Well, I am first and foremost excited to present my first update to each of you since my newsletter that was sent out this past summer. I am also excited to share with all of you, my Prayer Circle Team, how God is both challenging and growing:
1. Me as a leader and 2. The group I am honored to be part of.
These past two months, I have been forced to face what my own abilities as a leader have been. My reactions to my leadership reflection are: surprise, encouragement, humility and at times discouragement. With all of these feeling, an increasing knowledge of out HOW MUCH I truly need to lean on our Savior for direction and guidance.
Some truths that have been enforced or reinforced these past two months:
• “Doing” things are easier said than done.
• . We as God’s disciples MUST seek Him and His throne for His vision. Otherwise, God will not give the opportunities to grow his children and embrace the lost, to us; rather He will give them to others.
• Asking for help is not a sign of weakness or placing burden on others. It is an opportunity to live out authentic community that God has beautifully designed.
• To be an effective leader, I must know more about WHO God has created me to be, than knowing WHAT TO DO.
• The Authority God has placed over me can be trusted.
What is has happened these past two months at InterVarsity of the U of M Campus:
• Outreach Team developed for the 5K freshmen at the Superblock starting this week!
• The Refuge on Tuesday nights from 7:30-8:30
• Student Leaders being transformed more into Godly men and women weekly
• Growth for leaders at Encounter Retreat October 9-10th in Maple Grove.
• Leadership Conference October 24 &31st.
• 4 Small groups, allowing students to discover more of God and more of who God has created them to be.
I have learned that growing stronger as a leader is a process, not an instantaneous event. Patience and grace for me and for others journeying on this process creates a holy and godly environment, where the Lord’s presence is felt.
God is SOOO good!
December 10, 2009
THE BEGINING (AUGUST 2009)
Many of you have recived this letter back in August. It was my newsletter that kicked of my year as an Intern!
“BUT WHATEVER GAIN I HAD, I COUNTED AS LOSS BECAUSE OF THE SURPASSING WOTH OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS AS MY LORD.” PHILLLIPIANS 3:8
This verse first found its way into my life, profoundly, during the one of the most breaking and difficult of summers to date. It was August, 2007. This month handed me the loss of my first job out of college. On top of this, a year-long battle, characterized by feelings of inadequacy and loss of self-identity, intensified. No longer a student, busy by friends and distracted by various elements I unconsciously found my identity in during college, the summer of 2007 was filled with feelings of profound loneliness, frustration, confusion and purposelessness. I wondered, “How did I get here?” As a young woman very much in love with the Lord, how did this happen?
As I look back today, the summer of 2007 was a long time coming. Only after the distractions wrought by college ‘business’, was I then forced to face the void that had grown between my precious Savior and me. All my feelings of inadequacy, lack of confidence and loss in life-direction steamed from a lack in me striving to find my identity in Jesus Christ. It is only in Him where we find our purpose, significance, direction, companionship and so much more! Hence why Paul’s revelation proves to be so compelling, especially to my heart that rainy August afternoon.
So where has all this led me to today?
As the process of healing in the arms of my Savior ensued, I began to hear his gentle voice beaconing me to something big. While I have always had a heart for others to know the fulfillment and freedom found in a relationship with Jesus, a specific desire to reach out to others through ministry grew. During my time as a bridal consultant in Des Moines, IA, a desire to attend seminary was rekindled in my heart in the winter of ‘08. Before I knew it, I was a student at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN, September ’08, pursuing a MA in Theological Studies with college ministries as the goal of this pursuit. This past spring, I interviewed with Intervarsity for an internship position and shortly after, found out that I would be given the privilege to be on staff for the 2009-2010 school year, at the University of Minnesota Campus in Minneapolis, MN.
Why Intervarsity?
Did you know that only 4 % of people born from 1984-2002 except Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 4 PERECENT! This could be your child, grandchild, friend, former student, etc.
Intervarsity is a Campus Ministry Organization whose commitment is witnessing the glory found in the Gospel, to students on campuses across the nation, in hopes to make that percentage increase! We as Staff strive to be intentional and consistent, both elements are an ever-increasing need in a setting full of broken, hurting and lost students.
These very students are also individuals with profound potential to carry out God’s purposes in the 21st century.
We desire that college campuses would be a place where students no longer lose their faith and identity in Christ, but instead, find or deepen their relationship with the Lord and in turn, be transformed. Through this transformative work, I believe students will find themselves free, immovable and empowered, because they have established their true identity in Jesus Christ. I desire for that 4 percent to turn into 100 percent. With God, all things are possible. What legacy do you want to leave? Are generations that praise our God your legacy? Or are the things of this world it?
Why You…This letter is geared toward those of you who love the Lord and desire to see His glory increase in His world and in the lives of others. I pray that you will walk alongside me with our Lord, to help increase His work on this campus!
