Initiative

 

Somehow the semester is already about to wrap up. Perhaps it’s just part of getting older, but it seems like each semester becomes shorter and shorter. Our students have a couple more intense weeks of school and then they are home free for the winter break.

Our pizza theology on the book of revelation. So many students showed up! 

It’s been an encouraging last month. Mainly because of how many of our students have started to take initiative in different areas. For example, one of our freshman became the president of student government for NCTC which is a local community college that we’ve been trying to plant a FOCUS community on for years. Because of his in with the administration he’s been able to start getting things moving and has been working with the college to get FOCUS planted sometime soon at NCTC. That’s been a huge God deal because there have been so many barriers to being on that campus, and seeing The Lord provide a way through a freshman in our ministry is so exciting! Be praying that everything works out with that situation!

Bowling event we did for our students

Another encouraging thing was a handful of our black students organized a black student worship night all on their own. They went out and did outreach every single day for a whole week leading up to it, and they ended up having around 20 new people show up for the worship night! The whole event went so well and was such an encouraging time for our ministry.

I wish I could upload the video we have from this event. Our students were bouncing off the walls during worship. 

I’ve just been loving the students who God has put in our ministry this year. I see them taking their faith seriously and responding to the Spirit’s work in their lives. I’m even more excited to see where they go over the next couple of years. It’s refreshing to have students who are taking initiative, that are driven and excited. I’m used to being the one that is pushing students to have motivation with their faith, so it is sweet to get to focus more this year on helping them refine their drive. To be driven about the right things that build God’s kingdom. I’m so blessed to be able to meet with these students and help cultivate a ministry for them that helps them encounter God, be challenged and grow more and more in their faith, and have a community of believers that pushes them to a deeper love and commitment to Christ. Thank you for being part of helping these students as well, we couldn’t do it without you!

Friendsgiving with the small groups Darby and I lead!

Speaking of which, today is giving Tuesday which means it is our annual Keep FOCUS Growing fundraiser. The money we raise today helps go to planting new campuses, and building the ministries we already have. We have $54,000 pledged in matching funds, so until we reach our goal what is given is doubled! You have already been so generous in supporting campus ministry, but if you’re looking for a place to give extra this holiday season, or if you know or someone who would want to donate towards FOCUS, this is a great opportunity!

Gifts can be made at shorturl.at/bCUY3 (Church Center) OR shorturl.at/cry23 (Facebook). Thank you so much for supporting our ministry to students!

a helpful graphic to learn all our FOCUS terminology that we sling around