Vision for Prayer

Prayer is a great indication of where the heart is.

Time devoted to prayer is a great indicator of growth in maturity. It also shows zeal.

I have been praying for the type of student that God would produce out of my ministry at USC. Here are some of the attributes I have been asking God for:

1. Love for the Word
2. Heart for Prayer
3. Lifetime Laborer
4. Mature
5. Zealous
6. Committed to Evangelism
7. Leaders
8. Interdependent

On campus at USC, there is a beautiful prayer space called "The Little Chapel of Silence." It has been there since the university was founded; a relic of its Methodist past. I have spent many hours praying for the USC campus in this chapel.

Every now and then, another student or faculty member will be there too. Many times, the other people present are meditating, or even doing homework. It is rare that I get the sense that the other person there has the same heart for the campus as me.

This is what I am praying will change! I am looking forward to the day when I walk into the prayer chapel and it is full of people earnestly lifting up their campus! I want to have to sit on the floor!

Now, the reason I want this is because it is indicative of the zeal and passion for God's glory present in the student body.

Pray:

1. That God would give ME a zeal for prayer, by the power of his spirit.

2. That God would give the students I am working with a zeal for prayer.

3. That God would give all the Christian students a UNITY of zeal for prayer!

Vision for the Dorms

USC has 9 main dorms. Of these, 7 are mainly for freshman.

The dorms are where most freshman will make their friends. Many will remain with these friends throughout the next four years of their life. The habits and patterns of life that begin in the freshman year of college often continue for the next four years. I think that the first three weeks of freshman year are when students are most open to the gospel.

The dorms at USC are places of strong community. In some of the halls, everyone knows everyone and doors are always open. Establish a foothold with a few people, and it is possible to share the gospel with everyone on the hall. This is a time commitment. It is possible to spend the whole year laboring deeply on one hall (as I am doing this year).

My vision for the dorms is that there would be people (especially older students) at work on every hall in every dorm at USC. Each hall would be "owned" by a pair of students or staff who is leading a Bible study (either with Christians, or evangelistic) on a weekly basis.

I haven't made an exact count of all the halls, but this would mean dozens of students firmly committed to investing in the lives of others, and trained in discipleship and evangelism. They would have to have a heart for their community and a desire to see God change USC.

How to pray:

1. Pray for God to raise up laborers to go into the dorms at USC. (Matthew 9:37-38)

2. Pray for the dorms:

Birnkrant
New/North
Pardee
Marks
Trojan
Arts and Humanities
IRC
Fluor
Webb

November 15th, 2010

Ben is growing like crazy...he and I spent time in the Word together and he is eating up Genesis like you wouldn't believe. He can't get enough of the Word right now and it is exciting to see.

God has really given me a gift in this young man. A freshman with zeal for God and a desire to see the Navigators established on campus. Praise God!

Pray for Ben:

1. That he would develop in his heart for the lost

2. That the Word would transform him

3. That we would have open doors on his hall

October 19th, 2010

Sorry I have not been more attentive to this blog!

I will be updating weekly again now. So sorry.

Ben has been a key student so far this year, connecting me with other people and meeting with me faithfully for discipleship. Would you pray for him?

1. Pray for growth and discipline in his relationship with Christ

2. Pray for a heart to reach the students at USC

September 24th, 2010

Pray for me this week, would you? I know you do, but I feel the need of it.

Pray:

1. That I would be strengthened and encouraged by the Word

2. That I would be persistent and bold

3. That I would be discerning and see where God is leading

September 17th, 2010

Finally had my first freshman Bible study last night...the one I have been praying towards and working on for several weeks. It was encouraging to finally get the guys together. There were five guys...exactly what I was praying for! We studied Genesis 2-3 and then played some racketball together. Praise God!

Some prayer requests:

1. I am reading the Bible with a non-Christian named Jay. Would you pray for God to open Jay's eyes to the truth of the gospel?

2. I am still exploring new possibilities and ideas. It is sometimes fun and exciting, and sometimes discouraging. Would you pray for protection from the enemy for me?

3. Next week, I am going to help two girls launch an IBD on their co-ed floor. Would pray for many curious people to come?

September 9th, 2010

This has been an encouraging week!

I have been able to meet weekly with four guys, which is pretty exciting...would you pray some things into these guys?

1. Pray for a hunger for the Word

2. Pray for true spiritual growth

3. Pray for a heart for outreach

4. Pray that they would be men I could build around over the course of this year

Their names:

Jon, Ben, Israel, Omar

Note: I have no idea if these guys are going to stick around! But they have been responsive and I am praying for them.