2024 will be a year of building a space to flourish for East Mountain- both a physical place to have as home base more permanently and building the optimum program to fit our vision after a time of reassessing and gathering new members.
The Hebrew word “parakh” means to blossom, bud, sprout, or flourish. It is used in scripture to describe plants growing lavishly and even the blossoms that budded on Aaron’s staff. But it is also used to describe metaphorical flourishing and the way in which God’s blessing cause His people to grow and transform in beautiful ways: “I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily, and he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon.” Hosea 14:4.
Anyone who has spent time at East Mountain or heard testimonials can see the value of a space away from the chaos of everyday life with deep communal living. A place surrounded by God’s flourishing nature has been a wonderful backdrop for intentional growth opportunities for young leaders. We have found that this "space" is a unique offering. It is part of where we derive our name - harkening back to moments in Scripture when the Lord revealed Himself to His people in a space set apart, often on a mountain. One resident alumnus recently summed up East Mountain as a "space to come, learn, and grow." Another reflected that: "When you spend a lot of time in Christian community there is an opportunity to find your identity in Christ. People can speak life to you. There is really great support - not to make you a perfect person, but to walk with you even in the darkest moments." Still another added, “It is a place to grow in your walk with God and deepen your roots in theology, but also to live in community, which is the heart of East Mountain, and all over the Scriptures."
For eleven years, the Lord has been using East Mountain as this community and this instrument of transformation, but our "space" has been a struggle. Due to various factors, we have had to move rental properties a few times, but this year we received a great opportunity to purchase a property! With this acquisition, we would no longer be burdened by rent, and would even have income and sustainability opportunities. We desire to raise $600,000 by the end of 2024 to purchase the property and do any necessary renovations. We are so excited by the potential for this property to be a place that meets the needs of our vision for emerging and engaged leaders to come and be transformed and encouraged by the Gospel for years to come!
Please consider partnering with us and contributing towards our property funding needs. We desire to continue to be a place where disciples can meet with God, a place for intentional community, a place where residents, partners and other community members can grow and flourish by the power of Christ and for the glory of God, all with the goal of equipping and empowering them to go back to impact their spaces with the love of Christ, the message of salvation in Jesus, and the desire to see more come into the Kingdom and more lives transformed in every space.
How to Give
To give online, go to www.eastmountainsa.org/give and select “Operations Fund” to contribute towards our programs for 2024, or “Capital Fund” to contribute towards buying the property. You may also send a check made out to East Mountain with “Operations Fund” or “Capital Fund” (for the property purchase) in the memo to P.O. Box 480, Wheaton, IL 60187.
