These past few weeks have been quite interesting: Our first Wesley work week shifted a full seven days to start on MLK as Athens completely iced over for the students' first week back to UGA (we follow UGA's schedule). That made for quite a start to the semester as we hit the ground running with all the craziness of trying to schedule discipleships, get our services running, and adjust our plans to the lost week.
This semester I am taking a class called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (http://www.perspectives.org/site/pp.aspx?c=eqLLI0OFKrF&b=2806295), put on by a locally based Missions group. Meeting on Thursday nights has been fantastic; I am learning (and reading) a ton, and to have homework again rekindles an old love/hate relationship which God is using sharpen me as I try to figure out how He wants to use my life to take the Gospel to the Nations.
Though making it an exhausting week, we had an incredible fellowship event last night called Freshley Gameshow Night. Freshley's Best Dance Crew, Project Runway, Family Feud, and various Nickelodeon gameshows were among the many featured, and freshmen, leaders and staff all enjoyed an incredible time together.
At the moment, I am at 2Story Coffeehouse working on my message for Monday night. I will be speaking on how God uses the people you would least expect to shape the history and destiny of His kingdom. It all makes for a busy yet exhilarating couple weeks, but I love it. Love you all.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Fellowship at Choo Choo
Earlier tonight our freshmen small group met up for dinner at Choo Choo's, a Japanese-Korean restaurant to eat together for the only meal of the week not covered by the UGA meal plan - not that I'm on it any more, but for them, it's the one night of the week where they have leave campus and forage for food. It was such a good gathering: several of the guys went to Passion Conference, and their excitement to walk in their newfound spiritual growth was contagious. The group has really come a long way, and I am so thankful for God's faithfulness to work in their hearts.
Tonight we're supposed to get 4-5 inches of snow, and the university has already called for no classes tomorrow. Since Wesley Foundation follows the university schedule, we won't be going in to work at all tomorrow. Freshley happens on Monday nights, so now with MLK we won't be having Freshley for two weeks. As sad as that is for me, and so many of our freshmen and leaders, I think something even better is going to happen. My hope is that the hunger for fellowship in our group tonight is characteristic of what God is doing in the rest of the body, and that they'll meet on their own. I think pockets of students, leaders and freshmen, will have their own Freshley these next two weeks... and it will be even better than if we were running it for them. Because true moves of God aren't dependent on a system or a time slot, but often rather when people want something more and come together to seek it.
Tonight we're supposed to get 4-5 inches of snow, and the university has already called for no classes tomorrow. Since Wesley Foundation follows the university schedule, we won't be going in to work at all tomorrow. Freshley happens on Monday nights, so now with MLK we won't be having Freshley for two weeks. As sad as that is for me, and so many of our freshmen and leaders, I think something even better is going to happen. My hope is that the hunger for fellowship in our group tonight is characteristic of what God is doing in the rest of the body, and that they'll meet on their own. I think pockets of students, leaders and freshmen, will have their own Freshley these next two weeks... and it will be even better than if we were running it for them. Because true moves of God aren't dependent on a system or a time slot, but often rather when people want something more and come together to seek it.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Christmas Break
Well, Christmas Break was all I could have asked for: just being home with family was more than enough, it had been nearly a year since my family had all been together, with Jeff and me being in Japan and India respectively at different times over the summer. It was a time of rest, restoration of hope and passion, and just encouragement.
Though the break started with laziness and apathy that has been present in some past breaks, the Lord began redeeming those into resting in Him. Sunday I took the whole day before and after church to just go and pray, spend time in His presence, and let Him speak to me about this year. I really believe it will be the best semester of Wesley yet, as God mobilizes His people to bring heaven to Athens and even beyond this city. He showed me a role to play in calling our student leaders into greater maturity, and that even for the freshmen as well.
Right now, I have a greater passion for life than I have felt in a while, the fruit of which is greater productivity and revelation from just enjoying God's presence in each everyday activity. We have our 24hr staff retreat tomorrow, and I am so excited to see what God wants to do in and through our staff.
Please pray for an increase in passion, for all of us and not just me, that comes from intimacy with knowing and being close to the God of the universe who loved us enough to send His beloved Son to die for us.
