The Spring semester can feel like the busiest time of the year for DiscipleMakers. As students return from winter break, our fellowships get back into full swing with Bible studies, discipleship, and community. We have the opportunity to bolster these efforts by holding multiple events in the spring to solidify and deepen scriptural teaching, and strengthen the community of the student fellowships.
Read on for specific ways to pray for these events!
Women's Conference
In just one week over 200 college women will gather together for a weekend of gospel teaching and deep fellowship. This is more than we've ever had before!! We are so excited to see what God will do during this weekend.
The teaching throughout the weekend will look at the women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus - Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary - and how through each of their stories we continually see God's grace to unlikely women.
Praise God for an abundance of women attending this event!
Pray that the Lord would soften the hearts of the women attending such that the teaching would impact them and speak to their hearts.
Pray for energy and wisdom for our staff as they minister to the students throughout a busy weekend.
Pray that students would leave with practical applications that they will continue to process in the weeks following, such that they grow into more godly women.
Pray for peace for Kate as she coordinates and plans many of the intricate details. Pray that she would trust the Lord with all things and would be encouraged by the blessings first and foremost.
Focus
Most students are eager for the end of the semester to be done with school for a while and enjoy their summer. For many of our students, the end of the semester is particularly exciting because it means they are headed to Focus! This is a week long event after the conclusion of finals for an extended time in teaching, and lot of deep fellowship and rest.
Throughout the week of Focus, our teachers will walk through 1 Peter as we examine how we are exiles in this world, but we are called to be witnesses of the gospel.
How to Pray:
Pray that many students would be eager to attend this event, even as it may interrupt or delay other summer plans.
Pray that this week would be a refreshing time for students and staff.
Pray for guidance and wisdom for our staff as they prepare their teaching.
Pray for ready and eager hearts to engage in the teaching. Pray that the gospel will be made clear to them, and that student deepen their love for the Lord.
More Events!?!?
But wait...there's more!! Throughout this semester, our campus staff have held some local events, too. These events cater to some more specific needs each campus has and continues to build strong Christian community among the students.
The Lancaster team held an event in February for students of color, called Restore. Our goal for the event was to address some of the unique needs that students of color experience and to hear about how the gospel gives us hope. It was great! Community was built amongst the students (many students exchanged numbers), and Jesus was exalted, while at the same time allowing the space for honest expression and vulnerability!
Penn State University (Main campus & Altoona) spent their spring break trip serving at a YoungLife camp in North Carolina. Throughout the week they did various work projects, studied scripture, and enjoyed fellowship together. Click the image above to watch a video about the trip.
A number of other campuses also utilize Spring Break as an opportunity to serve various other ministries. Below are photos from the trips with the Susquehanna Valley schools and Kutztown.
We love having Women's Conference, but sometimes the guys feel left out. So, a number of our campuses hold local men's retreats to provide a time for focused teaching and community for them.
How to Pray:
Praise God that so many students were able to attend these various events!
Praise God for the Restore event and the blessing that it was for many students to learn more about God's heart for restoration of all people.
Pray for the camps we were able to serve on Spring Break trips that their camp seasons this summer would be fruitful and provide great opportunity for others to hear and believe the gospel of Christ!
Pray that the upcoming Men's Conferences would change hearts and minds to be more aligned with the Lord and that they would live out His truths to those around them.
Summer Staff Conference
Finally, once students are off on summer vacation, our staff will gather together for some training in June. We'll be doing a deeper dive into Proverbs 1-9, taught by our president, Peter Krol.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. If there are any ways that we can pray for you, please let me know!
In February, we attended a church conference in Phoenix, AZ. It was great to learn about other ministries within the local church, all seeking to share the gospel across the country. We also really enjoyed getting to do some hiking on a terrain very different from PA! (above)
In March, we celebrated 1 year of marriage! We spent the day relaxing and enjoyed the beautiful weather with a bike ride! (left)
We have a website! There you can read some old newsletters, see some projects we've worked on, and more coming soon! Click the button below to access therenningers.com
