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Big Announcement!!!

No...we're not expecting a baby (but it got you to this post, right?). Since you're already here, please keep reading. There is a big announcement in this post :).

One of the details of our next stage in life has now been figured out. Michael will be joining the staff of an organization called Global Youth Baseball Federation or Global Baseball for short. With this decision Global Baseball will be our new "sending" or missions agency. They will receive and manage support donations and then pay Michael's salary from the support funds.

Global Baseball is a 501c3 that has been working since 1997 to support baseball programs in areas of the world that may not have access to resources or funds to develop their teams. What is so great about the mission of Global Baseball is that they purposely and intentionally go beyond baseball to help the communities they serve in. They are currently active in Cuba, the D.R, Ecuador, and Israel; leading and organizing 8-10 mission trips per year.

Part of the strategic plan that Global Baseball has is to get connected and involved in European Baseball. Amazingly (not really given the way our Lord works) I emailed them about the Kosovo Baseball Initiative at a time when they had been praying about expanding. So...as we worked together on establishing a partnership to have coaches join us in June, I began to realize that perhaps there was an opportunity to develop a more official partnership.

Primarily, we will be working to establish baseball and ministry relationships in Kosovo. Our secondary focus will be to identify possible areas of ministry in other European countries and to help develop those relationships in a way that opens doors to Global Baseball coaching and tournament teams traveling to those countries.

This is a very exciting step as we look to our eventual move to Kosovo. This plugs me into an organization that has great experience doing things similarly to what we envision for Kosovo and it gives me an opportunity to develop my baseball coaching skills under the tutelage of a ridiculously experienced and talented coach.

As we have mentioned before...we will continue to trust God and raise financial support for my salary in this role. If you already are a financial supporter/donor, we will be giving you some specific information about switching over your donations in the coming months. At any rate, we won't be having you switch your giving until June 30/July 1.

I will officially begin my time with GB in July and will begin some time of training with Brian Doyle (a former big leaguer who since his retirement has been in multiple coaching, scouting, and management roles in professional baseball) in September, when I will also get to attend the Global Baseball Board meeting.

If you are interested in being a part of this ministry by donating to support us financially, we'd love to hear from you. Send me a message at mdjohnstone @ gmail.com.

You can send financial gifts to Global Baseball...you can make checks out to Global Baseball and note our name in the memo line. Please mail donations to...


Global Youth Baseball Federation
10 Ridgeview AvenueWhite Plains NY 10606

We will be sending out more documentation, cards, and envelopes in the coming months.

Thanks again for your continued love and support. We are excited about what God is doing in us and through us...and we are greatful that you have been a part of it!


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