Though the break started with laziness and apathy that has been present in some past breaks, the Lord began redeeming those into resting in Him. Sunday I took the whole day before and after church to just go and pray, spend time in His presence, and let Him speak to me about this year. I really believe it will be the best semester of Wesley yet, as God mobilizes His people to bring heaven to Athens and even beyond this city. He showed me a role to play in calling our student leaders into greater maturity, and that even for the freshmen as well.
Right now, I have a greater passion for life than I have felt in a while, the fruit of which is greater productivity and revelation from just enjoying God's presence in each everyday activity. We have our 24hr staff retreat tomorrow, and I am so excited to see what God wants to do in and through our staff.
Please pray for an increase in passion, for all of us and not just me, that comes from intimacy with knowing and being close to the God of the universe who loved us enough to send His beloved Son to die for us.
Friday, December 17, 2010
a few things learned...
Looking back at the semester in review:
1. I'm terrible at blogging frequently.
2. A little goes a long way. Amazing how much a phone call to check in on someone or a facebook message can encourage someone. People are desperate to know they are loved, and God's love is often most tangible when it comes through people. That is why Jesus narrowed the entire Law down to two simple instructions: love Him, love people.
3. Comparison tends to steer us towards insecurity (jealousy, powerlessness, or disconnectedness) or arrogance.
4. God is a God of restoration: Of hope, of joy, of peace, of passion, of discouragements of every sort. His heart is for our fullness.
5. Love and honor always move us towards people. Everyone has barriers that keep them from both giving and receiving love.
6. Ministry is not for spiritual All-Stars, because there are none. Everyone has their imperfections and mistakes, but are perfect in Christ. The calling of ministry is inseparable from the belief and faith in Jesus.
7. I'm getting older, slower, and weaker, but it's because of laziness. When I purpose to, I can still hang with those in their athletic primes - which is a great way to build relationships in ministry.
8. We must never stop learning, never become complacent, and settle. One of Satan's greatest lies is that every new step we take is "good enough."
9. Leading two small groups (one of freshmen, the other small group leaders), discipling four student leaders, co leading a group or around 120 student leaders, and helping lead a ministry around 350 people, I've made excuses far too often of not having enough time, lacked intentionality, and have yet to change a culture of the next generation of Christians - this is a glass is half full mentality. Thank you Jesus for an amazing semester. Where we know He is taking us and not being there yet should never keep us from celebrating that which He has done now. Lives have been changed, friendships built, and eyes opened to the Good News. People have been freed from spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical prisons. God is good.
1. I'm terrible at blogging frequently.
2. A little goes a long way. Amazing how much a phone call to check in on someone or a facebook message can encourage someone. People are desperate to know they are loved, and God's love is often most tangible when it comes through people. That is why Jesus narrowed the entire Law down to two simple instructions: love Him, love people.
3. Comparison tends to steer us towards insecurity (jealousy, powerlessness, or disconnectedness) or arrogance.
4. God is a God of restoration: Of hope, of joy, of peace, of passion, of discouragements of every sort. His heart is for our fullness.
5. Love and honor always move us towards people. Everyone has barriers that keep them from both giving and receiving love.
6. Ministry is not for spiritual All-Stars, because there are none. Everyone has their imperfections and mistakes, but are perfect in Christ. The calling of ministry is inseparable from the belief and faith in Jesus.
7. I'm getting older, slower, and weaker, but it's because of laziness. When I purpose to, I can still hang with those in their athletic primes - which is a great way to build relationships in ministry.
8. We must never stop learning, never become complacent, and settle. One of Satan's greatest lies is that every new step we take is "good enough."
9. Leading two small groups (one of freshmen, the other small group leaders), discipling four student leaders, co leading a group or around 120 student leaders, and helping lead a ministry around 350 people, I've made excuses far too often of not having enough time, lacked intentionality, and have yet to change a culture of the next generation of Christians - this is a glass is half full mentality. Thank you Jesus for an amazing semester. Where we know He is taking us and not being there yet should never keep us from celebrating that which He has done now. Lives have been changed, friendships built, and eyes opened to the Good News. People have been freed from spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical prisons. God is good.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Murder Mystery Theater and Jamaican Invasion
Hello friends!
