon if you can find it.  It is a timely read by one of your classmates who has really “made a difference” – and continues to do so for the disenfranchised and marginalized peoples in Underdeveloped Countries.  His book will make you “proud to be an American!”

I also included some photos of Dan Apple and his family.

If you would like to be on my general email list, you can sign up on our Contact page.  I would love to keep you updated on my on-going travels and ministry around the world in behalf of the spiritually and physically poor.

Again, congratulations on your historic “Class of ’69 Reunion.  Hope I will be in town for your “45th Reunion” in 2014…

In His Faithful Love,
JL & Patt

PS: When you many of you receive this email blast, I will be traveling and ministering in India, Nepal and Bhutan from Jan. 6 – 23.  I would covet your prayers for this first trip of 2010 which will be very intense, diverse and fast moving.

Randy and his wife Lisa live in Raleigh, NC and have three children.  Caleb is a junior at NCSU, Joshua recently enlisted in the US Marines and Jessica is a sophomore at Wake Christian Academy.  They attend Gateway Christian Fellowship.

Randy’s continued passion is to document the work of the Lord around the world.  To date he has produced videos in 28 countries, having visited several them multiple times.  JL believes Randy is one of the most creative videographers around and loves to travel with him. These pictures were taken from an African trip they did together this past Fall to Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya and Zimbabwe.  And yes, those are real lions he is with!  Randy noted that if JL says he has transportation taken care… be prepared for anything!

If you ever need video work done, call Randy or check out his website.  You will be impressed.  He and JL are already planning one or two ‘Kingdom Adventure Safaris’ for 2010—and would like you to be a part of them.  Check out our Kingdom Adventures page for more details.”

I am attaching a couple of photos of Scotty’s family.

The names, from left to right are, Rann Russell, Scotty’s son-in-law and Kristin Russell, daughter; Bayley, daughter-in law, married to Scott, son; Darlene, and Scotty. The all live in the Nashville area and Kristin and Rann just gave Scotty and Darlene their first grandchild on April 30th, Finely, “Finn,” Ward Russell (see below).

You might also want to see Scotty – and his brother Steve “Moose” Smith, in their early years as a members of the New Directions and Damascus Road.  Just go to the “Alumni” section of my web site and click on “Memories.”  Scroll down to two articles with pictures entitled “Jesus Freaks & Fools” and “Children of Jubal.”  There you will see him in his early years as a musician and minister.

In His Healing Love,

For years I never fully understood why God had led me to join the New Directions for that brief season.  Oh, there were the obvious reasons.  As a college freshman I was just starting to truly grow in my faith in Jesus.  David Morrow, John Frazier, and Sammy Burnette took me under their wings and served as mentors, role models, and brothers during this crucial time of spiritual growth.  David continued to love me even after I nearly drowned him by accidently directing him into a pond while sledding.  And, of course, there was the unbelievable privilege of sitting under the teaching and guidance of J.L.
In Jeremiah 29:11, God promises that He has plans for His children.  I’ve learned that God weaves together the experiences of our lives in ways that are far beyond our comprehension.  I discovered the real reason I had been a member of the New Directions in the summer of 2003.
By the summer of 2003 I had been in pastoral ministry for 16 years.  At that time I was serving a church in Clayton, NC that I had planted in 1997.  We had been in our first building for about six months when I heard a strange word from God.  God spoke to my heart and said, “Go take care of AIDS orphans in Africa.”  It was that clear.  I had never been to Africa, but I knew I was going.
Although God had told me to go take care of orphans in Africa, He didn’t tell me how to do it.  That launched me into a season of discernment, struggle, and faith choices unlike any I had ever experienced.
It was in this restless season that I turned to J.L.  J.L. repeatedly made time to visit with me and counsel me as I sought to respond to God’s call.  I hung on every word of advice J.L. offered.  I followed every word of advice.  Every word of advice turned out to be correct.  I realized that the real reason I had joined the New Directions in 1980 was so that I would have J.L. to help guide me during this crucial time in 2003.

