Back to the Future - Take 1: True U(niversity)

In the following short series I'll be posting some pictures and short description of some past events. Since I haven't been keeping up with posts quickly after these events all year, this'll be the next best thing. 

First up: True U

Simply put, we've been considering the question "Does God Exist?", approaching it from primarily 'scientific' evidences.  I won't attempt to try and replicate the arguments here, but suffice it to say it's been great and I think helpful for the small group (6-9) of students who have been attending.  

Of course, arguing for God's existence is certainly not the means by which God brings unbelievers to saving faith, nor is getting some final 'scientific' evidence to finally have confidence in one's faith the goal.  No.  God grants repentance and God's spirit draws unbelievers to himself.  However, especially for Christians, it is a marvelous and invigorating study to see the truth Romans 1:19-20 even in the intricacies of the cell and astronomical vastness of the cosmos, "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

Also, I find myself simply worshiping and exulting in the amazing creativity and design of God that we find in, for instance, the exquisite engineering in the cell and DNA. It's truly awesome.

We watch a lecture about 30 minutes long, then discuss for 45 minutes or so. 

Jump...jump around

Two quick things:
1) I have been super slack on blogging updates this semester so far.  For that, I apologize.  I am aiming to change that for the rest of the semester...
2) Starting with today's little fun trip to "SkyZone"...an trampoline place that is mainly designed for 6-12 year olds, but serves just as fun for 'big kids.'  We had nearly 25 students come, and it was a fun time, with a few new people that aren't connected to the ministry at all.  Please pray that some of the relationships might actually develop and we could followup a bit with them.  It was a good time, not least of which is car rides down with can provide some great opportunities for starting friendships.  But also nailing students in the face during dodgeball is of course fun, too...

All sorts of stuff

During the beginning of the year we always try and provide some opportunities for students to have some various fun together.  This usually entails volleyball, group games and various activities sprinkled throughout.  We encourage our leaders to cultivate relationships during these times.  We had some good turnouts these past couple weekends, with volleyball on both Saturday mornings, a game night two fridays ago, and this past Friday night a fire at Brandon and Erin's place.  They were all well attended, with quite a number of new students getting involved.

Please continue to pray for relationships to form, and for Bible studies to be blessed with the gospel being made clear, students getting saved and fruit growing from these times.

Off and Running

We had a blessed first Large Group meeting two nights ago!  

  

I was very happy with the turnout, something just short of 60 students came to our large group meeting, with the vast majority of them being brand new.  

Brandon spoke on the gospel and an introductory message about 1 Corinthians, which focused predominately how just how much Americans are like the 1st century Corinthians.  It was quite interesting and remarkable to see the similarities!

C2F2

What does the title mean, you might ask?  Well, thanks for asking, it means "Campus and Community Fall Festival".

It's a fairly important afternoon for us to connect with students (mainly freshmen) at the beginning of the year.

This year, we had something like 200-300 surveys that the students filled out, out of which we kept short of 100 that responded with something like "yeah, I'd like to learn more about God", or "I'd like to join a Bible study", etc.

It's exciting, the opportunities that we have from days like this.  Please pray God would equip us to continue to followup well with these and many more students!

Post BBQ

It's 9:36, and its been a long (but fantastic) day, so this will be short.  But in a nutshell (which I'll expand in a few days), the BBQ and engagement with students today was very blessed!  We had over 110 students present at the BBQ, and engaged with 200-300 at the Fall Festival yesterday.  

Anyway, here are some quick photos, I'll add more soon.  

Please pray that God would...

1. be drawing and softening hearts to hear the gospel, repent and treasure Jesus in the coming days.
2. be granting us the students that he would have be involved in Equip this year.  We currently have over a dozen Bible studies, and are almost already maxed out on those.  Needles to say...
3. pray that God would give us faithfulness and perseverance.

Enough for now, Praise God for his greatness!  I'm reminded at just how insignificant we are, yet our heavenly Father loves us and cares for us.  I want students to know him, pray that they would.

A few hundred more

While I'm at it, I'd ask you for prayer for our upcoming Campus and Community Fall Festival (C2F2, as they call it). 

So, although in many ways we are already brimming with freshmen names and will be striving to minister to as many as we can in a qualitative way as possible, we will be at C2F2 on this coming Monday, having a few hundred more names of students to engage with, follow-up with, share the gospel and invite into fellowship and to hear the word preached on Wednesday evenings at our large group. 

Please pray God would continue to bless  our efforts and that all we do would be with a heart to please our Heavenly Father, to bring him praise by the delighting and treasuring of him by his children. 

(The photos are of the extra 600 surveys I just prepared)