A little about work and a lot about a baby!

WHO KNEW MISSIONARY WORK WOULD INCLUDE THIS?

A year ago I was asked to facilitate a Cyber Incident Response Team at Cru and prepare our response to several potential incidents, including a loss of IT service, a social media attack, or a loss of data due to hacking.   Three weeks ago a hacker in another country somehow got the login name and password of one of our staff, and logged into several of our systems!  Everything seems to be OK, and we now have lawyers and forensic IT folks working with us.  It appears he did not access any truly sensitive information, but the risk became very clear!

It has been a lot of work, but our team is working well and that is the good news.  It is not just IT that is involved, but HR, Communications, Legal, Risk Management, etc.  This team has helped Cru respond in a thorough and coordinated way.   We have learned a lot that will help us secure our systems in the future.


Hey, enough about that!  How about this baby?!

A NEW PHASE!

As you have been with us in our journey with Cru for all or part of our 32 years, you may have known us as newlyweds, new parents, old parents, and now, we have become grandparents!  

Ezekiel Steele Johnson was born March 8 in California.  Cara and Perry are doing well and Zeke has begun receiving many visitors!  

Dad

Mom

Dayna was there for the birth, Catelin and Aubrey are there now, Macy, my Dad, and I visit in April,  and Luke in May.  Thank you for praying for them, and celebrating with us! 

Mom,  Grandma Dayna, and Zeke

Aunt Aubrey

Aunt Catelin 

The other day, I was reflecting with amazement of how God has brought us together with you and so many others who partner with us as we serve with Cru.   We are so grateful for your investment in the gospel and in our family.  We love and appreciate you very much!

In Him, 

INVESTING IN NEW LEADERS

Last week we delivered a Leadership Development and Human Resources Centre of Excellence to 12 new country level leaders from 8 different countries, and 5 U.S. Ministries.  Our friend Cathy and Barrett began designing this time one year ago, and it was great to see it happen last week.

PRINCIPLES & FRAMEWORKS

Instead of skills, we focused on six principles that would help them with any issue or objective they would have.  Some come from countries with as few as 13 staff, and others from ministries with over 700.  By focusing on principles, we equipped them with a way of thinking that would help them in whatever stage they serve.

COACHING LEADERS

A lot of our leadership development plan in Cru is focused on “emerging leaders” or the next generation.  However,  I (Barrett) have observed at times that we can place people in positions of leadership, and then leave them to figure out how to lead well.  I have been asked to help coach a few leaders over the last few years to identify and grow in areas that may be limiting their leadership.  I actually think that it is one of the most effective ways to build leaders…to come alongside them while they lead.  It’s been a fun way to help us live out our values of Faith, Growth and Fruitfulness.

GETTING READY FOR A GRANDSON!

With Cara and Perry in California, we are planning a series of trips to help and visit the baby, which is due March 6.  They live in a small one bedroom apartment, so we are staggering our visits.  Dayna will go out for two weeks at the beginning of March, followed by Catelin and Aubrey, followed by Perry’s Mom, Kathy, and then in April Macy and Barrett will go visit for a week.  By then, they’ll be glad to have some time time alone!  Perry is interviewing for professor positions around the country, this winter.  In addition to a safe delivery, will you pray for God’s provision and direction for them?

We are so grateful for your friendship and partnership with us!

Merry Christmas 2017

Perry & Cara Johnson, Catelin, Luke, Dayna, Barrett
Macy, Brexit the dog, Aubrey


Merry Christmas from all of us Browns.  We rejoice with you in the birth of our Savior!

Here is a quick update on our family.

Macy is in 8^th grade, and celebrated her 14th birthday in Marseille this year when Catelin and Cara took her along for a 2-week trip to Europe. She wants to work in law enforcement and enjoys criminology. We’ve watched many crime documentaries this year in support of this goal.

Luke is finishing his first semester as a grad student in Materials Science at UVA, where he has struggled with the “cold.” Over Thanksgiving he visited his girlfriend of a year, Summer, in Ireland, where she was studying for the semester. He has contributed to conversations around crime from afar.

Aubrey in her new shades

Aubrey has no sympathy for Luke, as he refuses to dress  appropriately. She is currently balancing teaching two Music History classes, managing backstage for Bach Festival concerts, and working in Personnel Records at Cru, as well as maintaining healthy self-esteem due to constant comments about her relationship status. This is the only crime that has been committed against her this year.

Cara and Perry at Stanford

Cara and Perry Johnson are expecting a baby March 6! They moved to Sunnyvale, CA, and Perry is a post-doc fellow at Stanford. Cara works part time for the Baltimore Engineering firm EBA.  When Barrett visited recently, they toured Alcatraz, where they learned more about crime.

Summer and Catelin in windy France

Catelin graduated with her Masters in HR, and to celebrate, organized the trip to Paris, Marseille and Edinburgh. A highlight for her was seeing Château d’If, made famous by The Count of Monte Cristo. Our interest in crime—real or fictional—spans the centuries.

Beautiful Dayna in Colorado

Dayna has recovered well from her gall bladder surgery this summer (the amount of discomfort she was in was truly criminal), and is feeling better overall. She just put on a lovely baby shower for Cara and Perry and is looking forward to a long visit to help with the baby in March.

Barrett in front of a murder site

Barrett visited 3 murder sites in Los Angeles to please his crime obsessed children. They were thrilled to receive texts with his location at each site.  He did manage to “mostly” finish the kitchen remodel he began almost a year ago. (Just a little left, really.) 

Mom and Barrett a few years ago.

And we all mourn the loss of Mom/Grandma Sandy this spring.

God bless you as you celebrate His wonderful love!

And have a crime free year.

The Browns