Right now, I am writing from my parents home in Galax, VA! It is really nice to be home... I hadn't seen my family since Christmas! In this blog post I just want to take some time and update everyone on my upcoming summer plans. Currently for the next two months, I will be home raising support again. As many of you know, last summer, my plan was to go to Philly and work there for one year.... thus I only raised enough support for one year. After being up there and seeing all that God is doing there, I made the decision to stay an extra year. This past year flew by soooo fast! I could hardly believe it was ending and I still don't know if Student Venture is something I want to do more long term. So, this year I will be doing a second year internship, and deciding at the end of the year if I want to join staff long term or go in a different direction. Prayers for that decision are definitely appreciated!
This summer I will be traveling, speaking at churches, and meeting with individuals and small groups to share about my ministry and ask for prayer and financial support. I have been so blessed this past year to have been able to devote my full time to reaching high school students because of God's financial provision through the groups and individuals who have supported me. Please be praying for me as I work on re-raising support this summer, and if you are interested in helping me meet my financial goals, please let me know. I would love to explain how you can help or even meet up with you and tell you more about my amazing year in Philly!
Also, another thing that is coming up is my overseas mission trip to Hungary this summer in July. That is one reason I am home so early working on support. I will be leaving at the end of June to stay in Hungary for a whole month. While there, I will be working in a conversational English camp. The first week will be for training, then the following three weeks we will have three different groups of Hungarian high school students who will be coming to the camp to work on their English skills. The purpose of the camp however, is to expose the students to the Gospel and encourage conversations about spiritual matters. Our Philly Student Venture team is taking about 10 people including both staff and students. Please pray for our preparation for the trip as well because each of us will have to raise money specifically for the trip.
As you can see, it's going to be a change of pace this summer from my normal ministry activities. However, there will still be a lot of things I will need prayer for and I know it will be an exciting summer none the less! If you are interested in helping me financially, just send me a message on Facebook or send me an email. You can also check out my Cru give page at: https://give.ccci.org/give/View/0643410
Monday, April 30, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Subway Marathon NYC
This past weekend, we had a Student Venture conference in NYC called the Subway Marathon! On Friday evening, our group of 14 (mostly our Action Team students) plus 3 guys who flew up from Orlando, FL the previous day, drove up to Brooklyn NYC for the conference. We got there late Friday night, and just got to know the group there by hanging out and playing games. Then we headed to bed and got up the next day when the conference would really take off. We stayed at a church in Brooklyn, where we were blessed to have two large rooms full of bunk beds that we used as girls and guys dormitories. Free housing is always nice in NYC! When we got up the next morning our main speaker from Orlando, Marcus Looper spoke to us about the importance of reaching others. He asked the question, what if no one ever told you about Jesus? Where would you be? He was challenging the students to reach out to others and to fulfill Jesus' commandment from the Great Commission in Matt 28:19-20.
After lunch was when the "marathon" actually took place. Basically, we divided into several groups. We then took the subway to different areas of Brooklyn. Once in our spots, we had a list of schools, churches, and parks that we were to find and pray for. The catch was, we didn't have any directions... Therefore, we were suppose to ask people for directions to find the places on our list. Once a person pointed us in the right direction, we were suppose to tell them what we were doing, and ask them if we could pray for them about anything. What an awesome way to show God's love to people! We had a lot of good conversations! We also had Subway Marathon t-shirts and race numbers pinned to our shirts, so a lot of times we didn't even have to initiate with people before they asked us what we were doing which led to us getting to pray for them too. It was really an eye opener for me to see the need in Brooklyn for the Gospel. Please be praying for the churches in that area to really be light houses for the lost in the communities there.
Once we got back, Marcus talked again that evening, which led into an awesome time of praise and worship. We spent time praying for one another, confessing struggles, singing songs, and having true fellowship with one another. It was great! Then, the next morning, the students led the service at the church, and Marcus preached about how no one knows when Jesus will return and how we need to continue to be out there reaching people, and that Subway Marathon needs to be an all year thing as we seek to reach out to others. After the service we spent the rest of the day sight seeing in Manhattan, and headed home late that night. It was truly and awesome and uplifting event, and I am thankful to have been part of it!
Marcus Looper speaking to us
Several students we brought from Philly and a couple of Brooklyn kids
Students from Brooklyn plus Scott from Philly
The Orlando guys plus Boots from Brooklyn on the left
After lunch was when the "marathon" actually took place. Basically, we divided into several groups. We then took the subway to different areas of Brooklyn. Once in our spots, we had a list of schools, churches, and parks that we were to find and pray for. The catch was, we didn't have any directions... Therefore, we were suppose to ask people for directions to find the places on our list. Once a person pointed us in the right direction, we were suppose to tell them what we were doing, and ask them if we could pray for them about anything. What an awesome way to show God's love to people! We had a lot of good conversations! We also had Subway Marathon t-shirts and race numbers pinned to our shirts, so a lot of times we didn't even have to initiate with people before they asked us what we were doing which led to us getting to pray for them too. It was really an eye opener for me to see the need in Brooklyn for the Gospel. Please be praying for the churches in that area to really be light houses for the lost in the communities there.
On the streets in Brooklyn
Praying for Grand Street High School, where there is an active Student Venture ministry.
Talking to some guys at a park, asking them if there was anything we could pray for them about
Hanging out before church Sunday Morning
Brad and Katie from my staff team navigating the Subway
Some Action Team students on the Subway to Manhattan
