Think Back and Reflect (Fall 2020)

December 10, 2020

Sometimes I think back to times in our ministry, like last year or a couple of years ago, when people would not have to wear masks, certain stores & cafes were open, and we could meet new students without being six feet apart. As I witness time moving forward in a global pandemic year, I have to stop and reflect and be grateful that God has blessed us over and over again.

While we may be missing our weekly fellowship nights and after events, there is a flip side that is really positive; God remains faithful and promises to be by our side through the ups and downs.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged"(Deuteronomy:31:8). "I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. They will be my people, and I will be their God" (Jeremiah 32:37-38). Perhaps we need to remember acts of God’s goodness through the life of Jesus in the gospels, and ask ourselves what would Jesus do? For this blog I will be reflecting on a macro perspective how God has been so good at our campus this semester. I will circle back to this topic when May 2021 arrives.

We planned our first in-person worship night at a local church in Plano. Around 50 students came!

August felt like it was just yesterday!We prepared our first and second-year corefas for the school year, equipping them to think pastorally and praying for them to be disciples in their classrooms. I recall having a conversation with my co-fa Eric afterwards, asking what he took away from prep-day. He shared his thoughts and notes over how one on one ministry is essential to the person across the table from him and how it's not hard to be people's best friend by just making an effort to be there for them. I was encouraged seeing the kingdom seed planted in him and have been watching that seed blossom in Eric as he loves the guys at the Central Park Campus. As obedient workers for the Lord we have roles in the harvest that are limited in growing the kingdom, since only God has the power to grow in the people we invest. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building" (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). It's evident our staff and the corefas' work do not come from our excellent skills or persuasive words but from the perfect will of God who moves the mountains and molds. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26).

Liam is moving to Denton and transferring to UNT this spring semester. He looks sad because he's going to miss me next year.

From the beginning of school to October, I'm amazed by how core groups have responded to the lessons we've prepared and discussed with them. We started giving an intro to who we are as a ministry and teaching them the basics, and our first lesson was one on one relationships. Just a week later, I heard that guys from from my core, and other cores, initiated one on one friendships with each other. This is like seeing a seed you planted initially sprouting after given water and light. Growth takes time whether through a nice sunny day or heavy storm, we have to be patient, especially through the difficult times.

Now it's December and time continues to move forward. Students may not have the whole picture about themselves, or their relationship with Jesus, but they're still willing to learn and grow. One of the best ways to recognize their growth is by looking at the fruit in their life, fruit that comes from Jesus' teachings as we each draw closer to him. The fields still need harvesting, but the seeds are growing.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."

John 15:4-8