Hey church friends, I would really appreciate it if you could take a look at the info below about my annual fundraiser. If church isn’t your thing, feel free to just skip this. If you are curious and do decide to keep reading you can think of this fundraiser as me “crowd funding” my job.
I often describe my job title as being a “Punk Monk.”
I’m on staff with GOHOP (Greater Ontario House Of Prayer), an urban monastic ministry connected to the world wide movement of 24-7 Prayer. We aren’t a monastery but we do live a community life dedicated to the monastic rhythms of prayer & service. That covers the monkish part of the job but what about the punkish part? For me, punk music is all about creativity with a strong DIY (Do It Yourself) ethic. I think of prayer in that same way. We can learn to play creatively with prayer as a way to connect more deeply with our maker and each other. For me this permission to play with prayer is very punk!
The other DIY part of my job is that I have to raise my own support. Believe it or not but being a Punk Monk is my actual job. I’m just over 3 years into this crazy adventure and it has been amazing to see so many friends, family and even strangers partner with me as part of my support team.
I have a couple of financial goals I would like to reach by the end of March (I picked March because it is my Birthday month):
$2000 in one time donations. If you would like to make an online donation to this fundraiser you can do that right now through CanadaHelps! If you would like to make a donation by cheque you can find all the info you need here.
$300 in additional monthly giving plans. Monthly giving is the most sustainable way from me to raise support for my ministry with GOHOP. Currently I raise $2000 a month from people signed up for monthly giving plans. This has been accomplished by people giving anywhere from $5 to $300 a month. If you would like to support my work in this way please consider signing up for a monthly giving plan. Find out more here!
I also have a couple music related goals. I record music under the name Old Reverend Randell. I currently have one single out called “Sometimes the Darkness Takes the Lead,” with an album called “4-track Gospel” coming out very soon. My music goal is to have:
100 followers on my music platforms. You can subscribe to my music on Spotify,Apple Music, Bandcamp and anywhere else you stream your music. Having followers makes it easier for people to find out about new songs.
1000 listens on Spotify. Until a song reaches one thousand listens you just get that dreaded “<1000” beside your song. People don’t know if that song has had 999 listens or just 1 listen. It really adds to an artists credibility to get over 1000 plays for a song. Feel free to add my music to your favourite playlist to listen more often.
I think it is really important when talking about money to be 100% transparent. If you would like to find out more about my job (including what I get paid) you can find all that info here: https://randellneudorf.com/gohop/
I also have an e-newsletter that I send out about 4 times a year. Email me if you would like to be added to that list: randellneudorf@gmail.com
Thank you so much for any type of support you are able to contribute to this fundraiser (listens or donations). I appreciate you taking the time to consider partnering with me.
“Sometimes the Darkness Takes the Lead” is the first single by Old Reverend Randell. It was written in the middle of bouts with chronic pain and anxiety. Sitting in the pews at church he often found the songs sung to be triggering. The songs seemed to make light of pain (if mentioned at all) by quickly jumping ahead to new life, blessings and eternal good times. Randell craved a song that acknowledged the darkness and pain he was experiencing in the here and now without celebrating it. There is something sacred about acknowledging the dark times and sitting with someone in it. Maybe the darkness won’t win in the end but it definitely sometimes takes the lead.
Watch for Old Reverend Randell’s debut EP entitled “4-track Gospel” to be released in early 2024.
I thought it would be good to give a quick update before everyone runs off to enjoy their summer.
Spiritual Retreat:
I was very happy to be invited back to Maple Grove Christian Retreat Centre to lead their annual spiritual retreat weekend. On the Friday night I introduced the Spiritual practice of Visio Divina and then led people through an exercise where people were asked to draw 4 Images of God:
Their earliest image of God.
Their image of God when they first became a Jesus Follower.
Their current or dominant image of God.
The image of God that the Holy Spirit is inviting them to for this next season.
