Off and Running!
Thank God for more staff workers in DC this year, because things are happening here! After some long, sweaty afternoons manning signup tables on the quad, giving free stuff to freshman and exploring their beliefs with photo surveys, we rounded the troops for our 2008 Kickoff, a cookout at our staff bachelor pad. Thanks to rain from Hurricane Hannah, one imploding/exploding grill, and 25 students from 6 campuses, 9 states, and 9 countries, needless to say, it was a memorable evening!
In my opinion, Friday’s biggest win was the wide spectrum of beliefs represented, and the relationships that have sprouted in spite of it. I think of Lee & JuWon, two sweet South Korean students with no faith background from American U. who nodded off during the content that night, but have since then developed a curiosity about the Bible and have been huddling around our staff every Monday to study the book of John.
I also think of Emily who Jayson and I met last year through a photo survey, who brought two roommates whose faith is nominal at best. Having met them before, I couldn’t help but wonder what they thought when one of our staff shared a bit of his hopes for the year in light of what Jesus has accomplished. Before the weekend was over, though, I had an inquiry from Emily on behalf of one friend requesting details for Sunday church, which they have attended and raved about for the past 3 weekends.
And I think of Wade one of our most willing leaders from last year, a sophomore this year at George Washington U., who just this past Wednesday, after a year of praying for revival on his campus, led DC Cru’s first totally student-initiated Bible study. Involved in the discussion about the identity of Jesus were seven students, some who would call themselves Christians, some who probably wouldn’t, including Emily’s roommate.
DC Turning a Corner…
For those of you who drive, you know the feeling of turning a corner — how going into the turn requires extra caution and harder braking, and how there is a point in the middle of the turn where something shifts and even though you can’t see the straight stretch quite yet, you can accelerate again. To make a long story shorter, one of our longstanding prayers and cautions has been that God would give us the humility to be team players in this city, even servants — ones who help diffuse what can often (legitimately) be the biggest turnoff to faith: arrogance, competition, and division among the body of Christ, including his ministers.
As the year begins, I see much evidence that God is honoring this prayer in spite of us – not only among our students (whose vast differences would give them ample excuse for mistrust), but among those leading them. As God has given us with some great friendships with other ministry staff and key people, please continue to pray with us that this would be a year that the reputation of Jesus Christ is elevated in this city far about our individual “flags”, that this would be a year that we see Him bridge differences and turn the corner!
As we get back to where God has called us for this period, there are constantly ideas and possibilities for what God could be calling us to in Pray that in the mean time we would follow Him closely and trust in His wisdom and love.
Grace & Peace,
Carrie & Jayson
Please pray for:
- Bowie State University — One of the primary schools on our “prayer radar,” a historically African-American campus where we’ve partnered with another group and prayed for opportunities to serve the frat scene. God has opened some interesting doors, pray that we would continue to see things happen there!
- Our staff team – While most of us know each other already, a “honeymoon” period would be unlikely. So far, so good – pray that we would continue to keep short accounts with God and each other, communicate well, work hard, play hard, and rest!
Download the original PDF here.
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The Percentage Problem
In campus ministry, building successful student-led movements often boils down to finding the perfect storm of two things – 1.) a felt spiritual need and 2.) a capacity for leadership. Typically, this has panned out to be most prevalent in the middle-of-the-road schools – the Slippery Rock U.’s, the Penn States, the Virginia Techs, — and we have seen much success in these places. Less often striking this balance are the top 20% (often more self-sufficient and indifferent) and the bottom 20% (often more needy and transient). That’s why gaining momentum in a city ministry can be such an enigma – almost all of our schools fall within these top 20/bottom 20 brackets. Never mind trying to build community among students from such vastly different backgrounds and situations!
So to help gain momentum, our tiny team brought in a task force to increase our manpower by 900%: 60 students from further south willing to “fly north” for spring break. Hailing from Radford University in southern Virginia and the University of Georgia, these brave souls (some relatively new to faith themselves) hit the ground running, talking with students and doing service projects all around the city.
Winds of Change
In a brief overview of Bible imagery, the Wind rarely escapes its “Big Bad Wolf” typecast. Though spoken of often, it’s usually accompanied by words like “scorching, scattered, smote, and swept” in verses about vanity, chaos and destruction. I can only think of two occasions – Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus in John 3 and Pentecost in Acts 2 – where the Wind gets to play the good guy. But this month in DC, it got a star role with two of our visiting spring breakers.
Radford students were the first of our visitors to get out to Bowie State, initially to just cover it in prayer. There weren’t many folks to talk with that Friday, but for some reason, Haley had an unusually strong sense that the Lord’s presence was loud and clear, particularly when the breeze picked up. As it blew, she was struck with an odd sense of God’s love for that campus and the students there.
It wasn’t until Wednesday that Jessica from U. of Georgia would be at Bowie, joining with other Christians there to do some surveys about spiritual things. In the process, she connected with one particular girl and was praying with her before leaving that day. That night at our group sharing time, imagine Haley’s surprise when Jessica recounted that interaction, and how strongly she sensed God’s presence among them when, on an otherwise calm day, the wind picked up noticeably the entire time they were praying!
Things are stirring here in the city. By now, everyone is back home from various spring break ventures and the school year is winding down. But the spiritual atmosphere feels like the hour before a good summer rain, when the light changes quality and leaves upturn and get fidgety. Glimmers of the Holy Spirit’s work are blowing around, foreshadowing movement and change in dry places. Please continue to pray with us for the release of God’s healing, freeing power in DC!
Please Pray For
- The four new believers @ PGCC who came to faith through spring breakers, as well as the ongoing focus groups we mentioned last month.
- We have followed what we’ve perceived to be the Lord’s leading and are planning on staying with the DC Metro team another year, please pray for us as we work out all of the details that go into making this a reality.
- Good closure to the end of the year, even as we prepare for a summer of taking classes, raising funds, and planning for next year.
If you’d like to download the prayer letter, you can download the PDF here.
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