| | | | | | Ambition We all have a longing for success and reward. Unfortunately, there is a thread in religion that tells us ambition ought to be diminished. Christianity on the other hand offers a different message. Instead of prohibition, ambition can be fostered to honor God in ways similar to worship. We see this when Jesus asks the disciples in the gospel of John, "what are you seeking?" He acknowledges their ambition but challenges their expectations.
In short, Ambition is a longing for a desired destination. That destination can be physical or conceptual. Discerning the destination is often veiled. Ex: We want an electric car to save money on gas. But below the surface is a deeper desire for status.
Below are three tools we can use to discern our ambition.
First, we must acknowledge its existence. Failure to acknowledge our ambition is similar to closing your eyes while driving. Blindness does not mean we stop traveling, it just increases the risk significantly. The sooner we discern the object of our desire the better we understand our ambition. - The worth and excellence of a soul is measured by the object of its desire. - Henry Scougal
Second, we must discover how that desired object connects to our life narrative. Understanding that ambition is a path toward a goal helps puts accomplishment or failure in the proper context. In other words, understanding your story can liberate and mobilize ambition. Your story should govern what you do, not the other way around
Third, ambition thrives in uniqueness. The world tells us that success is located beyond your reach. More impact equals more value but godly ambition submits to a unique calling. Spiritual maturity is learning to grow our ambition within the scope of God's providence, rather than resenting (coveting) the means of others. Consider the nature of spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12.
We sat down with Jonny Day of Shallowford Church for a closer look at ambition and its role in spiritual growth. You can listen to the conversation on Ladders in The Mist. Available now in several places including: Spotify, Apple and many others.
 | | Connecting with Tech Some of the world's top tech firms call Atlanta home. As a result, Atlanta is a melting pot of philosophies and cultures. Last Fall we were grateful to connect with High Tech Ministries in an attempt to bring the gospel into the Tech industry. In April of 2025, we joined a smaller group of leaders from High Tech in preparation for future ministry opportunities.
Connecting with this existing organization opens tremendous opportunities to share Christ in an industry that is shaping our culture as a whole.
 | | Three Ministry Lanes There are three primary task each week. While each is equally important, these do not translate to a newsletter in the same way. I've listed them below in no particular order.
"Fundraising". This is the simplest to communicate. As a local missionary, New Vertical chaplains need financial resources. This need can be broken down into percentages, and ministry partners can see how stewarding a monthly gift impacts the Kingdom. Here is our giving link.
The second is "Development". This includes everything from networking to content creation. Investments in this lane do not provide immediate results. However, they are the essential building blocks to a long-term vision. Building a bridge between the Church and the Marketplace is different from fundraising because it takes time. Yet, they are similar because they are both meant to be promoted publicly.
The third is "Discipleship". This is the most tangible portion of the ministry. Real lives dealing with real questions. But discipleship is highly confidential, so it is very difficult to share in a newsletter. Pastoring is fundamentally different from coaching or mentoring (read more here) and requires confidentiality. It can feel artificial to report on the number of pastoral meetings. Sometimes the only options is to list a few quotes (names changed): - James in Alpharetta - "What must I do to have a relationship with Jesus, how can I know I am saved?"
- Bill in Roswell - "I live in a constant state of choosing between fear and regret"
- Madison in Woodstock - "Would you be willing to meet with me on a weekly basis to discuss the bible and its story?"
Each of these quotes represent a larger group of individuals interested in the Christian faith but outside the reach of the local Church.
| | NV Refresher As a stateside missionary, New Vertical extends the local Church's reach into buffer zones for the self-described "Spiritual But Not Religious" (SBNR). These individuals express genuine interested in spiritual matters yet remain averse to traditional practices. As a result, their lives are often beyond the scope of the local Church
Through the PRCC (The multi-denominational chaplaincy arm of the PCA), our Board of Directors, and the many friends who support us, New Vertical seeks to build a sustainable discipleship pipeline by shepherding those outside the local Church or lost within her margins. | | Chaplaincy is Pastoring The data on the expanding gap between culture and the local Church helps explain why some confuse mentoring, coaching and pastoring. While there is fluidity among these roles, they are very different. Here is a short article on the nuances of each.
Because chaplains are pastors, their funding structure is different from coaches or mentors. They are dependent on external funding to equip them for gospel proclamation. | | Please Pray God has blessed us with 85% of our short-term funding goal. But to move toward long-term sustainability we need to grow our monthly partnerships. By faith this will include partnerships ranging from $50-300 per month. Will you prayerfully consider joining us to bring the gospel to the marketplace?
There are multiple men exploring New Vertical's ministry model in multiple cities. Longterm our passion would be to provide an organizational structure for their calling. Please pray for wisdom on how we can participate or help these men.
Additionally, - That many in our ministry would come to know Jesus as Lord
- That our budget will be fully funded by monthly supporters.
- Wisdom and discernment for the board of New Vertical as we care for a growing ministry.
- Health and provision for the Oaks family as we take these steps of faith.
- Spiritual protection for our marriage and children.
| | Grateful We know support comes in many forms. We cannot pioneer marketplace ministry without you. Thank you for your support. You are loved and we are grateful.
His Grace is enough. | | | | | | | |
