It has been far too long since we last sent a ministry update — thank you for your patience and prayers! With 2018 already whizzing by, we’ll attempt to give you a brief recap of the past few months as well as a report on what’s around the corner for our family.

We are blessed to continue to live in the same rental home in San Clemente, just a couple of minutes from our church, Heritage Christian Fellowship. The close proximity has allowed us to easily navigate sharing a car (Chris can walk to work!), and the space has given us opportunity to host all types of wonderful gatherings.  2017 was incredibly full for us, as Chris added the worship pastor role at Heritage to his other responsibilities. The worship team at Heritage is a growing group of talented, Jesus-loving musicians, some of whom have been serving with Chris from the beginning — nearly 25 years! He is so honored to be part of this ministry.

Last year, Tiffany stepped out in obedience to write her first women’s Bible study, a work based on Psalm 103 entitled Bless. From January until September, she was incredibly focused on creating something for which she had no prior grid, and the learning curve was steep! Chris’ management skills came into play as he partnered with her to oversee the creation of both the workbook and the accompanying teaching videos. After stepping out by faith to hire professionals to create a work of excellence, we watched in awe as the Lord miraculously provided thousands of dollars to cover the entire cost of the project! The study had its debut in September at Heritage, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. Testing it at our home church also provided critical feedback, which we used to revise and hone the details. The revisions are complete, and we’re thrilled to announce that Bless has just been officially released on March 1 — Jesus has been incredibly faithful! Can we ask for your help? Bless was designed for individuals as well as for study in small or large groups, so would you consider sharing it with your church or going through it with a group of friends? You are our best advocate as we attempt to get the word out! Visit www.bless.streamroots.com for details. You can also see a promo video here.

Our ministry in Costa Rica experienced a lull in the back half of 2017 as we made the difficult decision to let go of a critical Tico staff member who was our liaison with pastors and churches throughout the nation. But God continues to be faithful, and things have ramped up for 2018. CRSSM will be hosting 4 ministry teams this Spring — two from Bethel Church in Redding, one from Heritage, and one made up primarily of college students from Westmont College. Tiffany and Chris will lead the Heritage trip in late April, and Alyssa and Chris will lead the college trip in May. Please pray for transformed lives in both the Costa Ricans and the visiting teams. And if the Lord tugs on your heart, consider joining us or bringing a team from your own church; we’d love for you to experience the joy!

We are continuing our lay-counseling ministry, meeting with folks in person and via technology on an average of 20-25 hours a month. This is such a rewarding aspect of our calling, one which we are honored to pursue both individually and as a couple, and the fruit has been sweet! We also continue to teach semi-frequently, commissioned by Heritage to train small groups on the subject of the prophetic, as well as other opportunities outside of Heritage. We look forward to the Lord expanding that aspect of our ministry as He sees fit.

2017 was a landmark year for the Nesbitt family in another vital way: our oldest son, Jarren, was married in August to the lovely Kate Dedo, and we couldn’t be more thrilled! The wedding was an intimate affair on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean with only parents, grandparents and siblings as witnesses. In January of the new year we enjoyed a wonderful celebration here in San Clemente to honor the newlyweds. They are as happy as can be, and it’s a delight to have another beautiful daughter in the family. They currently reside in Phoenix, with Jarren working to accrue flight hours towards a commercial pilot position, and Kate working to assist a family in homeschooling their special needs son.

On the home front, Kylie is currently living at home, working as a personal assistant to a small business owner while simultaneously launching a fledgling photography business. She is active in leadership with the young adults at Heritage as well as serving as a co-leader on the worship team. Alyssa is attending Santa Barbara City College and is self-supporting in her journey as a full-time student and nanny in Isla Vista, a suburb of Santa Barbara. God is bringing revival to the students of that area, and she is delighted to be right in the thick of it. If you want a super-charge for your faith, give her a call and ask her to share one of her many amazing God-stories! Landon is in the final semester of high school with plans to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix in the fall. He’s a busy young man who has learned to juggle varsity soccer, student leadership and working part-time at Panera Bread.

The pace of the past 12 months has been incredibly intense for us as a couple, and we would covet your prayers in 2018, asking the Lord to provide open spaces of rest and rejuvenation. The need to recharge our physical and emotional batteries is high as we pour out and minister on a daily basis. Please also pray for our family to see God’s abundant provision in the upcoming year as our expenses increase. We covet your intercession and are so blessed by your sacrificial support to make the ministry of the Kingdom possible.