WALKING WITH GOD

An Invitation to Partner as 2024 Comes to a Close

“Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years…” - Genesis 5:22b

“Noah…walked faithfully with God.” - Genesis 6:9b

In scripture, we hear how God’s people walked faithfully with God. I can imagine the intimate conversations along the dusty roads, asking questions, listening, silence, & at times wondering where they were going & what was coming next.

As many of you know, walking is one of my favorite things to do. Walking is how I exercise, get refreshed, re-center, reflect, & most of all, it is my favorite way to spend time with God.

Everything slows down when I walk with God as the sacred conversation emerges in my soul.

Well, I have certainly not been walking with God for 300 years! But, we have been walking together on this road called PAX for nearly 20 years seeking to be faithful & at times wondering what was coming next.

For the first 3 of those years, PAX was a vision in my heart that began to take shape with every step. In 2010, PAX was launched & is now entering its 15th year of ministry. Allow me to look back with you at some of the markers of this walking journey.

The Foothills

PAX was launched at The First Congregational Church of Essex (FCCOE), where I received a 3 year grant to be on staff & begin the walk of integrating spiritual formation into the local church.

These early years were spent developing PAX Rhythm. These were contemplative offerings & practices that invited people into a rhythm of spending time with God. It was fun.

The Upward Slope

Next came PAX Partners & providing sub-grants that placed spiritual directors on staff at other churches creating similar offerings as PAX Rhythm.

Then we created the PAX Institute & our first program called Walk with Jesus, a prayer journey through the life of Christ outlined in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

The Steep Ascent

The hunger & thirst for spiritual formation was huge among the millennial churches. In response, we developed contemplative listening training programs fondly called TL1 and TL2.

In the past 3 years, we have developed 2 more certificate programs. One in spiritual formation leadership & a second in the Enneagram.

“In the Flow”

Today, the PAX vision continues to unfold on this beautiful walk with God. This year we have turned a big corner hitting some key milestones:

  • Created a new vision & mission statement that reflects the broader reach & training programs offered by PAX

  • Experienced waitlists for all of our Institute programs

  • Celebrated over 100 participants in our annual programs & workshops

  • Increased sustainability through our largest addition of staff

  • Offered workshops around the intersection of spiritual formation & cultural/societal issues in today’s polarized landscape

  • Began building community & support for PAX graduates offering our first TL2 alumni retreat

Sustainability

These milestones reflect a step away from Rama the Entrepreneur toward PAX the organization. We want to be intentional about what sustainability looks like for PAX. We are building a dedicated gifted ministry team in response to the continued growth of our programs. In today’s provocative societal & church landscape, sacred listening spaces are in high demand, especially among the younger generation of leaders.

PAX needs your financial partnership as we take steps toward sustainability & seek to faithfully respond to this demand & hunger for listening spaces with God & one another. We are currently running 4 TL1 cohorts & 3 certificate programs, in addition to our retreats & workshops.

Our goal as a non-profit is to raise $60,000 dollars this year. Please consider helping us to reach our goal through a monthly financial partnership or a one-time donation.

We invite you to join us on this exciting walk with God. None of us were ever meant to walk alone.

In Peace,

Rama

Considering What to Give?

We want to build a community of partners, & this number of pledges below allows us to reach our goal of raising $60,000/year! One-time donations & grants are also greatly appreciated, every gift makes a huge impact!

34 Pledges of $25/month

25 Pledges of $50/month

20 Pledges of $75/month

14 Pledges of $100/month

 

Or donate via check made payable to PAX & sent to the attention of Rama Ziegenhals at P.O. Box 93, Essex, MA 01929. PAX is a 501c3 & all donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed.

If you are paying online for a program or spiritual direction, please use the direct PayPal link below. Thanks!