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Behold,Iammaking allthingsnew. Thecombinednewsletterof NAULutheranCampusMinistryand CanterburyEpiscopalCampusMinistryinFlagstaff ISSUE04WINTER2021 LCM|CanterburyTalesBehold, Iammaking allthingsnew… G reetings,mybelovedsiblingsinChrist.Thisyearis atestamenttoGod’scontinualabilitytomakeall thingsnew.Webeganthisacademicyearwithno returningstudentsforourcampuscommunity,anda brandnewYoungAdult(20s/30s)Fellowshipbeing formedinpartnershipwithourareacongregations. Afteronlyafewshortmonths,Iamoverjoyedtoshare withyouthatwehavecreatedanewcoregroupof students,andasustainableyoungadultfellowship. Godisindeedmakingallthingsnew. ChangeisafoothereinFlagstaff.Itismybittersweet joytosharewithyouthatIhavebeenmadeaPostulant fortheHolyOrderswithinTheEpiscopalChurch,asI continueonmywaytobecomeapriest.Thisis bittersweet,becausethisnewchapterofmyjourney meansthattheSpring2022Semesterwillbemylast servingasyourcampusministerandchaplainfor NorthernArizonaUniversity.Afterdeepdiscernment andconversationwithBishopReddall,RachelandI willbeleavingFlagstaffthissummertoattenda residentialseminary.Afterservingasthechaplainfor somanyamazingstudentsfornineacademicyears,I willonceagainbecomeastudentmyself. RachelandImovedtoFlagstaffintheFallof2013so thatIcouldbecome(atthetime)theEpiscopal CampusChaplainforNorthernArizonaUniversity. WewillbeforeverindebtedtoBishopSmithandour EpiscopalCanterburyFoundationBoardforcallingus tothisplace.Wehadbeenmarriedonlyayear,and hadneverevenfathomedlivinginArizona(muchless Flagstaff!)priortothisadventurebeginning.Fouryears in,webeganthesharedministryagreementthatwould becomeknownasLCM|Canterbury.Thishastruly beenthebest8yearsIhavelivedthusfar. Imustnowadmittoyou:thisnewsletterissuewas supposedtoarriveinyourmailboxesbylateOctober, howeverIhavehadtroubleputtingthesefeelingsto words.Toputitbluntly,Idonotlikesayinggoodbye, evenifIamhereforanotherhalfyear…andIam thrilledtobewithyouforonemoresemester. Yet,transitioniswhatwedowellhereinyoung adultandcampusministry.Ourstudentcommunities neverstaymorethanafewyears,andnothingremains static.Havingbeeninthisworkforelevenyears,Ihave realizedthisisalsowhywelovesofiercely,andwhyour relationshipsdevelopsoquicklyandauthentically.In campusministry,onelearnsveryquicklytotreasure everysecond. Astransitionissomuchofwhatwedo,wehave workedhardtocreatethebestpossibletransitionfor thisministry.Undertheleadershipandguidanceof BishopsHuttererandReddall,andourphenomenal boards,wehaveembarkedonayearlongplanto ensurethatthereisasmoothtransitionbetweenmyself andthenextcampusministerandchaplain.Onthe coveryouwillfindaphotofromourboardmeetingin August,withbothofourbishopspresent.AlthoughI amsaddenedtoleave,itbringsmesuchjoyandhope andexcitementtoknowthatyouareintheverybestof hands,andGodisatworkamongusmakingallthings new. Inthisissue,youwillreadaboutthecreationofour newfouryearcovenantbetweentheELCAandThe EpiscopalChurchtoprovidequalityyoungadultand campusministryinFlagstaff,inanarticlewrittenby oneofourboardmembers.Thiscovenantwillprovide amuchneededframeworkforthefuture. Therearestoriesfromournewstudentcommunityand youngadultfellowship,asinallofthisthereisstill phenomenalministryhappeningaroundushereand now.Finally,youwillhearfromourprogram coordinator,AlliePapke-Larson,assheshareswithus aboutherSummerAdventureandhearingavoicecall outfromthewilderness. Attheend,youwillfindonemoreletterfromme, thankingyouforyourendlessgenerosityforthis