Starting Campus Ministry

Hi everyone, I’m so excited to get to begin to share my experiences as a campus minister with you! It feels like I’m taking my first steps into a new world and finding that God has been preparing me to learn and grow in new ways. I want to thank all of you who are supporting me financially or praying for me. I couldn’t do any of this without your generous support and you have all been so encouraging and loving as I begin my work. Getting to partner with all of you is a huge privilege!

My fellow apprentice ministers and I on the night of our ordination ceremony

A few weeks ago, the ministry held an ordination ceremony for all the new staff members. In this ceremony two students representing the ministry describe our calling and a vow is extracted from the staff members that we will fulfill our duties to the students. We make promises that even when we don’t feel like it, we will preach Christ and him crucified. When students ask us to tell them what they want to hear, we have already promised them that we won’t give in to their demands. This was really sobering but helpful to reflect on as a minister.

Hanging out with some Collin college students at the zoo

One of my favorite parts of ministry is the students I get to spend time with. I went to the zoo with a group of the students I will be ministering to and I was just so encouraged by the questions they asked me and efforts they made to make me feel welcomed and part of the group. I can’t wait to grow deeper in friendship with them throughout the year.

My staff team at our Collin college staff retreat

One of the first things I did on starting with FOCUS was a staff retreat so that we as staff at could get to know each other better. We got to share our stories and be open and vulnerable with each other in really helpful ways. One thing God was teaching me there was that this team is my family and that I am free to have conflict with and love these people as we serve together, and they care more about me than what they can get out of me. This was helpful to me in thinking about the way God sees us. He too cares more about us than what he can get out of us and wants to spend time with us because he enjoys it. I can’t wait to work alongside these amazing people.

Prayer Requests

• Pray for me and my fellow apprentice ministers as we take classes and read scripture, that we would be attentive and learn what God wants to teach us.
• Pray for the student leaders at Collin, that God would help them to love others and to be super welcoming to new students.
• Pray for the new students coming on campus for classes, that they would be open to how God wants to work in their lives.