This past Friday, we turned the Main Chapel into a Luau grounds, complete even with a beach in the corner, for our Hawaiian themed Murder Mystery Theater. We had about 100 student leaders and freshmen show up and participate in groups to solve the case. Our staff really got to "ham it up" in our acting exhibitions for the year, and the night was a good opportunity for people to bring people together for a good time.
The past few weeks, we have been getting our Jamaica trip finalized. Last year, 110 staff, leaders and freshmen went to Port Maria and Montego Bay for Spring Break. This year, we expected we might have to go to three locations. To our astonishment, 200 people signed up to go, and our director Stephen had to go to Jamaica last week to look into additional locations, finally arriving us at the place of 3 locations (adding St. Ann's) with about 70 people each. We're blessed: what a great problem for a ministry to have.
God has really been pouring out favor on this year. It shows not just in numbers, but also in depth. In our Freshley Monday night service, we just wrapped up a three week series inspired by the book Radical by David Platt (I highly recommend reading it). In all my years in Athens (this is my 6th - wow), I have never seen a community so purposed to reach out and take the kingdom of God not just to this city, but to the world - and the weight behind the momentum is a community of 18 and 19 year old Freshmen in the body of Christ. Love it.
Please be praying for the upcoming school breaks - our freshmen and student leaders have all grown so much, and Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks can be so discouraging every year when they are removed from that intentional community. The enemy really gets people down with the lie that they can't help but backslide into who they used to be. Pray that these breaks would be seasons of taking more ground and advancing even further into what God wants to do in them and through for the rest of the year.
This past Friday, we turned the Main Chapel into a Luau grounds, complete even with a beach in the corner, for our Hawaiian themed Murder Mystery Theater. We had about 100 student leaders and freshmen show up and participate in groups to solve the case. Our staff really got to "ham it up" in our acting exhibitions for the year, and the night was a good opportunity for people to bring people together for a good time.
The past few weeks, we have been getting our Jamaica trip finalized. Last year, 110 staff, leaders and freshmen went to Port Maria and Montego Bay for Spring Break. This year, we expected we might have to go to three locations. To our astonishment, 200 people signed up to go, and our director Stephen had to go to Jamaica last week to look into additional locations, finally arriving us at the place of 3 locations (adding St. Ann's) with about 70 people each. We're blessed: what a great problem for a ministry to have.
God has really been pouring out favor on this year. It shows not just in numbers, but also in depth. In our Freshley Monday night service, we just wrapped up a three week series inspired by the book Radical by David Platt (I highly recommend reading it). In all my years in Athens (this is my 6th - wow), I have never seen a community so purposed to reach out and take the kingdom of God not just to this city, but to the world - and the weight behind the momentum is a community of 18 and 19 year old Freshmen in the body of Christ. Love it.
Please be praying for the upcoming school breaks - our freshmen and student leaders have all grown so much, and Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks can be so discouraging every year when they are removed from that intentional community. The enemy really gets people down with the lie that they can't help but backslide into who they used to be. Pray that these breaks would be seasons of taking more ground and advancing even further into what God wants to do in them and through for the rest of the year.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Freshley Retreat
Hey Friends!
I apologize, it has been far too long since I have written anything on here. Maybe this blogging habit isn't coming as naturally to me as I would have hoped.
Freshley Retreat was last weekend. With over 200 people (Freshmen, student leaders, and staff), we headed up to Dahlonega for the weekend. We prayed and prepared a lot in the weeks before, and God was so faithful. The weather was perfect. People connected and built friendships. Saturday night we had our meeting end with a 5 hour worship session as people just lost track of time. Some time after 2 AM Sunday morning as I reflected on the weekend to that point, I realized the Lord had changed dozens if not hundreds of lives forever in just a short weekend. I love the blessing and fun that is my job. The best part is really that I see people transformed more and more to His likeness on a daily basis.
I had been sick most of the week leading into the retreat, and just as I was getting better, I got my prescribed 3-4 hrs of sleep per night that comes with retreats (Love it!). So with no rest over the weekend and heading right into Monday, my busiest day of the week with Freshley, I got sick enough that I had to take Tuesday off. I think I'm just now shaking it off in time for another amazing week.
