Semester Highlights - March/April Newsletter 2013

“Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

1 Corinthians 15:58

 

Semester Highlights

 

We just wrapped up another school year at Fort Lewis College, and this semester has definitely been eventful!!

         -  At our Mustache March Competition, we had 5 new people show up, 4 of which  were interested in talking to someone more about Jesus.

-       Russ and Linda Akins, the founders of Master Plan Ministries, celebrated their 45^th wedding anniversary with the college students at our Thursday dinner, where the students got to pick their brains about having healthy relationships.

-       Our last retreat of the year was a great success where some of our students took big steps of faith by sharing their testimonies and presenting a talk for the first time.

-       We got to take a fun weekend trip with the students to Moab, UT. We had one student come who we’ve seen on and off throughout the year, and now wants to be discipled next year.

-       We accepted 3 of our students (who are graduating this weekend) onto our staff team! Brandon Cox and Dakota Woodie came in as freshmen, and Anne Barby (almost Anne Cox) came in 2 years ago. All three have been excellent students to work with, and we are thrilled to have them on our team in Durango.

-       This semester alone, we know of at least  6 people who have indicated a decision to follow Christ on campus!! Praise God for changing the policy by this second semester so we can share openly the Gospel. Lives were changed for eternity this semester!!

 

Prayer Requests

-       Pray for the students to have fruitful walks with God over the summer, and to continue to take good steps of faith.

-       Pray for those who have heard the Gospel this year to receive Christ sooner rather than later, and that more people will share with them over the summer

-       Pray for Crush Fear, which is May 19^th- June 2^nd. Pray that the staff will finish all that we need to before hand, that the students coming will have all there funds raised in time, and that they will crush fear during the project that will help them live bold lives for Christ!

-       Pray for us to rest this summer, and also be able to boost our monthly monetary needs by asking others to partner with us.

-       Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and financial support this school year!! We thank God for you and your partnership in our work on campus.

Witnesses to Changed Lives - September 2012 Newsletter

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2

Witnesses to Lives Changed

 

One reason people love fall is for the change that happens – the air, the smells, and especially the colors on the trees. But one change that we have been privileged to witness is the change in the students. And just like the oncoming of a new season, these students have been transforming right before our eyes.

I (Leah) met with two girls on two separate occasions at the beginning of the semester for one specific reason – to find out where they were with God. One professed to me, “I would really like to look into different religions this year.” The other said, “I really don’t want to follow God cause it’s been so boring for me.” Now, a little over a month into the year, the first told me recently, “I learned at the retreat how God shouldn’t be just someone I go to just when I need Him, but someone I need to follow every day.” While the other girl asked me later that same day, “How do I seek after God? What should I do?” (These were all paraphrases from our conversations we had.) As you can see, a complete 180º!!

Malcolm has seen two lives change before his eyes this last month. One was an encounter with a new student named Ray, with whom Malcolm got to share the Gospel and bring this young man to a point of decision. His reply to this invitation was, “This is something I’m definitely interested in, but I don’t want to quite yet.” Malcolm has tried to meet up with him again, but hasn’t had the chance to. Please pray for Ray, and that Malcolm will get another chance to meet up with him to see where he is at with God.

The other transformed life is our good friend, Chris. Chris is now a junior at Fort Lewis. When we met him his freshmen year, he was so quiet and shy he barely spoke to people. This year he is leading a bible study on campus, sharing his faith and taking other steps in becoming a leader. He certainly has a heart of gold, and it’s a pleasure to watch God change him over the last few years!!

 We praise God for all that He has done!!! We thank Him for calling us and using us to be His tools to live out the Great Commission here at Fort Lewis College. And we thank Him for providing us YOU – our faithful team and partners in the Gospel – so we can be here to work alongside His amazing work!!

 

Prayer Requests

 

-       Please pray for the administration at FLC: A new solicitation policy has limited (but NOT eliminated) our ability to share the Gospel on campus. Though we are still able to meet people and get into conversations, it has made it difficult to do so. Please pray that this can change, but in the mean time still be able to share boldly with the whole campus! And pray that we can keep making and maintaining good relationships with those in the administrative positions.

-       Pray for the new students: Many new students, who came to events at the beginning of the year, have already dropped off from Christian fellowship. Pray that not only for them, but also for those who are involved to make the right friendships that will encourage them towards Christ.

-       Pray for our leaders: Our leaders have busy schedules, but are devoting themselves to serving despite their workloads and long hours on campus. Pray that they have time to not only be diligent in their schoolwork, but also to be able to rest and invest in others on campus.

-       Pray for us: Malcolm and I have loved being on campus, but we also haven’t had many nights or weekends free. Pray that we get time to rest here and there. And, overall, have Christ’s strength in our weakness, and His wisdom in the work He has called us to.

October/November Newsletter

“So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Matthew 6:31-34

Homemade Cupcakes for Malcolm's 24th Birthday!!

Trust 

If there has been one thing that we all have to do, it is to trust God. We’re not called to do what feels right, or called to do a whole lot of things to put us right with God, or anything else. We are suppose to put our faith in God, which is trusting Him from the get go of our relationship with Him.

Then what is our deal then? I (Leah) don’t know about you, but God has been constantly showing me how little I trust Him. With all the traveling, calling, meeting with people, the partnering with people, and the lack of partnering with others, and overall wearing down of my defenses – I admit, I’m really seeing how God is showing me my weak areas of trust in Him. It’s easy to trust when He plops everything in your lap in or before your time frame. But where the rubber really hits the road is when thing you have to chose to trust Him with HIS timing.

The verse that keeps coming to my mind is Psalm 103:14, which says, “…for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” God knows our beginnings. He knows our naturalness to do our own thing, go against His will, and do what we do best – sin.

