Archives For 2010

November 2010 Update

jay —  November 10, 2010  Leave a comment

The Media “LAB”

In an age of info-overload, how do you keep an important message from being lost in the clutter? On Carrie’s team in the National Campus Office (known as “the LAB”), the answer is to ask the Lord to go before you, then use His gifts to communicate with excellence, simplicity and beauty. The result? According to a local print shop owner, graphic design and printed materials that rival the best in Orlando (including Disney), as well as web and video productions for the ministry.

A Brand New “Perspective!”

What’s the LAB up to now? Celebrating the completion of a new evangelism tool called “Perspective,” a deck of cards (beautifully illustrated by Carrie’s teammate Sarah) that serve as a multiple-choice style worldview survey to help students ask others about five topics: Nature of God, Human Nature, Meaning of Life, Identity of Jesus, and Source of Spiritual Truth. The cards also provide a conversational explanation of the gospel, allowing for non-threatening, concrete interaction about Jesus. Listen to what our friends from Pittsburgh say about their experience using the Perspective cards:

“They’re really fun to use … they’re incredibly relevant at helping today’s students (who are certainly of the postmodern generation) look at spirituality and worldview in a way they never have before. They open tremendous doors for conversation. I’ve had my 2 best evangelistic conversations in years in the past 2 weeks!”

Ever on to the next thing, Carrie’s team is now working on the corresponding website (perspectivecards.com) and training videos for Perspective. You can become a fan of Perspective on facebook by searching “perspective cards” or buy a deck at CruPress.com. Thanks again for being a part of the team that made all this possible!

PRAY FOR:

  • These tools to inspire students to trust the Holy Spirit for deeper conversations, & more to know Jesus.
  • The design LAB team to work efficiently to meet winter conference deadlines.
  • Our Stint group to continue to embrace God’s work in our personal lives, aside from office work.

Grace & Peace,

Jayson & Carrie
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September 2010 Update

jay —  October 7, 2010  Leave a comment

Floridians!

As of last Wednesday, the Whelpleys are legal Floridians (even if Jayson likes to have fun with his license)! Thanks to some above-and-beyond-type friends (thanks, Heralds!), we’re shipped and settled in a spacious two-bedroom place that’s ours for the year. The surplus of toll roads and strip malls will take some getting used to, but make a worthy trade for a breathtaking sky and an extra growing season to play in the community garden. As always, let us know if you’re coming to town — we have a bed to make for you now! For those who follow on Twitter and Facebook, the dog is gone. :)

Stinters!

On arrival, we were intercepted promptly by Campus Crusade’s “Lake Hart Stint” leadership team who oversees our development and helps the 45 adults in our program and their 26 kids to bond with each other and God. This group of shepherds goes to great lengths to provide us with regular one-on-one coaching, small process groups, and guest speakers who have already probed the depths of such topics as forgiveness, contemplative prayer, and desert faith. Despite what you’d guess of a group converging from 10 countries, our 2010 group has, according to these leaders, already connected more socially than they’ve ever seen this early on! With Jayson here, is this really surprising?

GenX.5-ers?

Many sources mark “Generation X” as ranging from 1961-81 and the “Millennials” as 1980-2000. What does this say of two border kids born in late1980? On one hand, we may relate to more aspects of American culture. On the other hand, we also earned somewhat obsolete degrees in fields that changed radically just after we left: for Carrie in art, the digital revolution; for Jayson in communications, online social networking. Still, both of us have been refreshed by operating in our fields again, though not without a learning curve. Look for more to come soon on our office roles. Thanks again for all your prayers and support!

PRAY FOR:

  • Our “Lake Hart Stint” group to continue to embrace all God has for us this year (roles, relationships, transition), especially the kids, and families returning from abroad.
  • Our teams (the Design “LAB” and Web Publishing) to be productive and finding a rhythm, even with new members in the mix.
  • Field staff and student leaders back on campus, as they sprint toward Fall Retreat!

Thanks for your prayers!
Jayson & Carrie

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July 2010 Update

jay —  July 20, 2010  Leave a comment

Creation Festival Recap

Our booth at the Creation Festival was a success (you can see pictures on our website)! The hope was to connect students who want to reach their classmates for Christ – both in college and high school – to staff who can coach and support them. Besides an unspeakable quantity of dust, we brought home names of around 75 students, parents, pastors and volunteers, the majority of whom were interested in reaching high schoolers. Not realizing what a youth-group hub the festival is, we had expected more college interest. Still, we’re thrilled, as Student Venture (CCC’s high school ministry) recently came under the umbrella of the collegiate ministry –and will feed solid leaders into college campuses all over the region!

Home is Where Your Good Pillow Is

Well, here we are back “home” in the cozy apartment that will only be ours for another three weeks when we start preparing for the mid-August move to the Sunshine State! It’s been a summer of regrouping, reconnecting, reflecting, and rejoicing in the midst of much road time (some planned, some incidental). This past week included a wedding (Carrie’s baby sister) and a funeral (Carrie’s grandfather) and saw me drive to PA and back twice to see family and get them to airports.  Even in the craziness, I was able to keep a date with my brother (who lives in Nashville) as we both passed through DC. Praise God for so many sweet moments and meals shared with friends and family, with or without AC!

Three Weeks & Counting

Our hope for June 2011 is that we will be moving back to DC to continue minister here. Accordingly, our regional leadership has allowed us to invest the remainder of this summer shoring up our financial support in hopes of a speedy reentry when we return.  Pray with us that the Lord would raise up a new group of committed partners in the DC area and finish well here, even in the short weeks we have left.

Please Pray

  • Our biggest fundraising need is new people to connect with. Pray that this will happen in the coming week.
  • We move August 18. We’re driving down with friends from DC. Pray for safe travel & good weather.
  • Next week we meet with the new DC team members; pray for smooth, effective transition and for student leaders, who feel the weight of changes most.
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Creation Festival (Day 1)

jay —  June 29, 2010  Leave a comment


Well, I’m here now. We have a good group it seems, 3 students from Mansfield University, 3 staff and 2 guys from other schools who have been co-opted to do official video footage for the festival.

We also have a guy from GAiN (Global Aid Network) trying to recruit for some overseas aid projects.

Last year we launched 8 new movements from this project. Pray that we’d be all the more effective this year… More people more resources, more effect?

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