From One Capital to Another

Our ministry adventure shifts location to Richmond, VA

In January 1999, our family (just Jen and I at the time) moved into a tiny basement apartment in Washington DC to join the newly formed DC Chi Alpha team. That was the beginning of an incredible journey of ministry in our nationâ€™s capital. Our role was to establish campus ministry at American University, a place where no evangelical ministry existed and was once described as a campus ministry graveyard. This year we celebrated our fifteenth anniversary of ministry in DC and God has done far more than we could have ever hoped for. We've seen an incredible Jesus-centered community established at AU where hundreds of students have met and grown closer to God. We witnessed many of those same students become trained as discipleship leaders, guiding their peers deeper in faith and taking those skills into the marketplace and around the world. God has done a significant work through Chi Alpha at American University.

Four years ago, we joined the National Community Church staff to lead itâ€™s Georgetown location. Serving in the role of campus pastors was an amazing opportunity to bring the best of university ministry and the local church together and enable both communities to learn and grow side by side.
We've been blessed to work with an incredible NCC staff and minister to a loving and talented congregation. We loved what we were doing, where we were doing it and who we were doing it with!
This past summer, however, we got a sense that God was moving us into a new season. After listening to God and some trusted friends, He has guided us to a different capital â€”Richmond, Virginia.
At the end of August, we left our adopted hometown to set off on a new ministry challenge. We'll work with Chi Alpha and partner strategically with Commonwealth Chapel, a growing church in the heart the city, to see campus ministry grow in Richmond and expand to all the major universities in the area. We will also seek to establish a training center to see more young adults pursue the call of God to reach the strategic urban campus with the world changing message of the gospel. We're thrilled with the opportunity there and we've seen Godâ€™s confirmation at every turn.
Itâ€™s not easy to leave a place where we had established strong roots, but we're confident in the continued ministry in DC. Blane Young, who interned with us several years ago and has since been a key staff member at AU Chi Alpha is now serving as director. With the dedicated staff team of Natalie Hill, Kevin Kusunoki, Becca Pugh, and an amazing team of student leaders, we believe Chi Alpha will expand its influence and increase itâ€™s impact. We're also confident that Godâ€™s blessing is on National Community Church and it will continue to affect the Georgetown neighborhood and the DC area with Godâ€™s love and His message of hope.
Finally, Jen, Sam, Levi, Nate and I want to thank you who have supported us so faithfully in prayer and financially for so many years. We'll be contacting you personally and pray youâ€™ll remain our ministry partners as we transition to Richmond.
Our hearts our full â€” full of gratitude for what Godâ€™s done and full of hope for whatâ€™s Heâ€™s going to bring. We know itâ€™s going to be better than we could ask for or imagine.

With much love,
Mike, Jen, Sam, Levi & Nate

Our New Role
We canâ€™t wait to step into our new role as the directors of Chi Alpha @ Virginia Commonwealth University. A school of over 31,000 students, VCU has become one of Virginiaâ€™s premier public universities. The Chi Alpha group there has been in existence since the mid-nineties and has been serving 60-80 students in their large and small groups, but theyâ€™ve never had a full time Chi Alpha director. Weâ€™ll seek strengthen Chi Alphaâ€™s outreach and discipleship culture while expanding the student and staff leadership team. Our long-term plans are to establish an internship training center in Richmond and extend ministry to the major universities in the city and throughout the Northeast.

The Next Chapter for American University
by Blane Young
Several years ago, I met Mike Godzwa for the first time in person and I realized that he was not only the type of person that I wanted to work for, but also the kind of leader I wanted to become. His leadership was people-focused, his theology was well-developed and he empowered those around him to become passionate about discipleship. Since then, I feel like I've had a front-row seat and a chance to learn from an incredible leader and faithful follower of Jesus. He's imparted so much to me, including a love for the students at American University. My wife and I are excited about what the next six years have in store - and we're honored to be able to lead this movement of college students. Our focus, creating a culture of discipleship on the university campus, is the same and it's our prayer that our endeavors honor a legacy that has impacted hundreds of people, including us.
From Mike: I canâ€™t think of a better person to fill the director role than Blane Young. Weâ€™re so glad so many of you have been long-term supporters of our ministry and we hope that youâ€™ll continue to partner with us as we transition to Richmond, but part of our heart will remain @ American University. If you have room in your giving budget, will you consider joining us in supporting Blane & Hannah Young and Chi Alpha @ AU? Hereâ€™s how you can:

Contact Info: blaneyoung@gmail.com, 832.540.0905
Online Support Info: http://bit.ly/blaneandhannah

Our New Home
After 18 years of apartment living, weâ€™ve moved into a single family home. The 3 bedroom cape cod rental has given us a bit more space. The added bedroom will give Sam a some privacy and the backyard will give us room for baseball practice and lightsaber battles. If youâ€™re in Richmond or your travels bring you here, stop by our place. The address is in our contact section. Here's how you can pray for us as we get settled in our new city:

Support: Weâ€™re reconnecting with our team and making contact with new members. Pray for us to be fully funded by Dec 1st.
Planning: Pray for everything to come together for our startup in RVA.
Renovations: Weâ€™re making an old house a little more livable. Pray for wisdom and creativity as we make changes to our new home
The Kids: Everything is new! Pray that Sam, Levi, & Nate adjust well to all of the changes and develop a great new group of friends.