Joy, So Much Joy!

I just have two quick praises to share.

We have a Freshman girl, named Breanna. She is wonderful. She recently decided to rededicate her life to the Christ and to start living fully for Him. It was a tear-filled and humbling experience for her, but she couldn't be more excited to see what God does in her life and through her faith in Jesus.

We also have a Freshman guy, named Dillon. He, two nights ago, accepted Christ for the first time. He has had a group of our guys coming along side him, encouraging him and praying for him as we begins his journey in faith.

Please keep them in your prayers.

The Reason For God

We spent four weeks discussing the "Reason for God" and why He does certain things. We watched a video series done by Dr. Timothy Keller, where he proposed certain topics with a panel of non-believers. His panel was full of unbelieving business men and women, and they had very good questions.

The questions we discussed were:
1. How Can God Be Full of Love and Wrath at the Same Time? How Can God Send Good People to Hell?
2.  Why is the Church Responsible for So Much Injustice? Why Are Christians Such Hypocrites?
3. How Can You Say There is Only One Way to God? What About Other Religions?
4. Suffering: If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world?


After each talk we would have the students turn around and discuss with each other certain questions proposed during the panel. These were very hard topics that, lets be honest, most of us would not want to have to sit down and discuss. But God was so good, and we received so much good feedback. 


This all led up to our own University Q&A time, with our own panel of scholars. Our panel consisted of a High School Biology teacher, a leader of the Presbyterian college ministry, and a pastor of a local church (and philosopher). We asked students and professors all over campus if they had questions about God and Christianity, the week before, as well as allowed the audience to text their questions in during the Q&A time. I believer 80+ students came that night, and there were a lot of really good questions asked. It was a really great learning experience for me as a leader, to see what works and what didn't work, in case we do something similar in the future. I think a lot of theological, philosophical, even scientific students got their questions answered in a way they could relate to and understand. I think the only thing we could have improved on, was to have someone who could have answered in a more "everyday" kind of language, and that would have explained some big topics easier. But I guess that is where the Holy Spirit steps in and gives us the ears to hear and the wisdom to understand matters that relate to God. 


God has been so good this year and we keep hoping and praying for more!

High Country Adventure

Each year Cru takes our students on a Fall Retreat. This year we had the opportunity to partner with UNM's Cru, and come together as one large group. It was wonderful! We met at the Glorieta Retreat Center, just North of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I believe we had about 30 students from NMSU and UNM had 25 or so (because NMSU is better.) ;) As our keynote speaker we had a gentleman from the Missouri staff team fly in, and he did just an amazing job. His name was Justin, and he spoke on the importance of good Godly community, and how that is only achieved by genuine, vulnerable accountability. We were there Friday until Sunday, and during that weekend, Justin challenged the students with some difficult discussions. After each talk, the students would break up into groups and answer a set of questions. Doing a specific discussion (which was separated by gender) the students were asked to be vulnerable with each other, and to share their life story, the good and the ugly. You could just see the transformation in the students hearts as they started to understand their peers better. By catching a glimpse of their background, the facades came off, and there was nothing left to hide. I joked to a friend that "when all of the girls start crying, you know God is doing something." Seriously though, there is nothing more true or necessary in a Christian community than vulnerability. Without it, people will just play their parts, and do the status quo.

The worship team we pieced together out of our NMSU students did an awesome job, even in the higher altitude! During our time at HCA, we were able to have a men's/women's time. Holly Hoppe, one of our staff women, taught on the intimacy we were created to have with God. She shared that the only place we will find our satisfaction, self-worth, or identity has to be in God, otherwise we will be disappointed every time. It seems like an obvious statement, but this is something that women young and old battle all of their lives. Whether it is our accomplishments, popularity, money, men, intellect, ability, love from a parent, friend or companion, outward appearance, etc...we always try to put our worth in tangible things...but they always fail us. Even being a staff person, I could feel the Spirit moving in my own heart, along with the students. We are never to old or to wise to be convicted by the Lord of something else He needs to refine.

This weekend getaway was tremendously influential on our students, and such a refreshing blessing on us staff. We have been running at such a high speed to keep up with the semester and accomplish all we can within our limits, and it was so needed to just sit back and spend time with Jesus. He and the Spirit are the ones who accomplish anything good in this ministry, we are just the vessels...and it is so wonderful to be reminded of that. HCA was a success, thank you for your prayers.

Learning Can Be Tough

We are now a month into school and a month into my experience of being on staff with Cru. I will be the first person to admit that this is harder than I thought it would be. 

This is my first experience raising support in such a personal, hands on way. It is such a good challenge for me to learn how to be attentive to my supporters and to find ways to show them my appreciation.

Our staff team has wonderful men and women, working full time to spread the Gospel and reach the students on our campus. This year, God has allowed for us to be spread very thin. By thin I mean, I am the only female staff on campus. Holly Hoppe is getting ready to give birth to her and Vince's 3rd baby. Mandy and Brandon gave birth to their 2nd son Jude a 3 weeks ago, and you can pray for him and read about his incredible story at Mandy's blog.

So instead of our usual 3 full time women and 3 full time male staff members; there is Vince Hoppe, a male intern and myself. It is a blessing to have so little ability, because it give the Holy Spirit so much room to move! :)

We have such huge hopes and dreams for the students at NMSU, and the impact Jesus could make with enough momentum. There is so much I want to see happen, so much that God has laid on my heart. 

