Joe and Allison tag:www.joeandallison.com,2011://1 2011-08-15T20:43:29Z Movable Type 4.34-en Back in the Saddle Again. tag:www.joeandallison.com,2011://1.65 2011-08-15T20:27:26Z 2011-08-15T20:43:29Z The Priola's Hello friends and family!  First of all, we apologize for the looooong delay since the last post.  This family/ministry update tool sort of fell off the radar.  However, we realize that it is important to keep those of you who are partnered with us in a variety of ways with our work on the world's universities up to speed on what is going on.

We would love to invite you to take a few moments to pray for our Fall launches at UC San Diego and San Diego State.  We've had some setbacks this past Spring in losing five of our 10 full-time staff.  Initially it felt devastating, however in these moments of challenge, God presents incredible opportunities to really lean in on him.  I think this may be a significant moment in which the students of our campus movements can develop a greater sense of ownership of the mission and vision.  I am really excited to see them really step into some vital roles of leadership.

Secondly, please pray for the hearts and minds of students.  The American university is such a battlefield for those hears and minds.  From day one, students are invaded with materialism, hedonism, and even the reality of the ease of living as a half-hearted Christ follower content on pursuing the American Dream and not the the Kingdom of God.  

Pray that the Lord will stir souls as we seek to cast compelling vision for the privilege to live as globally focused, Christ-centered followers of Jesus.  Pray that we see the Spirit of God bring revival onto the universities and in the cities of this great nation. 
]]> We are back online! Priola Ministry Updates are coming soon. tag:www.joeandallison.com,2010://1.63 2010-07-01T16:11:04Z 2010-07-01T16:16:08Z Hip hip hooray! We managed to get this thing back and up. We will be posting regular updates and pics as we go about our Father's business. Thanks to you for your role in our lives and ministry!... The Priola's
Hip hip hooray! We managed to get this thing back and up. We will be posting regular updates and pics as we go about our Father's business. Thanks to you for your role in our lives and ministry!

]]> Settling In tag:www.joeandallison.com,2009://1.62 2009-09-05T20:49:17Z 2009-09-06T06:24:55Z Well, we are in our new home. We've had a week in the new 'hood and really like it. In the first week many of our neighbors came over to say hello. Some brought treats, and others offered a hand... The Priola's Well, we are in our new home. We've had a week in the new 'hood and really like it. In the first week many of our neighbors came over to say hello. Some brought treats, and others offered a hand with anything we need. While it has been terribly hot, we managed to get the kids a little blow-up pool in the back yard (which having a yard is a first for the fam in itself). Our kids are settling in and we take Mikela in for her first day of pre-school this Thursday! That is crazy. All in all things are well. Be praying for us as we are welcoming in our new team next week. This week brings in lots of praying, planning and prep. UCSD here we go!!!

]]> Settling In tag:www.joeandallison.com,2009://1.61 2009-09-05T20:49:17Z 2009-09-06T06:34:39Z Well, we are in our new home. We've had a week in the new 'hood and really like it. In the first week many of our neighbors came over to say hello. Some brought treats, and others offered a hand... The Priola's Well, we are in our new home. We've had a week in the new 'hood and really like it. In the first week many of our neighbors came over to say hello. Some brought treats, and others offered a hand with anything we need. While it has been terribly hot, we managed to get the kids a little blow-up pool in the back yard (which having a yard is a first for the fam in itself). Our kids are settling in and we take Mikela in for her first day of pre-school this Thursday! That is crazy. All in all things are well. Be praying for us as we are welcoming in our new team next week. This week brings in lots of praying, planning and prep. UCSD here we go!!!

]]> They just keep growin' tag:www.joeandallison.com,2009://1.60 2009-05-14T06:16:37Z 2009-05-14T06:17:13Z We are so stoked on our little ones. Sure, they present their moments of great challenge and frustration. We can grow weary at times, and even wanna give up in some desperate moments. HOWEVER, we would never change one moment... The Priola's bishop kids.jpgWe are so stoked on our little ones. Sure, they present their moments of great challenge and frustration. We can grow weary at times, and even wanna give up in some desperate moments. HOWEVER, we would never change one moment with these two precious kids. We love them more than ever! Watching them play together brings so much joy to our hearts... Pray for them and their little hearts as we make this move!

