We are so thrilled to be back in Nac, and in the lives of students. Over the past year we have prayed about, talked about, and eagerly looked forward to being back on campus, but none of that compares to how it would feel to have that become a reality.
It was so cool for us to attend Cru, our weekly meeting, for the first time. We arrived super excited to see the students, and as we walked into the familiar setting of Education Building rm 101 we began to notice that while the room, the atmosphere, and the setting was familiar, the faces were not. You typically have a pretty significant turnover in the crowd every 2 years or so, and it had definitely happened while we were gone.
This is not a bad thing, this was great. This was awkward. This was faith stretching and challenging to walk into the same old Cru, and be the new people. It was such a blast. We now have a ton of new students to meet, begin to get to know and get into their lives, and that is exactly what these past few weeks have been made up of. We have so enjoyed meeting students for lunch, having them over to our home, watching some football, dropping in on Bible Studies, and just getting to know them and their relationship (or lack there of) with the Lord.
That's the name of the game for us right now, as the new-old people to re-familiarize ourselves with being on campus, and getting to know some new students while reconnecting with some old ones. It is such a blessing from the Lord to be a part of this ministry!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
So much to be Thankful for!
We have so so much to be thankful for!
First, we are so thankful to the Lord, for giving us a way to have a relationship with Him through sending Christ to die on the cross for our sins.
We are so thankful for you, for making it possible to be able to follow where God is calling us, and to go reach college students at SFA!
We are so thankful to finally be here in Nacogdoches!! We are so thrilled to be able to be back with students and to be diving back in to ministry! God is already at work, and we are thrilled!
We are so thankful for our family- and we enjoyed getting to spend time with Autumn’s family over the holidays! It was wonderful!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Soularium
We hope you were encouraged about how God is continuing to move, and to give us new opportunities to reach students through the Soularium. If you have not gotten to read about the Soularium in our latest newsletter, we would recommend reading it before reading this post because this is a follow up to the Soularium newsletter dialogue. Click here for the newsletter. We are so thrilled that there is something that is so culturally relevant to college students, and that really does enable conversations about Christ and the gospel.
We mentioned that there are a few ways to use the Soularium, and we thought we would share with you about how those work.
First, you can use the Soularium for it's most basic use: as a photo survey. To do this, we simply bring the Soularium packed, a pen and small notebook. We ask if we can talk with a student, usually one that we just met, and have them help us with the survey. Then, we hand them the photos, and ask them to answer the questions using the numbered photos. The questions are two-part. Allow time to answer part a before moving to part b:
1. Which 3 images would you choose to describe your life right now? b. What do each of those images represent about your life?
2. Which 3 images represent what you WISH were a part of your life right now? b. Why? What desire does each image represent?
3. Which image would you choose to describe God? (If they say "I'm an atheist" ask: Which image describes that?) b. Why? What does it say about God to you?
4. Think about your life so far. Which image best describes what you've experienced spiritually? b. Why? What does that image represent?
5. When you think about your own spiritual life or journey, which image best represents what you wish were true? b. Why? What does that image represent?
We simply write down their responses, and engage them in conversation about their responses. There is no one way to begin to talk about Christ in this survey, you just ask questions of the person, and share your experience with them. God really does open doors through the conversation to share about the wonderful love and grace of God, and what a relationship with Him is like. We have seen this be very effective in talking with students, and sharing the Gospel! You might find it helpful to have gone through the Soularium on your own in case they ask which images you would pick for each question- we get that response a lot!
The second option is to use the photos to share your own testimony about God's grace in your life. This would be something to prepare before you engage in conversations. Basically, think about your testimony as a 3 part story: your life before Christ, you salvation experience, and your life after you trusted in Christ. Then, you pick 1 image for each of the parts of your story. As you are talking with a student, it might be appropriate to share about what God has done in your life, and it is a perfect time to use the 3 pictures and a 3 minute testimony!
A third option is to set up an "art gallery" of sorts in a public place, and have the survey's (from option 1) printed where students can write out their response. You can have people talking by the board, and beginning conversation in the more open environment. This method is not as effective at starting gospel conversations because it is not one-on-one, but the conversation people can engage in spiritual conversations as well.
Many of you might be wondering if this tool is available to people outside of Campus Crusade for Christ staff, and the answer is YES! Please, please do not feel like we are pushing this item on you, we just recognize that you might be interested in having a copy for personal use. If you wish, you can order the item here. Again, please feel no obligation to get the tool.
