via 22 Days Until Students Move In via @constantcontact.

            On this massive piece of artwork were pictures, letters, email conversations, bills, newspaper clippings, pages out of books, phone number listings, and even a timeline of important events in the person’s life.   As you look at it from a distance and then move closer, it’s the specific events that make the larger picture more beautiful.  It takes the small details and the specific experiences to make a greater piece in the end.  After I finished looking over the piece from every angle I could, I was intrigued.  I felt as I knew the creator- their story, their background, their struggles, their desires.  It was all out in the open- everything they’ve been through to get to that moment in their lives was on display.

            It’s important to point out that this happened around the same time as staff training for my summer work with Center for Student Missions- CSM.  I was there to be a city host.  So as youth groups come in for their short term missions trips, I was the one who led them around the city, giving statistics and facts and sharing stories of what the city of Nashville was like.  Just the week before this experience, we were sitting together trying to get to know each other better.  We did bond quickly- great people to work for, great organization to be a part of, and a great group of friends that has emerged.  But in that moment of time, as we sat there, listening to our assignment for the next day, I was caught off guard.  We were to create a list of key moments in our lives that have helped shape who we are today.  This may not seem like a huge task to some people, but I have never reflected on my life in such detail before.

            That night I took a sheet of paper and mapped out my life- it was difficult.  Where to start was perhaps the hardest part.  Should I rank them by importance or by date?  Do I add places and people or do I just give the event details?  This took me far longer than any of the rest of the staff.  We had to share with the rest of the group the next morning.  Thankfully, I was prepared enough to present, but I still had a lot to process.  This experience for me was tremendous.  In the end, I was able to come up with key moments in my life that influenced me and transformed my life.

            These two experiences- the tapestry at the Parthenon and sharing the important moments in my life- lay the foundational premise to this book.  I’m not a 65 year old man with stories from war and I don’t have the rich story of spending my Tuesdays listening to a man named Morrie, but I do have a story to tell.  At age twenty three I’m humbled enough to say I don’t have all of my life figured out- my tapestry is not complete.  But I do have a story to share that has depth, meaning, and a little bit of adventure along the way.

 As classes wind down, I am encouraged by what we’ve accomplished on campus to “transform college students to transform the world.”  I could list some of the things we accomplished: Bible Study on the book of Psalms, as well as a Character study through the Old Testament; developed three student leaders who will begin to help in the fall; connecting with over 120 different students by being behind the counter at the Commonplace Coffeehouse; and inviting students into our home to show hospitality and to engage in conversations on a deeper level.

 But maybe that wouldn’t really answer your question about how God has transformed student lives this year through our ministry at IUP.  These stories might help: Three students are now ready to be student leaders to help share the gospel with new students in the fall semester.  Rather than hit a party at the beach, another student served in an inner city after school program during her spring break.  Another student is planning on attending Bible College in the fall to better know how to share Christ with his peers.  A freshman student that I meet with is asking questions and is beginning to wrap his mind around what grace is.  Several percussion students that come to our Bible Study are changing the culture of the music department.  And another student is working at a summer camp this summer to minister to children.  These students have incredible stories and are already doing incredible things even while they are still in college. 

 As we let the Polaroid sit a few more moments, the result will be clearer.  The impact that these students will have on the world has great potential.  Their knowledge and passion for the scriptures are alive and they know how to live out their faith in every area of life.  I’ve learned a lot from my students by spending time with them and by having conversations with them.   Doors have been opened, lives are being changed, and Jesus is alive at Indiana University of Pennsylvania!

I don’t talk about my hearing all that often- but in two weeks (April 6th) I am going to have a hearing implant called  the BAHA that will allow me to hear in my left ear.  If you weren’t aware, I haven’t been able to hear in my left ear for a very long time- I can’t even remember those days!  The BAHA is going to be attached to a screw on the skull behind the ear so the sound will be conducted through the bone (if you were curious).  And- the insurance I have covers it fully- there isn’t even a deductible!

Grad School

In the fall I will begin to pursue a Masters in Higher Education at Geneva College.  The program meets once a week (Tuesday evenings) and will enhance my work with students.  This program is partnered with the CCO- so my work and education will go hand in hand.  There are four concentrations that I can pursue with the Masters in Higher Ed- college teaching, student affairs administration, educational leadership, and campus ministry.  Yes, I will continue my work at IUP.  Yes, I will still be with the CCO full time.  And yes, this is another great opportunity the CCO is offering to enhance my work with college students.

