Encouraged...

It's been a long summer...encouraging, but long. After travelling all over the Southeast, I'm ready to get settled back in Knoxville, and I'm really ready for the year to begin!

I'll start off with a support update, since that has been my primary job this summer! Thanks to your continued pledges and new gifts, I have only $5,470 left to meet my annual budget for my second year. My ministry with RUF at Tennessee is funded completely by supporters like you, and I am very thankful for all of your prayers and contributions that have allowed me to stay in Knoxville thus far. For ways you can continue to support my ministry through prayer, please visit my Prayer Page. If you have not already, would you prayerfully consider supporting my ministry financially as well? To learn more, please visit my Support Page.


Well, I must say I'm a little exhausted after a week of RUF Staff Training in Atlanta. However, I am also refreshed and extremely encouraged about the upcoming year. Staff training is the annual gathering of all RUF campus ministers, staff, and interns from across the country...in total, around 250 people! In addition to the actual training that takes place, it's also a great opportunity to spend time with the other staff members, fellowship, share experiences from the past year, and yes, have a little fun.

2nd-year RUF Interns at our "Baby Shower" for fellow interns Mike and Deanna Ford

I've been blessed with my "class" of fellow 2nd-year interns that have all become great friends over the past year. Spending time with them and hearing how God has been at work in their lives and on their campuses is always a blast. They are such an encouragement to me, and I've learned a lot from their examples and our shared experiences. The fellowship with fellow staff has definitely been an unexpected benefit of the job!

But of course, what Staff Training would be complete without...well...training? I really appreciated all the different training sessions we 2nd-years had, all led by various campus ministers.

We started off with a review session on RUF's Philosophy of Ministry. (<<< Worth a look if you've never seen it) This was a big help, and a great reminder of our purpose on campus. We were reminded that our Philosophy of Ministry is neither a technique, strategy, nor a process. It is rather our attempt as RUF staff to biblically pastor people. Our theology (as found in Scripture) informs our Philosophy, and our Philosophy then informs our methodology. This is one of the things I love most about RUF. Our core beliefs are solid, rooted firmly in Scripture, however our methodology is extremely flexible. And it's not only flexible from campus to campus, it is also flexible from student to student. In the New Testament, we see both Jesus and the Apostles ministering to different groups and individuals using a wide variety of methods and approaches, but with one message of Truth. We as a staff are all very different people, and we serve very different campuses and very different students. However, RUF's purpose is always reaching students for Christ and equipping students to serve.

Other sessions included "What does it mean to be holy?," "How to study the Bible and lead a small group," "Evangelism," and "Dealing with 'that' student." On Tuesday night we had a staff worship service where we heard from Elbert McGowan, campus minister at Jackson State University in Jackson, MS. He shared with us the importance of reaching the outsiders on our campuses. Using the example of Jesus with the Samaritan woman at the well, he challenged us to pursue those who might feel out-of-place in a church setting, those who are despised, forgotten, or ostracized...and to love them as Christ has loved us. We can't tame the radical message of the gospel to fit in our neat Christian comfort zones...it's a raging river that is meant to rush far beyond our tiny little comfort zones and into every corner of the world...and every corner of our campus. This was a much-needed reminder and challenge, one we will especially be seeking to pursue by God's grace at the University of Tennessee.

In many ways this week, I was confronted and reminded of how I have let myself get in the way of the gospel this past year. I have tried to build my own kingdom instead of the Kingdom of God. I have let fear and insecurity keep me from what He has called me to, and I have let arrogance and pride lead me to what He hasn't called me to. These were sobering realizations, but all overwhelmed by the knowledge of God's grace in the wake of these failures and shortcomings. I am humbled by how He has used me and promises to continue using me, even in (and sometimes through) my weakness.

Because of what Christ did at the Cross, I can rejoice in my weakness because He has promised me His strength. He's promised to stay with me and guide me. He still uses me, even when I fail, and He gets all the glory!

This week has been a wonderful reminder of Christ's love for me, and His love for the world...in particular, the University of Tennessee. I have the awesome opportunity to share and embody that love to college students at UT. After a long summer, I'm am very encouraged and excited to get back to campus. I've been missing our students, and I can't wait to meet a whole new group of freshmen! I look forward to seeing what God has in store this year for the University of Tennessee!

Thank you all so much for your continued prayers, encouragement, and support. If you have time, drop me a message and let me know how you are doing and how I may pray for you!