"But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;
therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.'"
Hebrews 1:8-9
Fall Conference ONLINE
Over 500 students, alumni, ministry friends, and staff registered for Fall Conference 2020. We have never seen numbers this high! That number alone was encouraging to see, particularly in this season of isolation, social distancing, and numerous restrictions. But it wasn't just the numbers that we rejoiced over. The student response to this event was overwhelmingly positive as many engaged with the topic of how Christ Alone satisfies us and fulfills the roles of Prophet, Priest, and King. Here what students said about their experience:
"Every fall conference I have attended is so valuable to me as a Christian. I have struggled so much with my faith in the past and every conference is convicting and encouraging. I learn so much about Christianity. I feel motivated to strengthen my faith each time I end fall conference."
"I am really grateful for all the things I have learned during this conference and I truly feel closer to Jesus."
On some campuses, our staff organized "Watch Parties" for Fall Conference Online. This provided opportunity for building community and overall excitement for the event, despite not all gathering together as we usually do. Our staff did a great job following social distancing guidelines both on and off campus.
"I loved the conference. The teaching was super applicable and convicting. I plan on going back to listen to the other talks."
"I think I am understanding the gospel for the first time."
This is the response 3 students chose on the post-conference survey! Praise God for these new brothers & sisters in Christ! We pray that this survey is a true representation of all attendees and that many more have encountered Christ through this conference.
I had the privilege to be the MC for this online event. Throughout the weekend, I introduced our speakers, kept everyone on track with the schedule, and made numerous appearances on the DiscipleMakers Instagram to engage the students before and after the event!
In the "Personal Updates" section of some previous newsletters, I mentioned some fun adventures I'd recently had with my boyfriend, TJ Renninger. Since then, TJ and I have continued to seek the Lord's guidance and, on October 17th, he asked me to marry him!
We are very excited to start our lives together and continue ministering with DiscipleMakers together. I hope that many of you get to meet TJ soon, but for now, here's a brief introduction to the man I am privileged to know and soon marry!
What's TJ's story?
How did he get involved with DiscipleMakers?
"I grew up going to church, but as I got older, I began to live a double life: my real life, and my Christian life on the side. When I got to Shippensburg University, I joined the DiscipleMakers fellowship that was on my campus because I thought that’s just what Christians do. Over the next four years, I encountered the real Jesus, fully understood the depth of the gospel, and my life was transformed by Him. Through this transformation, I developed a heart for college students and am thrilled to see God work in their lives as I'd seen in my own life.
At Shippensburg, I majored in Software Engineering, and have always enjoyed programming to help others work more effectively. The summer following college graduation, I did an internship with DiscipleMakers in the Systems department where I wrote the code for our internal staff directory app. This department, which at the time was comprised of one other guy, handles all technology needs and application development for the entire ministry. Seeing how my skills could be utilized for God's mission on the college campus was highly motivating and at the end of that summer, I applied to join DiscipleMakers full time."
How did you and TJ meet?
TJ and I first met when I started support raising in May 2017, as he had started the same process only a few months earlier. Through support raising we initially got to know one another, but it wasn't until we had both moved to State College in early 2018 to serve in the Headquarters office that we really became friends. Over the next two years, the Lord grew each of us individually, and at the beginning of this past year it became clear that we enjoyed spending time together, were good friends, and wanted to consider pursuing a deeper relationship. So even though the majority of our dating relationship has been in a time of COVID, it has been some of the best days and months of my life to get to know him more and more.
TJ and I at our friends' wedding in early October. The same friends were with us on the hike we took when TJ proposed!
What's next for you two?
Well, I guess it's time to plan a wedding! We're planning to get married in early March and are busy getting all the details together. (It helps that my job is Event Planning!) After that exciting day, we'll continue to live in State College and serve together in the Headquarters. This is one thing we both valued in one another - that we see how God has equipped us for "behind-the-scenes" type roles and are eager to serve there so that DiscipleMakers is more effective on campus and there are no barriers for the gospel.
Since we'll continue to serve this way, there's little to no change for our work with DiscipleMakers - everything will simply be combined! Newsletters will be written by the both of us to you, and any giving will be combined to support TJ & Kate Renninger's ministry with DiscipleMakers. We'll send more details about that as we get closer to March.
Prayers & Praises
Praise God for how many people were able to attend Fall Conference Online and hear the gospel preached!
Pray for the conference teaching to penetrate the hearts of those who heard it and the students would continue to live out the truths they learned.
Pray for wisdom in the uncertainties as we plan our upcoming spring conferences, that we may prepare the best way for students to grow in Christ.
Praise God for bringing TJ and I together. Pray for our upcoming marriage, that we would learn to love each other well just as Christ loves the Church. Pray also for the planning of our wedding in this time of COVID restrictions and uncertainties.
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!
