It is always a joy to go on a mission trip with one of our New Directions Alumni. Randy Durham is both a member of our alumni and a former staff member. As such he has traveled extensively with JL over the years to other countries, documenting the partnerships and projects supported by New Directions and Impact Of Hope.
Randy originally began the ND’s first video ministry and developed our studio facility in Graham. Later he ran the video department for the NC Baptist State Convention. He went on to start several video and web companies. Randy currently is the president of Raleigh-based Credence Pictures. He also owns several websites related to boating and fishing including North Carolina’s most visited fishing website NCangler.com. In 2009 he also started an online fishing tackle company called TackleMonkey.com.
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Pastor Scotty Smith is one of the “original” members of the New Directions dating back to 1968. After his high school and college years with NDI, he has had a wonderful ministry as the founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee, where he is still the Senior Pastor for Preaching, Teaching and Worship. He is also a Seminary Lecturer. Scotty is the author of a half dozen books and travels and ministers widely in America and abroad. He recently started writing this “daily devo” for his parishioners and friends. So I am sharing it with all of my personal friends and partners with joy, thanksgiving – and a bit of spiritual pride as one of our alumni. I invite you to visit Scotty’s blog on the Christ Community Church website to receive inspiration from Scotty’s daily sharing from God’s Word. You can view Scotty’s blog here or you visit his Facebook page here.
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Me and Fuji on the streets of Bunia, Congo, a city that was seized in recent fighting.
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Dear ND Alumni,
Here are a few pictures from a time of co-ministry I had with David Horner in Chennai, India, back in October. As many of you know, he is one of the ORIGINAL NDs going back to 1968! And he married another one of our ORIGINAL gals, Kathy Ryder Horner. It has been a blessing to stay in close fellowship and partnership with David and Kathy across the years. Since they live and minister in Raleigh, it has been a bit easier to stay in touch with them than with some of you who live farther away from Burlington and NC.
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Dear Friends,
Another great time was had by all at the annual New Directions get-together at Sam and Alesia Burnette’s on December 26th. With lots of food to feed way more than were there, we laughed and ate, and talked and ate, and sang and ate! Such fun!! It was also wonderful to see the next generation in attendance. 3 or 4 are in the military, either presently enlisted or shortly going into three of the services—Army, Navy and Marines. That generation is having the first wedding on January 17th : David Fraser and Lisa Evans. Can you believe we’re that old?! There was plenty of relaxed time to visit with those we hadn’t seen since last year, and just enjoy being together. For those who missed it, please plan to join us next year. (I’m sure Sam and Alesia don’t mind me inviting more of y’all to come.)
With love, because He came,
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Patt, for J.L. too, who is in Kathmandu, Nepal
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