ruf'n it on rocky top: May 2012

[exhale]

And just like that...the second year of my RUF internship is in the bag. Two years ago, I thought May 2012 would be marking my final exit from Reformed University Fellowship, but God had other plans. Instead of spending these next couple weeks winding down, it will be full steam ahead once I return to Knoxville. Back in January, it became clear through reflection, discussion, and prayer that God was leading me to return for an additional (and final) year of the internship. Soon after, we found out that this would be Brent's final semester as campus minister at Tennessee (he accepted a job as area coordinator with RUF), and then a few weeks ago, our local RUF committee decided to wait until the 2013-14 school year to hire another campus minister.

It was enough of a surprise to hear I had been placed as the Tennessee intern back in spring of 2010. If you had told me then that I would be given the responsibility of leading UT RUF without a campus minister this year, I would have either called you crazy...or maybe just jumped the border and disappeared. Funny how God likes to work!

Needless to say, this is not something I'm ready or prepared for...certainly not qualified for. But here's the good news: God often likes to use people who aren't ready, prepared, or qualified. If I tried to pretend like I was up to the task ahead, I would be kidding myself, and I would soon be quite deflated and depressed. But I know God is more than up to it, and this is all in His plan. He was not caught off guard, and I'm excited to be a part of His plans for RUF at Tennessee next year. There will certainly be lessons in humility, trust, and reliance, but in His providence, there will also be many opportunities for growth in leadership, organization, discipline, and administration. Thankfully, there are a whole host of local pastors that will be covering the preaching for our Large Group meetings.

Sure there will be challenges next year, but we have faith that 2012-13 will be an awesome year for RUF at Tennessee, and God will be at work in a mighty way. We can say with faith and confidence that the work of reaching students for Christ and equipping them to serve will continue next year, and it will continue well.

I'll be posting more about this transition process throughout the summer as we nail down more details and plans. For right now, I ask for your prayers first and foremost. See my prayer page (link at the top of the blog) for some specific ways you can pray. I also ask you to please consider supporting me financially. I will once again need to raise my annual budget of $31,800 to remain on campus. If you are already supporting me monthly via automatic withdrawal, that will continue automatically unless you contact the RUF office to change or stop. If you would like to make a new gift, there are details on the support page (link at the top of the blog).

Without your prayers and support, I would not be able to be here serving the students of UT-Knoxville. Thank you. I am constantly humbled by your love, encouragement, and support.

Below are some pictures from the end of this year...enjoy!

Freshmen/Sophomore guys Sunrise Hike...we met on campus at 3 am! Drove to the National Park and hiked Andrews Bald to watch the sun rise. Pancakes in Gatlinburg on the way home...success!

Our awesome RUF Freshmen Guys Bible study at our last meeting for the year.

It's Tennessee tradition to "paint the rock," and so what better way to honor our favorite campus minister?

Mark Bellott with his trophy after winning RUF Shenanigans 2012. It took more
than a week, and more than 70 students played. Epic.

The whole group at our End of the Year cookout at the Reynolds' house. The Reynolds host us for Sunday Night
Fellowship every week...talk about hospitality! (they are in the front row center, next to Brent)

My co-intern Catherine (far right) and some of our awesome upperclassmen girls that planned and organized Brent's
surprise thank you "not-going-away" party.

They did a beautiful job with the food and decorations!

The beautiful spread for Brent's surprise party.

Waiting by the pool at the Hahns' house to surprise Brent.

SURPRISE!

Surprised?

We give Brent a framed copy of the painted rock picture.

More of the huge crowd for Brent's surprise party.

Daniel Zegel, an architecture student and one of our upperclassmen leaders, did an architectural rendering of
Alumni Memorial Building, where we meet for RUF Large Group. He made the frame too. So cool.