ministry.Itrulycannotstressenoughtheamountof livesthisministrytouchesandchangesforthebetter, anditisduetothegenerosityofeachandeveryoneof youthatweareabletomakethishappen.Especiallyas weenterthistimeoftransition,pleaseknowthatitis youthatmakesthisministrysustainableforthefuture, anditisyouthatgivesusthesupportweneedtokeep going.Thankyou. Inimmensegratitude, BradEubanks, CampusMinister andChaplain 1 LCM|CanterburyTales2 Contents ISSUE04 4 Whatdostickershavetodowithanything? BackinAugust,weweretryingtothinkofwhatwecoulddotogetournameoutoncampus… 5 IntroducingFlagstaff’sYoungAdultFellowship. Thissummer,inconjunctionwithourareacongregations,wehadadream… 6 AFourYearCovenantforthefutureoftheministry. It’squitethejourneytomakementally,intransitioningfromstudenttoboardmember… 7 Avoicefromthewilderness. Whenleavingtohikeinthewoodsforamonth,there’salottoprepare…. 10 Thankyou. WeonlyhavearobustandpowerfulpresenceontheNAUCampusbecauseofyourgenerosity… 9 Youareoursustainablefoundation, Notmanythingsarestaticinyoungadultandcampusministry,everythingismovingandchanging… Ourcampuscommunitywelcomesandactivelyaffirmspeopleofallethnicities,races,national origins,genderidentities,andsexualorientations. WeareproudtobeaReconcilinginChrist(RIC)community. WearetheemergingidentityofCanterburyEpiscopalCampusMinistryinFlagstaffand NAULutheranCampusMinistry.Beginningin2017,thesetwoministriesbeganalifetogetheras LCM|Canterbury,creatingasharedLutheranandEpiscopalyoungadultandcampusministry presenceinFlagstaff. 3 Astudentcommunityisborn. Sometimes,anewyearmeanseverythingismadenew…3 LCM|CanterburyTales Sometimes,anewyearmeanswell…everythingismadenew.ThisFall,wewerefacedwitha dauntingtask:wehadtocreateabrandnewstudentcommunity.Intheyearssincebeginningthis LCM|Canterburyadventure,wehavebeenabletosustainastrongandstablecommunityofstudents whogatheredwithusforfellowship,formation,sacramentalworship,andsimplytosharetheirlives withoneanother.Thisneverceasedbeingthecase,exceptwiththepandemic,andournecessityto conductallofourworkinanonlineforumforthelastyear,ourstudentsgrewup.ByMay2021,we graduatedallofthestudentswehadgottentoknow,andthispastsummerwelookedaroundand realizedthatwewereatapointoffullrebuilding. Rebuildwedid!Throughtheworkofbeingoncampusconstantly,reachingouttopeoplewho wouldcomeourway,andtirelesslyworkingtoprovidethelevelofqualitythisministryhasbecome knownfor,wewereabletosuccessfullyfindstudentswhowerelookingforarelationshipwiththe ResurrectedChrist,whocomestoallofusandcontinuestomakeallthingsnew. Althoughwearecontinuingtobeextracarefulaswegothroughthispandemic,ithasbeensogood tobemeetingin-persononceagain.OverthislastsemesterwehadSundayeveningworshipandon Wednesdayswemetforhangoutanddiscussiontimes.Ouryoungpeoplearehungryforfellowshipand community,andthatissomethingwearesoproudtobeabletoprovide.4 ISSUE04 BackinAugust,weweretryingtothinkofwhatwecoulddotogetournameoutoncampus.Similarto congregationalgrowth,thebestwaytogrowacampusministryisbywordofmouth,buthowdoyouhaveword ofmouthwhenyouhavenostudentstobegintheyearwith?InAugust,wewerefacedwiththequestionthat plagueschurchplantersandcampusministersalike:howdoyoufindthosefirstfewstudents? Toanswerthisquestion,weturnedtostickers!Overthesemesterwehaveordered5,000stickers,andhave givenoutalmostallofthem.Wehavebeenoncampushandingtheseout,andhavegiventhemtooursupporters aswell.Whilewehavegatheredthisamazinggroupofstudents,wehavelearnedthatallbutaselectfewfound usbecause…stickers.Theyfoundusbecausewewereoutthereoncampustalkingwithpeople,andgivingthema