In June of 2004, the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist appointed me to launch ZOE Ministry.  This ministry is now offering care to over 25,000 orphans and vulnerable children in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Rwanda, and Kenya.  Particularly exciting is our empowerment work which is currently training over 4,000 orphans to become self-sufficient.  Grounded in the Gospel, orphans are coming to faith in Jesus as they learn to provide for their physical needs. 
It was only after a quarter of a century that I was able to fully appreciate my odd experience with the New Directions.  I don’t sing any better now than I did in 1980.  Yet when I hear African orphans sing who have come to faith in Christ under ZOE Ministry I understand.  I didn’t join the New Directions so that people would me sing.  God led me to J.L. and the New Directions so that one day I would hear these children sing. 

I was one of the founding Board Members of BCA almost 25 years ago.  Now my daughter April, teaches third grade there and three of my grandchildren attend BCA.  ND Alumnae, Jane Fraser, teaches K-4 there also.  So it was special to have Shaunna come do a fund-raising concert there.  While she was in the area, Jane and John lined up some gigs for her in the area.  Patt and I got to attend one at a local restaurant where she was accompanied by “Frase-Man” on bass and Danny Burnett on guitar – son of ND Alumni Sam and Alesia.  Several other ND’s were in the audience enjoying the concert and camaraderie.

For those of you who might not have been in the ND’s when she was, let me give you a sketch of her history with us.  She was the youngest member ever to travel with the New Directions in the summer of her 13th birthday.  She met the group while we were singing at her father’s church in Rittman, Ohio.  He father, Rev. David Atkinson, and mother, Sue, became great friends and followers of the New Directions.  Her sister, Cynthia followed her as a summer member of the ND’s.  So we are thankful for the long friendship we have had with the Atkinson family.

Shaunna is married and has two children.  She currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee, where she is a professional musician and works as a singer and songwriter.  She has recorded several albums.

Finally, Shaunna will be with us at our “40th Anniversary” Aug. 1 – 2 and share some of her music.  I hope you will join her and us for that special time of reunion.  Until then, enjoy the following pictures from one of her local gigs.

In His Faithful Love,

Shaunna Bolton, John Fraser on left, Danny Burnette on right

Patt Williams and Rhonda Truitt having fun at the concert

Shaunna, J.L. and Patt

Talking with Shaunna at the break

Sam Burnette, as happy as ever!

Mary Hatley and Marie Alston enjoying supper and the music

Marie and Patt getting caught up, with Danny and Alesia Burnette in the background

Early 1970’s in Haiti on TV

1981 at Aldersgate

1980’s at a Music Festival

1980’s in a mall

In a High School

In Concert

Sunday Morning with the New Directions

In Church

In Church

In a Shopping Center

Faithful Sarah Lea never missed being in her place on stage!

Sarah and her ND sisters, Joan and Joy

Sarah always was attentive to whoever was sharing their testimony or speaking.

Always smiling on stage!

A more faithful teammate you could never find than Sarah Lea!

This was not only a promotional event for Marie’s new CD, it was also a time to promote the “Charles Alston Memorial Church” we are going to build in Haiti.  With your prayers and support, it will be ready for dedication in the summer of ‘09.  We also hope that many of the ND family will go down with us for the dedication—along with Marie and her family.  We will have some special concerts at the same time in Haiti—just like in the “good ol’ days!”  So start planning now to be with us for this exciting trip!  Many of you ND’s could take your children along and let them experience Haiti just like you did as a teenager.

Finally, don’t forget to reserve the dates of the first weekend of August for our historic “40th Anniversary Celebration.”  We will kick off on Friday night with lots of “mini-concerts” by ND Alumni who are still doing musical ministry.  Then Saturday will be filled with more music, sharing, laughter, tears, videos—and lots of good food!

In His Faithful Love,

Marie, Jennifer and Josh singing Marie singing with her two daughters, Elizabeth (left) and Jennifer (right) Marie can still play a tamborine! Mama Soul can still deliver the goods! Marie singing with all 4 of her children, Jennifer, Emmanuel, Josh & Elizabeth (left to right) Josh singing songs he wrote—sounding just like Charles Josh was like watching and listening to a “Little Charles” on stage! It was such a privilege for me to pray for Marie and her new CD Patt and me with the “Charles & Marie Alston Clan” Marie with her girls, Jennifer and Elizabeth Does this not look just like Charles smiling?! Faithful Alumni, John and Jane Fraser were there to celebrate with us Marie, her children and musicians The CD’s by both Charles and Marie for sale to help build the church in Haiti

If you do not have this latest CD, you can either order it directly from Marie or from NDI.  -  JL