My desire for young men and women at the University of Minnesota is that they encounter the Lord in such a way, that they compare everything but a loss in light of their knowing of Jesus Christ as Lord. Together, we can make a difference for His Kingdom, in the lives who are our future! Prayers and financial means are immense needs, and will allow me be a consistent and active Christ-like presence for students at the U of M.
As for financial support, personally needed is $1,300. As for Intervarsity as a whole, we are always in need of finances to supply Scholarship money for students who are financially strapped, so they might be able to take part in the God encounter retreats.
So, what your tithe/contribution make possible?
• Me be able to be present and an active part in the lives of others be freed from the stronghold of sin.
• Support Intervarsity as a Ministry to help others get to a place where they are able to encounter God and be freed from Satan’s hold.
Thank you for your financial and spiritual support! The Lord will bless you as you bless students who will impact our futures, here on earth and His Kingdom to come!
To God be the Glory!
“BUT WHATEVER GAIN I HAD, I COUNTED AS LOSS BECAUSE OF THE SURPASSING WOTH OF KNOWING CHRIST JESUS AS MY LORD.” PHILLLIPIANS 3:8
This verse first found its way into my life, profoundly, during the one of the most breaking and difficult of summers to date. It was August, 2007. This month handed me the loss of my first job out of college. On top of this, a year-long battle, characterized by feelings of inadequacy and loss of self-identity, intensified. No longer a student, busy by friends and distracted by various elements I unconsciously found my identity in during college, the summer of 2007 was filled with feelings of profound loneliness, frustration, confusion and purposelessness. I wondered, “How did I get here?” As a young woman very much in love with the Lord, how did this happen?
As I look back today, the summer of 2007 was a long time coming. Only after the distractions wrought by college ‘business’, was I then forced to face the void that had grown between my precious Savior and me. All my feelings of inadequacy, lack of confidence and loss in life-direction steamed from a lack in me striving to find my identity in Jesus Christ. It is only in Him where we find our purpose, significance, direction, companionship and so much more! Hence why Paul’s revelation proves to be so compelling, especially to my heart that rainy August afternoon.
So where has all this led me to today?
As the process of healing in the arms of my Savior ensued, I began to hear his gentle voice beaconing me to something big. While I have always had a heart for others to know the fulfillment and freedom found in a relationship with Jesus, a specific desire to reach out to others through ministry grew. During my time as a bridal consultant in Des Moines, IA, a desire to attend seminary was rekindled in my heart in the winter of ‘08. Before I knew it, I was a student at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN, September ’08, pursuing a MA in Theological Studies with college ministries as the goal of this pursuit. This past spring, I interviewed with Intervarsity for an internship position and shortly after, found out that I would be given the privilege to be on staff for the 2009-2010 school year, at the University of Minnesota Campus in Minneapolis, MN.
Why Intervarsity?
Did you know that only 4 % of people born from 1984-2002 except Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 4 PERECENT! This could be your child, grandchild, friend, former student, etc.
Intervarsity is a Campus Ministry Organization whose commitment is witnessing the glory found in the Gospel, to students on campuses across the nation, in hopes to make that percentage increase! We as Staff strive to be intentional and consistent, both elements are an ever-increasing need in a setting full of broken, hurting and lost students.
These very students are also individuals with profound potential to carry out God’s purposes in the 21st century.
We desire that college campuses would be a place where students no longer lose their faith and identity in Christ, but instead, find or deepen their relationship with the Lord and in turn, be transformed. Through this transformative work, I believe students will find themselves free, immovable and empowered, because they have established their true identity in Jesus Christ. I desire for that 4 percent to turn into 100 percent. With God, all things are possible. What legacy do you want to leave? Are generations that praise our God your legacy? Or are the things of this world it?
Why You…This letter is geared toward those of you who love the Lord and desire to see His glory increase in His world and in the lives of others. I pray that you will walk alongside me with our Lord, to help increase His work on this campus!
My desire for young men and women at the University of Minnesota is that they encounter the Lord in such a way, that they compare everything but a loss in light of their knowing of Jesus Christ as Lord. Together, we can make a difference for His Kingdom, in the lives who are our future! Prayers and financial means are immense needs, and will allow me be a consistent and active Christ-like presence for students at the U of M.
As for financial support, personally needed is $1,300. As for Intervarsity as a whole, we are always in need of finances to supply Scholarship money for students who are financially strapped, so they might be able to take part in the God encounter retreats.
So, what your tithe/contribution make possible?
• Me be able to be present and an active part in the lives of others be freed from the stronghold of sin.
• Support Intervarsity as a Ministry to help others get to a place where they are able to encounter God and be freed from Satan’s hold.
Thank you for your financial and spiritual support! The Lord will bless you as you bless students who will impact our futures, here on earth and His Kingdom to come!
To God be the Glory!
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