Nobleman is a nine-week course on manhood that Dustin and I are leading this semester. Since our campus director is on sabbatical, we have been planning the sessions with the help of other men in our ministry who have graduated from the course (existing Noblemen, as we like to call them). The course is basically divided into four parts, called the four "pillars" of manhood.
1. Resisting Passivity
2. Accepting Responsibility
3. Leading Courageously
4. Expecting God's Greater Reward
We have about 20 young men attending. The course is demanding, requiring 100% attendance, several assignments, and culminates in a ceremony that is intended to mark their entrance into manhood.
Pray:
1. For wisdom for Dustin and I as we lead. It is demanding designing each week's course. Neither of us is particularly experienced with teaching.
2. For unity amongst the guys. There are several strong personalities in the freshman class, and it has been hard to prevent cliques from springing up. We are hoping this experience will bring them together.
3. For the attitudes of the guys. Pray that they will be willing to not just passively accept information, but to examine their lives and act on what they receive.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Thursday, February 14, 2008
February 13th, 2008
I know my update is a little late this week, and I apologize. I have been sick.
Jon M. and I have been meeting for about a year now, and it has been encouraging to see how he has grown in the past year. Jon grew up in the International Church of Christ, a very legalistic cult. In early high school, his family left the cult, and it wasn't until his freshman year college, through the Navs and some other friends, that he became a Christian.
When we first started meeting, Jon was just beginning to taste the goodness of the Word of God. It is encouraging to see him growing in his faith in many ways, such as evangelism, prayer, and being a leader within our ministry. I really enjoy hanging out with Jon as well. He's just a fun guy.
This is a picture of Jon and me on our camping trip last September. He's wearing a bedroll as a hat. I am wearing his hat and also a bandanna.
Prayer requests for Jon:
1. A deep intimacy with Jesus.
2. Courage to share Jesus with his family.
3. For the opportunity to lead someone to Christ this semester.
Jon M. and I have been meeting for about a year now, and it has been encouraging to see how he has grown in the past year. Jon grew up in the International Church of Christ, a very legalistic cult. In early high school, his family left the cult, and it wasn't until his freshman year college, through the Navs and some other friends, that he became a Christian.
When we first started meeting, Jon was just beginning to taste the goodness of the Word of God. It is encouraging to see him growing in his faith in many ways, such as evangelism, prayer, and being a leader within our ministry. I really enjoy hanging out with Jon as well. He's just a fun guy.
This is a picture of Jon and me on our camping trip last September. He's wearing a bedroll as a hat. I am wearing his hat and also a bandanna.Prayer requests for Jon:
1. A deep intimacy with Jesus.
2. Courage to share Jesus with his family.
3. For the opportunity to lead someone to Christ this semester.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
February 6th, 2008
Imagine 18 young men, packed into a small room, seated on couches and on the floor, Bibles and notebooks open in their laps, intently listening as Dustin and I discuss the Biblical curse placed on men by God after the fall.
Nobleman has begun!
Dustin (my Edgecorp teammate) and I have the privilege of leading Nobleman, a nine-week journey of Biblical manhood that most of out students go through. We were excited to see almost all of our key freshmen students there! In the past, Noblemen has really rallied the men in our ministry to be servant-leaders and to treat each other and the women with respect and care. It culminates in an all-night ceremony that "initiates" each guy into a brotherhood of Biblical manhood.
Pray:
1. For wisdom for Dustin and I as we lead
2. That each of the guys would have the courage to confront their fears
3. For Biblical truth about men and women to shine forth
4. For all the details to fall in place
Nobleman has begun!
Dustin (my Edgecorp teammate) and I have the privilege of leading Nobleman, a nine-week journey of Biblical manhood that most of out students go through. We were excited to see almost all of our key freshmen students there! In the past, Noblemen has really rallied the men in our ministry to be servant-leaders and to treat each other and the women with respect and care. It culminates in an all-night ceremony that "initiates" each guy into a brotherhood of Biblical manhood.
Pray:
1. For wisdom for Dustin and I as we lead
2. That each of the guys would have the courage to confront their fears
3. For Biblical truth about men and women to shine forth
4. For all the details to fall in place
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
January 30th, 2008
It has been exciting to me to see how God has been working in the lives of our students over break. It seems like each one of the guys I have been working with has come back excited and eager to grow in their faith! But Justin has been particularly encouraging.
I met Justin at the beginning of the year, and he has been in my Bible study since September. Justin is an pre-architecture student--a very demanding major at the University of Arizona. His first semester this past fall was difficult; he was balancing a tough transition, a difficult schedule, and some family problems. He began to withdraw from his friends and become depressed.
Near the end of last semester, he began to spend time with two of the guys that I discipled throughout the fall. At the beginning of this semester, he was excited when I asked him about getting together to read the Word. There was a marked difference in his attitude and in his excitement!
Pray for Justin:
1. Praise God for his growth and hunger!
2. For daily habits in the word, continued zeal for God
3. For a heart for others, both fellowship and evangelism
I met Justin at the beginning of the year, and he has been in my Bible study since September. Justin is an pre-architecture student--a very demanding major at the University of Arizona. His first semester this past fall was difficult; he was balancing a tough transition, a difficult schedule, and some family problems. He began to withdraw from his friends and become depressed.