There is a website associated with Soularium www.mysoularium.com that is another part of the tool. At the site you can see student's responses, as well as the images. They are really beautiful- you should check it out!
Our love and prayers to you!
Autumn and Vince
We mentioned that there are a few ways to use the Soularium, and we thought we would share with you about how those work.
First, you can use the Soularium for it's most basic use: as a photo survey. To do this, we simply bring the Soularium packed, a pen and small notebook. We ask if we can talk with a student, usually one that we just met, and have them help us with the survey. Then, we hand them the photos, and ask them to answer the questions using the numbered photos. The questions are two-part. Allow time to answer part a before moving to part b:
1. Which 3 images would you choose to describe your life right now? b. What do each of those images represent about your life?
2. Which 3 images represent what you WISH were a part of your life right now? b. Why? What desire does each image represent?
3. Which image would you choose to describe God? (If they say "I'm an atheist" ask: Which image describes that?) b. Why? What does it say about God to you?
4. Think about your life so far. Which image best describes what you've experienced spiritually? b. Why? What does that image represent?
5. When you think about your own spiritual life or journey, which image best represents what you wish were true? b. Why? What does that image represent?
We simply write down their responses, and engage them in conversation about their responses. There is no one way to begin to talk about Christ in this survey, you just ask questions of the person, and share your experience with them. God really does open doors through the conversation to share about the wonderful love and grace of God, and what a relationship with Him is like. We have seen this be very effective in talking with students, and sharing the Gospel! You might find it helpful to have gone through the Soularium on your own in case they ask which images you would pick for each question- we get that response a lot!
The second option is to use the photos to share your own testimony about God's grace in your life. This would be something to prepare before you engage in conversations. Basically, think about your testimony as a 3 part story: your life before Christ, you salvation experience, and your life after you trusted in Christ. Then, you pick 1 image for each of the parts of your story. As you are talking with a student, it might be appropriate to share about what God has done in your life, and it is a perfect time to use the 3 pictures and a 3 minute testimony!
A third option is to set up an "art gallery" of sorts in a public place, and have the survey's (from option 1) printed where students can write out their response. You can have people talking by the board, and beginning conversation in the more open environment. This method is not as effective at starting gospel conversations because it is not one-on-one, but the conversation people can engage in spiritual conversations as well.
Many of you might be wondering if this tool is available to people outside of Campus Crusade for Christ staff, and the answer is YES! Please, please do not feel like we are pushing this item on you, we just recognize that you might be interested in having a copy for personal use. If you wish, you can order the item here. Again, please feel no obligation to get the tool.
There is a website associated with Soularium www.mysoularium.com that is another part of the tool. At the site you can see student's responses, as well as the images. They are really beautiful- you should check it out!
Our love and prayers to you!
Autumn and Vince
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
It's Summer-time!
I am so sorry it has been so long since we have updated our little blog here. Things have been really busy, which is great! We are still living in Allen, TX and working on building our ministry team. Praise the good Lord that we are getting closer and we are rounding the home stretch!
We are so excited that it is almost summer. It can be a really busy time of year, and for college students it is no different! As we have mentioned a few times, we are really excited for some of our students who decided to go on a Summer Project. This is a summer long mission trip through Campus Crusade that allows students to get a job and learn to minister to their peers in the working world, alongside having an intense fellowship and discipleship experience with the students on the project with them! Also there are projects where students go overseas to work on a college campus and share the love of Christ with students there. There are many projects students can choose from, and we wanted to share a site that does a great job explaining them! Enjoy checking it out!
We are so excited that it is almost summer. It can be a really busy time of year, and for college students it is no different! As we have mentioned a few times, we are really excited for some of our students who decided to go on a Summer Project. This is a summer long mission trip through Campus Crusade that allows students to get a job and learn to minister to their peers in the working world, alongside having an intense fellowship and discipleship experience with the students on the project with them! Also there are projects where students go overseas to work on a college campus and share the love of Christ with students there. There are many projects students can choose from, and we wanted to share a site that does a great job explaining them! Enjoy checking it out!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Golf Tournament!!
Get ready for the 3rd Annual Campus Crusade for Christ at SFA Golf Tournament in Nacogdoches, TX March 6th!
This is a great day to relax and enjoy a round of golf in the beautiful piney-woods, and to raise money for the Campus Crusade ministry at SFA! Check out the postcard front and back listed below for more information.
