March Ministry Recap

 As we head into April, I want to update you guys on all of the ways God has been working in my life and in my ministry!

Core: Getting to lead a Core this year has been such a sweet gift! I have loved getting to know the girls God has provided and cast a vision for them to use their college years to be disciples. We spent March giving girls in our core an opportunity to lead a study each week. This was a great way for our potential leaders to step up and gain some experience leading! We studied the book of Philippians, one chapter at a time. Philippians is such an encouraging book and we have all enjoyed doing a deeper study on it this month! From this we have learned about being a servant leader, finding a deep sense of joy in Christ, what it means to live as a citizen of heaven, and so much more! One of my prayers for my core before the school year was that they would be faithful, love God deeply, and love others well! I have seen this in them so clearly and for that, I am grateful! God has been so good to us! 

Everyone in Core showed up wearing FOCUS shirts. Great minds think alike, right?

Class: This month we continued taking classes on the New Testament, Ministry Essentials, Spiritual Leadership, and Spiritual Maturity. So far in our New Testament Foundations class, we have read and discussed Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Philemon, and Hebrews! We have learned so much, but one of the things that has stood out to me the most in these classes is that knowledge abounds in love. This has definitely helped reframe the way I approach these classes. I am learning so much, but if I miss the heart of God in all of these classes, I've missed the whole point! Our Spiritual Leadership class this semester has also been especially powerful. We read a book called The Vulnerable Pastor written by Mandy Smith. To summarize, this book covers in detail the paradoxical truth that as pastors, God's strength is revealed in our human weaknesses. Below is an excerpt from the book:

"And so we fix our eyes not on what is seen- our outer crumbling, our deep inadequacy- but on what is unseen. We fix our eyes on our true source of power and ask God to fix our eyes. As he does, our lives flow from that inner flourishing, even through a body that is dying, in a world that is fading. As we live with new eyes, we are astounded by the beauty of what we hold in our hearts, no less than the glory of God waiting to be expressed through human frailty."

March was a month full of trying to identify and understand my weaknesses and then trusting God will reveal his power and glory through them. The lessons I learned from this book were necessary as I continue to work in ministry!

We all had an impromptu ice cream date! I love doing life with these girls. 

Senior Retreat: I have been working on a special project with one of my friends on staff, Victoria! At the end of May, we will be hosting a retreat for all of our recent grads. Graduating college is so exciting, but it can also be pretty difficult due to the transition into a completely different life stage. I've experienced that firsthand this year! Victoria and I are both very passionate about preparing our seniors for this transition into the "real world" and are hoping to use this retreat to set them up for success. We will be discussing transition, the importance of getting plugged in to a church, and how to be a disciple outside of the college ministry setting. I am so grateful that the FOCUS Apprenticeship has room for me to take up projects that I am passionate about! 

This is Sarah, me, and Helen on campus doing outreach! 

Now that I have you all up to date, here are a few things you can be praying for! 

• Pray for Rachel and Sarah. These are both girls in my core that are potential leaders! Pray that God will continue to develop them as disciples and leaders and that He will grow their hearts for campus ministry. 
• Pray for my Cofa (My Co-Lead for Core) Alex! She is starting the apprenticeship next year and has started raising her salary! 
• Please pray that as a ministry, God will give us wisdom and discernment for leadership selection.
• Pray that God will work in powerful ways at the senior retreat! And please be praying for Victoria and me as we prepare! 

Thank you all so much for everything that y'all do! Getting to do ministry on UTD's campus wouldn't be possible without you! As always, please let me know how I can be praying for you. It is an honor to partner with you guys! 

Here is our student testimony for April!