So recently I have actually become pretty discouraged with keeping this blog. I just felt like no one was reading it; then I realized this is not about how many people actually read it or how many it blesses, but faithfulness to what God is calling me to do. I'm humbled by my inability to regularly chronicle another year in ministry at Wesley, if only for my own use. Though I cannot see the purpose, love is about commitment, so in that sense at least I am aiming to love, even in this blog.
I apologize, it has been far too long since I have written anything on here. Maybe this blogging habit isn't coming as naturally to me as I would have hoped.
Freshley Retreat was last weekend. With over 200 people (Freshmen, student leaders, and staff), we headed up to Dahlonega for the weekend. We prayed and prepared a lot in the weeks before, and God was so faithful. The weather was perfect. People connected and built friendships. Saturday night we had our meeting end with a 5 hour worship session as people just lost track of time. Some time after 2 AM Sunday morning as I reflected on the weekend to that point, I realized the Lord had changed dozens if not hundreds of lives forever in just a short weekend. I love the blessing and fun that is my job. The best part is really that I see people transformed more and more to His likeness on a daily basis.
I had been sick most of the week leading into the retreat, and just as I was getting better, I got my prescribed 3-4 hrs of sleep per night that comes with retreats (Love it!). So with no rest over the weekend and heading right into Monday, my busiest day of the week with Freshley, I got sick enough that I had to take Tuesday off. I think I'm just now shaking it off in time for another amazing week.
So recently I have actually become pretty discouraged with keeping this blog. I just felt like no one was reading it; then I realized this is not about how many people actually read it or how many it blesses, but faithfulness to what God is calling me to do. I'm humbled by my inability to regularly chronicle another year in ministry at Wesley, if only for my own use. Though I cannot see the purpose, love is about commitment, so in that sense at least I am aiming to love, even in this blog.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Two Weeks into the Year
The year has been incredible thus far. Our first two services at Wesley have been amazing. The first one filled Tate so fully I felt led to go worship in the hallway outside the ballroom for most of the service. It helped it was a good 10 degrees cooler outside the room where probably 1400 people or so came together to worship God.
Freshley: We split the 580 or so people who came to Freshley this past Monday into small group, which made for quite the chaotic transition, but now we have almost 40 (including prayer groups) group where students are being challenged to grow spiritually in community. My guys are so hungry for God. I could tell they were all really excited about a place where they could fellowship, grow, and outreach together. They're so cool too. Too bad I wasn't that cool when I was a freshman.
God is teaching me rest. Last weekend I had my first true Sabbath where I wasn't doing something Wesley or for other people in weeks. All the roommates were out of town or not around, so I tried to spend a day of rest in God's presence. Nearly killed me: I am such an American. Valuing time that is not tangibly productive stresses me out (and many others), but God has a heart for true rest.
Hopefully another post coming soon, I went to an amazing conference this weekend called Jesus in the Qur'an (JIQ). I'm still digesting it, and there's much too much to fit in with this post. Please be praying for God to sustain me as this week will be busy trying to launch Intramural teams for Freshley, as well as finalizing (hopefully) our leadership curriculum for our 3 areas of Leadership.
Freshley: We split the 580 or so people who came to Freshley this past Monday into small group, which made for quite the chaotic transition, but now we have almost 40 (including prayer groups) group where students are being challenged to grow spiritually in community. My guys are so hungry for God. I could tell they were all really excited about a place where they could fellowship, grow, and outreach together. They're so cool too. Too bad I wasn't that cool when I was a freshman.
God is teaching me rest. Last weekend I had my first true Sabbath where I wasn't doing something Wesley or for other people in weeks. All the roommates were out of town or not around, so I tried to spend a day of rest in God's presence. Nearly killed me: I am such an American. Valuing time that is not tangibly productive stresses me out (and many others), but God has a heart for true rest.
Hopefully another post coming soon, I went to an amazing conference this weekend called Jesus in the Qur'an (JIQ). I'm still digesting it, and there's much too much to fit in with this post. Please be praying for God to sustain me as this week will be busy trying to launch Intramural teams for Freshley, as well as finalizing (hopefully) our leadership curriculum for our 3 areas of Leadership.
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