You are Invited to Be Vertical, Hidden, and Renewed: The Outlands Response March 2025 Newsletter

along the secluded roadtrip route between Denver, CO and Flagstaff, AZ, traveling through the Navajo Nation

Making New Friends on the Road

I recently returned from multiple networking road trips, including to Flagstaff, AZ where I had the honor of connecting with the staff and students at the Indigenous Bible College.

[Check them out, they're doing incredible work in the lives of indigenous youth -- here's the rock-solid Native-context-specific trauma healing curriculum that was experientially developed in-house for four years now and will soon be released: www.mendingthesoul.org.]

I had the joy to share my vision with a community of interested Native people who really resonated with the vision of seeing R.I.V.E.R.S.** flow in the Outlands in Jesus's name!

[ ** Reservation-Based • Indigenous-Led • Versatile • Emergency • Response • Service ]

I am grateful I have had the opportunity to share an encouraging and uplifting word on the microphone in front of the student body during chapel. Many head-nods in the crowd!

I made new friends during my time in Flagstaff, and gained new partners. God used this adventure to strengthen my confidence in the promise of His Holy Spirit to accomplish the work. I am so grateful for the huge hospitality of my hosts who supported me in every way.

Withdrawing to the Secret Place

On my return trip back home from Flagstaff, AZ, as I was pushing through desert scapes and mountain passes, I discovered something profound in my own spiritual walk that I'd like to share with you: the value of dwelling in the 'secret place' with God. Let me forward an invitation to you: come be in the secret place with God.

"The soul is like a wild animal—tough, resilient, savvy, self-sufficient and yet exceedingly shy. If we want to see a wild animal, the last thing we should do is to go crashing through the woods, shouting for the creature to come out." Parker J. Palmer, A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Towards An Undivided Life. [full quote here]

Human souls are shy creatures that do not thrive in the spotlight. Like Parker J. Palmer says, the soul is a wild animal. To enter the spotlight is to leave the soul exposed and unsheltered.

Yet we oftentimes make such demands of ourselves, to even live in the spotlight, through the overly-disclosed nature of our public personas and the neck-break pace of our lives.

But what else can we do? I mean, face it: our world is not made for private accomplishments, for secret victories, for invisible joys -- it demands theatrics and flashiness. So here we are, crashing through the "woods" of our schedules and social gatherings and obligations, desperately gambling that our souls need no sensitivity and will not, therefore, suffer harm.

We hope our souls will feel safe enough to come out and be seen, especially by God. But how can that be? Our souls need the seclusion and safety of a hidden place. After all, in one of the more impressionable films of my childhood, the most dangerous place for Bambi and his mom was the wide open clearing. There was safety in the hiddenness of the thicket.

“May the beloved of the LORD dwell in safety by Him; He shields and covers [her] all the day long, And [she] dwells between His shoulders.” (Deuteronomy 33:12 AMP, full context here)

The God who knows the dangers of the world AND the limitations of our being invites us to be safe with Him, tucked away from the public spotlight and the attached pressure of the world. For all of His servants, God offers a space of rest to bookend each public interaction.

Jesus modeled this sustainable rhythm by regularly withdrawing to desolate places where he could be alone with his Father and be reminded of his identity as 'beloved'. I encourage you to respond to this invitation in the same manner: withdraw to the secret place of God's love.

What's That Got to Do with Outlands Response?

But look at me, waxing poetic! And as much as I enjoy frolicking through flowery language, this is all about reality. No, seriously! There is so much to be learned here in regards to the growing discipleship-focused, people-centric enterprise of Outlands Response. Can you see it?

I am finding this insight invaluable to my current support raising posture as well as preparing me for future R.I.V.E.R.S. team development and deployment. Let me explain...

No matter what the future of "successful ministry" will look like, it's necessary to firmly ground my identity in God, not people. In private obedience, not in public affirmation and grandiosity.

This acquired groundedness in the secret place with God will empower me to keep my attention present to the people before me, now and in the future. The people, not the public.

Wow, that feel pretty freeing to me!

(Of course, I will always need the support, the encouragement, and the accountability that comes from being in community and in partnership. I need you, friends! I cannot do this work alone, nor should I. But all of that to say my identity will be appropriately sourced from God.)

Vertical Giving: The Gift of Being Connected to God

I am learning something else: support raising is more like friend raising. And friend raising is an adventure! It's a privilege, a delight really, to raise up my friends (new and old) to refreshing and more satisfying heights of connection vertically with God.

Let's explore this! When considering whether to partner with any ministry endeavor and for how much/ how often, we are given an opportunity to exercise our twofold duty as stewards of financial resources. (As God is the giver of resources, we are stewards of His money!)

First, we must choose to strengthen our conviction for faithful financial generosity:

• That is to say, if we are not giving in any capacity now, our challenge may be to start.

• If we are giving occasionally, the growth may be to commit to give monthly.

• If we are giving monthly, our opportunity may be to consider how to give sacrificially.

  
  

Second, we must be strategic and wise as to where we should invest our resources, maximizing the spiritual return on investment. God has a specific strategy for our dollars!

Sorting through our stewardship takes discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit, specifically asking God how He would like us to proceed. And the outcome from that question will look different for everyone. Each journey is unique. The point is to respond!

Conversations around support raising (an inevitable part of building something from scratch) are really meant to be an invitation: to engage God with curiosity, creativity, and courage!

Here's the thing: in such kindness and sight for us, God will always meet us in our response to His invitation and provide all that we need too. He will not allow our discerning, faithful generosity be wasted or be to our detriment. God is our good Father, He cares for us!

