Lessons in Spirit-Led Leadership

This past semester has been a full one--full of joy, full of grief, full of expectation, full of awe, full of lessons.

God has had a lot to teach me this semester about Leadership and what it means to be "Spirit-led."
And He continues, of course.

At the beginning of the year in January, I knew Joshua and I were losing our student leadership team. I knew it had been happening for a long time when I began sharing new vision and ideas in September. I tried so hard to change that every leadership meeting. I knew from their obvious faithfulness and commitment to Christ that they wanted to be a part of His work. And I wanted them to understand more fully how excited I knew the Holy Spirit was about His work in this place. I would speak with joy and anticipation, eagerly sharing His goodness with them, pouring everything my soul could handle into as encouraging of a speech as possible.

Again. And Again. And Again. 

One of them would be exhilarated, ready-to-go; the other three would look at me, hopeful but with a look of "I don't know what you are talking about" lingering in their eyes. I would leave leadership meeting exhausted once again, wondering why I had failed yet again. I'd given it everything!

So I cried "Why, God? What am I doing wrong?"

And then one day, one of the leadership students echoed me. "Mom," one of them addressed me in my usual nickname that always makes me smile. "What are we doing wrong? We invite and try hard, but no one is coming. I feel like NCM isn't going anywhere."

My heart sank. I had lost them. But how? But why?

I decided to ask. "What do you think we could do to make it better?"

His response was so clear, "I know you are excited, Mom. And I know God has given you a vision of where we are going and that it is beautiful. I can see it when you talk with us. I know you are the leader God wants to lead us there because you seem to always know we are moving. But I can't see it. I don't know what to measure it by. I don't know how I can be a part of getting to the end." He sighed. "I don't know what I personally am supposed to do everyday. So I find myself not doing anything."

In one second, I saw staff meeting after staff meeting, leadership after leadership meeting flash through my mind's eye. I saw the moments last year where I would leave a planning meeting with Joshua super frustrated because I felt like he would never understand. I saw the moments when I knew we were losing the student leadership team and felt helpless. And it dawned on me.

I was trying to communicate with them all like they were Miriam. Like I was the center of the universe.

Over the past few weeks, God has been showing me a lot about how leadership requires humbly leading differently according to how various students need to be led.

One of the leadership students is like me. Shep is big-picture, conceptual, more of a feeler, comfortable floating in and out of people's stories, knowing all along that God will bring the story to it's needed end.

The other three are detail-oriented, literal, fact-based, comfortable creating a long term plan out of short term ones, calculating their time out wisely to get to the desired end.

And so now when I present information at leadership meeting, I am learning to present it both ways. I am learning to dream in big-picture fashion first because that is what is natural to me and helps me grasp hold of the energy I need to encourage them. But then I begin the process of asking them questions and helping them break it down into more accomplish-able strategy that those who need facts can grasp and throw their all into.

Because it takes us all.

God designed each of our brains differently, and He uses us to balance each other beautifully. Alongside the spiritual gifts and personality types, learning styles are also a valuable piece of the effective Body of Christ.

Last year, I arrogantly approached the different views Joshua and I had in ministry with the attitude that Joshua "just wasn't relying on the Spirit enough."  I had in my head that relying on the Spirit meant just feeling Him directing you in the moment and obeying. That's what I do everyday and it works for me in the way that I interact with Him. But through all of this, I've realized that is not the only way to interact with the Spirit. I believe that Joshua, Cody, Karissa, and Ryan all rely on the Spirit in their lives and commune with Him as they serve the Lord. They are incredible leaders full of His abiding presence! But their approach to walking in that presence means inviting the Spirit into the planning process, asking Him in advance of the moment about the details, the time, the strategy. And that is just as spiritual, just as holy, just as Biblical.

And we can learn from each other. Sometimes I need to be reminded of the details, of the prioritization of goals. Sometimes others need encouragement to jump fully into every situation, even if it wasn't on the list today.

