The Laborers In The Harvest Field, A Baptism, and an Update to my Career Change in Ministry

 There are 40,000 college students at UT Arlington. Historically, since I've been on this campus, each one of the 6 or so college ministries have maintained an average of around 100 members. That's at any given point, only 600 out of 40,000 college students on this campus consistently encountering the good news of Jesus. Obviously that doesn't account for the students who may not be involved in a college ministry but are rooted in a church, but it remains true, the percentage of students on this campus potentially not hearing about Jesus is undeniably sizable. And honestly, sometimes that really breaks my heart. I'm so grateful for the opportunity each of you have given me over the last 10 years to personally impact and share Jesus with as many of those students as I can, but I always have been and remain, only one person, with the same 24 hours a day that you have. Now God has continued to work in and through all that time and faithfulness, and I imagine that our gospel impact has far outreached the 600 students each year that are clearly evident. But this verse from the gospels, this instruction of Jesus, rings out in my heart every time I hear it.

Matthew 9:36-37

36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Well we've been asking God to send out more laborers into the harvest field and here they are. This is 50 current college students involved in FOCUS at UTA who are not yet official leaders by title but who each one of them have expressed an interest in helping to reach their campus with the good news of Jesus and who their current college pastors and student leaders have identified as someone that we want to invite to take part in the work that we believe God is doing here. This was our first "leaders in training" class last week. And I was blown away by their participation and responses to the questions we were asking them. This group shared things like "I know that someone intentionally decided to be here, befriend me, and help me to grow in my knowledge of and love for Jesus, how could I pass on the opportunity to do that for someone else?" Or... "If Christianity doesn't have people willing to share the faith with those who come after them, then Christianity could end in one generation"  Or... "I want to be someone who raises up leaders so that the students come after me, have someone else here who will lead them when I'm gone, and who will raise up leaders who will raise up other leaders so that anyone who comes to UTA has someone here to disciple them"

I was amazed! And so deeply encouraged. God is on the move here at UTA and I'm so thankful for your partnership for the last 10 years that helped our ministry even have the opportunity to be here long enough to help build and create a culture like this. I'm confident this generation of leaders will transform not only UT Arlington but even more broadly, the wider DFW metroplex, and the world around them.

Just two days ago I got to baptize Manny Nathan, a guy from Nigeria I've had the pleasure of studying the bible with the last 2 years. Manny is a neat young man with an earnest heart to serve God and become more like him. I'm grateful for the godly friends God has given him through this process of coming to faith and into maturity. And I'm confident God's spirit will be working powerfully through Manny in the years to come. The water was pretty cold, but God can't be stopped.

I don't have a picture for this one but I'll add one of Lucy and I just for your enjoyment of her cuteness.

I really don't think I'm exaggerating when I tell you that I currently remain as passionate about and confident in the value of college ministry today as I have ever been, and maybe even more so. But several months ago, during a time of prayer, I felt like God told me that this chapter of college ministry, or at least more specifically, my working for FOCUS is coming to a close. As I kept asking God for discernment I don't really think it has anything to do with FOCUS, it's mission, or the organization. I am so grateful for every opportunity I've had here to minister to college students and to be continually developed as a pastor, and I remain a full supporter of the mission to make disciples of Jesus on the college campus. 

Rather I felt like the emphasis from God was on the fact that as a copastor of a local church, where I've been serving for the last several years I need to be strategically ready and prepared for whatever God is going to bring that way in the coming one to two years. I'm not entirely sure what that is, but I do believe what I heard/felt was from God, and I want to be as obedient to that as I can be, and trust that he knows better than I do. So, as of right now, unless God changes his mind, which I don't currently expect, the plan is for me to finish my current commitment to FOCUS through the 2026-2027 school year. And then to transition, Lord willing, to full time church pastoral work after that.

That means after this semester is over I will remain a college pastor and missionary for one more school year. So I will still need your financial partnership for the duration of that year if you are willing to stick with me. After that I will no longer be working with FOCUS and will update you and remind you about all this as the end of the 2027 school year is nearing.

I want to say a few things about the church I have been working for and hope to transition full time to a little over  a year from now.

1. We've been growing rapidly. Four years ago we had about 30 members, today we have probably closer to 130. I don't attribute that to my involvement per se, but to the work God is doing there and to the effectiveness of our partnership with college ministry. That said, if that trend continues I will need to be more available to shepherd and pastor the people who are joining and remaining.

2. Our church is deeply connected to and passionate about college minsitry. Our church is planted only a four minute drive from UTA. Every 6 weeks we invite college students out for a free lunch with our church members to build cross generational friendships. We want each college student that encounters Jesus during their time at UTA to have a strong and welcoming church community for them to remain involved in after their time in college is over. So in that sense, if I become a full time pastor here, I will remain deeply connected to the mission of reaching college students, just from a different vantage point and supporting role.

3, Our church is pretty young. I am probably the 3rd oldest member, at the ripe young age of 34 years old. Because of our youth, our church is largely still in the beginning of their careers. We currently do not have the means to pay me a full time salary. The salary I have received from the church in the past has been supplemental to my primary income which has been through the financial support raised in order to be a missionary to the college campus. If you are willing to pray about continuing to be a financial ministry partner in my life and ministry work, even after my time stepping off focus that would help me to be able to be a pastor full time without having to worry how that will affect the livelihood of our family. If we get to the end of the 2027 school year and our church is unable to pay me, then I may have to find another form of flexible work so that I can continue to operate as pastor while still making enough for our family. That is something I am more than willing to do, but if it's possible to not have to do so, and instead live as a full time pastor that seems best to me at this time.

I know God will provide and I'm so thankful for how he's provided through each one of you this last decade of college ministry. I can't thank you enough for your partnership. Please let me know how I can be praying for you or if any of you have any questions for me about my future transition at this time. Love you all. In Christ, Austin.