Ah, summer! A time to relax and recharge. A time when schools are quiet and students rejoice in having a break. A time for beach vacations and lounging by the pool. While we did get to enjoy some of this, for our work in the HQ, the summer does not slow us down! It can actually be a key time to regroup and do vital prep work for what's to come in the next school year. Here's a bit of how each of us has used this summer to bolster the efforts of this ministry from behind the scenes at the Headquarters.
TJ: Check Reader Software Support
For the past few months we've (Systems Department) been working on a big project to replace our financial software. This includes everything from accounting and bookkeeping, to donation tracking, to reporting for our staff. The software we are working on has been developed over the past 10+ years by another missionary. Its goal is to be tailored to the particular needs of Christian organizations, as opposed to other products for generic non-profits.
Lately, I have been working on creating a component that integrates with a variety of check readers. When we process paper check donations, we scan all checks to more easily collect data and keep appropriate records. This software allows us to capture a scanned image and integrate it with the new financial system. You can check out a video of this process below.
We are very excited to work on this project as it not only improves our systems to better serve our staff and donors, which in turn allows us to be more effective on the college campus, but it will also aid in improving the software for other ministries, too.
Check Reader Demo
Kate: Event Planning Reorganization
Whew! This past year for Event Planning has been a lot of flying by the seat of our pants. There was a lot of planning and replanning and more replanning as restrictions changed and events were quickly moved online. With each event having a greater sense of urgency to them, this left little time for keeping up with some internal organization tasks. In order to plan well for our 5 large events throughout the year, we need to have good systems to track our task lists, endless folders of documents, and event team member communications.
So, this summer, with a bit more time to breathe before diving into planning for the fall, I have been working on organizing these systems and discussing with my teammates how we can best track all the information we need. While I would not want to have another year full of virtual events, the struggles we've worked through in this season have provided us with a chance to re-evaluate what is most important and learn how to more effectively present the gospel at these events.
In our next newsletter, I'll share with you more of the details of what's next! This will include introducing you to my new intern, Catherine, and what we'll be doing for Fall Conference in October!
Students
The students are back! Many colleges are already buzzing with new student orientations, starting classes, and reconnecting in-person after a long time apart. For our campus staff, these are the busiest weeks of the year! However, after the past year and a half of limited in-person interactions, we recognize there may be some significant challenges, often feeling like we must re-build our fellowships on campus. One staff soberly reminded us that, "Among our students who will take part in reaching out to freshmen this week, only the current senior class has any prior experience doing so." Wow. While we could turn to despair that this year could be difficult, we must instead trust in our sovereign God who is not deterred by these circumstances.
As we begin this year, eagerly anticipating all the opportunities to proclaim the gospel, we must first put our plans before the Father, and petition Him in prayer for our efforts. Would you pray with us?
Covid Restrictions: Pray for open doors to in-person ministry for our staff team at all our campuses. Pray for favor with the administration, for low cases of covid, and a green light for face-to-face gospel ministry.
Sustenance in Evangelism: Pray for abundant energy, safety, health, and winsomeness over our staff and student leaders. Pray that each would be guided by a burden for those far from God. And pray that each would have numerous opportunities to proclaim the gospel to the lost people around them.
Restarting our Fellowships: Covid has reset the culture, numbers, and faces of our campus fellowships. Please pray as we seek to re-establish norms, re-invite students, and re-create a culture of obeying Christ on our campuses.
Do you know any college students
heading back to campus this fall?
We would love to connect with them! Here's how:
Ask the incoming student for permission to share their contact info with DiscipleMakers.
If they say yes, then share that with the contact person listed for their school on our website. (Or feel free to reach out to me and I'll help connect you.)
The DM staff or a student leader will reach out to the student to welcome them to campus!
Finally, pray for the student, that God blesses them in their new chapter at college. Pray that they would abide in Jesus, and bear much fruit (John 15).
Below is a map of the 19 campuses where we have a campus ministry (all in central or eastern Pennsylvania).
Studying the Psalms
At the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, our pastor started doing a brief daily devo on Facebook Live simply walking through various books of the Bible. He would invite "guests" to come and talk about these scriptures and continued doing this every weekday morning. At the beginning of this summer, he "passed the torch" to us. Every Monday and Wednesday at 8:00am we go live on our church's Facebook page and study through a chapter of Psalms. We have really loved doing this and seeing the interactions and impact this can have!
Check out the links below to see past videos posted on YouTube, or access our church's Facebook page to watch live at 8am on Mondays and Wednesdays!
Praise God for the ways He's equipped us to serve in the Headquarters and bolster the efforts of this ministry through computer systems and organizing our Event Planning team!
Pray for God to guide our efforts and provide gospel opportunities this fall on the college campuses. Pray that students would not be deterred by continued restrictions, but would find community and solace in God alone!
Pray that our Psalm studies would reach many people and that God's word would penetrate hearts, such that they come to know His truths and call Christ their Lord and Savior.
Pray for Kate's family as we continue to navigate the loss of my dad.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. If there are any ways that I can be praying for you, please let me know!
In Christ,
TJ & Kate Renninger
We moved! This new place is just across town from where we were living, but provides a bit more space for us to settle and grow into for a while.
You can now find us at:
548 Easterly Parkway
State College, PA 16803
On August 12, my (Kate's) dad unexpectedly passed away. We drove down that evening to be with my mom and brother and ended up staying through the next week. I have been overwhelmed by the love and support of so many in the past few weeks. My parents were dearly loved and impacted many, so it shouldn't be too much of a surprise that the funeral service filled the sanctuary at my home church. I am still processing many of the emotions that come with sudden loss, but in it all I am hopeful that my dad is with my heavenly Father, rejoicing in His promises fulfilled.
The students are back! Many colleges are already buzzing with new student orientations, starting classes, and reconnecting in-person after a long time apart. For our campus staff, these are the busiest weeks of the year! However, after the past year and a half of limited in-person interactions, we recognize there may be some significant challenges, often feeling like we must re-build our fellowships on campus. One staff soberly reminded us that, "Among our students who will take part in reaching out to freshmen this week, only the current senior class has any prior experience doing so." Wow. While we could turn to despair that this year could be difficult, we must instead trust in our sovereign God who is not deterred by these circumstances.
