Merry Christmas from the Dan Burrell Family

Merry Christmas from the Burrell family in Charlotte, NC. This has been a year of great change for us as the Lord has redirected our ministry focus that has resulted in a change of houses, a change of schooling, and a change of ministry.

This year began with two of Dan’s favorite outlets—teaching a week at Boston Baptist College for a week (Worldview, Apologetics, and Philosophy for Seniors) and a week in Cuba. The partnership in Cuba has been very rewarding, and this year marked the beginning of a seminary in the center part of the island nation. Over 30 pastors took their first course this year, and Dan has now raised monthly support and housing for 11 national church planters. His Cuban partner has an amazing vision and passion for his home country, and it is exciting to see how the Lord blesses in the midst of great adversity.

In the late spring, circumstances within Northside Baptist Church, some physical and health-related problems, and a sense that the Lord was bringing to a close Dan’s calling to pastoring in general led to our resignation from the ministries in Charlotte. We found that we had many very gracious and supportive friends during the transition who were a tremendous blessing to us, helping us to pack up our belongings to move out of the parsonage into a house that was about half the size. We are also grateful that the church gave us a generous severance, which has given us some time to ascertain what the Lord would have us do next. The church has not arrived at a point where they are interviewing pastoral candidates, and our dear friends there remain in our prayers.

Shortly after his resignation, Dan’s good friend, Pastor Dino Pedrone of the New Testament Baptist Church and Dade Christian Schools in Miami, called him and asked him to help him out with a temporary part-time position in his 1,400- student main school. Dan’s background lends itself to that kind of ministry and he’s been working there two to three days a week since August, having made over 40 trips back and forth. USAirways loves him! He also has picked up some courses teaching for Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary and Southern Evangelical Seminary, where he primarily teaches Discipleship, Church Administration, and Bible Teaching Methods. He’s also scheduled to teach at Boston Baptist again in January and make another trip to Cuba in February. Dan was invited to give the commencement address by the class of 2007 at Piedmont Baptist College in May and to take a trip with two dozen pastors and Christian leaders to Israel in December.

At this point, we believe that God is moving us toward the field of education at some level. Dan’s had several interviews with Christian colleges in regard to administrative positions and is scheduled for a couple of more in January, but has no real leading as of yet. The ministry in South Florida, where he has been working, has also indicated a desire for us to join their team. We are just waiting confirmation from the Lord before taking the next step.
Julie has been such a huge blessing to Dan this year while maintaining her roles as a Bible study teacher and mother. Last spring she concluded the three weekly ladies’ Bible studies she was conducting through church, and this fall, she did a home Bible study with a group of ladies as well. She is now homeschooling our two youngest in addition to holding down the fort as Dan does his traveling. Julie had surgery in December to investigate some symptoms that were causing her doctors concern, but as of the writing of this letter, we do not have any test results. Regardless, we are trusting the Lord as He continues to write our story for us.

Nathan, who will be 20 this year, is a sophomore at Liberty University, where he is majoring in Graphic and Computer Design. He loves college life and has made many great friends there, including a special one from Florida. We found out that her pastor is the son of the man who led Julie’s mother to the Lord many years ago in Florida. Nathan is also playing guitar in a Christian group called the Mark Parker Band and has spent the first few days of his Christmas break cutting a new CD.

Megan (17) is a junior at Northside Christian Academy and has a busy social life with some of the sweetest and neatest friends you could ever meet. We have always been blessed by the friends of our children, and our house often resembles a teen hangout, which is just fine with us. Megan has developed a real eye for photography and feels like that may be where she is headed career-wise. She continues to develop her musical talents and enjoyed going on a missions trip to the Bahamas last summer.

Katie is 11 and enjoying homeschooling, which is primarily done via the internet. She loves to cook with mom, and for her, things like housecleaning and helping in the kitchen aren’t work, but fun! (Let’s hope she never grows out of that.)

Joshua is 10 and also homeschooling. He loves all things military and will talk your ear off regarding his expanse of knowledge on wars. He played football for the first time this fall and enjoys the occasional trip to the lake and mountains with dad.

Our family was able to visit with Dan’s family in Missouri this summer for a few weeks, and Julie was able to visit her family in Florida this fall. We look forward to spending some time together as a family over the holidays after a hectic year of change and transition.

Dan continues to enjoy writing and is working on a couple of book projects. He also writes periodically for Evangelical Press News. At this point, we have no idea where we will be this time next year, but you can keep up with the Lord’s direction in our lives on Dan’s blog “Whirled Views” at www.danburrell.com.

It is our prayer that 2008 will be a great year for each of you as we listen for the sounds of His coming and occupy until He does come.