Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Columbus here we come. Meeting with some potential OBers this afternoon. Check soon for an update on iowa. Such a good weekend.

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Monday, October 26, 2009

Rainy around chicago. On my 3rd chandler sermon of the day. The Spirit keeps teaching. Man God is good.

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Friday, October 23, 2009

burdened

I told you 2 days ago that we had seen 62 of our alum (we're up to 63 now. And #64 tomorrow.) And I told you that only 1 was not doing well.

Over the last couple of days I have been burdened by this 1 student. And I mean, burdened. This afternoon I have found myself fighting back tears multiple times.

Can I be honest with you?

My heart is aching. I feel heavy. I feel so sad. I feel so angry. Tired. At a loss of words. Full of questions.

And I feel like I need to ask you, to beg you, to pray for this student. Please. Pray that God breaks their heart. That He does whatever He needs to do bring this one home. That He will strip them of things, relationships, comforts, identity, whatever else that is a distraction or a hindrance to a vital relationship with Jesus.

While I don't enjoy feeling this kind of misery, I thank God that my heart is still soft enough to break over something like this. That I haven't been so burned and hardened by the trials of life, of ministry, that I no longer feel sorrow over one who is lost. I pray I never get to that place. And if you are there, I pray for your refreshment, for your softening.

I read something today that reminded me of this truth--that any of us persists in our walk with Jesus is truly a miracle, and it is by His grace and empowerment in our lives.

Thank you Jesus, for keeping me and many of my brothers and sisters close to you. Please break the hearts of those who are wandering. 'Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek your name, o Lord.' (Psalm 83.16)

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

statistics

I was a math major in college. (Some of you are judging me now. That's fine. I love math and I don't care who knows it.)

Anyways. I love numbers. So I thought I'd share some with you now.

In the last 6.5 weeks:

# of states we've visited: 3
# of Operation Barnabas 2009 alumni we have seen: 62
# of 09 alumni that are in (or are actively pursing) discipleship: 61

Okay. I don't know what that does for you. But 61 out of 62?! That is clearly the work of the Lord. He is protecting, growing, and using these students in awesome ways. There are stories of these young people sharing their faith, confronting believers in their sin, leading their peers, investing in younger people. I am so so thankful.

There is that one though. And it makes me think of the parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18.10-14. I am praying often that Jesus will pursue this one who is wandering from Him, that He will draw their heart back and restore them. I ask that you pray the same. We rejoice greatly over our 61. And we grieve over the 1.

We just wanted you to know where we're at. Thank you thank you thank you to those who pray for us and our ministry. Thank you for praying for these students. Don't stop. Just because their summer is over doesn't mean they don't need prayer --- they need it now more than ever. God is moving in and through them.

tomorrow: Michigan
the weekend: Iowa
next week: Ohio

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posted by sarah @ 5:11 PM 0 Comments

Monday, October 12, 2009

t09ether ... should've been there

T09ether was this past weekend. If you weren't there, you should've been. (Too bad you can't turn back time.) It was a blast to reconnect with students from Operation Barnabas & Momentum, to worship together with Jeremy Byng and his band, and to hear great teaching from our friend Kondo Simfukwe.

The whole goal was to encourage students to continue to pursue Jesus. We really focused on the theme, Together, and challenged students to be committed to each other for accountability, and to older believers for discipleship.

Kondo took us to 2 Corinthians 12, and reminded us that God allows 'thorns' in our lives to keep us humble. To remind us that we are weak. That anything good about us, any strengths we have, any accomplishments we achieve, are ALL by his grace and power.

And so we need to be real about our weaknesses. We need to be open with others about them. We need to let people see who we truly are - that we're not always strong, that we don't have it all together. Why is that so important? Because when people know that we are weak and broken on our own, they will have no choice but to recognize Jesus' work in our lives when good things happen in or through us.

Here's what he left us with:
  • what is your spiritual 'claim to fame'? (what's your strength?)
  • what is your thorn? (what's your weakness?)
  • who are you going to share your weakness with?
If you are discipling someone, you should ask them these questions.
And if you're not being discipled, you should find someone to tell your answers to.

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Thursday, October 8, 2009

On our way to columbus for the night. Breakfast with 2 of our fav andrews in the morning. Then on to winona...

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Western pa is so beautiful this time of year. Ps who's coming to TOGETHER 09?

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Tuesday, October 6, 2009

college students. and church. i'm getting worked up...

I have the privilege of discipling 3 different young women this year. One is a senior in high school, and 2 are freshmen in college. The discipleship process looks different for each one of them. I love each of them, love working with each one of them, and love seeing the unique things that God is doing in each of their lives.

There are also a number of Barnabas students from the last few years that are freshmen in college this year, and they, along with Morgan & Leah (my 2 freshmen), have been working through something that I'm becoming more and more passionate about. What is it? I'll tell you...

choosing a church

As I talk to Morgan, and to Leah, and to numerous other college freshmen about this topic, I'm learning that so many students do not know how to choose a church on their own. Now, we can't really fault them for this -- most students have gone to church with their family for their whole lives. They've never had to choose a church on their own before.

But as I recognize that truth, I'm starting to wonder something...

Why aren't we doing more to prepare our college students to find a church in college?

  • We should teach them to read a church's statement of faith
  • ... and that it's okay (and even important) to visit a lot of churches before they choose one
  • ... and what are points of doctrine that are non-negotiable ('close-handed issues')
  • ... and what are matters of preference that can be different than the way things are at their home church ('open-handed issues')
  • ... and that going to church is not an option
  • ... and what the definition of a church is (looking for a good one? Check out Driscoll's work in Vintage Church)
I don't even think it's too much to say that someone (discipler, parent, youth pastor) from a student's home church should do a little research alongside the student on churches in the area. Help your student, even before they leave for school, to develop a list of churches that are worth checking out.

It's exciting for me to talk with Leah and with Morgan about the churches that they visit. To hear what they liked, what they didn't like, how they're learning about biblical non-negotiables of church, how they're recognizing their own preferences. I love it.

If you know a college freshman, I challenge you to give them a call this week and ask them how the church hunt is going. I bet they'll appreciate it.

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Monday, October 5, 2009

Discipleship seminar tonight at the meyersdale grace brethren church. You should come.

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Saturday, October 3, 2009

praying for your timothy

Had a meeting with Drew, one of our students, and his discipler this week. His discipler said something so sweet. He told us about how he's been learning about discipleship, about the relationship between Paul & Timothy, and how he started to

pray for a Timothy.

And then Drew came home from his summer on Barnabas and approached him and asked to be discipled. It was a no brainer.

That is seriously beautiful to me.

If there isn't any discipleship in your life -- are you praying for a Timothy (someone younger to invest in) or for a Paul (someone older to invest in you)? I challenge you to that.

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posted by sarah @ 11:38 AM 0 Comments