Speaking of warm, sometimes people ask what our work looks like in the summer when most of the students are gone from campus.
Sometimes we have a specific summer assignment like staffing a training program or overseas trip. Other times, like 2013, the summer holds a variety of responsibilities including lots of planning and preparation for the upcoming school year, shepherding students from afar (phone, etc), regional or national responsibilities, support raising, and PRAYER.
Prayer is never something we want to neglect, even during the busiest times. But the summer can provide a unique opportunity (and warmer weather!) to spend extra time asking the Lord to move in mighty ways on our campus. I enjoy preparing the campus for students' return by walking around campus and asking the Lord to work.
Recently I saw the beginning of an answer to one of my summer prayers that brought me back to those sweaty days of anticipation and faith, reminding the Lord what He called us here for and asking for His help.
One of my summer pleadings with the Lord: that the dining halls and university center would be teeming discipleship relationships: staff and older students meeting younger students to pass on things they've learned and help them grow in Christ.
- The white circle is me and a sophomore who is blossoming as we study God's Word.
- The younger woman in the green circle is already discipling her good friend who just came to Christ last semester. A third spiritual generation!
- The red circle contains one of our student leaders who is learning to disciple younger men, and is excited to do so!
- Ok, so the blue isn't a discipling relationship. But it is one of our students studying with her Christian boyfriend. We pray for godly relationships among our students as well!
The Lord is clearly moving as you and our staff team and students pray. Would you please continue to pray?
After a recent conference, I've added a prayer to my list: that we'd be a WINNING campus. No, not that we'd win competitions, but that we'd be raising up laborers from among students that we'd WON to Christ. We'll help all the already-Christians God brings us, but we're trusting Him for a vibrant mix of these and those who we've recently shared the gospel with.
Would you join us in praying that our ministry would WIN souls? At least three have received Christ this year. We're hoping for more!
Thanks for standing with us!
-Noah