I'm grateful that God chose to create us uniquely and fill us with His Spirit.
I'm grateful that He forgives my arrogance and allows me to continue to serve as I grow daily.
I'm grateful that NCM is moving--rapidly--toward amazing things as He completes His perfect work.
I'm grateful that we don't have to be losing heart or arguing or flailing, but "rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." (Ephesians 4:15-16)

But I'm most grateful that Christ is Leader enough for us all!

Glorieta 2014

Group shot at Glorieta: Campuses represented include Portand State University, Clackamas Community College, Eastern Washington University, Multnomah Bible College, and University of Oregon, as well as students from Northwest Contexture Church.

Some of you have been asking about Glorieta. I wanted to share briefly about this experience with our college students. Glorieta is a Christian camp in the mountains of New Mexico; every August, ~2000 college students and their leaders from all over the country gather for Collegiate Week. Ken and Dondi (my pastor and his wife) and other long-term collegiate ministers in the Northwest have been making the drive to Glorieta from Portland for over twenty years. As they spoke all year of this long-standing tradition, I was excited to experience it with my own college students. Two of my leadership students, Cody and Jason, were able to attend this year. I am grateful for this incredible week with them and the others from Northwest campuses.

Each day at Glorieta is set up with large group worship times, small groups, recreation times, and breakout sessions. Breakout sessions ended up being my favorite time of all. For these, directors and students were typically given different options. This ended up being a huge blessing for me, as each of the director's sessions addressed various topics that will assist me in weeks to come. I gained much helpful information and training from sessions on topics of importance in this era of campus ministry such as planning and leading effective small groups, dealing with issues of sexual identity (including homosexuality and pornography) with gracious Biblical conversations, investing into and choosing a student leadership team, building much-needed relationships with university staff, etc. Learning from campus ministers who have been in this ministry for 20-30 years was incredibly valuable!

Our students also enjoyed their breakout sessions, which were practical in nature and addressed such topics as "How Can There Only Be One God?", "A Biblical View of Homosexuality", "What Does Commitment Look Like in the Life of a Believer?", "How Should a Christian Respond to 50 Shades of Gray?", "Christ-centered Dating", and other issues and topics our college students face on a daily basis as they live and interact with a community who doesn't know our Jesus. I was thrilled to see them discuss the concepts they learned and further research together what scripture has to say about these matters so they would be "ready to give an answer."

Worship each morning and evening also presented much food for thought. The speakers all encouraged us to be bold in sharing our faith and ready to GO each day as the Lord revealed how and where. I was encouraged in further conversations with our students to pinpoint specific people in their lives in need of the gospel, as well as share with them people God has put on my heart. Pray for us as we seek to be obedient in sharing with these specific friends in the days and weeks to come.

Recreation provided spiritual lessons, also. One of the girls in our group was terrified of the 4-story slide into the lake and said she would not do it. After much convincing that she could indeed be brave and that this would be a first step into getting out of her comfort zone, she conquered this fear. To see her confidence boosted and her apply how God was with her in that moment of discomfort to changes she needed to make at home ("God will be with me then as He was with me on the slide.") was worth the time and energy invested, as well as having to conquer my own fear of the fish in the lake (I HATE FISH) so I could do it with her! haha... :) I love how God uses the little things to show us huge spiritual truths!

Glorieta was an encouraging experience for us all, and I am looking forward to taking more students along next summer! Thank you to all who prayed for us as we traveled, counseled students as they heard from the Lord, and heard from God in specific ways ourselves!

Lewis and Clark Expedition 2014: NGA BCM Spring Break Missions Team

During the third week of March, a team came up from the University of North Georgia to serve with us in Portland; we lovingly dubbed the trip "Lewis and Clark Expedition 2014". I enjoyed serving alongside students from the campus ministry I had the opportunity to intern at last year. Definitely encouraged me to see GA friends!

The team was made up of five girls: Courtney (their fearless leader), Taylor, Katelyn, Stacey, and Katie. Here's a few pictures from their visit, as well as testimonies from two of the girls about how God work in their lives on the trip. 

