Fall at UTD

Welcome to my Ministry Update! I can’t believe we are already this far into the school year. God has grown my heart for the students he’s placed in my life more than I could have ever asked for, which has made this a really sweet semester of ministry. I hope by sharing about the past month, you will come to love them too! 

Fall Camp

Each year, FOCUS holds an event called Fall Camp. It is a 24 hour retreat held at a camp an hour from campus. The goal of Fall Camp is to help cores bond and make memories! We tell the students that the 24 hours you spend at Fall Camp is probably the most amount of time you will get with your core all year. I think the weekend spent at camp was a catalyst for the deep relationships that have started to form in our group. We spent the weekend listening to student testimonies, worshipping, doing arts and crafts, and going on walk and talks. As a leader, I had already started to form relationships with each of the girls in my core. So at Fall Camp, it was really encouraging to see them to start forming relationships with each other. I am confident God used this weekend to lay a solid foundation for the rest of the year. One of the highlights of Fall Camp was talking to a girl that had just recently joined our ministry. Britni hadn’t even been to one of our cores yet but still wanted to go to Fall Camp with us! She formed some really sweet friendships with the other girls and was deeply impacted by the student testimonies that were shared. She even said that after her time at Fall Camp, she considered herself a Christian for the first time! It always amazes me that God uses community and friendships to show people more of Him and His character. It is such an honor to see this play out in students’ lives time and time again. 

Here's a picture of my core the last day of Fall Camp! 

Core

Ever since we got home from Fall Camp, all of the girls in core have been so consistent. They even hang out with each other outside of core throughout the week! During our time together the past month, we have discussed things like how to prioritize responsibilities in college, the character of God, worship, discipleship, and vulnerability! 

In core we get to celebrate one another and do normal life things together! The week after Fall Camp we got to celebrate Kristine's 18th birthday! She felt so loved and cherished by her new friends in core. 

FOJ

The foundation of FOCUS’ ministry is one on one discipleship. In scripture, we see that Jesus impacts many people throughout His life. He typically does this, however, through one on one interactions. Because of this, FOCUS has a one on one study called Focus on Jesus (FOJ). FOJ is a pre-written bible study that helps students get to know one another, understand the Bible as one unified story, and be equipped to step into the story themselves as they accomplish God’s purposes on earth! You can find an online version of FOJ at anyfocus.org/FOJapp. This is a tool that has proven to be useful for college students, but I believe you could use this at any stage in your life! This year I have the privilege of studying with several girls in Core. Here are a few pictures of some of the girls I get to study the Bible with every week.

Kristine is a deep thinker and wise beyond her years! She is experiencing Christian friendship for the first time and has been so thankful for her time in core.  

This is me and Britni after our first FOJ study. It is a joy getting to watch her be amazed at different parts of Scripture I tend to take for granted. It inspires me to approach God with wonder and awe. 

This is Celeste! Celeste is so fun to study the Bible with. She says that FOJ has helped her reframe how she views God! 

TCU 

In September, I started spending some time at TCU! I go to Fort Worth every Wednesday to meet with students that I already am friends with as well as get to know students that I just met. It has been such a cool experience getting to do ministry at the same place I really came to know God on a deep, personal level! I have only been going to Fort Worth for about a month, and God has already opened up some doors. I’ve met several sweet girls that are longing for Christian friends and discipleship training! Please be praying for my time at TCU and that the Lord will continue to go before us as we consider planting a ministry there. I love this school so much and really long for the students there to know God personally.

This isn't a ministry related picture, but here is me and my husband, William, at a TCU football game this year. It is so much fun to cheer on my favorite team with him! Go Frogs :)

Thank you for reading my ministry update. I am so encouraged by you guys and your willingness to invest in campus ministry! I love you all and am praying for you! 

Prayer Requests:

-Pray that the girls in my core will continue to grow as friends as the year goes on. 

-Pray that the those that are doing FOJ studies will come to know God personally and consider Jesus to be Lord of their life! 

-Pray that I will continue to make new connections at TCU and be able to build community with the people I have met there. 

-Pray for FOCUS as a whole and that the pastors will faithfully point students to Jesus. 

-Praise God for all that He has done this in our ministry year! He has been so good to us. 

Here is the Student Testimony for the month of October!