I was first introduced to this exercise by some of my coworkers at GOHOP. The idea behind drawing (instead of writing) is that images come from a different part of our brain. Sometimes we can recall memories we have completely forgotten by using a different part of our brain. Many people were very pleasantly surprised at their earliest images of God
On the Saturday morning I led people through a Gospel Contemplation spiritual practice that helps people connect with Jesus through our imagination. We had some great discussions and people were really open to participate. In the afternoon I led a Blind Contour Drawing Workshop. Blind Contours are a drawing exercise that can feel a lot like prayer. You are only allowed to look at the person you are drawing and not not look down at your page. The drawing might look funny but it teaches you to really be present. I asked people to see each other as children of God and give thanks for each other as they were drawing. The picture above is of the youngest artist (age 5) drawing one of the oldest artists. It was amazing the diversity of people engaging with each other.
On Sunday I spoke at Maple Gove’s chapel service on Prayer Walking. I had retired pastor come up to me afterwards and say that they are still using the prayer exercise I had taught them last year. That was really encouraging.
Pray that the seeds planted at this retreat would continue to grow.
Breath Prayer Resource:
I had the opportunity to introduce a group of pastors to the spiritual practice of breath prayer. I try to make sure that whenever I’m leading a prayer experience that there is also some sort of takeaway that helps them continue to journey with what they have learned.
I really enjoy creating these little handout resources and I seem to have a knack for it. I’m going to start adding these ideas to my website. Feel free to use them yourself or pass them along to your church. You can download the resource here: https://randellneudorf.com/breath-prayer/
I have a few other resources and projects that are in various stages of completion. Pray that I would stay focused and be able to get these done.
I’ve handed out a number of these Breath Prayer bookmarks now. Pray that God would use them to help people encounter the God that gave us breath.
Summer Art Shows!
I’m very excited to be participating in a number of art markets over the summer. I have lots of fun hats and posters for sale. If you are in the Hamilton area feel free to pop by on the following dates:
Fri July 14th, 7pm – 10pm, Art Crawl on James St. N. (between Barton & York)
Sun July 16th, 11am – 4pm, Open Streets on Barton St E. (between Wellington & Victoria)
Sun August 20th, 11am – 4pm, Open Streets on Barton St E.
Sun September 17th, 11am – 4pm, Open Streets on Barton St E.
Pray that I would sell enough art to pay for my time and to fund my other creative endeavours. I’m starting to sell some of my more personal Looking for Kindness Cartoons that talk about mental health issues. Pray that God would use these drawings to start some good conversations.
Recording & Health Update
We hit a little bit of a snag in the recording of my first Old Reverend Randell album. My voice hasn’t been cooperating. My doctor suggested not singing for 2 weeks to let my voice heal (a harder task than I expected, apparently I sing all the time without realizing it). In the recording studio we had the vocals done on half the songs so we have switched over to mixing. Hopefully I’ll be able to let you hear the first single by the end of the summer.
I have been singing now for about a week and my voice is doing better but I can still feel that it isn’t 100%. My mental health on the other hand has been much better. I haven’t had any large anxiety attacks in the past few months. I feel a lot more like myself.
Pray for my voice to be strengthened.
Pray that I would continue to do the physical, spiritual, and mental health self care that keeps me in a good place.
Pray for the songs I’m recording. They aren’t your standard worship songs. My producer and I really believe that these songs are needed both inside and outside the church. Pray that we can get them done and out into the world.
Summer Donations & Budget Update
I’m currently receiving $1990from people signed up for monthly giving plans. That is 68% of my monthly goal! That means I’m only $920 away from hitting my monthly goal.
Consider Making a Summer Donation: If you are someone who donates occasionally, or on an annual basis, it would be really helpful if you were able to send your next donation in over the summer. Donate Online with CanadaHelps!
If you like to use cheques or you would like to find out more about signing up for a monthly giving plan click here.
I’m so thankful for the support I have received. Pray that I would be able to continue to connect with people that believe in the work that I do and that I would be able to reach my fundraising goal.
Pray that God would continue to open up opportunities for me to speak at churches, workshops and retreats.
