Looking better than the lilies/God provides for his work

Jesus said "do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?...why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Matthew 6:25,28-30

I have been learning that very thing. In college I adored clothes, a little too much so when I let Jesus have my life I let go of some things that were bad for my body image and soul, cancelled subscriptions cleaned out my closet, and haven't spent a lot on clothes since, more from necessity the last four years than choice. Regardless of this I have beautiful clothes and after about a week ago practically a new wardrobe. My dear friend Kristi threw a clothing exchange party, and while I passed over the gorgeous puff ball wrap I'm modeling for you in the picture above I took home many lovely things. My closet was ready for them since I had taken the things I only wear because they are clean to the soiree. God has also been providing for my work on campus in a unique way this month. All extra or new financial donations dated in the month of June and received by July 7th will be matched by the area. I've had less than a week to contact supporters and after asking a supervisor some questions today I realize I have misunderstood the timeline. I must know about the gift and notify my supervisor of the name and amount by tomorrow June 30th at 5 p.m. to have it matched. God is gracious, so gracious and I have been able to on short notice get ahold of enough donors that the amount that will be matched so far is at $875. That mean $1750 extra this month! Praise God! I have a deficit of $7,000 but this past week I have been watching it shrink. Also if you are planning on giving a one-time gift let me know so I can make sure it will be matched. I am excited to see what the final amount will be. Also pray for me as I look for a good part-time job. I am hoping for something that will contribute to my work on campus somehow and am even applying for an instructors position on campus. If I can find a good part-time position than I can reduce my salary with IV without reducing my hours on campus and decrease my deficit in this way as well.

Oh yeah, what chapter camp was like for me

Chapter Camp started early for me. I was part of the creative response team which means all the visuals of camp, guided response to manuscript study of John 1-4, and planning/taking down the prayer room. I specifically put together the response for John 2"Abundance!"-the wedding at Cana passage. This meant setting up worship leaders to close our time in corporate worship. Putting together a funny/serious set of clips to help students begin to think about how this passage connected to their lives, special shout out to Sam and Randell who helped me more than I can begin to say with all the editing. It also meant MCing directing prayer and everything else involved the day of. I also got to put together different elements for some of the other days and had a hand in making sure those days went well. I also helped with the re-imagining evangelism track. I was re-convinced of the value of InterVarsity fellowships in reaching the campus, because Jesus used that witnessing community at UW to win my heart for himself. I was also encouraged and convicted that Jesus loves people who aren't college students and that there were other people he had placed in my life who needed more of him. We used the excellent materials courtesy of Rick Richardson and IVP that I had tested out with a group of students when I was still staff at UNC. I got to share my testimony and be part of students learning to share their stories as well. It was a privilege. I was also prayer ministry coordinator and camp intercessor with the help of my new staff partner Lauren, also a privilege. Jesus always uses Chapter Camp to prove that he can pour out more goodness on me than I can imagine, even as I pour out my life, time and the work of my hands to his service.

Better than bouncing down a cliff side with a rope

Maybe repelling doesn' seem that risky to you, but I bet the things I'm about to tell you about some of these students will. Faith had a real moment with Jesus at WinterVarsity conference. So real she put her trust in Him. So real that she shared about her testimony in front of about 150 people on the day we studied John 3 at Chapter Camp and talked about moving from darkness to light. Part of a Christian family, it was not until that moment at WinterVarsity that Faith understood who Jesus was to her, and she will tell anyone now. Lisa didn't know any of us going, she had met us at a table just weeks before camp, but she came. She was looking for something and she had made a pact with God that she would take some risks. It seemed like what she needed to do. During an invitation at one of the night sessions to stand up if you were ready to commit your life to Jesus, she stood up and knew it was a risk, but what she really wanted to do. Two more students choosing to be part of the kingdom and understanding that it means that you go about on the kings business now. My supervisor called to my attention that our chapter has had conversions every year, that about a quarter of our fellowship our students who have committed their lives to Jesus because of the ministry of InterVarsity. How humbling. In many regards all I did was show up. I was there and did what I felt moved to do. whether it was handing out otter pops, leading a study about from John 4 or praying I was just doing my job. Full of risks but also the mundane. I know that many of you who support me risk to keep me there. Thank you. Let's keep risking. Let's keep getting students in front of Jesus whether in the student union, student apartments or Bear Trap Ranch. Let's get students in front of Jesus. Repelling seems like just about the most boring thing you could do at Bear Trap now though.

WinterVarsity

WinterVarsity at Bear Trap Ranch.

We filled Bradley Lodge so we had to use the loft for seating for students. Auraria had 8 students total and our very first students could feel the difference from the conferences where there were only 3 students. We are gaining momentum as a witnessing community.