reminderthatGodlovesthemnomatterwhat.Forsomanyyoungadults,theideathatachurchcouldlove peoplewhoareLGBTQIA+issoforeignthattheyjusthadtocomeandseewhatitwasallabout…andthey stayed.Thisispartofusgoingouttowherepeopleare,andinvitethemin.Asachurch,wecannolongerexpect peopletosimplyfindusinsideourbuildings.No,wemustgooutandjointheworldwheretheworldisandshow, throughouractions,thatthereissomethingthatwehavetoofferthattheworldcannotgive:Transformational Love.Introducing Flagstaff’s YoungAdultFellowship Throughoutthehistoryofourworkoncampus,wehavealwayshadpost-collegeyoungadultswhowander intoourmidstfromtimetotime,joinourcommunity,andfindJesusactiveintheirlives.Throughtheyears,we begantorealizethatperhapsthereisabiggerneedouttherethanweknew.Althoughourcalltoministryin Flagstaffhasalwaysconcentratedonthecampuscommunity,webegantodiscernwhetherornotwewerebeing calledtomore.PerhapstherewasmorethatwecoulddoforthechurchhereinFlagstaff. Whatwerealizedisthatalone,ourareacongregationsareunabletoprovideacriticalmassforsustainable youngadultministry,butcombinedwehaveachancetocreateaplaceoffellowshipandformation.So,in conversationwithareaministers,thissummerwelaunchedFlagstaff’sYoungAdultFellowship:agroupofthose intheir20sand30swhogatheronceamonthfordinnerandfellowship.Thegoalofthisfellowshipistonot createanewchurchcommunity,buttosupplementtheworkdoneinourareacongregations.Wearesoexcited toseethemomentumwehavealreadygathered,andlookforwardtowherethispartnershiptakesus. 5 LCM|CanterburyTales6 ISSUE04 Afouryear covenantforthe futureofour ministry. It’squitethejourneytomakementally,intransitioning fromstudenttoboardmember.IwouldbelyingifIsaideven aminuteamountofmydecisiontojointheboardwasn’t becauseIoweBradforkeepingmealiveandhealthyduring college.However,Ihavestayedaboardmemberof LCM|CanterburybecauseIlovethisministry.Ilovewhatit offers,theopportunitiesandthepeople,andeventhespace itself. Asastudent,especiallyanArizonanative,Iwasn’t lookingforacommunity,Ihadone!But,weallknowtheVenn diagramofwhatwe’relookingforandwhatGodgivesusare actuallyjusttwocirclesside-by-side.Mysophomoreyear,I finallycavedandwenttoachurchservice.Itwasauniqueand singularexperiencethattransformedintothreeyearsasa student,oneyearasamemberoftheEpiscopalServiceCorps, andnowtwomore(sofar)asaboardmember. MytimeatNAUwastumultuous,andcampusministry wasthegluethatheldmetogether.Forme,thiscommunity existedasbothabuildingandaministry.Inmymany (mis)adventuresincollege,campusministryservedasan emotionalsupportthroughthepainfulgrowththatcollege studentsexperience:tryingtofigureoutwhatitmeanstono longerbeakid,tohavetocooktheirowndinnersanddotheir ownlaundry,andjustbeaperson.Beingapersonisreally, reallyhardbytheway…andI’msothankfulthatIhada campusministrytohelpmenavigatethosefirstbabystepsasa youngadult.Campusministrywasmyhomebase,spiritually andphysically.Throughfriendbreak-ups(thatalwayssting worsethanromanticones),flunkedtests,financialaiddisputes, passingexamsIneverthoughtI’dactuallypass,groupprojects, movienights…younameit…campusministryanditspeople werethereforme. WithoutcampusministryIwouldnothavethefriendsI havetoday,theexperiencesthathaveshapedme,orthe compassionforpeopleandthingsbeyondmyselfthatIdonow. Itissuchapowerfullypositivespaceandministry,Iwilldo everythinginmypowertoensurethatotherstudentsareable tohavetheopportunitytobeasblessedbythisministryasI was,andcontinuetobe.Loveisfunny,onceyouexperienceit