Grace & Peace to you over the summer,
Randell (Randy) Neudorf
PS: It might seem like a small thing but I have created a new business card that brings all my endeavours under one roof. This will go onto the back of all my art posters and handed out when I’m teaching at churches. I’m trying to be a whole person and not have a separate identity for my prayer and creative endeavours. I’m hoping this card piques the curiosity of someone meeting me in one sphere to find out a little more about some of the other things I’m up to in another sphere of my life.
I hope you had some time to do a few fun activities over the summer. At the Neudorf household we got to go to a friend’s cottage and we spent a few days at the Crieff Hills Retreat Centre. Our whole family enjoys the walking trails and the chickens and sheep on the grounds. I also made use of the labyrinth and the little prayer chapel that is about the size of a garden shed.
Medical Update:
In my June newsletter, I let people know that I was taking a medical leave from GOHOP to deal with the anxiety I have been experiencing since January. I have made a lot of progress with my therapist, learning and practicing coping strategies. It was around the middle of August that I realized that I had a lot more tools in my mental health tool box than I had back in the spring. I’ve also been learning to reframe the stories I have been telling myself about some of the bigger anxiety attacks that I have experienced. There is a lot of grace being infused into these sessions.
My other big medical issue has been years of chronic pain (in my hands, feet, and back). I noticed a huge improvement this summer. My physiotherapist has helped me with an exercise routine that has made me a lot stronger and this has greatly reduced my pain. My family were pleasantly surprised that I was able to hike, swim, and be really active without pain or flare ups this summer. I have also been able to enjoy playing guitar more. I do still get some random flare ups but they have been shorter and more manageable. It feels good to be strong.
Please pray for continued access to therapy. I’m at the end of the free counselling sessions I was approved for. I will need to assess what type and frequency of therapy is helpful for me. Pray for wisdom in making these decisions.
Pray into my transition back to work. I expected my anxiety to increase as I started back to work, but I wasn’t prepared for how much my anxiety would increase once work was back in the mix. I’m easing back into things over September to find a sustainable rhythm.
Pray that my chronic pain would continue to decrease in frequency and severity. I would appreciate some specific prayer for my left wrist. Over the last couple weeks it has flared up and impacted my ability to play guitar and lift things.
Thank you so much for your understanding as I’ve been taking the time to care for myself over the last 3 months.
GOHOP Gala Fundraiser: Sat. Oct. 15th (5:30-8:30pm)
You are cordially invited to celebrate GOHOP’s 21st Anniversary and the launch of our new Prayer Room. We want everyone to dress up to the nines (just like a fancy wedding) and bring your friends (or even your enemies) for an evening of food, live music, artist showcase, silent auction, storytelling and celebration. I’m one of the artists being showcased and will have some my posters and paintings on display (and for sale). Here is a link to the Facebook Event Page: https://fb.me/e/3EE71Fxyo
Cost: Tickets are $20 and include entrance, dinner and dessert. Kids under 12 are FREE.
Are you an artisan or a business owner? We are looking for donations to our silent auction. I’m happy to pass any contributions on to our planning team.
Tell your church and invite your friends! We really want to spread the word. We would especially like to have pastors and leaders who don’t know about GOHOP to come. If there is someone you think we should offer a free ticket to, (or if your budget is a little tight right now) we do have a few extra tickets to give away. Contact admin@gohop.ca about free tickets.
Volunteer at the event. We will need people to help with serving food, selling art, etc…| Contact admin@gohop.ca if you would like to volunteer.
Pray for the Gala. We really want people to come out and get a sense of what GOHOP is all about and how we can partner together to play with prayer.
Pray for our prayer room ministry. GOHOP is very excited to once again be hosting a prayer room, but there will also be growing pains since we have been without a prayer room for over 2 years due to the pandemic. In many ways it feels like we are starting something completely new and at the same time familiar.
