September, October, & November Update 2024

Formation Journey - Upcoming - Prayer Requests - Photo Dump

During the fall of this year, we have been consumed by transitions, projects, and some celebration. It has been a good few months, but also a very exhausting few months and I so appreciate your patience with us and our relative extended silence.

One of the biggest events since I last wrote, was my trip to Africa to help one of our Lead Facilitators train and disciple a group of women who all have different leadership responsibilities in their home churches. Read more about my trip here.

In early November, I was also blessed to host a booth for BEE World at our first Missions Fair at my alma mater, Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). While we only had a short time with the students, it was such a joy to be able to connect with old friends and co-workers who are still on campus, as well as meet new students and staff members interested in the work of providing theological education to those who need it! I am also excited to be heading back into town for WEC (World Evangelization Conference) Week at DTS in March! As a previous student who had some difficulty finding an internship in the midst of the COVID pandemic, I love having the opportunity to connect students with an organization that is excited to pour into the next generation through mentoring and side-by-side ministry. It is also fun to be involved in developing church leaders through these internships, in addition to providing training and discipleship for church leaders in under resourced areas around the world, as the process reflects multiple avenues of meeting a very similar need.

If you are interested in supporting this ministry consider making a tax-deductible donation. I am still about $441 away from being able to buy my plane tickets to help start a new training group in Asia, and it would be so special to me if you would pray about joining me in ministry by helping to cover some of the cost of the trip.

If you would be interested in joining the ministry through facilitating the course materials yourself, consider signing up for our next training event in Colorado!

(If you ever have any issues, feel free to reach out to me directly at rettandkimdvorak@gmail.com or administration@beeworld.net)

How is Life?

Since I completed my studies at DTS, our family has used the opportunity to reconnect through exploring this new state we get to call home. We got to hike part of Pike's Peak where we saw some yellow-bellied marmots, camp in 40F weather enroute to explore a local ghost town where we fed some chipmunks and ground squirrels. and support a local business where we enjoyed rock climbing, which was Ryan's request for his birthday.

River (our cat) was upset that we did not bring home a marmot, chipmunk, or ground squirrel for her to play with.

Formation Journey

After the long journey of seminary, spending time together as a family away from computers, books, and desks is refreshing and welcome for all. I am reminded that retreat and recreation aren't just important for pastors and Bible study leaders, but for all of us, even our kids, to help our brains slow down and take in something bigger than ourselves. I find that spending time away from my daily experience draws me back to the bigger story of what God is doing throughout the world and over the course of generations, and I find myself giving way to a sense of peace and rest in his person and work.

I will also say that each of these experiences was short. Hiking and rock-climbing only took up part of a day and we camped from late Friday night and drove back Sunday morning in time to help out with the prayer ministry at church. I share this because whenever I have read about taking a retreat in books, the examples often felt unattainable and discouraging, things like driving to remote wilderness, renting a cabin at a specialized quiet-retreat center, going alone, and spending somewhere between an extended weekend to a month away. This isn't necessary to experience retreat, and I want to pass on a sense of freedom to you. Much of the benefit of retreat is retained for us when we bring the whole family, stay right outside a small town not too far away from the city, and squeeze the experience into a free Saturday.

In summary, God is not waiting for us to have free schedules, financial wealth, or overflowing energy to refresh us spiritually. He is bigger than our circumstances and meets us where we are, family situation, financial status, work schedule restrictions, physical limitations, and all. For retreat, the point is to take a break from daily circumstances, which allows our mind to focus on other things. Our family enjoys rural places (mountains preferred) as it draws us to ponder God's characteristics as creator and sustainer of the universe. I would imagine that other settings could offer a welcome perspective change too. For many of us, any time away from a computer could feel like much-needed rest, but for others who don't spend much time around screens, using the internet to research different cultures or ancient history surrounding biblical accounts, could also provide an avenue for reflection and refreshment. I would love to hear what has been meaningful in your family for retreat and reflection, within your limitations in different seasons of life. Shoot us a message if you have the chance!

Upcoming

Click here to view details about our upcoming work with BEE World. There is no cost or additional emails connected to creating a personal login, it simply provides more security for our students.

Prayer Requests

Thank you so much for your prayers for me, the other facilitators, and the students doing the One-to-One and Multiplying Servant Leaders seminar! All travel went smoothly, facilitators and students were greatly blessed by the time of fellowship and study, and students exceeded expectations in their preparations!

Rett and I are pursuing ministry partnership development to financially support full-time ministry work with BEE World. Our time (and energy) for this is greatly restricted in the midst of maintaining full-time employment and parenting adolescent children, and we humbly request prayers for supernatural time management and energy to do all that is needed to do in this season.

In addition, in 2025, I am taking on additional administrative responsibilities with BEE World, which will help to meet some of this financial need and provide valuable support for our currently over-extended executive team. Please pray for me and those I will be supporting that we will have the energy and wisdom to do the work God has given us to steward.

As always, thank you so much for your prayers for our family and your encouragement. We wouldn’t be here without you and we want you to know that we truly feel blessed by your continued involvement with our family. We are praying for you too, so if you have any specific requests, let us know!

With all our love,

The Dvorak Family

Rett, Kim, Ryan, and Cecilia

Isaiah 52:7

How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of those who bring good news,

who proclaim peace,

who bring good tidings,

who proclaim salvation,

who say to Zion,

“Your God reigns!”

Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices;

together they shout for joy.

When the Lord returns to Zion,

they will see it with their own eyes.

Burst into songs of joy together,

you ruins of Jerusalem,

for the Lord has comforted his people,

he has redeemed Jerusalem.