youwanttoshareitwithasmanypeopleasyoucan.Beinga boardmemberismywayofsharingthatlove,however indirectly,withnewstudentssotheycanexperiencethatsame safety,love,andgrowththatIdid. ThisiswhyIwassohumbledanddelightedwhenIwas askedtobeaco-leaderoftheSharedMinistryTaskForce.At ourboardmeetinginAugust,weweretaskedtocreateafour- yearcovenantbetweenourministries.Thisframeworkwill allowourworktocontinueandgrowlongintothefuture,and longpastBrad’sdeparture.Tome,thatisoneofthebestparts ofthiswork…wearecreatingsomethingbiggerthananyof usalone,andbiggerthanwhoeverhappenstobethecampus ministerandchaplainatthetime.LCM|Canterburyisa powerfulwitnesstoourcampusandourworldbecauseofall ofus:past,present,andfuture.IntheSpringyouwillbe hearingmorefromusaboutthiscovenant,butknowthatthis ministryisingoodhands.AlthoughwewillallmissBrad deeply,theministrywillcontinuetothrivebecauseofthis solidfoundationwearebuildingtoday.IamsogladthatI havetheopportunitytobeapartofthis,tobepartof somethingsomuchbiggerthanmyself.ThissermonwasoriginallypreachedontheSecondSundayofAdventbyour ProgramCoordinator,AlliePapke-Larson. ApoembyEmilyDickinson: WegrowaccustomedtotheDark-- Whenlightisputaway-- AswhentheNeighborholdstheLamp TowitnessherGoodbye-- AMoment--Weuncertainstep Fornewnessofthenight-- Then--fitourVisiontotheDark-- AndmeettheRoad--erect-- Andsooflarger--Darkness-- ThoseEveningsoftheBrain-- WhennotaMoondiscloseasign-- OrStar--comeout--within-- TheBravest--gropealittle-- AndsometimeshitaTree DirectlyintheForehead-- Butastheylearntosee-- EithertheDarknessalters-- Orsomethinginthesight AdjustsitselftoMidnight-- AndLifestepsalmoststraight. MySiblingsinChrist,wegathertodayinthenameofGod ourCreator,Redeemer,andSustainer. ThisweekweareinoursecondSundayofAdventhereat LCM|Canterbury,andourGospelreadingshareswithusthe ministryofJohntheBaptist.JohnandJesuswerecontemporaries whohadsimilarmiraculousconceptions.John’sparents,Elizabeth andZechariah,wereold:theywerewellpasttheyearsofhaving children.However,becauseGodcandowhathumanscannot, theyconceivedachild.JohntheBaptistwentatayoungageto “liveintheWilderness,”makinghimoneofthemoreeccentric charactersintheNewTestament.Iimaginethatbythetimehe startedhisministryandemergedfromthewildernessaroundthe ageof30hewassomethingofawildman:wearingclothingmade ofcamel’shair,havingsubsistedonlocustsandwildhoney.He probablyhadlittleopportunityforhumansocializationinthe wilderness,thoughplentyoftimetohearandgettoknowthe voiceofGodand“becamestronginspirit.”Johnwouldleavethe Wildernessandliveintohiscallingasaprophettopreparethe waybeforeJesusthroughbaptizingmanypeople,teachingthem aboutrepentanceandhowtoturninanewdirection,onefacing Jesus. ThissummerIspentmyfairshareoftimeinthewilderness.I wasluckytoventurebacktomyhomestateofMinnesotaand hiketheSuperiorHikingTrail:a310-miletrailthatstartsnearthe CanadianborderandfollowstheNorthShoreofLakeSuperior downtotheWisconsinstateline. Whenleavingtohikeinthewoodsforamonth,there’salotto prepare.Tostart,Ineededtoknowwhattheterrainwouldbe… thiswouldleadtoknowingwhatkindofhikingbootsIshouldget, andhowmanymilesadayIcoulddo.OtherthingsIneededto knowtoproperlyprepareincludedanticipatingwhattheweather willbelike;whataretheaveragehighsandlowsinNorthern MinnesotainJune,andhowmanythunderstormscanoneexpect? ThiswouldhelpmeknowwhatkindofclothingIwouldneed, andhowmuchprotectionagainstmosquitoesandticksIshould have(Minnesotansoftenjokethatthestatebirdisthemosquito). And,whatfoodshouldIpack,andhowmuchcanIcarryata