Do you think we can get together and read the Bible?
Coffee Shop Conversations
As we, TJ and Kate, work heartily for the Lord in our roles in the Headquarters, we love the perspective we have to hear about God's work on ALL our campuses across Pennsylvania. The below student story comes from our co-worker, Meg Weik, serving at Gettysburg College.
It was the second week of the Fall Semester at Gettysburg College. Mara signed up to learn about the Bible at an outreach table that DiscipleMakers held. I was given her contact information and reached out to her. She came to Large Group for the first time around October where I met her for the first time.
After Large Group ended, she asked for a ride back to her dorm. As we got in my car, she quickly commented on my surfboard air freshener and we quickly bonded over our love of surfing. As I chatted with her, I felt the Lord tugging on my heart to ask her if she wanted to learn more about Jesus. We pulled up to her dorm, and before she got out of my car she turned to me and said, "Do you think we can get together and read the Bible?" I was shocked. I eagerly said yes and we planned a time before she left.
Starting that next week, Mara and I met every week working through the book of Ephesians. She enjoyed working through the first chapters of the book, which survey what God has done for us in Jesus, the astounding measures he’s taken to redeem us for his glory. It’s hard to read Ephesians 1-3 without being overcome with what God did to save us and to establish the church. After we read together for the first time, I asked her what the Gospel was. She looked back at me with a blank stare and said that she wasn't sure.
As we read Scripture every week, it brought tears to Mara's eyes. We moved on to read Ephesians 4-6 which talks about what we should do in response to what God has done for us (Ephesians 1 -3). She looked at me one week and said, " I don't know why I am crying." It was astonishing to see the Lord work slowly on her heart. Every week I would leave our meet-up time speechless that the Lord chose me to sit down with her and share the good news of the Gospel which was working on her heart.
As we started to near the end of the semester, I prayed that Mara would put her faith in Jesus before she went back home for break. The week I started to pray that prayer, I got sick and wasn't able to meet up with her for two weeks. When I finally got to meet up with her again, she told me how she read Ephesians and was telling her friends about it. Mara was clinging to the copy of Ephesians I got her like it was the only access to Scripture she had.
After she told me all about what she was learning, she asked if I could get her a Bible. She didn't know this, but I ordered her a beautiful Scripture Journaling Bible. I couldn't wait to give it to her at our last meet up of the semester. Before I left to meet Mara at the coffee shop in Gettysburg, I looked down at my phone at the text she sent me (pictured to the left). I quickly ran to my car, eager to meet her.
I got to the coffee shop and sat down near our favorite spot, the two blue chairs by the window. Mara walked in, saw me, and smiled. We got coffee then sat down to finish Ephesians. She looked at me and asked me if I saw her text. I smiled and pulled out the Bible I got her (pictured in the gold wrapping paper right). She opened it and started crying. She couldn't believe that she had her own Bible!! Never did I think I would see someone who grew up in the United States so eager to get a Bible, especially with how easy they are to access. That isn't even the best part of the story.
We read Ephesians 5, and Mara emphasized verse 15 "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise..." Mara asked me for wisdom how to do this as she went home for break, especially as she started to tell her friends that she is reading the Bible now. After we talked about this for a bit, I asked her where she saw the Gospel in this passage. Without hesitation, she walked me through Ephesians 5 and how we are called to be imitators of God (verse 1) because we, as Christians, are set apart to look like Jesus.
Istarted to tear up seeing her understand Scripture and point out where Jesus was in the passage, and how it spurs us on to live a life pleasing to the Lord.
Praise the Lord for the work He has done and continues to do through Mara. Please pray for her this semester to be deeply rooted in Christ as she deepens her relationship with Him. Thank you for praying for her throughout the semester last year, as well as other students. Ministry is built on the foundation of prayer. I could not meet with students and share with them the good news without you interceding to the Lord with me.
Upcoming Events
Things are ramping up this semester and the busiest time of the year for our staff is almost upon us. Spring is the culmination of the year spent learning more of God's Word and deepen relationships with Jesus and with the other students in the fellowship. We will keep you updated as we hear of God's work at each of these events this spring!
Restore
February 24th
This is a one-day event planned with the intent to care well and give space for our students of a variety of ethnic backgrounds to learn about the Lord and worship in a more culturally-familiar way. This year we'll be learning about God's Justice and Mercy as seen in the Psalms.
Spring Break Trips
Various weeks in March
Many of our campuses utilize their spring break week as a time to go and serve other ministries. For example, Penn State students will be heading down to a Young Life Camp in North Caroline to help them clean up and prepare their facility for their summer programs such that the gospel is clearly preached to middle and high school students!
Women's Conference
April 5-7th
This a favorite for many of the women involved with our campus fellowships! This weekend is spend deeply studying God's word and learning from other godly women. This year we'll be focusing on being wise women as we study passages in Proverbs, as well as through some workshops that address pressing issues many of the college women are faced with today.
Focus
May 5-10 & 12-17
This event is held the week after finals end for each campus. It's a week of deeper training in discipleship, bible study, and more all while giving some extra time for rest and fellowship before sending students home for the summer. Many of the students comment on how refreshed and equipped they feel after this week! We'll share more about what is happening at this event in the coming months.
Prayers & Praises
Praise God for Mara and the work God has done in her heart! Pray she would continue to deepen her understanding of scripture, and grow in her zeal for Christ.
Pray for each of the events coming up this semester. Pray for those preparing for them - whether in teaching, musical worship, planning, or other. Pray for many students to eagerly attend and for their hearts to be receptive to God's word.
Pray for Kate as she trains new staff and hands off some of the responsibilities for these events in their busiest seasons while she is on maternity leave with little Asher. Pray that the Lord would soften her heart to accept the changes to life with a newborn, and wisdom for how to continue serving DiscipleMakers.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We are constantly in awe of God's work on the college campus and delight to share it with you. If there are any ways that we can pray for you, please let us know!
In Christ,
TJ & Kate Renninger
Outside the Office
We've been kept pretty busy these past few months with the various ways we serve DiscipleMakers, our church, and spend time with friends.
It's also been a whirlwind of the next stages of preparing for Asher's arrival, including two sweet baby showers. We felt so loved at each event, and overwhelmed by God's abundant blessings through our friends and families!
This also prompted some reminiscing through old baby photos. So funny to find a strikingly similar photo of each of us! Guess we'll have to get a pair of yellow sunglasses for Asher! :D