The team on the riverfront: Stacey, Courtney, Katie, Taylor, Katelyn

"I am so glad I had the opportunity to spend a week in Portland doing mission work. I truly think God is working in the North West. We were able to serve with serval different ministries during the week, including a homeless ministry called Night Strike, Portland State NCM, and a sweet lady named Kelly who organizes community mission projects. It was really neat to see how God was using each ministry in different ways to reach the people of Portland. One of my favorite things we did while in Portland was one of the projects we did with Kelly. We went to a laundry mat and paid for people's laundry and gave out free pizza, doughnuts, and drinks. During this time we were also able to talk to customers who came in. It was always such a blessing to see people's reactions when they realized that we would be paying for their laundry. That also gave us an opportunity to explain why were there. Through this trip, God really opened my eyes to how I could be serving and reaching people at home." -Katie 

Stacey (above) and Taylor (below) loving on children at the Good News club. 

"In one week of being in Portland, I walked all over the city streets; rode the public transit with some interesting natives; found my way all over PSU putting up posters; touched the Pacific ocean; bonded with an amazing team of Christians from Washington; handed out PB&Js to the homeless; threw a party in a laundromat; and had the Lord break my heart with His over the children there. I can't accurately convey what being in the Northwest culture--specifically the "None" Zone--did for my perspective. Too many Christians believe that people who have never heard the name of Jesus (or know of the Bible) exist only outside of America. Unfortunately, Portland rightly earned the title of having the most people check off "none" in a religious survey. Even worse, the culture there has it to where even the politest stranger typically  won't carry on a conversation with you. The entire week I found myself to be frustrated with southern Christian culture in that we have the privilege to talk to strangers, believers and not, and yet so many of us do not ever say a word to anyone new. It made me realize that nearly all the obstacles southerns face in sharing their beliefs were created by the culture itself--their comfort with familiarity contains the Gospel. And we need to change that. One week in Portland allowed me to see the need and the difficulties with reaching lost people there and simultaneously showed me the growing problem at home." -Taylor

(Above) This year Joshua and I have been investing in relationships with students through the environmental club. They needed some work done in the community garden before Earth Day. It was a great way to be the hands and feet of Jesus on campus! 

(Below) On the team's last day in Portland, we invited them to go with a group of our students to the Coast. Haystack Rock didn't disappoint! 

And the Lord said, "Make Vegan Smores!"

Ever have one of those days when you're a jerk and anything but like Jesus? 

Yeah. I had one of those yesterday. 

Worse yet, I had that moment with Joshua, my co-campus minister, and Karissa, one of our leadership students, there to view the whole thing. Goodness.  

Karissa first had the idea of doing an event called "Good S'mornings" a few weeks ago (and I've been proud to see her pursue carrying it out!). The idea is that we will love campus by making s'mores before morning classes, which will open up opportunities for conversing and building relationships. We are planning to do a test run on May 28th, and if it goes over well, we'll continue it regularly next school year as a part of our outreach and publicity. We've been planning our budget this week, looking at costs for not only regular s'mores but also some gluten-free, vegan ones because of the audience we serve here in the NorthWest. 

Enter grouchy Miriam.

It turns out vegan s'mores are three times as expensive as regular ones. And that was frustrating me. In my moment of utter non-dependancy on the Lord for provision and my extreme judgment on people with different values than me, I made a lot of non-Jesus like comments yesterday about the making of vegan s'mores, saying, among other embarrassing things I don't care to repeat, that we should just scrap the idea because those people needed to get over it anyway. 

Bless my heart.

Joshua and Karissa stuck to their guns, correcting me about my non-Jesus-like attitude and claiming that we should still do vegan smores. Praise the Lord for them! As Joshua has said before, they were graciously attempting "to keep me from the whole fish gut experience." I walked away knowing they were correct but still stubbornly claiming, "Well, I don't have to be happy about it while I am doing it!" 

Bless my heart. 

Then...what to my wondering eyes should appear this morning in Bible study? Did you know that there is a verse in the Bible about vegan smores? I didn't either! But apparently the Lord felt it necessary to show me this morning. It actually comes from the passage that was my theme verses for this whole ministry launch back last September. Funny how that works. 

