This is it.
On Wednesday, I will walk on to campus and begin my new ministry at the University of Southern California. My first day I will be carrying a clipboard and a stack of surveys (and some candy to entice people). As the new freshman class moves into their dorms, I will be looking for a group of students who want to study the Bible with me!
What I have:
1. A clear call from God
2. Three years of training in college ministry
3. An id card, official recognition, and a room reserved
What I need:
1. Prayer
2. Guidance to the right students
3. Patience, persistence, wisdom, and courage
Would you pray for me?
1. Pray for guidance to the right students
2. Pray that I would work hard during these first few weeks
3. Pray for courage and boldness in approaching students
4. Pray for the Spirit to be present with me in all I do!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
August 9th, 2010--
USC students arrive on August 18th!
I am praying towards that day...what will God do through me at USC?
Remember a few things:
1. Starting a new ministry from scratch is a work of God. I am going to do whatever he asks me. But in the first year, I may have only a few students involved.
2. My vision is starting to form, slowly, for what I want God to do through me. The first year will solidify it, but here are a few thoughts:
--I have been praying for all of Los Angeles to be transformed. Students at USC are leaders. Reaching them reaches more than just the campus
--I want to see students have a heart for holiness, and to be humble
--I want to see students develop a heart for prayer
3. How can you be praying for me?
--Pray for the right students to join me. This requires discernment, patience, and faith.
--Pray for encouragement. Maybe the experience will be easy. Maybe it will be hard. Either way, I need God's power to be with me!
--Pray for vision. I do not want to get caught up in small things!
I will be updating this on Mondays this whole semester, once a week!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
From Russia, June 21st, 2010
For the third straight summer I find myself in the amazing country of Russia.
My team is currently resting and recovering from our flight at the apartment of a local Navigator by the name of Jim Conner. For the next few days we will be joining with a few Russian believers who we will be partnering with in this camp. Then on the 23rd, we will head to the Caucuses to begin our camp. The camp will run for two weeks. After the camp, we will return here to St. Petersburg, where we will spend a lot of time with our campers and see the city.
For some reason, I am more excited about this summer than I have been about the last two. I think I am encouraged by the excitement of our team. But we are in desperate need of prayer, since we are storming a stronghold of the enemy!
1. Pray for faith for us, that we would continue to believe in the power of God.
Sometimes, it is hard to believe that God can really change the lives of the students, many of whom seem so far from him and so uninterested in spiritual things. We want to have our fixed on the invisible things.
2. Pray for protection from the enemy.
Already some of have felt attacked with doubt, discouragement, etc. We need your prayers desperately in this area.
3. For open hearts for our Russian friends.
I believe the gospel is "the power of God for the salvation of all men," and that "he is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine." Would you pray for his Spirit to go before us WITH POWER?
4. Finally, a personal request: Every time I leave the comfort of my daily habits, I struggle to connect deeply with God. So far, he has shown me a lot of grace in this area. Would you pray for continued grace for me, and the endurance to move into the Word and prayer despite how I feel?
My team is currently resting and recovering from our flight at the apartment of a local Navigator by the name of Jim Conner. For the next few days we will be joining with a few Russian believers who we will be partnering with in this camp. Then on the 23rd, we will head to the Caucuses to begin our camp. The camp will run for two weeks. After the camp, we will return here to St. Petersburg, where we will spend a lot of time with our campers and see the city.
For some reason, I am more excited about this summer than I have been about the last two. I think I am encouraged by the excitement of our team. But we are in desperate need of prayer, since we are storming a stronghold of the enemy!
1. Pray for faith for us, that we would continue to believe in the power of God.
Sometimes, it is hard to believe that God can really change the lives of the students, many of whom seem so far from him and so uninterested in spiritual things. We want to have our fixed on the invisible things.
2. Pray for protection from the enemy.
Already some of have felt attacked with doubt, discouragement, etc. We need your prayers desperately in this area.
3. For open hearts for our Russian friends.
I believe the gospel is "the power of God for the salvation of all men," and that "he is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine." Would you pray for his Spirit to go before us WITH POWER?