Please send us a message if you are interested in knowing more about the event, or want to attend.
Blessings,
Vince and Autumn
This is a great day to relax and enjoy a round of golf in the beautiful piney-woods, and to raise money for the Campus Crusade ministry at SFA! Check out the postcard front and back listed below for more information.
Please send us a message if you are interested in knowing more about the event, or want to attend.
Blessings,
Vince and Autumn
Thursday, January 22, 2009
In their own words
We wanted you to get to hear directly from our students at SFA about their experience at The Winter Conference this year. It is so amazing to see how incredibly personal our God is- that he speaks so directly to each of our hearts just how we need it. I love to see how the Lord worked- so read on!
"My week at TWC was about making sure my own heart was in check. Christ has given me a huge passion to do ministry one day. TWC reminded me that I need to Love Christ more than my dream of doing ministry. Christ also showed me some practical ways to prepare my heart for my future of doing ministry. It was an amazing week and I am so glad that I went!"- Deena, junior
"Before I went to TWC, I was having a hard time, such a hard time I wasn't going to go. My mom convinced me to go, and I did. I'm very glad I went because if I didn't, then I would have missed out on my blessings. By going I experienced a closer walk with God, and by having that quiet time with God and hearing the speakers sermons; I learned that my problems are not meant to tear me down, but to make me stronger."- Leia, freshman
"Being at TWC helped me understand that there are other people who are going through or have gone through some of the same things that I am dealing with in my own walk, and its okay to ask for help. It also helped me figure out that my next step is to start over by ending my addiction and clinging solely to Him." -Jodi, senior
"Winter Conference was a great time for me to reunite with some of my friends from Crusade Summer Project. Being there helped me to realize how important community is in the life of believers and how much I need that community at school. I heard so much truth from the Bible through new perspectives from our speakers - it was challenging, but so refreshing!"- Margaret, senior
We are so thankful that God is alive and at work in the lives of students, and ours too. Hope you enjoyed hearing from them!
Blessings, Vince and Autumn
"My week at TWC was about making sure my own heart was in check. Christ has given me a huge passion to do ministry one day. TWC reminded me that I need to Love Christ more than my dream of doing ministry. Christ also showed me some practical ways to prepare my heart for my future of doing ministry. It was an amazing week and I am so glad that I went!"- Deena, junior
"Before I went to TWC, I was having a hard time, such a hard time I wasn't going to go. My mom convinced me to go, and I did. I'm very glad I went because if I didn't, then I would have missed out on my blessings. By going I experienced a closer walk with God, and by having that quiet time with God and hearing the speakers sermons; I learned that my problems are not meant to tear me down, but to make me stronger."- Leia, freshman
"Being at TWC helped me understand that there are other people who are going through or have gone through some of the same things that I am dealing with in my own walk, and its okay to ask for help. It also helped me figure out that my next step is to start over by ending my addiction and clinging solely to Him." -Jodi, senior
"Winter Conference was a great time for me to reunite with some of my friends from Crusade Summer Project. Being there helped me to realize how important community is in the life of believers and how much I need that community at school. I heard so much truth from the Bible through new perspectives from our speakers - it was challenging, but so refreshing!"- Margaret, senior
We are so thankful that God is alive and at work in the lives of students, and ours too. Hope you enjoyed hearing from them!
Blessings, Vince and Autumn
Summer Project
Hey friends! We hope this finds you doing well! I will post up more about Winter conference in a few days, but for now...
I just got an article from a magazine called Worldwide Challenge (a magazine written by Campus Crusade for Christ staff) in the mail that I thought you might find interesting. We have shared with you about some options for students during the summer, Summer Projects. These short and long term projects take students all over the country, the world, and to new depths in their personal walk with Christ. Every year we see lives changed by students who commit and go on summer projects. We are excited to get to facilitate and lead them during our time on staff!
Worldwide Challenge had a great set of articles highlighting students who went on a Summer Project to San Diego- and Thailand and you should check it out! In fact, you can check out the whole issue if you like!
We just wanted you to be able to see the awesome things the Lord does in a students life during a summer project!
Please pray for our students at SFA as they are considering going on a Summer Project this coming summer!
Thanks for your prayers!
