Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
We are Team Owens — a homeschooling, multi-racial family of seven. We love Jesus, we’re passionate about justice ministry and we are committed to the work of SixtyFeet.
Though life wasn’t always this way. Back in 2006, we were a typical American family. Just a Daddy, a Mommy, a little girl and a baby boy. Dan was busy climbing the corporate ladder. I was busy caring for our two little ones. Life was good and our plates were full.
But in early 2010 everything changed. Through a series of events, we learned of a place on the other side of the world we call “M”. This place captivated us and immediately captured our hearts. In response, we started SixtyFeet along with four other Atlanta businessmen.
For the last two and a half years, SixtyFeet has been run on the US side by these five Atlanta businessmen. They have balanced the work of SixtyFeet with their full-time jobs, their families and other responsibilities. By January 2012, it was clear that this was not a long-term solution. The ministry had grown to the point that it could no longer be managed by volunteers working in their spare time — we needed someone in the US to run SixtyFeet as a full-time job.
For many months, Dan felt that the Lord was leading him to take this position. But we resisted — mainly because we were afraid. We feared the unknown, we feared leaving the perceived security of a corporate job and we feared what such changes might mean for our children and our lives.
We’ve all heard it said that “perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18). But the reverse seems to also be true. Fear casts outs perfect love. Fear paralyzes our ability to love deeply and serve selflessly. Fear prevents us from taking big risks for God. Fear is crippling and it’s often the only thing that stands between us and God’s plans for our lives.
Over the last few years, we have spent untold hours serving on the mission field in East Africa and interacting with our team and partners in Uganda. We’ve stared poverty, desperation and injustice square in the eyes and we just can’t fear any longer. Because there’s work to be done, there’s justice to be administered and there are precious people to be loved.
We’re weeks away from Dan’s transition from the corporate world into full-time ministry. We have committed to raising our own support in an effort not to take funds away from the work in Uganda and the children we serve. We are still behind on our fundraising goals but we are fully trusting in the Lord’s provision and miraculous ability to fund all that He favors.
As we enter the homestretch for 2012, would you prayerfully consider supporting our family in your year-end giving? We are seeking one-time, quarterly and monthly donors and we are beyond grateful for every gift of any amount. Your support will allow us to do this work and to love well.
If you’re interested in making a one-time or ongoing donation, simply click here to donate to Friends of SixtyFeet and indicate in the comments section that you’d like to direct your support to Team Owens.
God bless and please stay tuned — you’ll be hearing more from us here about our family’s journey and our work on behalf of SixtyFeet.
Shelly, this is so exciting and faith-building to read. God is moving and doing such beautiful things in your family. May you all be blessed and prosper in this new kingdom adventure!