4. Finally, a personal request: Every time I leave the comfort of my daily habits, I struggle to connect deeply with God. So far, he has shown me a lot of grace in this area. Would you pray for continued grace for me, and the endurance to move into the Word and prayer despite how I feel?
Thursday, May 27, 2010
May 26th, 2010
Sorry a day late!!
Here is an urgent prayer request:
Would you pray that Jim (our Russia trip receiving staff) would be able to recruit about 15 more Russian students to the camp we are working at?
Here is an urgent prayer request:
Would you pray that Jim (our Russia trip receiving staff) would be able to recruit about 15 more Russian students to the camp we are working at?
Saturday, May 22, 2010
New Address
Hey Praying Friends--
Here is my new address:
4801 W. 21st Street #1
Los Angeles, CA 90815
Quick Update: I am now stand-in director for the second half of the STP. This is a sudden promotion coming off of some health concerns of the director's wife. Could you pray for me? I am not worried or stressed or anything, but still, it is a much higher degree of responsibility than what I was expecting.
Here is my new address:
4801 W. 21st Street #1
Los Angeles, CA 90815
Quick Update: I am now stand-in director for the second half of the STP. This is a sudden promotion coming off of some health concerns of the director's wife. Could you pray for me? I am not worried or stressed or anything, but still, it is a much higher degree of responsibility than what I was expecting.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 19th, 2010
Special Announcement/Prayer Request
I got a call on Friday from the leader of our two-week regional summer training program. They were in need of another team leader for the STP and I was asked to consider it. After some prayer and pondering, I decided to do it. This will make my summer a bit more packed, but I am happy to help out with the STP and excited to see what God does with it.
Would you pray for the following things?
1. That I would be able to fund-raise while at the STP.
2. That God would give my team unity.
3. That God would give me adequate rest in preparation for my trip to Russia.
I got a call on Friday from the leader of our two-week regional summer training program. They were in need of another team leader for the STP and I was asked to consider it. After some prayer and pondering, I decided to do it. This will make my summer a bit more packed, but I am happy to help out with the STP and excited to see what God does with it.
Would you pray for the following things?
1. That I would be able to fund-raise while at the STP.
2. That God would give my team unity.
3. That God would give me adequate rest in preparation for my trip to Russia.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
May 12th, 2010
Well, this is my last week with the guys here at Long Beach. It has been an amazing experience meeting with the Bereans, and I am really proud of all of them. This week I have been sharing with them some closing thoughts and encouragements. It has been bittersweet.
Would you be praying for their summers? All of them are doing different things, and my prayer for them is that they would continue to grow and prosper this summer. Summers can be difficult times, but they can also be opportunities. Here is what each of them is doing this summer:
1. Andrew-- Staying in Long Beach, helping to lead the Navigator summer Bible study, a short STP in June.
2. Jordan-- STP to start the summer, then summer school in Sacramento
3. Cavin-- Russia with me! And at home outside of Sacramento
4. Ben-- Boy Scout camp for most of the summer, he'll be an archery instructor (awesome!)
5. Jaime-- STP to start, then work in San Diego
6. Rudy-- STP in San Antonio/Mexico
Would you pray the following?
1. That they would remain close to Jesus this summer
2. That God would protect them from spiritual attack
3. That they would return in the fall excited and eager to grow!
Would you be praying for their summers? All of them are doing different things, and my prayer for them is that they would continue to grow and prosper this summer. Summers can be difficult times, but they can also be opportunities. Here is what each of them is doing this summer:
1. Andrew-- Staying in Long Beach, helping to lead the Navigator summer Bible study, a short STP in June.
2. Jordan-- STP to start the summer, then summer school in Sacramento
3. Cavin-- Russia with me! And at home outside of Sacramento
4. Ben-- Boy Scout camp for most of the summer, he'll be an archery instructor (awesome!)
5. Jaime-- STP to start, then work in San Diego
6. Rudy-- STP in San Antonio/Mexico
Would you pray the following?
1. That they would remain close to Jesus this summer
2. That God would protect them from spiritual attack
3. That they would return in the fall excited and eager to grow!
I thought you might enjoy a truly awesome photo of us (minus Jordan)
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