Skip to main content

Fall Camp And A Song About John

 Last weekend was our annual fall camp, and it was so encouraging! 140 students came, listened to sermons on Jesus' "I am" statement, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." And spent the rest of the weekend playing games, having meals, spending solo time with God, and enjoying fellowship with each other. Here are some pictures from fall camp below.



Every year that we go into fall camp, God uses this time to help our ministry become a more unified and solidified community that is more clear about, and compelled to accomplish the mission to make and mature disciples of Jesus on the college campus. The fruit of this weekend we will be seeing for the rest of the year, but God was definitely at work, as I've heard so many students already express how meaningful their time was. One student told me that God used it to break down some walls in his heart, and another said it convinced him that he wanted to go do our pastoral apprenticeship next year and give a year at least to pursuing college ministry full time. Thank you for providing the opportunity for these students to encounter Jesus more fully at fall camp!

Recently I wrote a song, it's called "Where else can we go?" And it's based on the gospel of John, when Jesus asks his disciples if they're going to leave, and Peter responds, Lord to whom else can we go? You hold the words of life. We have come to know and believe that you are the holy one of God."

We have wanted our students this year to echo Jesus claim. Where else can we go, Lord? No where else satisifes, no where else offers like like Jesus. The students have been responding to this message, and to all the scriptures we are highlighting in our sermons. But somehow, God is also using my song to let this message take a deeper root in our students hearts. And they really enjoy it and get excited to sing it. Here's the full version, and here's a video of our students singing it at our most recent TNF after fall camp.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/2X7jgUTGkvpf7jc8A

https://open.spotify.com/track/35VfSMUa92dFSkA6lyImEj?si=867863d793534ef7

Thank you for your partnership with me through the years and allowing me to be here to continue to share the good news that Jesus is Lord to this next generation. I am so grateful. Don't forget to check out the student testimony below! This one features one of our student leaders at UT Arlington.

In Christ, Austin.





Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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 ...

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...

When Miracles Are Common and Pizza Theology

  A student shared this at our most recent Thursday Night Fellowship and I thought it was so beautiful that I wanted to share it with you. "In Focus, Miracles are happening all the time. People are becoming saved, like I was a year ago, through this community, and equally miraculously people are becoming more like Jesus, like I'm still learning to do. But God is using this community to bring about those miracles. And I know that this all can feel common to us, especially those of us who have been around for a while, but if we are in a community where the miraculous is common , we should thank God for that community." That was shared by a student named Josh Krause who I have the pleasure of studying the bible with over the duration of this school year. I have been so encouraged by his willingness to keep learning about the grace of God and respond by living out of that reality. And I was doubly encouraged when he shared such a beautiful and praise filled sentiment with th...