A Whole New World

My second year of interning with Cru is proving to be so much different than the first! With new students, more staff, and double the numbers, I am experiencing a learning curve in how to do ministry! Praise the Lord- these are good problems to have! Pray for me as I learn to balance my time wisely, train student leaders, and try to leave a legacy of Christ this year as I transition out of my internship and into a new season of my life next year. Pray also for me as I discern what that new season will be!

Queens:

God is doing great things at Queens! Last year, we had 10 students involved in small group Bible study, this year we had 20 at our first meeting! Please continue to pray that God would raise up student leaders at Queens and that the students involved now would be bold to share their faith on campus! Pray for me as I am equipping them to lead the small group Bible study as well!

BLOW UP BLOW OUT:

On the front fields of UNCC’s campus, Our student leaders planned and hosted an outreach event called, “Blow up blow out!” We had 3 inflatables set up and a popcorn machine! What college student isn't attracted to Food and fun?!! From the contact cards at that event, 25 people indicated that they wanted to know more about having a personal relationship with Christ! It has been a joy to follow up with those contacts and get them involved in Cru’s small group Bible studies at UNCC!

I wish I could adequately express all of the ways that God has been working at UNC-Charlotte and Queens lately. I will attempt to do that first by telling you a story: As I stepped onto the campus of Queens College yesterday, I was filled with frustration. My first appointment had cancelled on me and so I waited for an hour in the campus coffee shop for my next appointment. As I waited, I prayed that God would allow me to care well for the students I was meeting with that day in joy, despite my temptation to be irritated because it was rainy and they were unreliable. I confessed that I had nothing to give out at that moment, and that I would need to rely on the Lord's strength to change my heart toward them. I asked God to initiate with me that day because i didn't have the capacity to pour out.

My next appointment, Rachel, arrived on time and we got started on the outline that I had planned for our meeting time that day. With each new person that I meet, I use a picture survey, called Soularium, to get to know them a little better. The survey consists of 50 random pictures and five spiritual questions that start simple and lead to a discussion about spiritual things. The last question in the survey is, "Which picture describes what you wish your spiritual life were like?" Rachel chose a picture of a content couple holding hands to answer this question and said that she wished she could know God deeply. I was then able to tell Rachel that the Bible says this type of relationship with God IS possible! I let her know that God loves us and has a perfect plan for our life and part of that perfect plan is that he wants us to have intimacy with him. However, because we are sinful, we are separated from God because He is perfectly holy. This is similar to the picture of the content couple. Any content couple can tell you that relationships are broken and conflict is present when sins like selfishness or pride are involved. In our relationship with God, we are the ones who are in the wrong. Because it is our fault, we do not deserve to be back in relationship with God. However, because God is perfect love, He still desires to be in that intimate relationship with us. And so, He responds to our sin by coming to us in the person of Jesus Christ. While we cannot be perfect enough to have a relationship with God, He is perfect enough to cover our sins with His goodness. After I explained all of this to Heather, I told her that the Bible says it is not enough just to know these truths, but we have to individually decide to enter into the relationship that God is offering to us by believing that Jesus Christ has covered our sin with his righteousness and telling God that we want to be in that intimate relationship with Him, where He has the control over our lives. Heather sat back in amazement as she realized that God doesn't require us to "clean ourselves up" before we come to Him but rather to just believe that we are UNABLE to be perfect and that is why Christ (who is perfect) came to us in the first place. At the end of our conversation, Rachel said that she really wanted to enter into a relationship with God, and so, we prayed together! Praying with Rachel for the first time in her life was a joyous way for me to remember and celebrate the relationship God has initiated with me! It reminded me that even on rainy days when my plans don't work out as I want them to, the Lord is sovereign and He has initiated with me in significant ways!

Each week I spend time with a handful of students one-on-one to train them in leadership and disciple them in their personal walks with Christ. I also spend time with students who have never heard that there is a larger story that we are a part of that includes God's desire to enter into an intimate relationship with them. Every one of these women have become dear to me because they all have stories, like Heathers, that fit into the larger story that God is writing. You all are in that larger story as well! Without your prayers, your financial support, and your encouragement, I would not be able to step onto campus each day and share the story of God's love and perfect plan to these women who desperately need to hear and believe it. Thank you for making God's story real to these students!

Queens Update: There are 6 students at Queens right now who I am meeting with regularly to pray with about the potential of starting Campus Crusade for Christ next semester. Each week when we meet I try to cast vision for them. What would it look like for God to raise the 6 of you up as leaders of a movement on campus that seeks to introduce other students to Jesus and give them the opportunity to begin a personal relationship with God?

Please continue to pray that these 6 students would catch this vision and follow God's leading to be bold with their classmates and pray with audacious faith for God to do BIG things on their campus!