Isaiah 58:6-12:

 “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house;

when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.

 Then you shall call, and the Lordwill answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’

If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,

 if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,

then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday.

 And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong;

and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail.

 And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;

you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to dwell in.

It was the Lord's way of saying, "If you pour yourself out for the hungry..." POUR YOURSELF OUT, Miriam. Not do the bare minimum. The bare minimum for Jesus was death on the cross. That was Him being your sacrifice. But no. He rose from the dead. He went beyond the requirement of the law (blood sacrifice) to bring you eternal life. Do you love like that?"

And as if that wasn't enough for me to get the point, I am also reading out of Ruth 2 today.  I've read the story of Ruth dozens of time, but what sticks out to me today? The fact that Boaz goes beyond what he had to do by law. Doesn't just let Ruth glean, but gives her water, food, and protection, even telling his servants to leave extra for her. 

There it is. Pour yourself out. Extra.

1Timothy 6:18-19 sums it up: 

Believers are "to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that others may take hold of that which is truly Life."

Pour yourself out. Extra. Generous. Vegan smores. Those are all synonyms for me today. 

What are the synonyms in your life today?  

To Be A Little Different

The crazy people were in the Park Blocks today. And by "crazy people", I don't mean the mentally instable. I mean these people--

Some of you might be thinking, "That's awesome! They are acting unashamed of their faith and preaching the gospel on the streets." 

But no. Quite the opposite. Because Portland doesn't know Christianity as Jesus. Portlanders know Christianity and Jesus as "the crazy people-haters." Portlanders are well aware of these people and their tactics. Portlanders' responses are not interest or heart-change. Their response is either walking past quickly or yelling back openly. And the street preachers' responses to such are no better; they fall to faulty arguments and sweeping generalizations and treat people with no respect. 

The Park Blocks are public green space that runs down the middle of campus. As public property, they are a free speech area. Many different groups come to rally their cause. As I walked into the Park Blocks this afternoon and saw and heard the ruckus, my heart was saddened. I meandered in and out of the crowd, talking with students. "What do you think of what that guy is saying?" I would ask. Then patiently listen as they spat out anger and bitterness. Afterward, I would be able to share with them about the life Jesus brought me--not just death and judgment. Death is Satan's thing: judgment is God's thing. Life, through His mercy, is my thing.  My job is to share hopeful truth. And my desire is to share through meaningful, respectful relationships with those who want answers. But I don't have answers. It is tempting for me to get out my spiritual hammer and nail people by telling them all the things they are doing that aren't right. But I'm learning that always backfires, and I end up hitting my own fingers. I'm just as imperfect, only I have the Spirit living within me to give me life. It's all Him. Not me. 

As I talked with people in the crowd, I met Macy and Jared, Josh and David--all students who needed Jesus. Each of them left me with the comment, "You are a different Christian." I thought back to one of my first conversations with my agnostic roommate in which she made the comment. "We were worried you were going to be like the people in the Park Blocks. We thought you were going to be weird. But you're a different kind of weird than we thought." 

How are you being "a different kind of weird" in your cultural context? I would love to hear your stories! 

A Glimpse of Need

It is so, so good to finally be making a post from the City of Roses! Hello from Portland! 

The past few days have held many little conversations, new directors' training, friendship building, and campus exploring so we can know where we are. Students will begin moving in on Saturday. I move into my dorm on Monday. Though I absolutely LOVE my host family, I cannot wait to be on campus! 

Today Joshua and I explored the inside of several buildings. One of the rooms we discovered was the meditation/prayer room. Going there was the most sobering part of my day. Around the room, there were various meditation stations. Many of the tables included notecards where students could ask questions or post their spiritual thoughts. As I read them, the Spirit was so sad within me yet so glad. Sad because of the deep lostness that saturates this campus like no where I've ever been. Glad because I have the Truth and a mouth and hands and feet to share it with! How much confirmation of my call these provided!

I took pictures of some of the cards so you can get a feel for some of the lostness as well. These are just a few; there were 100+ more notecards like these. I only saw 2 that actually spoke truth. Please join me in praying over these precious, confused ones! 

