Just a few days away

http://www.radiate2013.com/video

Caring Community

Jersey Metro Cru: A caring community passionate about connecting people to Jesus Christ.
Last month, I told you about a conversation Maria Yousef & I had using the “perspective cards” with two Muslim women, Oraib and Saeeda, the president of the Kean Muslim Student Association. Since I met these women, we’ve had multiple conversations on campus practically every week and they’ve met nearly every female student leader in Cru! Visit my blog: tabbystab@blogspot.com to read more about our encounters. Another fun adventure with Maria (pictured left, next to me) was our trip to Mt. Vernon Alliance Church in Mt. Vernon, NY. Using the materials I mentioned in my last letter and a “prezi” I created, I trained six young seminary students from Nyack College in evangelism and then went out sharing our faith with High School students at the local park. We prayed with 3 young girls who weren’t sure of their salvation to be sure and encouraged them to talk to their youth pastors or visit the local church!

"I'm Muslim & we believe Jesus is alive!"

You must think I've twisted someone's words, but I promise you this was said in a conversation on campus with two Muslim student women.

Maria (far left) and I also took a tool called “perspective cards” and walked up to two young women sitting at the Starbucks on campus to initiate spiritual conversation. The purpose of Perspective is to ask the person surveyed to choose the cards that best represents what he/she believes about the following: Nature of God, Human Nature, Meaning and Purpose of Life, Identity of Jesus Christ,  & Source of Spiritual Truth.  

This step of faith led to a 2 hour conversation with Oraib, a Muslim student originally from Jordan, and Saeeda, the president of the Kean Muslim Student Association. Maria, being from Egypt, immediately related to them on a language level. And I connected with them, even more than we already were, after learning in the conversation that they both studied sign language! These new relationships support the importance of listening to others in the midst of evangelism.

For details of my conversation with Saeeda and Oraib, read below! :)

Thirsty Ladies

2012 Keeping Tabs with Campus Ministry

Kean Cru - Hungry Men and Thirsty Women

It all started with a hungry man. The men from Kean Cru began to eat together on various days simply because... Well in the words of our Kean Cru student prayer leader, Mario: "Yo. I'm hungry man, let's get some something to eat!" While they unintentionally bonded over their common physical hunger, these twenty-something year old men began to recognize a spiritual hunger within themselves to be encouraged by other godly men. So in response to the Holy Spirit's lead, they started to have a regular men's time Tuesday nights over dinner. Just recently, Jon Lopez (weekly meetings leader), announced that they would go through a Bible study series called "Courageous", based off of the hit Christian song and recent movie. Please pray that these men would not lose hope but continue to edify one another as they regularly meet.

Slowly, but surely the women started to catch on. Last semester, they made random efforts to eat together and form deep, meaningful relationships amongst those who attended Fall Retreat. This semester the women have just started to intentionally meet together on Monday nights at the Starbucks located in the annex of the library on campus. Our first time meeting together (pictured right) we talked about the constant temptation to quench our "thirst", like the Samaritan woman in John 4, through things that won't ultimately satisfy. We watched a spoken word interpretation of the passage and talked for two hours about how we each related to this woman! God's starting to move in new ways through these ladies lives. Please pray they continue to trust God and go to Him to be fulfilled in life as opposed to the temporary pleasures of this world that don't ultimately satisfy. (Tasha, bottom right, gave her testimony at our annual fellowship dinner.)

Free from Ctrl

This song, Hold Me - Jaime Grace and Toby Mac, is one of those songs I hear and wish I would always believe. Laura Story sings a song called "Blessings" that does a good job of reminding me of the truths I need to stay focused on.

Backdrop: (pray please)

• I haven't had an apartment since the end of July and the school semester started the end of August. So I've been staying with my parents on the weekend and friends/students throughout the week as I work on campus at Kean University. 
• My support has been $1200/month lower than I need it to be so that I can fully engage college students with the revitalizing story of Jesus Christ. So I've only been working at Kean University for the most part and working on support the rest of the time.
• My tire blew an unexpected expense through my emergency fund the second day of work.
• My laptop has been unexpectedly been shutting down on random occasions.
• Kean Cru has been having problems getting a room for it's weekly Bible studies.

What God's been teaching me...

This weekend I was able to go to Baltimore with our Jersey Metro Intern, ChiChi, and a few NJ students to meet up with staff and students from around the region to discuss and plan our upcoming winter conference, RADIATE2011. Immediately after this conference, I decided to drive to Virginia with a student of mine to go visit friends & students from Hampton Beach Summer Project 2011. It was Saturday afternoon and I had Monday off since I had just finished working a 65 hour work week. I've obviously been struggling with finding rest without a place of my own and I knew that if I went to NJ or NY, I would probably work in one way or another. So I decided I need to get away.

Truth:
On this 5 hour drive to Virginia Tech & 8 hour drive back up to NJ, I learned that I have a strong desire to be in control of all things in my life and cause them to work my way - "the good way". I tend to forget God's promises and truth that He loves me and has plans to prosper me and not to harm me (Jeremiah 29:11). I see my circumstances and wonder where is God's hand, but He said He will never leave me or forsake me (Hebrew 13:5). So then can I believe Him even when I don't see Him working? Can I believe His word, which says He is good & all that He does is good (Psalm 119:68)?

Focus:
This song, "Tear Down the Walls" by Hillsong, reminds me that I can believe Him because there is a greater purpose to being here in this life than to be comfortable and adjusted in my life-seat. I can BE FREE from the need to control because He's trust-worthy. Christian rap artist, Lecrae, says it beautifully in his song "Background"- "I can play the background cuz I know sometimes I get in the way". He can handle my life.... I just gotta trust Him and see it from His perspective. Kinda gets me excited for what God is going to do at our Fall Retreat this year entitled "focus - Change your perspective. Find your purpose."

NOW... (praise time)

I can see God's goodness in all these things that appear painful.

• Because I don't have an apartment, I've saved on rent and utilities for two months and haven't had to pay with students, friends and family.
• Because my support is low, I've been able to talk to more students about what I do and the importance of giving to God's kingdom work.
• Because my tire blew & my laptop may be at the end of it's working life, I'm excited for what God's going to do on campus to upset the enemies schemes!
• Despite Kean having problems getting a room for their weekly meetings, we've had MANY freshmen students come out to our meet & greet, pizza & God event, and bowling night out... people know we are on campus! This is key to our movement! PRAISE JESUS!

Reason for God

Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church gives a sermon series entitled "The Trouble With Christianity: Why it's so hard to believe" that addresses the skepticism of modern day Americans.

"I'm married and therefore, my right to make even small unilateral decisions is over forever!" - Keller

Pastor Keller does a good job of addressing the most difficult subjects of conversations with people who doubt God. This series will challenge your confidence as a Christian to share what you believe without fear of being tripped up by skeptics arguments. This series challenge those who call themselves "atheists" or those who doubt God's existence.

I dare you to listen.

"It's obvious the fish was designed for the water and when in the water, it experiences it's freedom." - Keller

Subjects:

Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion?

Suffering: If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world?

Absolutism: Don't we all have to find truth for ourselves?

Injustice: Hasn't Christianity been an instrument for oppression?

Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity an angry Judge?

Doubt: What should I do with my doubts?

Literalism: Isn't the Bible historically unreliable and regressive?

To download for free or listen, visit: http://sermons.redeemer.com/store/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=29