UNCC Update: So many things are going on here! We have 3 men's BIble Studies, 3 women's Bible Studies (I am co-leading a freshman girl's study and an upperclassman girl's study), a weekly meeting (which you are all invited to anytime- Tuesdays at 7pm- Call me for more information!) with 100+ students coming each week, weekly social events where students can gather and build community, and Soularium outreaches on campus! Just this past week during a Soularium Survey outreach, another girl, Heather, decided to put her trust in Christ for the first time and begin a relationship with Him! Coming up we also have our winter conference- Encounter- which I am getting really excited about! Encounter is a phenomenal conference because it is an opportunity for students to hear God's truth from speakers who have been equipped by God to share it in a way that is specific to meeting college students exactly where they are, as well as a conference that is fun and motivating for students!

Please Pray for:

- Pray that God would begin a revival at UNCC and Queens where students are filled with joy and peace in believing that they "may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13)"

- Pray that God would continue to remind me of His initiative with me and that I would respond by "rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God (Romans 5:3)."

- Pray for new believers, Rachel and Heather, that they God would make them "intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, their eyes focused and clear, so that they can see exactly what it is he is calling them to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength! (Ephesians 1:18, The Message Translation)"

-Pray that I would have wisdom in relating to the students I am discipling and training. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind." James 1:5

Hello Friends! I have epically failed at updating my blog like I promised I would do. Not to make excuses, but my computer was broken for a long time. So now that I have a new computer that is working, I will try to update more regularly!

I am sure you know by now, but the Lord has provided the money needed for me to work with Campus Crusade for Christ and ministry is off to a GREAT start! I have now been on campus at UNCC and Queens for several months. God is so great to be doing wonderful things on both campuses! More to come in my next post :-)

Just to let you all know- I am at 59% of my ministry goal. Sammi, Mary-Karen, and I went apartment shopping yesterday to try to find a place to live beginning in August :-) Please continue to pray that I reach my goal by August 1st. Thanks.

Also, Thank you for your prayers for my family. My grandpa passed away yesterday. The funeral will be on Sunday at 2pm. Receiving friends at 1pm. Thanks again for your prayers and support.

Dear Friends... I am halfway there! I reached 50% of my financial goal today. Please keep praying as I continue to trust the Lord to bring in the rest of my support. Thank you.

What Have I been Doing?

I have spent the last four years of my life at Lenoir-Rhyne University in Hickory, North Carolina. This time has been precious, joyful, and difficult as I have learned more about who God is and learned to trust Him in different areas of my life. Having graduated in May, I have now earned a Bachelors degree in both Religious Studies and Psychology.

In addition to the many classes I have taken and the hours of studying and writing papers, I spent a great amount of my time participating as a leader with Campus Crusade for Christ. My experience with Campus Crusade during these past four years has allowed me to participate in small group Bible studies, large group prayer and worship meetings, one-on-one discipleship, times of fellowship, and mission trips to both Argentina and Florida!

Watching God Move

God has showed up in powerful ways on our campus during these four years. We have seen our weekly large group meeting go from 20 people my freshman year to 130+ my senior year. This past year we had more than 35 girls attend our women’s retreat where they were exposed to the gospel, participated in Bible study with Beth Moore, and enjoyed fellowship with other Christians. We also saw 10 students trust Christ for the first time on Lenoir-Rhyne’s campus this past semester. As I said, God is doing some mighty things!

What’s next?

Many of you have asked me what the next step in my life will be and that is why I am writing now. I am planning to continue working with Campus Crusade for Christ to reach college students for Christ next year. In August, I will begin working at campuses in the Charlotte area (UNC-C, Winthrop, Wingate, and Lenoir-Rhyne to name a few) for a year long internship.

During this time, I will be working on a team to take the initiative, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to share Christ with students on campus. I will also spend time discipling women in their Christian walks, leading retreats and conferences for students, and teaching women on campus how to share their faith. I am really excited about this opportunity to love college students in the name of Christ.

How can you be a part?

Great question! In order to be on campus by August 1, 2010, I need to gather a ministry team of prayer partners and financial partners. To put all my attention toward college students during the school year, I need to raise my entire year’s worth of salary this summer. To do that, I am meeting with friends and family to give you the opportunity to be a part of my ministry team.

I am in the process of raising prayer and financial support for some current monthly needs I have for ministry on campus this year. Currently, I need $3,106 in monthly support to get to a healthy financial place. I realize that this goal could be met by 30 people who are willing to support me at $100 per month for the year.

Would you prayerfully consider joining my monthly support team in whatever way God may lead? I want you to feel no pressure, but I would like to give you the opportunity to be involved in my ministry in whatever way you are able. If you are interested in supporting my ministry, please contact me at 704-778-1556.

Thank You!

Thank you again for your support and faithful prayers—you make my ministry to college students possible. Thank you for investing in my life, and giving me the opportunity to watch God work in incredible ways! I will keep you updated as God continues to move so that you can praise Him along side of me. Thank you for investing in the lives of college students and giving them opportunities to put their hope and trust in Christ.

Stay Posted--- I am going to have my newsletter on here soon :-)

Hello friends and family :-) I created this new blog so that I can keep you updated on what is going on in my ministry this year with Campus Crusade. I will try to update this regularly so that you all will know how to be praying for me as I embark on this new journey. Thank you for your prayers and support.