Let Wisdom Serve the City

The first thing I noticed on the Portland State campus when I visited was this:

 

In bold caps was the university's motto: "LET KNOWLEDGE SERVE THE CITY."

I remember talking with Jesus as we walked under it, thinking that the phrase was reflective of the hopelessness on campus, as if knowledge was the highest thing one could obtain. I knew right then that I was supposed to go to this place.

However, I hadn't really thought much of  that phrase until this past Monday night, when I had a chance to go back to the campus ministry I interned with this past year and be a part of their summer Bible study. Ken, my campus minister, shared about wisdom and the fear of the LORD.

He focused in on Proverbs 1: 7: " The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." Some people buck a bit at that verse. "Fear the LORD?" they say. "We shouldn't fear the LORD! God is loving and kind. He is forgiving. He wants us to experience joy and peace." Others say, "Yeah! That's what we need to do! This generation doesn't fear the LORD enough! They are all going to experience God's wrath!"

Both extreme attitudes are not what the scriptures are pointing us to. The no-fear, freedom model puts us in a position that disregards the need for the gospel, takes for granted the sacrifice of separation from the Father that Jesus made for us on the cross, and makes it easy to sin for we disregard it's weight by saying, "God will forgive me."  The all-fear model puts us in a position that disregards the beauty of the gospel, sends people running from the Father, and makes us judgmental, legalistic, and full of bitterness and anger. 

Think with me for a minute. 

The first word to ponder is FREEDOM. Make a mental list of some characteristics of God that give us freedom, that make it easier to trust in Him and be in relationship with Him.

Got your list? Well, here's some of mine (maybe you have others; please comment and share them!)...

I know I can have FREEDOM because God is:
Loving, gracious, merciful, kind, patient, peaceful, gentle, forgiving...

Now, another word for you--FEAR. Make another mental list of some characteristics of God that should lead us to fear Him. 

Here's my list:
I know I must FEAR because God is: 

holy, just, sovereign, perfect, righteous, my Maker, Sustainer of all life...

The Hebrew word for "fear" means to stand in awe of the Exalted. It doesn't mean to shake in dread and flee in terror. If we have that proper understanding of the word, we can understand how having the "fear of the LORD" doesn't separate us from a loving relationship of freedom in Christ Jesus. Rather, it gives us a proper perspective on Who the Father is as the perfect balance of Awe-Inspiring Exalted King and our Heavenly Daddy.

What does this have to do with Portland State, you ask?

Well, it is my great desire that students at Portland State come to know Jesus Christ and walk in a right relationship with Him. I Cor. 1: 30 says,

 "And because of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption."

If the fear of the LORD--the attitude of reverence for the LORD we obtain as we rightly know His character--is the beginning of wisdom and the Wisdom of God is Jesus Christ and "Him crucified" (I Cor. 1:23), then our foundational principle as a campus ministry (and as believers in general) must be to teach the character of God.

And so I begin, as any writer would, to create a Bible study to use in the fall. Please pray for me as I brainstorm, write, edit, and prepare. My goal is to create a Bible study that would grab the attention of unchurched nonbelievers who have little to no knowledge of the scriptures, much less wisdom from believing the God of the scriptures. I want to answer the question, "Who is God?" and tell the attributes of God through story, incorporating both O.T. and N.T. stories in a narrative that teaches God's character, ultimately culminating with God's character of being "righteousness, sanctification, and redemption" (I Cor. 1:30). I've never written a Bible study for non-believers before. I know it is going to be quite the challenge for this Bible-belt, raised-with-Christian-jargon-from-the-womb, Southern girl to set aside all of that and try to imagine what is like to not understand who Abraham is or what the word "sanctification" means. I know I'm going to have to watch every word and tone I use; I don't want to talk over their heads or down to them. I need prayers for a lot of balance! It will be a challenge, but I know that I need this tool (and the practice) for the fall and so I begin!

