From the CEO’s Desk

It’s been a little over two years since Project Transformation National was first started. I’ll be honest, when I stepped away from PT North Texas to begin this new journey in ministry and facilitate the expansion of Project Transformation in new places, I was unsure about what the future held. While I was excited about the possibilities, doubts lingered in the back of my mind: What if Project Transformation’s model isn’t as replicable as we think? What if the level of interest in scaling our model across the country wanes? What if the work and ministry of the national organization isn’t sustainable in the long-run? What if God doesn’t come through?

Two years later, I can say with confidence that God has shown up in remarkable and unexpected ways to bless the ministry of Project Transformation! As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” Taking this first step of faith hasn’t been easy, but I have been humbled by God’s grace and provision that has led us this far. As Thanksgiving approaches, I want to express my gratitude for just a few of the ways that God has been at work at PT National, some of which are highlighted later in this update:

1)    PT National has been blessed with an incredible board of directors, national leadership council, and staff to help guide and support this work. While we are in a continuous state of learning, these talented leaders have helped build the framework for new Project Transformation chapters to be cultivated, develop and grow. Since the national organization formed in 2015, PT has expanded into six new annual conferences and now engages over 300 young adults annually, serving with 2,500+ children in 37 churches. This would not have been possible without their leadership and support. I am particularly grateful to serve alongside Casey Mellody-Camacho, PT National’s Program Officer, whose dedication and passion for PT’s mission is unsurpassed.

2)    PT National has also been blessed to partner with incredibly talented chapter leaders, most of whom are alumni themselves, to do the hard work on starting our new chapters. I know you will enjoy reading more about the announcement of our two new executive directors in PT Indiana and PT Washington, DC, both alumni of the program themselves. These young adult alumni are the heartbeat of Project Transformation’s strategy for replication, harnessing their passion and gifts to bring this ministry to more conferences around the country. It is truly inspiring what young adults will do when we take the chance to invest in them and give them the opportunity to lead.

3)    I am grateful for the United Methodist Church. At the local level, I don’t know of a more tangible example that leverages the strength of our connectional system for ministry than Project Transformation. Now at the national level, a generous investment in PT National by the Young Clergy Initiative of the UMC has fueled this movement to expand across the country and engage more young adults in exploring ministry, support more children to reach their God-given potential, and connect more churches together and with their neighbors.

Finally, I am thankful for each of you, for partnering with PT National through your prayers, encouragement, and financial support. May God bless you and your family this Thanksgiving, and may we remain ever mindful of the many blessings God provides us.

With sincere gratitude,

Eric Lindh
PT National CEO