For those who might have not been informed on the CHAOS we like to call "our life" these past 3 months...as of Feb. we are now in full-time college ministry. To make a very LONG story short(ER), Patrick is now the college director of the University of Arkansas campus ministry known as MBSF (Missionary Baptist Student Fellowship). Our church voted to be the 'sponsor church' for MBSF in mid-Feb., and then a week later during business mtg. voted unanimously to make Patrick the dir. We're DEFINITELY in this one together...needless to say! What a blessing it has already been already!
About a 1 1/2 weeks after the vote, Patrick quickly & suddenly took over the weekly bible studies/deputations to sister churches/outreach on campus/etc. Mid-semester wasn't "ideal", but the Lord had an amazing plan through it all. And now, we're extremely grateful for the few months that we've already been given w/ our students to get to know them, learn what makes them 'tick', find what 'quirks' they may have, etc. It's been a learning experience for everyone involved.
The church that previously sponsored this Baptist ministry had graciously followed the Lord's will in sponsoring it for 53 years! WOW! What a testimony to that church!
We spent each and every Thursday night @ our weekly MBSF bible study called "LIFELINE", and Patrick even tried out several fun ideas to mix things up throughout the semester too. We had a night of what we called 'Grab Bag Devotionals'. We also had a 'Progressive Lesson' (like a 'prog. dinner') to several places around campus/around town. Patrick organized an exciting 'AMAZING (G)RACE all over campus w/ specific clues and jobs to do...just like the show on t.v. And we even celebrated the last mtg. of the yr. (on the wk. before final exams) with a fish fry @ a churchmember's home. The 'H.A.F.H.' (Home Away From Home) families that we had designated out to several families in our church which "adopted" a college student to look after throughout the sem. GRACIOUSLY attended the fish fry and even brought food as well! We had a blast!
In the meantime, Patrick is sending out monthly newsletters, contacting prospective students, organizing a wknd. MBSF retreat for the summer, scheduling/attending/speaking @ several other churches across the state of AR who might be interested in helping financially support our ministry monthly. We call this process "deputation", and we already have 19 DIFFERENT deputation trips scheduled to 19 DIFFERENT churches across the state this summer. TONS of traveling as you can imagine! We'll be gone most Sun. nights & even a few Wed. nights from our home church here in Springdale in the few months to come due to these deput. appt.'s. However, our pastor knew that this had to be done to up our monthly support. And our church is helping us out by stepping up and designating other gentlemen in the church to help lead the music when Patrick, Kennedy and I are out of town presenting the work to another church.
Please remember this ministry in your prayers as well as the hearts of our students whom (majority) have gone home for the summer right now. We truly feel the prayers of fellow believers on a daily basis!
We are truly blessed...
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