And so I need your help! What is your favorite attribute of our God? And why? How does that attribute point toward the cross? Please comment and share, even if your favorite attribute is the same as someone else's! You never know how your comment might help jump-start my thoughts and set me off on a journey to tell some precious students about Jesus!

By the way, I got one more major thing out of Ken's Bible study the other day. I had been praying about a motto for our campus ministry. Now I have it!

"Let Wisdom Serve the City." 

"...We seek to impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.  But we impart a secret and hidden Wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages ... As it is written, 'No eye has seen, nor has ear heard,  nor has the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him!"  (I Cor. 2: 6-7,9)

Yes, and Amen.

By His Grace Alone: How The Lord Called Me To Campus Ministry

When I tell my story to people, I normally share how the Lord called me to campus ministry in Oregon not necessarily how He called me to campus ministry in general. Today someone asked me that and I thought back on those two days that the Lord made it clear that campus ministry was the ministry field He wished to use me in.

Taylor and I meeting for Bible study on BCM's front lawn.

I think it started with Taylor Watson. That's typical, really. A lot of things have started with Taylor Watson for me this past nine months. (For those of you who do not know, Taylor is one of the girls I have had the incredible privilege to disciple this year. She is a new believer and an incredible, passionate, faith-filled woman of God. Every meeting with her challenges me to my core because she asks deep questions of the why behind the why, helping me take things I've believed and known for years and apply them to daily living in a way that helps me to return to my First Love. How thankful I am for her!)

And so Taylor and I were meeting on Tuesday, November 12 and she began asking me about the Christmas story. I soon realized no one had ever told her the full story. And it rocked my world. As the thoughts swirled through my brain and I tried to keep my mind focused so I could tell the story, I thought "she's 18; she grew up in Jasper. This isn't China! Where have the Christians been?"

When Taylor left BCM that day, I sat down and wept.  I was thrilled to have seen the joy and wonder with which she took in the Christmas story and to know that she knew about how Jesus had come to be Emmanuel. But I was also in despair because no one had told her before.

As I sobbed out to Abba my frustrations, I felt an ever-growing passion within me. In response to my grief, God answered, "These are the ones I've called you to, the ones I've given you a crazy love for; you'll do this again, over and over."

I think at that point I didn't really process what He was saying.  The next 24 hours were a blur. Someone close to some of Staff had died; several of the girls I was discipling had major things happen in their families; one of my best friend's grandmother was really sick; we were decorating the BCM House for our Parent's Night at Christmas and if something could go wrong, it had. Spending three hours trying to get a large wreath to hang from the 20 foot beam with braided floral wire was the straw that broke the camel's back. I went to the bathroom and laid flat on the tile. I told the Lord I couldn't take anything else that night. Just as I said that, I heard my name. Someone was calling for me and they brought me a crying Freshman. I remember looking up into Abba's face going, "Lord, we just talked about this. I can't give anymore." But He said, "Listen." So I did. And her story broke me even more. I didn't have the answers, I couldn't fix it all, I couldn't, I couldn't, I couldn't.

But He could.

And so somehow, someway, I spoke words that only the Holy Spirit could've given my weary soul and mouth. They must have been of some comfort for she left with a smile.

I, on the other hand, laid on the floor of my bedroom, crying and questioning every calling to ministry I had ever experienced. And after I got it all out, after I told Him that I didn't know why in the world He chose to use me, after I told Him I didn't know anything about how to be a good campus minister, after I'd just shown that all the knowledge I had was diddly-squat, THEN He spoke again, "These are the ones I've called you to, the ones I've given you a crazy love for. You'll do this again, over and over."

And so here I am.  By His grace alone. Soon, in faith, to be a campus minister at Portland State University.

A campus minister who can't wait to tell the Christmas story!