time?AndifIdon’twanttocarryamonth'sworthoffood(andI forsuredidn’t),wherewouldIputresupplyboxesandhowdoI gettothem?EverythingIwouldbringissomethingIwouldhave tocarryfor310miles,andevenafteracouplemiles,afewextra poundsbecomeaburden.ButhowcouldI knowwhatIwouldtrulyneed3weeksinto thetrail?HowcouldIprepareforsomething likethis?Imean,whohasanyideahow muchtoiletpapertheyuseinamonth?Or whattodoifyourwaterfilterbreaks?DoI packanotherjustincase?ShouldIcarrythe extraweightofallthepotential“whatif’s” ofthetrail?HowcanIplanforsuchalong anduniquejourney? AfterwatchingmanyYouTubevideos fortipsandtricks,andfinallywhittlingmy packdownthroughliftingeveryitem(Marie Kondostyle)andaskingmyselfwitheach item:“willIusethiseveryday?”,Ipacked (whatIthoughtwas)theminimumnumber ofsuppliesneededforthejourneyandmade mywaynorth. Istartedthefirsttwonightsofthehike withmyfather.Itwasinthesefirsttwo nightsanddaysthatIstartedtofeel uncertain.IstartedtobelieveIwasn’t prepared;thatIhadn'tdoneenoughtobe ready.HadImissedhugeholesinmypreparationwork?WasI supposedtotreatmytentwithwaterrepellent?Whydidn’tIpack instantoatmeal?Butmostly,insecuritiescamefromtheweightof mypack.Itfeltliketoomuchtocarryfor310miles,maybeeven for10miles.ThethingsIthoughtIneededtokeepmesafeand comfortablewerequiteliterallyweighingmedown. Mostofthe SuperiorHiking Trailgoesthrough theterrainofthe Sawtooth Mountains.The landscapehasa figurelikethatofa saw:constantup anddown.Itisa challenginghike, andextraweight couldcauseinjury: ondaytwoIhad alreadyconvinced 7 LCM|CanterburyTales Avoicefromthe Wilderness8 ISSUE04 myselfmyrightfootwashurting,thatitwouldturnintoachronic injuryandresultintheearlyterminationofmyhike.PerhapsI hadchosenthewronghikingboots!Whydidn’tIfeelprepared? WhywasthereaperiodofadjustmentandoffearforajourneyI hadspentmonthsdreaming,thinking,andplanningfor?Ihad enteredthewilderness,andtheuncertaintyofitwasexposingmy vulnerabilities. InthepoemabovebyEmily Dickinson,shewrote:“Wegrow accustomedtotheDark-when lightisputaway…Amoment-We uncertainstep,fornewnessofthe night--Then-fitourVisiontothe Dark--”Sheiswritingabout resilience,aboutourhumanability toadjusttotheDarkand Wildernesssituationsofourlives. HereIwas,inthewilderness, wonderinghowIcouldadjustto makethishikehappen.Howcould Iconvincemybody,andevenmore importantlymymind,thatIcould dothis?Ihadtoletgoofwhatwas holdingmedown,startingwith weightfrommybackpack.My fatherwasstillwithme,andwilling totakeafewthings,andinaweek, Iwouldbemeetingwithafriend whocouldtakemore.Whatneeds tobeletgoofthatwouldhelpmeadjusttothetrail,tothe wilderness?Icoulddropanextralayerofclothing,andswap regularcoffeewithinstant.Ididn’tneedthreebooks,headphones, orevenmycellphonebatterypack.Ineededtoletgoofthe extra,letgoofwhatIwasclingingto,becauseIthoughtitwould somehowmakeanuncertainjourneysure,andavulnerableone, safe.Ineededtodesertmybeliefthatitwasthepreparationwork thatwouldgetmetotheendofthetrail,becauseitwasn’t.The onlywayofactuallybeingpreparedforthisjourney,formytime intheWilderness,wasactuallybeinginthewildernessandhiking thetrail.WhatIhadtodowasasEmilyDickinsondescribed:take an“uncertainstep”and“meettheroad.”Ihadcometowalkin thewoods,andnowitwastimetodoso;hopingIwouldn’thittoo manytreesintheforeheadalongtheway. WhencampinginthewoodsofNorthernMinnesotayou havetotakespecificprecautionstokeepyourselfandfellowhikers safe.Oneoftheseishangingabearbageverynightawayfrom yourcampsite.Abearbagisanysackthatholdsfoodorfragrant