Vince and Autumn
I just got an article from a magazine called Worldwide Challenge (a magazine written by Campus Crusade for Christ staff) in the mail that I thought you might find interesting. We have shared with you about some options for students during the summer, Summer Projects. These short and long term projects take students all over the country, the world, and to new depths in their personal walk with Christ. Every year we see lives changed by students who commit and go on summer projects. We are excited to get to facilitate and lead them during our time on staff!
Worldwide Challenge had a great set of articles highlighting students who went on a Summer Project to San Diego- and Thailand and you should check it out! In fact, you can check out the whole issue if you like!
We just wanted you to be able to see the awesome things the Lord does in a students life during a summer project!
Please pray for our students at SFA as they are considering going on a Summer Project this coming summer!
Thanks for your prayers!
Vince and Autumn
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
It's been too long!
We are so sorry that it has been so long since we have updated you on things going on with us, and our wonderful students at SFA! Vince and I realized it had been awhile. The conversation went something like this...
"Vince, have you updated our blog lately honey?". "No, haven't you been writing it?" "Umm... (looks at the website) OH NO!!! It has been 2 months! 2 months!!! Oh dear. I hope they know we still love them!" ....
Needless to say I am very embarrassed. And deeply sorry.
So...
Things have been busy for us, and that has been a great blessing! We are still living in Allen, TX- and it has been wonderful to continue to meet with our current, and new, ministry partners. We have been floored by the Lord's goodness as we are continuing to build our financial team. It is no secret that these are not the most stable financial times, but we have seen God provide in amazing ways. In fact, despite the economic struggles, the Lord continues to grow our team of ministry partners! We are thrilled to announce that during December, we passed the halfway mark, and we are currently at 57% of our needed funds in order to return to campus.
It has been a good season for Vince and I. We have been working hard on support, but we did get a chance to break for a few days and enjoy Christmas with out various families. It was a blessing, and very refreshing to get to have time with all the relatives in from out of town, and local too!
Just a few weeks ago we got the amazing blessing of getting to see some of our awesome SFA Crusaders at our annual Winter Conference. I want to tell you all about that... and I know you want to hear all the amazing details, but I will save that for the upcoming newsletter and future posts. Check back because it will be great!!
Please keep Vince and I in your prayers as we are still in need of support for our ministry. Also, please be praying for our students back at SFA. School starts on Monday, January 19, 2009. Much like you and me, students are in the mindset of New Years Resolutions, and they have a chance to have a great start to a new semester. Please pray that they resolve to take next steps with the Lord, and that they will remain committed to our KING!
Thank you again. There are not words to express our gratitude. But... there will be lots of words to describe all that is going on with us, and students back at SFA right here on the blog to come!
Blessings,
Autumn and Vince.
"Vince, have you updated our blog lately honey?". "No, haven't you been writing it?" "Umm... (looks at the website) OH NO!!! It has been 2 months! 2 months!!! Oh dear. I hope they know we still love them!" ....
Needless to say I am very embarrassed. And deeply sorry.
So...
Things have been busy for us, and that has been a great blessing! We are still living in Allen, TX- and it has been wonderful to continue to meet with our current, and new, ministry partners. We have been floored by the Lord's goodness as we are continuing to build our financial team. It is no secret that these are not the most stable financial times, but we have seen God provide in amazing ways. In fact, despite the economic struggles, the Lord continues to grow our team of ministry partners! We are thrilled to announce that during December, we passed the halfway mark, and we are currently at 57% of our needed funds in order to return to campus.
It has been a good season for Vince and I. We have been working hard on support, but we did get a chance to break for a few days and enjoy Christmas with out various families. It was a blessing, and very refreshing to get to have time with all the relatives in from out of town, and local too!
Just a few weeks ago we got the amazing blessing of getting to see some of our awesome SFA Crusaders at our annual Winter Conference. I want to tell you all about that... and I know you want to hear all the amazing details, but I will save that for the upcoming newsletter and future posts. Check back because it will be great!!
Please keep Vince and I in your prayers as we are still in need of support for our ministry. Also, please be praying for our students back at SFA. School starts on Monday, January 19, 2009. Much like you and me, students are in the mindset of New Years Resolutions, and they have a chance to have a great start to a new semester. Please pray that they resolve to take next steps with the Lord, and that they will remain committed to our KING!
Thank you again. There are not words to express our gratitude. But... there will be lots of words to describe all that is going on with us, and students back at SFA right here on the blog to come!
Blessings,
Autumn and Vince.
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