The Letter

Dear friends and family,

I hope this letter finds you well and that your new year is off to a good start. What a year 2013 was! As with many people, we've experienced some thrilling highs and less-than-thrilling lows, but it was a year that has led us to a place that quite possibly could not have come from any other set of circumstances.

I am writing to you today about something that God has put strongly on our hearts… and to ask for your help. Meghann and I have been offered a chance to be a part of a church plant in Bartow County, GA and we are asking for your financial support to help make this possible.

So, How did you get to where you are now? You may ask.

Good question. As many of you already know, I have spent much of my life in the church, either volunteering there, doing an internship, or working in one. Meghann and I have tried to focus our lives around the things that are important to us; family is one of those things, helping people is another, the right kind of church is one more, and God most of all. After my time working at a church, I went on to graduate from college and landed a job in Nashville, TN. It was an amazing opportunity! Especially right out of college. But it didn’t reflect what was important to us, it wasn’t family, wasn’t helping people, wasn’t God.

In the summer of 2012, after much prayer and contemplation, I wrote a letter to my friend, John Orr, describing our yearning to be a part of something important. As it was, he was in the midst of planning a church plant in northwest Georgia - and the first step in our path to something important for our family began. From then on it was waiting, praying, waiting, quitting jobs, waiting, relocating to the Cartersville, GA area, and waiting. But now we are a part of The Stone Church, a church re-plant in Bartow county.

We have spent much of our time so far at The Stone Church on re-construction: tearing out old moldy walls and carpet, sanding wood  floors and almost breaking my neck trying to operate a floor sander (oh, how I wish I had a video of that), building a stage, installing audio and video equipment, painting, staining, and decorating. We’ve also spent time investing in the community by passing out quarters to people at the laundromat to help them be able to wash all of their clothes, making sure a family in need gets presents for Christmas, and passing out hand-made ornaments to our neighbors around the church.

At this point in the church’s life, we are helping out in all areas as much as we can, however, Meghann and I both are helping out in specialized ares, as well. Meghann is currently the Children’s Ministry Designer in charge of the many faceted needs of children’s ministry and I am the Media and Communications Designer helping out with fun things like websites, graphics, and audio/video/lighting needs. 

So, Why Bartow County?

Great question. Being from the south (well, Miami isn’t quite “the south,” but I’ve lived in Georgia for quite some time now), it seems like there are places where a church is on every corner. Surely we don’t need another church. But Bartow county is an interesting place - it has so much potential. Sure, there are churches, but very traditional, wear-a-suit-every-Sunday churches. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but if that is all you have, some people are slipping through the cracks - particularly those who’ve never owned a suit and can barely afford shoes. Many of the people we have had conversations with attend no church at all. Many have been ‘burned’ by the church for wearing the wrong style of clothing, or for not having the same lifestyle as the other church members, or one of a dozen other petty reasons. 

Bartow county also has some big developmental plans in the near future. The one that will probably make the most impact is a 1,200 acre baseball complex that is under construction and will be bringing 60 (yes 60) hotels and 26,000 jobs to the area, for starters.

In short, Meghann and I have been given a chance to be a part of something important to us. Something that will help people, that will spread God’s love to a community in need, and that will allow us to be a part of all that as a growing family.

What do you need from us?

At this point in The Stone Church’s life, people who can devote 100% of their time are much needed. Meghann and I are blessed (and have worked hard) to be to at a place where we can pour ourselves into this ministry. The church is also in the predicament of not being able to afford to hire a person for another year, possibly longer.

We need you to pray and think about supporting us in this endeavor financially. Please do not feel obligated to give simply because I ask - please pray on it, think on it, discuss it. We trust God to provide the money we need from where He would… it may be that He provides for us through you.

Even if you don’t give on a regular basis, but can give a few times, or once, it will make a huge impact.

If you would like to stay up-to-date with our adventure, further the conversation, or give online you can follow the blog www.consideringthestone.blogspot.com that will be documenting the happenings and providing you further information on how much of an impact we are making on Bartow County. 

Call us, email us, write on the blog, or contact John Orr with any questions that you may have.

Thank you for considering joining us in this adventure,

Jono and Meghann Ramey