Newsletter
News &
encouragement
Monthly reflections, ministry updates, and encouragement from Mary Jean Powers. Read past issues below, or subscribe to receive each new one.
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Friendship with Jesus
Finishing well at the Y, back-to-back debriefs, praying for pastors, new writing projects — and a Communion devotional on being a friend of Jesus.
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Saying Good-bye to the Y
Final weeks at YMCA of the Rockies — discipling young adults, joy and sorrow, a hard chaplaincy call, Grief & Loss seminars, and teaching on prayer.
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June — Full Throttle
A full month: communion in the little chapel at the Y, a legacy retreat with a 14-year small group, speaking at the Cadence conference in Wisconsin, and teaching on prayer in Boulder.
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My Life at the Y
Settling in at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park — nine inches of new snow, a tiny rustic room, discipling interns, leading communion, and no meals to plan or cook.
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Sorrow and Joy
Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning — reflections on grief and joy, and a work-and-play journey through the Netherlands, the Cotswolds, and southern France.
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Ready, Willing, Called … and Needing Jesus!
A Palm Sunday newsletter — a last-minute call to preach, checking March off the list, a new Worship Explorations Bible study, an upcoming Grief and Loss Seminar, and prayer requests for April.
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Ministry Moments
Introducing Consecrated Conversations one-day insight retreats, February debriefs, a bout with the flu, The Care Collective, and two upcoming Bible seminars.
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Celebration, Prayer and Invitation
Twenty years of Get the Word Out, a full February of debriefs and teaching, an invitation to the March Worship Seminar, and a call to pray for ministry leaders.
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Closing the Chapter on the Last 12 Months
A full, restful December — a 100th debrief, the annual GWO board meeting and Christmas gifts to missionaries, hosting and family, an invitation to the January annual debrief, and a word on friend-raising.
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Announcing …
A Thanksgiving newsletter and the announcement of a new book — Prayers of Life for My Family — shared with its full introduction, after a silent retreat at an abbey and days of debriefing YWAM leaders.
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Holy Spirit, Fill Us to Rise to Joyful Prayer!
Month three in a new life of prayer — the 24-7 Prayer National Gathering in Nashville, saturating ministry in prayer, and an invitation to slow down and truly pray the Lord’s Prayer.
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September Joys
A return to the familiar rhythms of ministry — debriefing (and being debriefed), the Colorado Air Show near home, Walk Thru the Bible, finishing a Bible overview in Wyoming, and a focus on prayer.
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Turning a Corner
Turning 70 and anticipating new expressions of ministry — reconnecting with young adults, finishing the Old Testament overview in Wyoming, new teaching videos, a new book on prayer, and upcoming Walk Thru the Bible seminars.
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Chronos and Kairos
On sacred time versus clock time — a summer of chaplaincy caring for her son Jon, teaching Walk Thru the Bible in Wyoming, a Grief and Loss Seminar, and celebrating David Hutchings’ commissioning as president of Cadence International.
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Life is Unpredictable.
Two beautiful weeks serving at the YMCA of the Rockies cut short by her son Jon’s serious car accident and surgery — grieving the summer that would have been while grateful for the one that is, plus an invitation to a Grief and Loss Seminar.
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A Bucket List Month … and It’s Not Over Yet!
A Top-5 trip to England and France — coastal cliff walks in Cornwall, prayer walks and a Basic Intensive with missionary friends near Cavaillon — and the announcement of a summer serving as a chaplain at the YMCA of the Rockies.
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What I Really Want to Do Is …
A perfect-job-description story from 25 years ago frames a full month — workshops, teaching young adults, a missions intensive, six days of debriefing, a beautiful Easter — and the announcement of an upcoming trip to France and Cornwall.
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Small Town USA from West to East and Home Again
Teaching on the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit at a YWAM DTS in Cascade, Idaho, debriefing a missionary couple in upstate New York, finally finding a daily rhythm in Loveland, and an invitation to a quarterly debrief.
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Meetings, Wonderful Meetings
A February full of good meetings — a women’s retreat in Sterling, a last-minute Communion sermon, a gathering for women in full-time ministry, two debriefs, time with youth pastors and the GWO board — all told with a running joke about forgotten photos.
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January. How Many Months Does This Month Have???
A packed start to 2025 — restful holidays with friends, debriefing 2024 with a group and a missionary couple in Estes Park, teaching “Heart Purity for the Artist” and Walk Thru the Old Testament at YWAM Mazatlan, and time with grandson Kai.
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Wonderful Counselor
A Christmas letter on our need for the Wonderful Counselor — the questions we bring Him, the meaning of “wonder,” and an invitation to worship with silent wonder, radical amazement, and affectionate awe.
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Opportunities for You and for Me :)
Settling into a new home by the lake — a quarterly debrief, the end of the Colorado School of Worship fall session, teaching Walk Thru the Bible at YWAM Salem, reconnecting with a former student, and Scripture recordings now on major platforms.
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Bible Engagement, and More …
A bucket-list autumn week through New England with a missionary friend, Scripture recordings now streaming digitally, and an invitation to the Advent Bible study Welcome to Earth, Jesus!
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A Month of Firsts!
A birthday Water Lantern Festival, the first debrief hosted in a new home, a little remodeling, a first trip to YWAM Boston, and the start of the Colorado School of Worship — a month full of firsts.
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Moved and Settling!
Settling into a beautiful new home in Loveland, Colorado — gratitude for grandson Hunter’s help with the move and with preparing the Get the Word Out Scripture recordings for streaming platforms.
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Time for Transition!
A month of packing and moving between homes, the close of a two-year young adult Bible study, teaching The Lord’s Prayer in Carpenter, Wyoming, planning the fall School of Worship, and an invitation to support Bible-translation software missionaries.
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What’s Happening?
An overview of 2024 — the Colorado School of Worship, quarterly group debriefs, a young adult study in Proverbs, ministry debriefs, and a new Bible study workbook on the way.
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