Through the Storm...HE IS LORD!

Hey, everyone! I hope all of you at home working are healthy and safe. I have been praying for you through this strange time. I mention in my last blog, "He Calms the Storm" the coronavirus is a scary and uncomfortable time where we have to be six feet away from people and work at home. Even though we have been blessed to receive great weather, the coronavirus is metaphorically a storm in our current time. But remember the good news! God is still working! There's a worship song by Leeland called "Way Maker", and the bridge on the song spoke the truth and encourage me that our God never stops working. How do you see God working where you are?

"Even when I don't see it, you're workin'

Even when I don't feel it, you're workin'

You never stop, you never stop workin'

You never stop, you never stop workin'"

I see God currently working in our college students and the ministry as a whole. The gift of technology is a blessing especially right now. Our campuses have been using Twitch to stream live sermons and we use Zoom to break out into small groups to have discussion questions about the sermon. Fellowship is still happening virtually for cores and TNF after events. Campuses are close but the mission is never canceled. Get ready for a lot of awkward Zoom chat photos - haha!

My cofa (Stian) and I went out to a neighborhood trail to draw and write encouraging notes using sidewalk chalk. This was a fun outreach plan I made in a way we can serve our community and spread the gospel.

 Alden and I met up to play disc golf together at a park in Plano. We were six feet apart, and it was a beautiful day to be outside. Alden is also really good at playing disc golf.

This sweet guy. I still get weekly calls from my supervisor Pedro and catch up on what's been happening.

I love doing life with this girl! We spent a whole Saturday at my parents' ranch house for my birthday. I'm so thankful to have her in my life. She is the best and loves me so well! It was definitely the best weekend I ever had this past month.

My dad and I went fishing and we both caught a fish!!

Our peer team group meets on Zoom every Monday to discuss how we can end the semester well for our cores and one on ones. 

 You remember Xavier who I meet one on one with. And on the right screen is Kale. Kale serves our teen ministry at the Northeast Church in Garland, and I had the privilege to work alongside with him two years ago for the teen ministry internship program. Xavier was a part of the teen ministry and met with Kale one on one before he graduated high school. Xavier and I asked Kale if we can do a panel interview with him about his experience in ministry. Xavier is joining the teen ministry internship this summer to serve the Northeast Church.

This is what our TNF Zoom break out groups look like. We have one of the staff members select random people to be in a breakout room to discuss the sermon our head pastor, Garrett, planned. 

A new class I had the privilege to go through was Eschatology. We read through interesting academic articles, and a chapter of the "The Contemplative Pastor" by Eugene Peterson to understand the more profound purpose of the end times. This class really encouraged me not to fear the end of the world but be hopeful when heaven and hearth will be restored when Christ comes back.