Zoe Charity Status Update

We’re so glad to be back after a wonderful refreshing summer with family and friends!

Before I let you know our update regarding charity status, today was the boys’ first day back at school! The boys did great on their first day. Both love their new teachers and seeing their friends again.

Ok…down to business. Zoe’s charity status is still in limbo. After 6 months we finally heard back from the charity regulator. They did not acknowledge the long wait. Instead they asked us a question that we’ve already answered at least twice before in previous conversations. I’ll try to explain as clearly as possible.

In short, they are concerned that Katy is essentially paid by Zoe, which she is not. Here in Ireland, a board member of a charity cannot be paid by that charity. This policy is a reaction from years of corrupt non-profit organisations.

One way to clear this up is for Katy to resign from the board of Zoe Community. However, we do not think this accusation is in any way accurate or fair, so we will be saving that option as a last resort. Our lawyer is responding with yet another answer to this question, as well as a request for a timely response.

It seems that they are going out of their way to deny us. The good news from all of this…if they could have said no, they would have. In spite of this discrimination, Katy and our Zoe Team have unwavering determination and commitment to see this to the end.

Without charity status, we are unable to raise support here in Ireland. It can be tough to cover our operational expenses, but God is providing through your faithful prayers and support. Thank you so much! We’re in this together!

10 Year Mark

This past St. Patrick’s Day marked 10 years for Katy and I in Ireland. We had so many ups and downs, wins and losses, zigs and zags…but God has been the one constant through it all. It has been intense. We don’t get much time off to see family in the U.S. And when we do, we have to spend most of that time support raising. When we moved to Ireland, I knew it would be a sacrifice for us as a family. But what I didn’t fully comprehend was taking my parents grandkids away from them. As we began having children that reality quickly set in.

There is no part of me that is regretful of moving to Ireland. It is where God wants us, and there’s no better place to be than in His will. But, at times, it can be difficult. But with every difficulty there are ten blessings. I’m so grateful to have parents and a mother-in-law that has only every been supportive in our calling. They are by far our biggest fans, supporters, encouragers, and prayer warriors.

Having said all that, as we have been invited to speak at several missions services this summer, we will be taking as much time as possible in between to make up for lost time. I’m so excited to meet my (Blake’s) brand new niece, Estelle, who was just born yesterday!! Our kids are excited to see cousins, aunts, uncles, and and grandparents.

Please continue to pray for those requests I mentioned in last week’s blog. And if we here anything at all regarding our Zoe Community charity status in Ireland, we will be sure to break the silence and let you know ASAP. But for now, we will be pausing our blog for one month so we can focus fully on family during our down time.

Thank you for all your prayers and support. We hope to bump in to as many of you as possible while we’re in the states. Together we’ll keep moving forward to see what God has in store!

Edgmons on Tour

As we continue waiting to hear from the Irish Charity Regulator (keep praying!!), I have a few things about which you can pray with us. We’re headed to the US for a month! We have been scheduled for a few missions services. Here’s how you can pray!

• Please pray for safe travels.

• Please pray that God’s heart for missions would be developed in the churches we are so privileged to visit and share.

• Please pray for favour financially as Zoe Community’s growth has been amazing

• Please pray for new/increased monthly support as inflation and exchange rates have been fluctuating budgets on a regular basis.

• Please pray that we can maximize our family time as much as possible.

We’re so grateful for you all. I say it with almost every post, but it couldn’t be more heartfelt. Your prayers and support allow us to do what we do. Together, we are partnering to see God’s will be done through Zoe Community and in the lives of women in crisis.

Thank you so much.