]]> Transitions.... tag:www.joeandallison.com,2009://1.59 2009-05-14T06:09:07Z 2009-05-14T06:10:32Z As each day passes, we grow closer to the "Big Move". Time is not seeming to slow down....though we sort of hoped it would. It is not that we aren't excited to move forward and see what the Lord has... The Priola's UCSD Team.jpgAs each day passes, we grow closer to the "Big Move". Time is not seeming to slow down....though we sort of hoped it would. It is not that we aren't excited to move forward and see what the Lord has in store in San Diego. It is the reality of what we are leaving here on the Central Coast. In addition, we need the Lord to bring the right people by to live in our home. We trust he has a plan, but it sure gets a little dicey at times. Please join us in praying for the Lord to bring the folks he wants to our home to care for it and enjoy it. Pray for our Ministry Partnership Development (financial partners) as well. We have a significant amount of funds to raise, and this is certainly a difficult time for so many. The Lord is good and will always provide a way. We will simply trust and follow. Pictured are four fantastic friends who have stepped out in faith and plan to come with us to pioneer a ministry at UCSD. They are awesome!

]]> A SLO Student's First Textbook tag:www.joeandallison.com,2008://1.58 2008-09-18T21:52:03Z 2008-09-18T21:53:16Z Yesterday we had a killer time passing out "Freshman Survival Kits" (FSKs). Each year over 5,000 new students descend upon our little Central Coast. For many of them, it is the first time they are away from home for a... The Priola's Priola fam.jpgYesterday we had a killer time passing out "Freshman Survival Kits" (FSKs). Each year over 5,000 new students descend upon our little Central Coast. For many of them, it is the first time they are away from home for a good period of time. They all come with their one goal in mind,...looking for a place to plug in and belong. They are seeking a place where they can be known and have an identity. Our goal is to make that first place a community of Christ followers who will love and walk with them through their collegiate years seeking to help them grow into all that God has made them to be. One way we can initiate contact with them is by distributing FSKs. FSKs are a goodie bag of gospel oriented material (a book, a cd, free music downloads, a frisbee with our website, a dvd, etc) that gives every student an opportunity to hear more about who we are and who Christ is. When the students recieve an FSK, they fill out a little survey that provides an opportunity for them to ask for more information about spiritual things, get connected to a small group, find out who God is, as well as other things. Well, yesterday, with the help of over 75 amazing student leaders, we distributed over 3,000 FSKs to students! Just think, the very first textbook a student gets when they come to Cal Poly is the Word of God. Pretty dang cool, eh?

]]> A SLO Student's First Textbook tag:www.joeandallison.com,2008://1.57 2008-09-18T21:41:41Z 2008-09-18T21:48:35Z Yesterday we had a killer time passing out "Freshman Survival Kits" (FSKs). Each year over 5,000 new students descend upon our little Central Coast. For many of them, it is the first time they are away from home for... The Priola's Priola fam.jpg
Yesterday we had a killer time passing out "Freshman Survival Kits" (FSKs). Each year over 5,000 new students descend upon our little Central Coast. For many of them, it is the first time they are away from home for a good period of time. They all come with their one goal in mind,...looking for a place to plug in and belong. They are seeking a place where they can be known and have an identity. Our goal is to make that first place a community of Christ followers who will love and walk with them through their collegiate years seeking to help them grow into all that God has made them to be. One way we can initiate contact with them is by distributing FSKs. FSKs are a goodie bag of gospel oriented material (a book, a cd, free music downloads, a frisbee with our website, a dvd, etc) that gives every student an opportunity to hear more about who we are and who Christ is. When the students recieve an FSK, they fill out a little survey that provides an opportunity for them to ask for more information about spiritual things, get connected to a small group, find out who God is, as well as other things. Well, yesterday, with the help of over 75 amazing student leaders, we distributed over 3,000 FSKs to students! Just think, the very first textbook a student gets when they come to Cal Poly is the Word of God. Pretty dang cool, eh?

]]> Here We Go! tag:www.joeandallison.com,2008://1.55 2008-08-28T18:19:02Z 2008-08-28T18:22:17Z Fall is once again upon us. In a way, we are kind of sad. Allison and I both feel a sense of loss in that our summer was so crazy. We didn't have the time, nor the money of course,... The Priola's Fall is once again upon us. In a way, we are kind of sad. Allison and I both feel a sense of loss in that our summer was so crazy. We didn't have the time, nor the money of course, to take a family vacation. We were on the road (and away from our own beds) since mid June. We are feeling a bit of exhaustion and some overwhelm as we consider what awaits us with Cal Poly about to start up. On the other hand, we are excited to see God at work back on campus. He has allowed us to see so many fun and exciting things in our ministry here in SLO. It is such a rich place of growth and activity. We are grateful,...and therefore, we will ready ourselves for another go. You never know,...this could be our last.

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