Pray for our students to love each other well. Fragmentation and alienation are common complaints among Auraria students, and had been descriptive of our chapter up until this semester. God has been breaking through those strongholds and showing us how to forge a community that continues to reach out. Having common application like the Campus Village Party and WinterVarsity, where people are away with each other for a weekend, broke down the isolation and our students are becoming friends. However as students begin to be in relationship with each other they get involved in each others messy lives. Pray that they would treat each other with respect, avoid gossip, and speak truth into each others lives. Pray also that I would know how to lead them well.

No coincidences

Coincidence. What a weird looking and unnecessary word. Finals week this past December my supervisor and I sat down at Starbucks to go over fundraising and projected budgets. I wasn't really thinking about meeting new students as our events and studies had wrapped up for the semester. Since we were at the laptop tables we welcomed a young lady looking for a place to study to our table and then went on with our conversation. She joined in a few times and then asked who we were. As we explained that we worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship a ministry on college campuses, her eyes lit up. She had recently come out of some major struggles and was getting serious about her faith as never before. She loved the church she became involved with through her mom but still felt so alone. "No one my age is a Christian, no other college students are pursuing faith in Jesus." Her mom challenged her that that was not true and began praying for her to meet Christians on campus. This semester she came to her first study. We looked at John 4. As we went over the questions people had passed into me in chronological order the enthusiasm and joy built in the room as discoveries and connections were made. The passage was alive just as I know all scripture is and was speaking into our lives. There were other new students there and most were taken aback at how much fun it was to study scripture. We ended in prayer and reflection. That night my new friend from Starbucks signed up for Winterfest and volunteered to drive. Praise God for four-wheel drive vehicles. She has also started hosting a Tuesday girls hang out night at her place. It was no coincidence that she came and sat at that table at Starbucks. God is doing things like this at Auraria, things I could never take credit for. I am so grateful that I get to staff this chapter as it is forming and be a witness to the faithfulness and power of God.

When God is at work

In response to what we have studied in Luke and experienced in Jesus I invited my students to celebrate by throwing a party. To further apply what we had learned and extend our joy to others we threw it at campus village, the closest thing to dorms at the Auraria campus on a Friday night. Everyone pitched in by praying, making arrangements, setting up, bringing snacks, hanging posters and inviting people. I was afraid it would turn into a flop but it was a smashing success further proving that it is God at work here bringing students to himself and that I need to follow his lead even when it makes me nervous. Part of what made me nervous was giving away so much responsibility. However this is one of the major ways God moved in our students. They took on they challenge and ownership for the event. Paul standing in the photo was in charge of fun and games and the room stayed packed and full of energy as different conversations and activity formed all over the room. As InterVarsity students from the different studies met and connected  they reached out to the campus village students who came and the spirit was working through them welcoming and building community. The joy of the Lord was so present.  Several of us met an international student from China, who is curious about religion and taking advantage of his time here to visit church and explore what power might be there to change people. My students and I have a more knowledge now of that power that as at work through us by the Spirit of God and our obedience to his word and leading. It is changing us individually as a fellowship and is reaching out to the rest of the campus through this amen!!!

The overwhelming needs

I'm not even going to attempt to catch up what has happened between now and my last blog. I will give a quick overview of my hearts journey over break. Something snapped into place spiritually. It was like when at the eye doctors they switch between lenses and all of a sudden you can read the bottom row. I became acutely aware of my need for a savior, of my need for Jesus, and not only my need but everyone around me desperately needing Him as well. I hadn't even realized the subtle ways I begin to think people are ok without Jesus or ok with a watered down "just be a nice person" "God helps those who help themselves" "all paths lead to God" kind of Christianity, I mean its better than nothing right? But for a week I had my eyes opened to how nothing but Jesus and surrender to Him and acceptance of His sacrifice and His plan will lead to life. Nothing else leads to life and wholeness, and all around us are the suffering, the broken and the dying. And they don't know it, and most of the time we don't either. I thought of my students and how I see them transformed before me as they choose to follow Jesus. That at each point they choose His will they grow stronger, braver, and more joyful. I felt my call to be an InterVarsity staffwork strongly affirmed. Right after this week of intense awareness I became incredibly discouraged about the support raising side of my calling. Even if I love the campus and desire for more students to follow Jesus that won't happen without me having hours to build the ministry on campus. Though I am surrounded by the incredible generosity of so many believers I am still about 30, 000 dollars short of a full time budget. This is an amount impossible for me to raise. Which reminds me that this is a work of God and not about my abilities or connections. Through much prayer and encouragement from other staff around me I am beginning to have hope that I will have the suppourt I need to continue on as a staff worker at Auraria. Already this semester God has been moving to bring students to himself and I am so excited and blessed to be part of that.