August Newsletter

Fresh Bread

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: REJOICE!” Philippians 4:4

What a summer! I’m happy to report that the Lord brought in all of my monthly support. The story of how it happened is actually quite crazy. I’ll admit this process was slower than I would have liked. I’m a person who likes to see immediate results so I think the Lord was definitely trying to teach me patience and full reliance on him. Ten days before my deadline I was still $760 short. I woke up the day before my deadline still needing $285. I knew the Lord’s goodness isn’t dictated by my circumstances, but I must confess I was pretty skeptical that all my support would be in by the 1st. However, rain or shine God is always good and sometimes he chooses to blow us away. Almost $800 in ten days? That’s incredible. Throughout this whole process I kept saying that at the end of it, no matter how much the Lord had brought in, I wanted to rejoice in how the Lord provided and I wanted to know he was good regardless of my circumstances. First and foremost I’m so thankful the Lord was working on my heart this summer. Sometimes fighting our emotions is difficult, but with the Lord’s help I was able to rejoice even when the circumstances seemed hopeless. And of course I’m beyond grateful that God brought in all of my monthly support. I can’t wait to get back to campus and get started ministering to college students. Thank you for your prayers and support this summer! I couldn’t be doing a job I love without you! Let’s rejoice in the Lord together for his provision.

Highlight of my summer: hanging out with these cool folks.

Me and my brother Matt, enjoying some quality family
time a few weeks ago.

From Campus

The beginning of the year is such an exciting time: reuniting with old friends, meeting new students, the first Cru events of the year. With new faces and the start of a new school year comes the fresh reminder of why God called me to work with this ministry. The    beginning of my junior year I was in desperate need of the message of the gospel. I was lost, but the Lord so    graciously brought a Cru staff member into my life right at the beginning of the year and my life hasn’t been the same since. As I think back to how the Lord used Cru to change my life I pray that God will use me to make the same kind of difference in students’ lives at Missouri State. Please pray Ephesians 6:20 for me: “That whenever I speak, words may be given to me so that I may fearlessly make know the mystery of the gospel… Pray that I may declare it fearlessly as I should.”

Beginning of the year calendar. Please pray for these specific events leading up to the day as well as on the actual day.

• August 9-11 — Staff retreat. Please pray for unity among our staff and wisdom as we start planning for the year.
• August 13 — Leaders’ training day. Pray for our student leaders: an intimate walk with the Lord and a passion for evangelism.
• August 16 — International day. Missouri State will welcome international students attending the university, Pray for relationships to be built.
• August 19 — Freshman convocation. Pray for a lot of contacts! We will follow up with students in the following weeks and share the gospel with them.
• August 20-24 — First week of school. Pray for the staff as we interact with students and invite them to our first Cru meeting.
• August 23 — First Cru meeting! Pray for new faces.
• August 25 — Social event. Christian college students like to have fun too. Pray that our students will bring their friends who aren’t believers. Building relationships is so important!
• August 29 — First athletes’ Bible study. Pray for at least one student from each team on campus to attend Bible study.

I love watching this girl play volleyball. MSU libero Ashley
Mason is one of the girls I have the privilege of discipling.
I know it'll be another great year!

MSU Cru students are the best. Can't wait to see everyone
and hear about their summers.

Excited to see these ladies in a few days. These are a few of
my awesome coworkers.