Friday, May 6, 2016

Turning 37

It's crazy to think that I'm turning 37 today. I've been a committed Christian for 22 years and involved in campus ministry for nearly 19 of them! I finished my degrees and started as a campus pastor 14 years ago this month, and I can't tell you how blessed I feel that the Lord has set me on this path.

I work with amazing, passionate, loving people every day. I spend time with young people who are making important decisions and haven't had time to become cynical yet. :) I have a team of financial partners and prayer warriors backing me up who encourage me and inspire me to be my best and to make an impact for Christ. I'm nearly 20 years in, and I'm so excited about the next 20. My prayer is that the Lord will keep me here and let me see this work through, as long as I'm still what this mission needs. Thank you to all of you who love me and spur me on to love others.

With next year in mind, I'd love to introduce our new class of apprentices and ask you to be in prayer for them this summer as they raise support and do their preparatory studies. It's an outstanding group this year! I know I'll have exciting stories to report from them next year.

You could print this picture and use it as a reminder to pray for these 7 young people.

Something cool we've been doing at UTD is having Christian professors come to share their testimonies at our main weekly meeting. Students have been powerfully motivated by seeing professors from various academic disciplines openly profess their faith in Christ and share how that impacts the way they teach and do research. One of the recurring themes this year has been professors challenging our students about the impact they, as students, can have on their professors! If you have a few minutes, I know you would be very encouraged by the last prof to share this school year. You can listen to her talk by clicking on the link below:

Friday Night Professor's Sharing Link

I'm so thankful for all that the Lord does in you and through you. He will take every good work, whether public or hidden, and work it into His glorious redemptive plan. And He will take every tragedy, every mistake, every heartache and do the same with those. What a good and wise God we serve!
Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people,this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Eph 3:8-12)
Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Tim 1:17)

February Went Fast!

Our biggest event this past month was our Pizza Theology on the Bible. First Baptist Church Plano was SO GRACIOUS and generous in hosting us...