Skip to main content

God Writes New Chapters

Hey there! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this blog post. I pray that you find it to be encouraging as you read about what God has been doing in the lives of college students all across DFW.
Some of the guys from UT Arlington throwing a birthday party for their new friend Chris.
Over the summer I continue to get to meet with students, study scripture, and spend time enjoying fellowship. Every week we have summer focus where the students come, connect with one another, listen to a sermon together, and worship God together. And after each Thursday Night Fellowship usually we go do something fun and sweet together like the birthday party above. Chris is a guy who is new to our ministry, the rest of these guys have done a great job being his friend, welcoming him in, and making him feel special. Chris' gratitude for his new friendships is so evident when he speaks. Thank you for providing a place for young men to experience friendships like these.
The journals of one of our student leaders Colton Benge
I saw these journals pictured above while I was visiting the apartment of one of our student leaders Colton Benge. The way he had titled the journals caught my eye. It is finished, life in the body, and send me. I asked him why he had titled his journals this way and his response really encouraged me. He said "Each one of those journals is from one of my years in focus. And each one of those journals is titled off something that I believe God was teaching me during each one of those years. So, with the It is Finished I felt like God was teaching me about his grace and how I don't have to work for his love for me, the second one is life in the body, that year I felt like God was really teaching me about the importance of Christian Community and how we all really need one another. And the last one is Send Me, this year God has been teaching me that I am a sent person and I need to make him known everywhere I go."

I was so encouraged by his response that I asked him if I could share that with all of you. Isn't it wonderful that God has been teaching Colton these truths? Isn't it wonderful that he is willing to teach us also if we will just listen? I love that God writes new chapters in our lives. I know that I have yet to fully figure out what it is like to be like Christ in every way. But I love that there are more journals to fill and that God is faithful to fill them.

Prayer Requests
  • I'm about 78% of the way to my fundraising goal for this year. I'm still looking to raise $600 more a month. Would you please pray with me for the rest of this fundraising season? And if you would please also prayerfully consider if there is anyone that you know that might be interested in hearing from me about God's work through Focus?
  • We are selecting our student leader team for this next year. Would you please pray for wisdom for the staff in making those decisions?
Thank you as always for your love and support! Don't forget to read the student testimony below!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

More Winter Retreat and Lucy Update!

  The fruit of winter retreat is evident! God really used that time to bond our guys together and point them more collectively towards following Jesus. Since winter retreat we have been able to identify several guys that we are excited to invite to be leaders next year in the ministry from Austen, to Josh, to Manny, to Chris (who's testimony is below) God is raising up young men who are eager to not only know Him but to share him with their peers. I couldn't be more grateful for you who helps to make that kind of heart transformation possible! One of our core groups, led by Ian and Crew has been in a particularly healthy place. These guys look forward to spending time together, reading God's word, praying for one another, and sharing their lives. Here they are hanging out an arcade together recently. But every week they are learning about Jesus together and growing as disciples! Speaking of Growing, Lucy is getting bigger. This photo above was from her first wedding recentl
Post a Comment
Read more

Learning From the Wise

Dear Friends, Thank you for taking the time to read this ministry update. This winter season has been particularly encouraging and I am excited to tell you about what is coming up soon! The month of December began with a celebration. The school semester was coming to a close quickly so we threw our annual Focus Christmas party in the first week of the month. Talk about Christmas come early. The event was filled with sweet memories, worship, and funny skits put on by the various weekly core groups. Watching those skits is always a highlight of the year as everyone in the core often participates and everyone gets to see each others silly sides. A couple of guys at the UTA Focus Christmas Party. In the bottom picture, one of the roommates couldn't make the event so the rest of the guys thoughtfully chose to find a way to include him in the picture, no matter what.  Once the semester was over and the students went home for the holidays, I had a lot of time to read. Over the
2 comments
Read more

Disciple Means Student

Two of the things that I have been most grateful for in the last month is the fact that God gifts us with so much fun in this life, and secondly, how God blesses us by giving us the ability to learn. At our online TNF's we have been hosting after events for our students where we try to do something that helps everyone feel connected. At one of our most recent after events we decided to host "show and tell" where everyone finds one or two objects that they are most proud of owning or they consider to be the most interesting thing they own. It was such a blast to see what the students loved and wanted to show off. In the bottom right Taylor Bass, one of our student leaders, was showing off the set of armor that he and some friends had crafted from cardboard. And 2 blocks above him Nathan Baugh, another one of our student leaders, shows off his autographed pictures of Ariana Grande that he got when he was in middle school. It was so sweet to laugh with those in attendance
Post a Comment
Read more