Micah Project Welcomes its first Intern

On August 7th, Micah Project, PUMP's new year-long internship for college graduates, welcomes its first intern - Emily Wallace. We are very excited to have Emily here, and are blessed that this new ministry is coming together! Pray for her and us as we partner together to spread the Good News in Northeast Portland!

This is very exciting to me because Emily comes to us as a pioneer of multiplying. She is a living reminder that we are in the business of replicating ministry passed our own neighborhood and into wherever God is calling us to go.

Kaelea and I have already got to spend some time getting to know Emily. She is a very cool young Christian woman, and I'm confident she has the skills and character to slam dunk this internship. I'm excited to see what the Lord will call her to this year!

Arthur Graul

My dad's dad recently passed away. The following excerpt came from a short reflection I wrote for his memorial service.

I remember grandpa as a man of enduring spiritual commitment; unassuming, who spoke with an almost childlike demeanor and told a story with melodious cadence. I deeply enjoyed his musical skills and admired his simple mastery of the guitar, fiddle and accordion. Grandpa sang to entertain, and his sweet interpretation of old-time favorites never missed its mark in my presence. I will not ever forget his voice. His musical mark on my life is permanent. I have an unusual devotion to music, and this influence on me can already be seen in my children.

Grandpa could make something beautiful and useful out of just about any block of wood. His garage was full of treasures, hanging from nails in the walls and poking down through the rafters. Each object had a story attached like a price tag; each story was priceless.

I remember boating around the lake soaking in the many views nature had to offer and feeling like the luckiest kid alive. Living in the west most of my life, time with grandpa and grandma Graul did not come frequently. Each time we were together is very special to me. As a child, I remember anticipating their visits to our home or our visits to Michigan as something almost
sacred. I don’t think I’ve ever been more right. In his company I enjoyed the best sense of what it meant to be a grandson: to know who I am, to be proud of my heritage, and to desire to bring honor the name of my family by being an outstanding citizen and man of Christian conviction.

My children Isaiah, Malachi and Michal never met grandpa. Still, it brings me a deep sense of joy and gratitude to see them experience all of the blessings that I remember in my grandfather through my own dad. Grandpa passed down the greatest gifts he had to give to my father, and my children enjoy the best sense of what it means to be grandchildren because of his generosity.

Back on the Blog

Well I have been silent now for a few months, sorry to those of you who have been faithfully checking for new material (who am I kidding, I don't even think my mother checks this blog regularly!) I'm feeling the need to get back in the saddle and think and write. Rather than trying to re-live the past few months over the next couple of weeks, I think that I'll just pick up with today and look forward. If you are reading this, then I hope you will do the same. Reflection on the past is only as helpful as it's applicability to future circumstance.