"Who can speak and have it happen
if the Lord has not decreed it?
Is it not from the mouth of the Most High
that both calamities and good things come?”
Lamentations 3:37-38
On March 16th, I left the Headquarters office prepared to start working from home the next day. What I didn't realize was that it wouldn't be until 74 days later that I would return. Though many days working from home were a struggle to stay focused or motivated, no matter what my efforts were, God was faithful to continue making his name known to college students across Pennsylvania. Read below for just 3 ways God has been at work.
Women's Conference
In my last newsletter, I shared how we were just gearing up for a revamp of our typical in-person Women's Conference to a virtual conference. Our planning team worked hard to figure out how to host this event online while still maintaining the integrity of the community and engagement we typically experience. We weren't sure if students would even still want to attend after having so many classes online, too. But the Lord continued to work, and we had a peak attendance of 287 women! This is more than we typically have at our in person event! It was so encouraging to see how many women were able to hear gospel teaching in this uncertain time. Here's what a few said:
"It was sad that we couldn't have it on person, but I'm so thankful you chose to do the online portion. The teaching you give from the Lord makes a world of impact on us. Even if only ten people logged on...it would still be worth it for us."
"I really liked being able to watch the talks with my mom this weekend. It helped us to grow closer and grow in wisdom!"
"Thank you so much for finding a way to make the conference happen despite what is going. I really needed to be around groups of women who are seeking wisdom in the Lord."
I had the joy and privilege to teach one of the two virtual workshops with my co-worker Ali Hallman. We taught on the power of gossip and how we are called to use our words for building up. I know I was convicted by this topic as I prepared to teach on it, and I hope it will be an encouragement to you, as well!
For the students at Penn State, it was quite a tough reality to leave for Spring Break back in March, and not return for the rest of the school year. Our full time campus staff did a great job seeking to keep the students engaged in the community of DiscipleMakers. Many of the typical weekly events were moved to online meetings, including Gospel Group (GG) that I help with. We met a few times online to finish up teaching on finding good application from a passage of scripture. At our last meeting we asked the students how Gospel Group had impacted their understanding of the Bible. Here's what a few of them said:
"Through GG I have learned that reading the Bible is not as daunting of a task. I thought everything would go over my head so I would rely on other people but this helped me in my confidence of reading and understanding." -R
"I expanded to how I can actually read the Bible now. I went from having no idea and now I can read it effectively. " -B
"I feel more equipped to lead a Bible study or study the word on my own, far more so than I was at the beginning of the year." -J
One student, M, could even see an improvement in his friend, E! "E’s ability to pick apart passages now is a big difference from before. You can definitely see that he draws out more things when compared to the beginning of the year. It has helped a lot to have formal instruction in how to read the Bible."
It is so encouraging to hear that the Lord is at work in their lives! With these Bible study skills, these students are now more equipped to share the gospel and take further steps in their walk with God. Though it was sad to not see them at the end of the year, and now even over the summer, I am confident that they will each strongly continue to seek Christ through the scriptures until we see each other again!
Summer Discipleship Challenge
In the summer we typically have a group of interns here in State College to reach out to the summer students at Penn State. With the schools being shut down, this original vision is no longer possible, but the Lord continues to make his gospel known through a new initiative our staff have created!
Students have been invited to participate in the "Summer Discipleship Challenge". This is a 9 week online course on discipleship and life essentials. But the vision is bigger than just the content. Our vision is for God to raise up hundreds of students as laborers for the harvest, because Jesus (and DiscipleMakers' Core Values) says that Laborers are the key resource that is in short supply. God's mission has not been canceled, and we believe this pandemic will offer a unique time of plentiful harvest, though with starkly different methods. Our hope and prayer is that as student participants are trained up as laborers this summer, they will turn around and train up others, just as Paul says in 2 Timothy 2:2. How exciting! Over 80 students have signed up to participate in this challenge, and I am eager to see how the Lord uses it this summer!
Watch this quick promo video about the Summer Discipleship Challenge
So, What's Next?
This is the question we are all pondering as we wait for decisions about the fall from the campuses we minister on. Will they be back to in person classes? What restrictions on group gatherings will there be? How can we do outreach in such a limited capacity? I'm sure we could think of a million more questions, but as we consider these, we continue to trust our sovereign God. Though events and meetings may be canceled, the gospel is not cancelled.
So, please join me in praying for our fall ministry, our staff as they figure this out, and our students as they long for Christian community. We may not know the Lord's plan for this time, but we know our calling, and we will press forward as we "Go, therefore, and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19).
Prayers & Praises
Praise God for using the Women's Conference to reach so many students with encouragment and gospel teaching! Pray that the women would continue to reflect on and learn from the teaching that they may become wise women.
Praise God for the work in the hearts of the sophomore students in Gospel Group. Pray that they would continue to deeply study God's word and grow close to him. Pray they would stay connected with Christian community in the summer months.
Pray for the Summer Discipleship Challenge. Pray that God would help our staff and student interns to lead well with much wisdom, love, and faithfulness. Pray for the students participating that they would gain a vision and desire for making disciples wherever they go in life.
Pray for our staff and students as we navigate the next steps for our ministry this fall, all while resting in the sovereignty, provision, and faithfulness of our gracious God.
Thank you, dear friends, for your partnership in the gospel!
Your support - whether prayer, financial, or other - is greatly appreciated and makes it possible for us to continue reaching the next generation for Christ!