->We want to see Cru serving the campus and in turn, our campus serving the Las Cruces community. 
->We want us to live out the Gospel by bringing Kingdom to others like in Matthew 25. 

->Injustice issues way heavily on the hearts of our students and we desire to raise awareness amongst   the other on campus. 

->Living missional lifestyles by doing life and creating friendships with students on campus, different then ourselves. 

There is so much to do, so few people and so little time. The work is great, and the workers are few...but our numbers are growing and God is faithful!

When Seeds Fall On Good Soil

I am so joyful right now, I cannot even fully explain how stoked I am to share this with you!

I have a friend, named Mayra, who I used to work with before I came on staff with Cru. She is my age (mid 20's) and like myself, received her Bachelors Degree at NMSU. Mayra hopes to one day return to NMSU and get her Master's Degree. She is very bright and so sweet; I would dare say that she is the nicest girl I have ever met. In getting to know her, I have come to appreciate her heart even more. While Mayra has attended Catholic and Christian churches before, in Mexico, she is not a believer. We have had wonderful conversations about faith, but that was all they were, casual conversations...until a month ago.

About a month ago, I randomly asked Mayra if she wanted to go to church with me and she said yes. So to church we went, and afterwards she shared that she really liked it. To my surprise she came with me the next week, and the week after. :) Once school had started, I invited Mayra to come to campus Thursday night, to see our Revolve Meeting... so she could see what I do, and why I quit my job. :)  She came to Revolve and was met by many young women so excited to meet her acquaintance. Mayra loved Cru!

Needless to say, the Holy Spirit is so amazing, and has been drawing Mayra to himself all this time. I had NO idea! Last week God completely rocked me. We were eating Greek food after Revolve with a huge group of students, when Mayra turns to me and asks the following questions:
"How do you become a Christian?"
"How do you know when you are saved?"
"If I come to Cru just to get to know God better, and could care less if anyone else was there...is that God calling me?" :)

I tried to pick my jaw up off the floor, and smiled, and prayed silently that God would help me share the Gospel clearly. She listened, took it all in, and said she would think about it more when she reads her new Bible (the one that some Cru girls bought for her earlier that day). I cannot wait to share with you in a couple of days when Mayra excepts the Lord and steps foot into the Kingdom of God. Praise God, for He is so GOOD!

We do not love only those that we know, but we love those whom, to most, are unknown

To bring Kingdom to those who have never experienced the Lord makes my heart rejoice, and I was able to do exactly that!
Three ladies from Cru, who have all just returned from a summer mission trip, had their first opportunity to serve the community tonight. This opportunity did not just reach Las Cruces, but all the way down to Juarez, Mexico!
We were lucky enough to come along side a ministry called "Souls", and help them make sandwiches for their Friday night Outreach. Souls Ministry go down to the Red Light District in Juarez, Mexico to reach out to the prostitues, the homeless and the drug addicts. They pray for these people, share the Gospel with them, give them food and just love on them.
While we were not able to go down to Mexico and be at the front lines, it was such a blessing to us to be able to help in whatever way was needed.


*Please keep the men and women traveling to Mexico in your prayers, pray for protection and anointing on them. 
*Please also pray for the Holy Spirit to be working in the hearts of those they will speak to, so that they may be freed from the bondage Satan has over them and be saved by Jesus' grace.

If you would like more information about this ministry, you can find them at: Souls Ministry

And We're Off!

School has officially begun, which means meetings, meetings, mettings for us staff. It is really looks like it is going to be a great year. We already have a lot of really cool things planned out, now we just have to get the students on board and get the ball rolling.


  Fresh  
Two of our student leaders, Missy and Lance, are heading up a freshman movement, called "Fresh".  Just from one day of tabling we gained 200 freshman contacts interested in knowing more about Christ. Our goal is to get all of them to come to Cru and connect with our freshman students. This past Monday, Fresh had their first get together, it was a free pizza party. The turn out was great, I believe a little more than 20 students showed up. Missy reports that they had great conversations with the students and lots of friendships were established.


  Revolve  
Last Thursday was our first Revolve, which is our weekly meeting in Corbett Center. For being the first day back to school, the turn out of students was awesome. We had about 40 students show up. Vince gave a talk about what Godly community looks like vs. broken community, and our need for Jesus to restore community. It was so good, and connected so well with everyone! Robert Frick (my lovely boyfriend) was the stand-in for music. The music was entertaining in the beginning to draw students in, and the meeting concluded with a time of amazing worship. There is nothing more glorifying and powerful to me than a sea of students singing out to their God. The night had God's fingerprints all over it. The Christians students got to connect with God and non-believing students and visitors seemed captivated. My only prayer is that people would break free of their comfort zones. You could see and feel the crowd wanting to stand up, lift their hands and sing out...but they held back, and stayed seated. How much more could the Spirit move if we just let go of our fears and worshipped Jesus with no reservations? That's my hope.

Lastly, we are getting our Bible studies set up and establishing student leaders to lead small groups and missional groups all over campus. We want to see our students loving and doing life with every student around them, especially those completely different from themselves. We look forward to see the growth of our students through discipleship, quite times, evangelism and everyday life.