Old Reverend Randell Debut:
I have had a number of music projects over the years, my newest one is called Old Reverend Randell. This is the name I’m using to play the gospel songs I write that are a little further off the beaten trail of songs we might sing at church. I choose the name Old Reverend Randell for a few reasons:
The biggest musicians tend to “make it” when they are young (before they are 25). Being 46, I’m an old guy in the music world and just wanted to own it. I also have some nostalgia in my music where I play vintage guitars and have a little bit of an old time vibe. I want my music to feel like something that has been around for a long time. Like I could have been a contemporary of Hank Williams, or Stompin’ Tom.
I don’t want to hide the gospel side of my music, so I put the word “Reverend” in to make that up front. It also has a feeling of campiness to it with the work “Old” tacked on. It lets me play in bars and coffee houses while still feeling safe for a secular crowd. There are other musicians who have the title of Reverend in their stage name who just use it for show.
The name lets me play music at churches in a way where I get to show people that God can be “weird” in a good way. I know that my music is never going to be the next big worship song but I think my music can speak to the topics and people that are often forgotten about in church.
My first Old Reverend Randell Show happened last month at L’arche Hamilton’s Inclusion Coffee House. Their tag line is “We are people with and without intellectual disabilities creating a community coffeehouse.” It was a packed house and I have never had such an enthusiastic audience. There was thunderous applause after every song (and sometimes in the middle of a song with a pause), a couple enthusiastic dancers, and one very cool ukulele player who got right up front with me.
The coffee house is located inside a city recreation centre. It was such an honour to play a mix of old hymns, cover songs, and my own tunes in a public space. That is really my dream is to be able to create something that can sit inside and outside the church in a way that is honest and helpful.
Looking for Kindness: A Creative Teaching on Faith & Anxiety
I have a creative teaching that I’ve had the chance to try out on a couple different churches. It incorporates some of my “Looking for Kindness Cartoons” along with some of my Old Reverend Randell songs. I use these creative outlets to talk about my own struggles with anxiety and how I have been leaning into the Fruit of the Spirit (especially kindness) as part of my faith journey. A number of people have talked to me afterwards about their own mental health journeys and thanked me for speaking so openly and honestly about my experience with anxiety.
If your church, small group or conference is looking for something a little different I would love to share this creative teaching with you.
Financial Update:
While I was on medical leave I had to set aside working on fundraising to just focus on getting well. The unfortunate reality of my job is that when I’m less active, donations tend to be less frequent. This trend started back in March and has steadily been increasing ever since. Here is a snapshot of where my fundraising numbers are at:
$2897 is my monthly fundraising goal. Details of how I came up with this number are posted here.
-$1513 is how much additional funds I need to raise each month to reach my goal. Up until March 2022 I was able to raise this through people giving one time donations and annual donations. For the last 6 months I have not reached this goal.
$1425 is how much extra Honorarium Income I have made this year through doing guest speaking and workshops. That offsets about one month of fundraising. With being on Medical leave I had to turn down some opportunities.
-$6209 is the total amount I’m behind in my GOHOP budget(as of September 2022), in addition to the -$4539I will still need to raise for Oct-Dec 2022.
As I’m writing this I would like to give a firm fundraising goal for the rest of 2022, but somehow that seems to be less important than ongoing sustainability. Realistically, I won’t be able to make up an almost $11,000 shortfall by the end of the year.
Going forward, I need to either reach my monthly fundraising goal, or I need to reduce my GOHOP hours and seek additional employment elsewhere. I don’t want to make that decision rashly. I will be trying to raise an additional $1513 each month, but more importantly I’ll be trying to raise that through an increase in people signing up for monthly and yearly giving plans. That is where I really need to focus my energy.
Pray that God will expand my circle of support. This doesn’t happen without God making it happen.
Pray that I would not be anxious about fundraising, that I would just stay the course and do the work.
Pray that I would have more opportunities to preach, share music and lead workshops. The honorariums that come along with these things are nice but more importantly it lets me connect with people interested in my work with GOHOP.
Thank you so much for getting all the way to the bottom of this email. It means so much to me that you took the time to catch up with what is happening in my ministry with GOHOP.
Randell Neudorf 