b'Alison, lives in West Texas with her husband, two sons, and two daughters. Formerly, she lived in Colorado and edited publications for Citygate Network and for the Christian Camp and Conference Association. Alison holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism. She can be reached at alisonjoyphillips@hotmail.com.We can look at what God has next and engage it together. I just get really, really excited about our future together. Tom De Vriesis the ability to navigate through difficulties suchHe said that he aims to listen in order to learn, as founder failure, pain, or loss of direction.learn in order to love, and love in order to lead, Knowing how to lead in times of trauma isadding he wants to hear not only the whisper something that Gods given me, he said, addingof the Spirit but also the input and wisdom of the that he didnt anticipate learning those lessonsleaders in the network. when he took on his leadership position at GLN.Helping people discern where he believes God Additionally, when COVID-19 regulationsis leading and then directing them with pertinent forced the summit to go digital, he picked up wis- resources and abundant energy is one of his dom about the importance of having to redefine,major strengths, he said. In line with his favorite redirect, and rebuild how we did what we did.leadership statementMy fruit grows on other Tom hopes the wisdom hes gained from pastpeoples treesTom desires to be what he calls challenges will be gifts to Citygate Networkan orchard-planter, equipping leaders for their and be a benefit to the team and also to all theKingdom tasks.members, Tom said. In the days to come, he anticipates expansion opportunities for missions, such as outreaches to Looking aheadhuman-trafficking victims. And just around the T om said hes wholeheartedly committedcorner are many significant leaders passing the to ministering to the hurting, helpless,baton to younger men and women whom Tom and destitute. I really do believe that itsdesires to see run farther and faster. about the gospel, about transformation, aboutNone of us knows the future, but I do believe rescuing people from their hurting and theirthat Tom is ready to work alongsideCitygate difficulties, he said. Theres a lot of hope in[Network] members to help us navigate the cul-the future, a sense of God now opening the doorture without compromising our core beliefs in to whats next for Citygate Network. the gospel of Christ, Micheal said. He will be He wants to create a collective vision as thea protector of our principles, and I believe that association and members work together to tacklehe will desire to have everyone at the table.the devastation of homelessness in North Amer- What excites Tom most as he moves into the ica. Together, they can discover how the gospelpresidential role at Citygate Network is the people brings transformation-oriented solutions toGod has brought together to focus on compassion, poverty-related issues, Tom said.justice, and thriving ministry. Im a visionary leader but Im very much intoThe strength of this network is really the spending time in prayer and discernment andstrength of its people, he said. We can look at really getting a sense of what God is saying andwhat God has next and engage it together. I just get where He is leading in the ministries, he said. really, really excited about our future together. \x0318 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG JULY/AUGUST 2023'