In my quiet times, I’ve been looking up “mercy” in the Bible, which is the best reminder for me. He is extremely merciful – which I very much need!! God, thank you so much for your mercy! And thank you for pushing my limits… even if I may not enjoy it I’m glad for showing me my weaknesses. Because in my weakness YOU are stronger!!

Students playing Football in the snow at the retreat

 

Retreat

On November 4^th- 6^th we got to go to the second retreat of the year, which was a spectacular time to get away and interact with the students. I (Malcolm) love retreats because God is always doing cool things in people’s lives, including my own. At this same retreat 4 years ago, God turned my small world upside down with His love, grace and forgiveness.  That retreat will forever remind me of how great God really is.

  This last retreat God showed up in big ways! Three students gave talks about growing, intimacy, and talking to God. Each talk challenged students and staff alike. I walked away from the retreat knowing God is amazingly big. It was good to be flipped upside down again just like the retreat all those years ago. I can't thank and praise him enough for changing me all those years ago, and still changing me today.

That being said that was just what God is doing in my life, let alone the 40 or so other people that were there interacting with the God of the universe!

Jacob (student at FLC) climbing at Golf Wall

 

Love and Encouragement

Before we left for Paonia again, Connect started up Angels and Mortals again, which is known for being a fun and encouraging week for students and staff! We didn’t get to be a part of it this time around since we were leaving, but we got to see and hear some fun stories of the students blessing each other. Here is one story from a student:

“I had a kind of crummy afternoon, and was feeling super down after coming home from the store. I then walked into my room and found it completely decorated head to toe with pink streamers. I then looked at my desk and found it decorated as well with crazy straws and colorful puff. It completely changed my day around and made me thank God for my angel and blessing me when he knew I needed it. It made me smile from the inside out, and the glory goes back to him.”

Last of the fall colors in Durango

 

Prayer Requests

-       We are currently at 88.3% of our goal!! God is definitely showing up and coming through for our need – thank you for your prayers! We’re hoping to be on campus by the beginning of next semester, which is looking possible. So keep praying!!

-       Pray for the students to finish out the school year strong, and also that they will have good times at home over the holidays.  Sometimes students struggle going home because they aren’t in good fellowship and can easily be sucked into their old ways, but God is bigger than their circumstances!

-       Pray for the Denver Christmas Conference which is December 28^th- January 2^nd. The last couple years we’ve seen a TON of fruit from the students who attend, and we’re excited for another fun and challenging time!!

-       Pray for our marriage as we continue to learn to work as a team and follow God together.

 

September Newsletter 2011

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Romans 5:3-5 

 I really love being able to be apart of all that God is doing this year on Fort Lewis campus!  I love the fact that even though I get limited involvement God continues to push me to become the man He wants me to be!  It has really set a fire under our butt in wanting to be on campus full time.

This weekend we got the chance to go to the first retreat of the year.  It was an amazing time!  The main theme of the retreat was having an eternal mindset.  Leah, Nate and Erin all gave really good talks challenging everyone to live this life for Christ and not of the world.  This weekend was a good reminder of what we are missing by not being up on campus full time.

Being on the outside looking in to what is happening this year has been a learning experience of it’s own.  I have learned to be patient and content with what God has given me, while at the same time striving for more of Him.  He has also taught me that this truly is God’s ministry that we get to be a part of, not our ministry that God gets to show up in.  Too often I find myself telling God, “I got this”, only to realize later that I have nothing and HE is everything!  I can’t wait to be more involved with what God is doing in these student’s lives.

-Malcolm

  

Ecclesiastes 3:11

  

What a great 1^st month of ministry! With over 200 new students to follow up with, and more people being added every week – the staff are busy!! We keep being told of these amazing stories of students investigating God, being challenged in their walk, taking steps of faith… I mean, you really can’t ask for a better year than this!

Though there are many stories, this most recent one is very exciting. A girl came to our retreat this weekend as a skeptic of Christianity. A new guy in our ministry invited her as they were talking in a class, and she decided to come check out what Christianity is all about.  She was very attentive during the talks, asked good questions during discussion, and we even saw her read a bible during quiet times! She not only fully enjoyed her time this weekend – remarking on how nice everyone was – she also came to our weekly meeting!

Please pray for her!! God is definitely doing something in her life, and we’re praying that she will start a relationship with Jesus very soon!!

 

James 1:17-18

 

Though the rest of the staff are hustling and bustling in ministry, we have had very little participation. We’ve had the opportunity to join in on the retreat, girl’s/guy’s nights, and some weekly events, but, all in all, we don’t get to do much.

We wish we could tell you we’re busy in appointments to tell people about our ministry, but we haven’t had that chance either. But God has been absolutely MIND-BLOWING this past month! Though we haven’t had the opportunity to do much, God has come through HUGE by bringing in funds from seemingly nowhere! And we give Him all the praise for bringing us to  82.7% of our total goal!!

Thank you thank you thank you for ALL your prayers this past month! We know you may not be able to witness these things happening on campus or in our lives, but we definitely see the fruit of your prayers. So KEEP IT UP!!

Prayer Requests

 

-       Pray for all the students who are new. Pray that, if they haven’t heard the Gospel yet, that they will soon. And, if they know God, that they will keep in fellowship with God and other Christians. Pray for their overall walks with God!

-       Pray for our student leaders that they may keep their focus on God and reaching others, rather than on frivolous things that don’t matter. Pray that they will continue to step out in faith and watch God come through for them!

-       Pray for us as we get ready to leave for Paonia, CO (Leah’s hometown), very soon. Pray for our marriage and our time their, as well as the rest of the funds we need to come in so we can dive into ministry full-time!

Pictures from the Past Month

A VERY Packed House for Dinner

Having Fun at the Girl's Retreat

Fall Retreat