items(andthereforepotentiallyappealingtobearsandrodents). Thisbagissupposedtobehungonatreebranchtenfeetupand tenfeetout:achallengingtask,especiallywhenonehashikedall dayandhasalreadysuccumbed tobeing“hangry.”Onthe5th nightofthehikeafterarrivingat myhomeforthenight,I immediatelystartedsearchingfor abearbagbranch.Iwasnotyet particularlyproficientatthis campingtask,andittookalmost anhourtofindsomethingthat seemedsuitable.Findingone about100feetfrommysite,I strungitupempty,andwould returnlatertofillit,onceIhad eatendinner.Duringsupper anotherhikercamethrough.On theSuperiorHikingTrail,hikers arepermittedonlytocampin predeterminedsites,soifahiker comestoaspotandyouarealreadyoccupyingit,youshare territoryandsmalltalk.Westartedchit-chatting,sharingour names,andwherewestartedhikingfromthatday.Itwasgetting late,andIwasfeelingtired,readynowtoputmyfoodinmybear bagandleaveitforthenight.Iwalkedintothenewlydusked woods,spottedmyneon-orangerope,ploppedinmyfood,and hoisteditup.Iturned,andstarted walkingthe100feetbacktothe campsite.Onlythewoodswere thick,andthenightwasrising.I thoughtIhadwalkedinthewrong direction,soIpaused,turned,and startedanewcourse;onlyaftera shortdistancethistoodidn’tfeel right.Ichoseanotherdirectionthat feltbetter,onlyI’dturnedmyself around,andIdidn’trecognize whereIwas.Ididn’thavea headlampanditwasgettingchilly.I turnedagain,andallowedtheburst offearthathasjustaccumulated insidemeshootmeforward,thenI changedmymindinarapidly consumingpanicIburstforwarda fewmorepacesintheopposite direction.Iwasaloneinthe wilderness,turnedaroundwithout alight,withthedarknesscoming, andIdidn’tknowwhichwaywas home.Then,inamomentofvulnerableclarity,Iremembered thenewfriendImadenotjust10minutesago:“SAM!”Icried out,“Yeah?”cameaconfused,butassuringvoice,“I’vegotten turnedaround.WouldyoujusttalktomesoIcanfollowyour voiceback?”Avoicecamefromthewildernessanditledme straighthome. Maybewe,likeJohntheBaptist,arecalledtoenterthe wilderness,notsowecanfeelfearorexperiencesuffering,but becauseitisinthewildernesswherewelearnhowtoturnaround, callout,andlisten. Itisinthewildernesswhereweaccepttheuncertaintyofour journey,andthatcontrolisanillusion.Itisinthewilderness whereweareabletoshedtheweightofself-sovereigntyand embracetheneedinessittakestomovethroughthisplace:andso wecallout.Therecognitionofourownvulnerabilitygivesusthe braverytogropeinthedark,thehopetocallout,andthenapath iscreatedstraightforuswithacallthatanswersus. Imadeitbacktomytentthatnightbecauseofavulnerable, bravecryforhelpthatwasanswered.ThebaptismthatJohn preachesaboutisonethatallowsforbeinglostinthewoodsand teachesushowtoaskfordirections. Partofthechallenge(andjoy)ofbeingonthetrailisallthe timeyouhavetoyourself.Iwouldrunintopeopleafewtimesa day,andoftenshareacampsite,butthepathwaswalkedalone. Withsolitudeitbecomesapparentthat“theWilderness”isnot somethingthatisonly“outthere,”butisalsosomethinginside. I’msuremanyofyouhaveencounteredthisWilderness,andit canbejustasferalandscaryasanywildernessonemay encounteronalonghike.Again,theonlywayofbeingprepared forthisjourney,thistimeintheWilderness,istohikethroughit. Forperhapsitisinthesewildplacesinourownheartswhen wefeelvulnerableorexiledfromthatwhichgivesuslife,andin thewildcryingoutwhilewaitingtohearGod’svoicecallingback, thatweexperiencethepromisedstraightpathtowardsGod:a pathinwhichtheroughwayshavebeensmoothed…Itisherewe aremetbyJesus,perhapsevenasalittlebaby,showingustheway throughhisvulnerability.OurcriesintheWildernesswillbe heard,willbeembraced,andwewillbeledhome.Amen.Next >