Vision for the Fall

There is a program called “Alpha” that I am considering having at IUP.  This would be a seven week study for students who are not Christians to answer questions they may be wrestling with such as “Who is Jesus?” “Why did Jesus die?” “What about evil?”  These are questions being asked on our campus every day so my prayer is for direction.  This can radically change how I do ministry in the next year.  My focus would go from Christians to non Christians, from Bible Study to answering questions about the Bible, from conversations about different denominations to questions about different religions.  So, be in prayer for the students, for the churches in Indiana, and for the CCO at IUP.

This weekend, I caught a glimpse at what “transforming college students to transform the world” looks like in a huge way.  That is why jubilee exists and the reason I work for the CCO who organizes the conference.  There were 22 of us who came to Jubilee from IUP.  One student came with us who is from China and two students came with us from Nigeria.  My heart cried out for this group of students from IUP for them to not just attend the sessions and to learn, but for them to continue to learn after the conference and to apply their learning to their time at IUP.

I was in tears when I saw the impact Jubilee made with this group from IUP.  They bought books specific to their majors to better understand how to live out their faith by studying law, art, and teaching.  They connected with organizations to make a difference this summer.  And the most amazing part is that four of our students are now sponsoring a program with Compassion International to help pregnant mothers in Haiti.  These four college students are each giving $20 a month to make sure that expectant mothers have the resources they need to bring up healthy children.  When I talked with two of my students who are giving to this, they explained that they signed up for $28 a month so that $8 can go to help rebuild Haiti for the mothers to have a place to find rest.  Jubilee taught these students that justice begins with them.  They understand that their vocation is important in Christ’s eyes.  And they realize that now is the time for racial reconciliation and it begins with them.

Because of your support for this ministry, college students are already transforming the world- through their service, through their worship, through their actions, and through their giving.  Thank you for allowing me to walk alongside students at IUP encouraging them along the way to make a difference in the lives of their community and to transform the world.

What sets Harvest apart from other churches in the area is their action when it comes to missions and outreach.  They give back to their community, they give to missions both locally and abroad, they go and feed the hungry, and send aid to those in need.  They are also taking on a huge initiative called “Celebrate Recovery” to help people to overcome sin in their life.  For a church that is only a year old, they have worked hard by working together as a church.

This past weekend after worship, we had a potluck followed by a parish meeting.  I wasn’t exactly sure if I was even invited to participate in this meeting since we weren’t members, but no one said otherwise so we stayed.  This was a time to reflect, evaluate, and cast vision for the future.  Towards the end of the meeting, one of the members wanted to inquire about the budget.  He wanted to see if the funding they were using to save to purchase a building could go to my work with students at IUP.  This is a huge request- to sacrifice their building fund (the fund that is at the core of many churches) to be used to minister to college students- what a request.  Following this, the pastor said something that I really connected with, paraphrasing of course, “It’s really important for a congregation to build the church body before building a church building.”  In the end, they voted to partner with us in ministry to bring students to knowing Christ.  In the end, they would rather see college students living out their faith in classrooms and in the cafeterian then saving to build a building.  In the end, they have the faith that God will provide their every need only if they are faithful to serve those they are called to serve.  “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few,” a passage I’ve read a hundred times, but I am blown away at seeing when the workers are united together to prepare for the harvest.

I know this was true when I was in school, as well as true for many of my peers.  This time of year is a vital time for college students to connect and reconnect with their families.  When asking a college student what they want for Christmas, many times they don’t have a clear answer.  What they want and need is truly a gift of being together with their family. 

When you begin to prepare for the holidays, I’m sure that the first thing that comes to mind is not reconnecting with family.  Far too often it is eating a delicious dinner or opening great gifts.  That’s perfectly fine if that is what you look forward to.  But, let me challenge you this year to have a more meaningful Christmas. 

Go on a walk with someone who you don’t talk to often and catch up.  Sit and talk with the college student in your family or at church who is home for Christmas and ask about their future- even if they may seem like they don’t want to talk to anyone- they are waiting for you to ask!  And finally, go and be with family- take the initiative to celebrate the gift of Jesus together!                           

An Update From Our Family:

It’s our first Christmas and we can’t wait to spend time with our families!  To come back to Kentucky to see our family, our friends, our supporters is truly a dream come true.  Andi is finished with her first term and has already begun her second term at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.  The first term was a huge success.  It’s been great to decorate the Christmas tree together and to prepare for Christmas as a family.  It’s exciting to open our home as a family to college students each week and to pour into the lives of college students as they  respond and teach us as well!