Apostle Paul, writing to encourage his financial supporters: "Not that I'm looking for [the gift itself], but I do want YOU to experience the blessing that issues from generosity... The gifts you [send]...are more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God [to] no end. YOU can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes." (Philippians 4:17-20 MSG, full context here)

Paul so believed in this reality -- the upside-down, vertically-oriented Kingdom economy -- he eagerly encouraged financial generosity. You see, when we are looking to God for our provision, He blesses us "in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3 ESV). We are now blessed, so as to be a blessing to those around us.

When we give out of curiosity, creativity, and courage, here's what happens:

• giving builds a sense of community and a place of belonging

• giving creates a bond of trust between us and those on the ground,

  sharing a meaningful and joyful purpose

• giving stokes passion, increasing life purpose and satisfaction

• giving selflessly cultivates our heart and develops our

  compassion to come alongside others in need

• giving enlivens our spirits, stirring up a spirit of gratitude

• giving actively invests our resources into things of eternal

  and lasting significance, transforming lives

And, if we are a person of faith:

• giving strengthens our faith, learning how to tenderly trust God

  with our financial treasures and present situation

• giving blesses us with a deepening and sweetening of

  communion with God, our provider and good Father

• giving provides an opportunity to join in what God is

  doing to bless the Nations through Jesus Christ

Simply being attentive to God's voice and responding accordingly is the gift, whatever its form. When it comes to embracing financial generosity, we all (that is, disciples of Jesus) are invited to a sweeter place of communion with God through the process -- a return home.

“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now... Come further up, come further in!” C.S.Lewis, The Last Battle. [full quote here]

As C.S. Lewis playfully shares in his Narnia tales, the invitation for us is to embrace the adventure: further up and further in! Further up and further into the fullness of intimacy and connection vertically to God -- our home at last, our real country. This invitation can be explored in our discernment around giving, plus through many ordinary choices. But truly, each opportunity is a vertical conversation. And action taken should naturally flow from there.

I don't know about you, friends, but this is all pretty exciting! An adventure indeed.

I'm right there too, friends. As I learn more and more about God's upside-down, vertically-oriented Kingdom economy, I feel challenged to reconsider how my giving can freely flow out of my connection to God. I invite you to join in this exciting adventure of vertical generosity!

Looking Forward: 2025 Goals

Here's a couple things on the horizon for Outlands Response in this next season, thank you for coming alongside me and joining me in praying for God's direction and strength:

• Intentional, Strategic Support Raising: I have a renewed sense of energy and enthusiasm, in addition to acquiring better training/knowledge, to proactively develop my financial support team, prayerfully pursuing the completion of my 100% full-time salary goal. Achieving this goal will allow me to apply all my time and attention to this work. I am seeking out as many face-to-face conversations as possible to share the OR vision!

  
  

• Special Facilitation of Native Mending the Soul Curriculum (TBD): Please pray God opens up a seemingly-farfetched but extremely-exciting opportunity to participate in a facilitated small group, joined by 1-3 other Native friends, on this curriculum. The curriculum walks the participants through an incredible trauma healing psychology-informed process, specifically oriented toward a Native American participant. I have an open offer from a trained facilitator to lead a group for me, as long as I can find the people! Pray God brings the right participants together at the right time in the right way.

  
  

• Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Training: This highly-recognized certification will enable me to know how to properly comfort, debrief, desensitize, and fortify a person who is feeling shell-shocked (potentially from PTSD symptoms) after a critical event. As of February 2025, I have successfully completed 1/3 components, with one more course and an exam still remaining between me and my goal. This certification may likely be a core part of our curriculum for future R.I.V.E.R.S. teams.

  
  

• Wilderness First Responder (WFR) Certification: This mid-level, quality medical training is worth every penny in my perspective, providing a comprehensive knowledge-base and increased practical skills to use when faced with a physical emergency in an unpredictable, remote setting. I intend to recertify, growing in my crisis education. This certification may likely be a core part of our curriculum for future R.I.V.E.R.S. teams.

  
  

• Wind River Reservation Reconnection (TBD): I am praying over the possibility of my next return trip to and the long-needed reunion with my cherished Native families on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. The past two years rolled over both me and them like a tsunami with major waves of hardship, grief, and life demands. I desire reconnection, and I am asking God for His wisdom on how to navigate reconciliation. Thankfully, God loves to work out beautiful restoration from our lapses in relationships.

As we close out the first quarter of 2025, I am more confident that I ever have been that God is my good Father, providing for all my needs, calling me to this work of Outlands Response.

I will continue to boldly step forward, trusting God to make R.I.V.E.R.S. flow. Join me friends!

Eagle Spirit Singers and Dancers, Wind River Reservation. Photo: Wyoming Office of Tourism

How to Partner

I am so honored and humbled to have the support of so many wonderful people. Thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart for coming alongside me in this bold endeavor.

May God the Father be praised for the fruit produced from these small but mighty efforts.

Let's connect! Please reach out to engage together on any of these topics in greater detail.

I would love to sit down for coffee (tea for me please!) soon, I'm excited to hear from you. 

PRAY — Prayer is and will always remain my biggest need. Calling all folks who take prayer seriously and desire to participate in this powerful way. Send me a text message at 720-291-8022 if you'd like to receive text notifications of all major ministry developments and in-the-field prayer updates.

GIVE — I invite you to partner with me financially in this important work. Please prayerfully consider a treasured monthly partnership or a welcomed one-time gift – whatever the Lord leads you to provide will be a tremendous blessing to this blossoming work. All donations are tax-deductible through the 501c3 non-profit organization, Urban Skye.

SHARE — Please share your excitement for the Gospel and generosity with those closest to you (plus this newsletter and my website). Encourage your friends and family to consider partnering with Outlands Response, multiplying the impact and scope of this endeavor. I appreciate your referrals.

Click Here to Partner Financially

I welcome your active partnership as this task should only be done together. Thank you so much!!

God's servant for your sake,

Tessa