April Ministry Updates

 Hi everyone! I hope you got to have a fun and joyous Easter. I don’t know if I was able to tell you this, but for Lent I gave up listening to Taylor Swift! It was challenging, but very rewarding. I also was doing a Lent devotional during this season and I wanted to share a thought from it. This chapter was focusing on communion, and that this was one of the last things Jesus chose to partake in with his disciples, which we get to partake in as part of remembering Him and what He did for us. This particular devotional was talking about that of course as people we find it hard to get along with one another even though Jesus commanded us to love one another, but communion is based on the reality that none of us have the strength to repair our internal wounds. We need Jesus for that. In response to our weakness, He has served a supernatural meal that is then eaten by those of us who are just attempting to do as He has asked.  This really struck me at the magnitude and simplicity of what communion and the Passover meal is. Jesus left that meal and went to die on a cross, and each week at church we get to remember that. It is so crazy! So praise God for Easter! 

Announcements: 

SICM

This stands for Student Institute of Campus Ministry! UTA is sending close to 20 students this year and if you are interested in giving a scholarship, it is much appreciated! It costs over a thousand dollars for these students to go to Washington to learn about how to be effective student leaders on their campus. We have been doing fundraisers and reaching out to different people. 

Go to this website for more information: https://anyfocus.org/sicm/

Fundraising:

I wanted to just initiate that if anyone is looking to increase their gift, or knows anyone who is interested in supporting a campus pastor I would love to talk with them. I am looking for 4 more ministry partners this year at $100 a month. Thank you so much for your work you do in catching the vision of college ministry. I could not do what I do if you did not bless me extravagantly the way you do.  

Student Testimony

 

March Ministry Updates

 Hi everyone! Hope you had a good February, and if you are in Texas have been able to get out and enjoy some of this warmer weather. My church I go to just did a disc golf tournament with some of the other churches! February has felt so busy and so fun at the same time! I am going to try a new format for blogs starting this month! Let me know what you think!

February Ministry Updates

 Hi everyone! Hope you are having a great February, and getting ready for Valentine’s Day! I am so thankful for you all. The end of January is pretty slow as we get back from Winter Retreat and school kicks off. So here are just a couple updates from this past month. 

Ministry Updates 

We have been doing a public reading of scripture weekly since the fall, and it has been so neat to see the fruit of that. Our students are in the word consistently and are really developing a deep love of scripture. 

Student Highlight 

I wanted to highlight this student I get to meet with weekly, Iman! She and I just finished the 10-12 week study called Focus on Jesus. I have loved getting to be her friend, learn more about her, and her life. She and I are continuing to meet and read John together as she has never read a gospel before. I am so excited about her, keep praying for her. Students like this though are what make college ministry so exciting! 

Announcements 

- We have Open House this Saturday at UTA! You are all welcome to come and hear more about ministry on UTA and TCC’s campus. If you are interested in coming check out anyfocus.org/uta-open-house 

- We have PizzaTHEO again on February 25th at First Baptist Plano from 4-9, it will be over The Bible.

You are always welcome to these events! 

January Ministry Updates

Hi! I wanted to wait a minute to write this blog so I could write about Christmas and WINTER RETREAT! It was such a fun and exciting break, and then coming back and hopping right into winter retreat. We had a guest speaker from Fuller University, Dr. Lee come and talk. He talked about grace and how impactful the Gospel is to our story. One question he asked that impacted me that I will ask you is Do you believe the Gospel is good news for you? 

Winter Retreat 

We got SNOW! So fun getting to worship alongside our students, and then also have them learn more about grace.     

                        

Christmas in Leavenworth 

My dad and I went to Leavenworth, WA for Christmas. It was so beautiful and magical, we even got to go on a sleigh ride that felt as if we were in Narnia! 

            

Student Testimony

December Ministry Updates

 Hi everyone! I am so excited that it is December, even though it is not very cold here in Texas. I am looking forward to slowing down, and spending some time with family. I am going to Montana, and then Washington with my dad this year. It is going to be very snowy and beautiful! 

Sweet Friends

Some of my friends from college at Collin got together to hang out, and have lunch. We have been friends for almost 5-6 years now! Super grateful for them 

Thanksgiving 

Hailey who is a dear friend of mine and student got to come to Thanksgiving with my family! It was so fun getting to have a friend at Thanksgiving! 

Pizza Theology 

We had Pizza Theology! Iain Provan came and talked about what it means to be human! It was so impactful. Our students walked away having deeper conversations and thinking critically about it. 

Winter Retreat

Winter Retreat is just around the corner, and if you are interested in sponsoring a student you can give a scholarship towards UTA by going to anyfocus.org/pay4retreat 

Prayers: 

• Our students leave for break at the end of this week, please pray they continually seek God and his community while being gone for a little over a month. 
• Pray for Winter Retreat and that students are excited and want to sign up. 
• Pray for health of our staff, the camp staff, and everyone as we get ready for camp and break 
• Pray for us as pastors as we also leave campus and that we continue to seek his presence 

November Ministry Updates

 I am so excited to be writing this blog! I have got to experience many exciting things this past month. The fall is just the absolute best in my opinion. I love getting to watch the leaves change color, fun cinnamon and pumpkin fall treats, and just the crisp air. Here are some of the updates from this month! 

Halloween!

Each year our staff does a Halloween costume, this year we all were Shrek. So enjoy these terrifying pictures! 

WORLD SERIES!

The Randers won the World Series and I love parades plus Iman had never been to one. I get to study the bible with her every week! It is such a Joy! 

Fall Camp                                                                                

We had our annual Fall Camp, and it was amazing! We had over 100 students come, we had such a great experience. 

NEWS!

• I am preaching this week at UTA, anyone is welcome to come if you would like to hear me preach! It will be over media and entertainment, and how to think about it through a Biblical Lens! 
• Giving Tuesday is coming up on November 28, 2023, this is the day of FOCUS' annual Keep Focus Growing Fundraiser! If you are interested in giving there will be fundraisers on Facebook as well as our online giving service! 

October Ministry Updates

Hi everyone! Thanks for another awesome month of partnering with me in ministry. I have felt so excited about this year, and it just continues to be amazing. God is showing up left and right with our students. I am so impressed with the corefa team, and just the overall attitude. I forgot to take as many pictures this month, so it just a few moments, but all good! Thank you again for the blessing you all play in my life. I could not do what I do if you all didn't do what you do. 

Snapshots 

My peer team from my first year on staff reunited. It was so sweet to get to catch up! I love getting to see and spend time with them. 

This is Amelia from TCC NE, she and I have been getting closer. Our whole group of students went out for bowling and laser tag. I forgot how much FUN laser tag is. It was seriously such a blast  

This is probably the oddest thing on a ministry blog post. I baked my first loaf of bread ever! I have been wanting to get into bread making. I always love to bake and bread making is a newer layer to that, so this was the first attempt. What made it even more sweet is that our church got to use it for communion bread. 

My friend Katy had her birthday, so we all got together to celebrate her. Fun Fact: We broke 3 chilis Ipads that night, well actually the system was just down it wasn't actually us.

This is TNF from our new room, we have grown in student size so much this year. It has been amazing! 

Important Info 

Did you want to buy a FOCUS Shirt? YOU CAN! 

Student Testimony