The Skeptic's Club Encouraged Me In Campus Ministry

"If someone had taken the time Freshman year to explain to me how God could actually be real or answered my questions about science and the Bible in Sunday School, I might still believe. But now? Now I have science; that's all I need."
~Elgin, Atheist from the North GA Skeptic's Club

Few moments have confirmed my call to campus ministry to me more than the moment when Elgin shared the above statement with us in Skeptic's Club a few weeks ago. I first decided to go to Skeptic's Club back in January when the Lord told me I was supposed to go "outside the camp [my comfort zone and Christian bubble], bearing His reproach." (Hebrews 13:13) I went to listen at first, just to give them a section of my day and understand why they believe what they believe. Then the Lord opened doors to share the gospel in crazy ways!

Skeptic's Club discussions

This was the last meeting of the semester and my friend Taylor and I expected there to be a large turn-out for Skeptics, as they were picking their officers for next year. Instead, God had a different plan. Only Elgin showed. So we sat and talked about science and God for the next two hours with this Atheist who had once led worship at his church as a youth but had been disillusioned by his upper-level science classes. All I could think as I sat there was "if someone had taken the time Freshman year...if someone had taken the time Freshman year....if someone had taken the time Freshman year...I might still believe." 

This is who the Lord has called me to go to. Those mold-able college students who have never heard the truth and who need REAL answers.  Those precious Freshman who have grown up in church but are struggling to make sense of how the Truth of the Bible and the World's Philosophy fit together (or don't). Those seeking Sophomores who are beginning to grow cold toward anything religious because no one will take the time to explain or talk to them like they are adults. Those stretched Juniors who are feeling the pressures of upper-level classes, relationships, or family life. Those stressed Seniors who are choosing their life work, who want to do something that matters in this world but aren't really sure if anything truly matters anymore.

These are who God has called me to love. And I'm so very glad!

I never thought when I began going to the N. GA. Skeptics Club that I would one day say I'd miss those rascals. But I do. They have taught me more than they know about how to defend truth and how much I need Jesus! God has used them to break down pride in my life and to show me that I didn't know what I was talking about so He could rebuild me by His Word. They have helped me learn a small piece of what it means to be Jesus' hands and feet. I have loved it!

I recently joined the Facebook page for the Portland State University Skeptics Club. I know what I'm going to be doing with Wednesday afternoons come September! I couldn't be happier!

Pray for:
--those who heard truth in Skeptics club this year, knowing that the Lord's word does not return to Him void.
--those students who will continue to reach out in Skeptic's club next year. Pray that not only would he prepare those who are willing now but also raise up more people to love on them for the kingdom!
--those in the PSU Skeptic's Club whom the Lord will give me opportunity to engage with in a few short months, that He will already begin preparing them to hear and receive the truth.
--me as I prepare to be "ready to give an answer" over the summer. I am currently reading a book called 5 Minute Apologetics for Today and studying the scriptures and science topics found within it so I can be better able to share answers from both a rational and Biblical, informed perspective.

Introduction

Precious friends,
As many of you know, I have been serving as the Baptist Collegiate Ministries (BCM) intern at the University of North Georgia this past school year. In November, the Lord confirmed my call to campus ministry and began laying the Western region on my heart. Throughout ministry this year, I have realized how very blessed we are here in the South with 55 BCMs in the state of GA, numerous churches, and multiple, willing servants. However, the Western region is not only the most unreached but also the most understaffed. Collegiate ministries are scarce.
In recent months, I have specifically been praying about the state of Oregon, specifically Portland State University. In Oregon, there are approximately 650,000 college students, 80% of which do not claim to have any religious beliefs at all. The culture is very much "pre-Christian" (will be explained in a later post) and approximately 1 gospel-preaching church exists for every 36,000 people. The most wide-spread religions of those who do claim affiliation with church are Catholicism and Mormonism. 
On Friday night, I finally surrendered to the Lord's leading in this area after weeks of fighting with Him over fear of support-raising. Because of a the lack of believers who live in the Pacific North Western region, there are no funded positions available for campus ministers filling open positions in Oregon. Please be in prayer for me as I begin this long and learning-filled process! Many crucial conversations will be happening in the coming days. Though I know that I do not fully understand yet what I've been called to, I trust that when I humble myself in the sight of the LORD, then He will lift me up! (I Peter 5:8)
Love you all and appreciate each one of you!
That His glory might be revealed,
Miriam