Near the end of last semester, he began to spend time with two of the guys that I discipled throughout the fall. At the beginning of this semester, he was excited when I asked him about getting together to read the Word. There was a marked difference in his attitude and in his excitement!
Pray for Justin:
1. Praise God for his growth and hunger!
2. For daily habits in the word, continued zeal for God
3. For a heart for others, both fellowship and evangelism
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
January 23rd, 2008
Here is an urgent prayer request!
The four single staff women on our team here at the University of Arizona all live in a house in the same neighborhood as me. This morning, we got a call from them that their house had been broken into. This is following two incidents last semester where the girls had their cars broken into and their radios stolen. Three of the girls had their computers stolen, and one had her purse taken.
1. Pray that the police would recover the computers. None of the girls had backed up their data.
2. Pray that no further harm would come on these women as a result of having their personal information stolen.
3. Pray for the sense of safety and well-being for these women in their home.
4. Pray for their ministry. This is an important time in our ministry and Satan is clearly using this to attack them.
The four single staff women on our team here at the University of Arizona all live in a house in the same neighborhood as me. This morning, we got a call from them that their house had been broken into. This is following two incidents last semester where the girls had their cars broken into and their radios stolen. Three of the girls had their computers stolen, and one had her purse taken.
1. Pray that the police would recover the computers. None of the girls had backed up their data.
2. Pray that no further harm would come on these women as a result of having their personal information stolen.
3. Pray for the sense of safety and well-being for these women in their home.
4. Pray for their ministry. This is an important time in our ministry and Satan is clearly using this to attack them.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
January 16th, 2008
Another semester begins today!
As I said in my newsletter, I have been praying that this would be an important semester of spiritual growth for the guys I meet with. My desire is that they would "flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace." Would you pray that these guys would be pursuing God's heart, growing daily in intimacy with him?
I will (I promise!) be updating this blog every Wednesday. My plan is to give an update on a different guy each week with specific prayer requests.
Here is a prayer request for an event that I am helping to coordinate. I am hoping to bring all the campus ministries together for 24 hours of prayer...6 pm Friday until 6 pm Saturday. This event would be the kickoff for forty days of 24/7 prayer on campus. Is that not exciting?
1. Would you pray that God would give the ministries united hearts of prayer for our campus?
2. Would you pray that God would excite students from each ministry to help out with the project?
3. Would you pray that God would use this event to spark revival on our campus?
That last one is a big prayer, but I feel that God is poised to work in powerful ways on our campus. The University of Arizona needs your prayers!
Here is a prayer for me (taken from Ephesians)
"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel."
As I said in my newsletter, I have been praying that this would be an important semester of spiritual growth for the guys I meet with. My desire is that they would "flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace." Would you pray that these guys would be pursuing God's heart, growing daily in intimacy with him?
I will (I promise!) be updating this blog every Wednesday. My plan is to give an update on a different guy each week with specific prayer requests.
Here is a prayer request for an event that I am helping to coordinate. I am hoping to bring all the campus ministries together for 24 hours of prayer...6 pm Friday until 6 pm Saturday. This event would be the kickoff for forty days of 24/7 prayer on campus. Is that not exciting?
1. Would you pray that God would give the ministries united hearts of prayer for our campus?
2. Would you pray that God would excite students from each ministry to help out with the project?
3. Would you pray that God would use this event to spark revival on our campus?
That last one is a big prayer, but I feel that God is poised to work in powerful ways on our campus. The University of Arizona needs your prayers!
Here is a prayer for me (taken from Ephesians)
"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel."
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
November 7th
Sorry that I haven't updated my prayer blog lately. It has been several weeks, and I have been meaning to do it every two weeks. I will try to be more regular.
Here are some requests:
1. This weekend we have a big trip to build houses in Mexico. It is an important trip because there will be many non-Christian friends of ours coming along. Also, it is a chance for our students to experience another culture.
--Pray for all the details, that they would wrap themselves up well
--Pray for our non-Christian friends that are coming, that they would experience the love of Jesus.
2. Our ministry is experiencing some growing pains. Would you pray for unity amongst our students, and also for wisdom for the staff team as we ponder some changes?
3. On a personal note, my girlfriend broke up with me this past weekend. Would you pray for my heart, for healing, and also for strength during these next few busy days?
Here are some requests:
1. This weekend we have a big trip to build houses in Mexico. It is an important trip because there will be many non-Christian friends of ours coming along. Also, it is a chance for our students to experience another culture.
--Pray for all the details, that they would wrap themselves up well
--Pray for our non-Christian friends that are coming, that they would experience the love of Jesus.
2. Our ministry is experiencing some growing pains. Would you pray for unity amongst our students, and also for wisdom for the staff team as we ponder some changes?
3. On a personal note, my girlfriend broke up with me this past weekend. Would you pray for my heart, for healing, and also for strength during these next few busy days?
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