<p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary" href="https://bit.ly/Crux-Community"><span>JOIN FOR $8/YEAR</span></a></p><div class="pullquote"><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset"><source type="image/webp" /><img alt="" class="sizing-normal" height="2000" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!tuGM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F204ca1ee-92a4-4926-9f3e-687f54295417_800x2000.png" title="" width="800" /><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg fill="none" height="20" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="1.5" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2" fill="none" height="20" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><div><hr /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>The views and opinions expressed here are solely my own and do not represent those of my employer, any affiliated organization, or any institution with which I am associated.</strong></em></p></div><p>20 years ago, I went to my first Urbana Missions Conference, led my first series of events and protests as a college student, and leaned into seeking justice, loving mercy and walking humbly with God – as best as I could. <a href="https://thecrux.substack.com/p/i-am-leaving-intervarsity">Things have changed significantly since then</a>. </p><p>I’m sad to leave and know it’s time to go. Here are some things I’m thinking about!</p><p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary" href="https://bit.ly/WhatsNextforMe"><span>JUMP ON THE CALL AT 12PM!</span></a></p><p>Two things that I’ve been told I do well are: </p><ul><li><p><strong>PRACTICE:</strong> I believe God calls us to respond to the teachings of Jesus in context with integrity.</p></li><li><p><strong>FORMATION: </strong>I want to disciple people to follow Jesus in every area of their lives out of my lived experience, communion with God and others, and a deep concern for creation and those in material and spiritual poverty.</p></li></ul><p>So, to pursue <strong>practice</strong> I will be joining <strong><a href="https://www.jonathan-walton.com/about-jonathan">AROCHA USA</a> (ABOVE)</strong> to live out God’s call to care for creation and equip others to do likewise. And to continue work around deep formation, I will establish the <strong><a href="https://www.jonathan-walton.com/about-jonathan">CENTER FOR BEAUTY AND RESISTANCE</a>. </strong></p><p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary" href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA"><span>DONATE HERE</span></a></p><p><strong>This is a change and I’m realizing that change is something I don’t like.</strong> I want consistency, certainty and ultimately control. And I need to remember that God is sovereign not me. </p><p><strong>The impact that I was looking for is not the one that I expected to make.</strong> I expected to change an organization and change the world. Instead, I built deep relationships and my life is different and the lives of the thousands of folks that participated in our work are different. The kool-aid from all the conferences is not what Christ was offering. And I’m grateful that God gave what we needed, not what the branding promised. </p><p>With the knowledge of how I think and feel about change, alongside this awareness that the impact I think I’m going to make vs. what God is actually doing, I am thinking about what I don’t get to see. </p><p>I will not get to see much of the fruit of the work that I do in this life. The changes in households because of a seed planted happen behind closed doors and intimate spaces. The hearts that make a turn because of a post, prayer, or partnership are silent and invisible. There is SO MUCH ACTIVITY in a tree before it is fruitful. And even though a tree isn’t bearing fruit in the way I can see or perceive, it doesn’t mean it’s not active – or even thriving. </p><p>These are raw thoughts and I’d love to know what you think!</p><p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary" href="https://thecrux.substack.com/p/15-days-left-after-20-years-of-serving/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><p>If you are reading this, I’d like to invite you to<a href="https://bit.ly/Lets-WorkTogether"> </a><strong><a href="https://bit.ly/Lets-WorkTogether">pray, give, learn and serve</a>.</strong> </p><p><strong>By June 30</strong>, we need to have $50,000 to launch and we have $5600 so far. And by October 1, our goal is 250 people giving $100/month and to date, we have 17. I hope you’ll help us reach the goal to launch A Rocha USA in the Northeast and to establish the Center for Beauty and Resistance to nourish whole people and fruitful communities. </p><p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary button-wrapper" href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA"><span>DONATE HERE</span></a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset"><source type="image/webp" /><img alt="" class="sizing-normal" height="2000" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!zb7u!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F042f1b50-b521-4e72-8173-c35ca1aad112_800x2000.png" title="" width="800" /><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg fill="none" height="20" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="1.5" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2" fill="none" height="20" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>If you’ve got questions or want to check out what the work will look like, click <a href="https://bit.ly/WhatsNextforMe">here to RSVP </a>to these events this week!</p><p>Thanks again for you prayers, support and partnership – and for reading this far! I look forward to seeing what possible in this next season not just because of the work we will do but who I get to do it with. People like you!</p><div><hr /></div><div class="digest-post-embed"></div><blockquote><p><em><strong>A NOTE ABOUT MY WORK</strong>: I am leaving my full-time job with InterVarsity USA and with that change, paid subscribers become much more important. I love to write and the DREAM would be for this to be a full-time occupation. If you’d like to make that more possible, please become a paid subscriber. My new work will be with<a href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA"> AROCHA USA // Center for Beauty and Resistance</a>. If you <a href="https://bit.ly/Support-CBR-ArochaUSA">DONATE</a> you will be made a founding member here. Thanks for your prayers, support and generosity.</em></p><p class="button-wrapper"><a class="button primary" href="https://thecrux.substack.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p></blockquote><div><hr /></div><p><strong>Let me know what you think! I look forward to the conversation and comments because our screens make us into lonely consumers but God made us to be a vibrant, liberative community.</strong></p><p>In Christ and for His Glory,</p><p>jonathan</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" href="https://www.ivpress.com/beauty-and-resistance" target="_blank"><div class="image2-inset"><source type="image/webp" /><img alt="" class="sizing-normal" height="1500" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!9Sao!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F18a9ddfc-62b1-4d8b-ba7f-ee2907e48450_971x1500.jpeg" width="971" /><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg fill="none" height="20" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="1.5" viewBox="0 0 20 20" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image" tabindex="0" type="button"><svg class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2" fill="none" height="20" stroke="currentColor" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" stroke-width="2" viewBox="0 0 24 24" width="20" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div>