Generosity develops Growth

It just breaks my hears when students have to choose between going to Fall Retreat, where they're challenged to live a surrendered life to God, and going to RADIATE, our winter conference where they're encouraged by students from around the region and built up in their faith. Why is money Satan's biggest threat to the growth of the church body?!

There are five students at Kean alone that I can name off the top of my head who will not be attending this year's Fall Retreat unless God provides a miraculous $75 for the two freshmen and $99 for the upperclassmen new believers. Please pray with me as I go to ask local churches and Kean Cru supporters to sponsor a student and help transform a life.

A Social Community

Playing Mafia in the freshmen lounge

Last Wednesday, at Kean, we had an Ice Cream Social. It's so fun meeting new freshmen who want to get involved in a Christian group on campus. We played MAFIA, a card game where you guess each persons character, and the students really enjoyed themselves. They were laughing so hard, the Kean police stopped by to see what all the noise was about! Haha!

The week before that, we played ManHunt and the week before that, we had a game night! Freshmen have had multiple chances to see and hear us. Especially those who live on campus! :) This week was our first Kean Cru Bible Study and I had the privilege of speaking on who we are and why we exist as a caring community passionate about connecting people to Jesus Christ. Check out my presentation on prezi.com (on the right).

Game night

Thanks to those who just prayed for this event and for those who gave $ to purchase the ice cream! :)

Back to campus life...

Hey friends!
I hope your summers have been just as rejuvenating as mine has! I’ve been praying about what to tell you in this newsletter since summers are so unique on staff with Cru. If I’m not on a mission trip (summer project) or taking classes, most of the summer consists of planning and preparing for the new academic year, connecting with students, and encouraging them to walk closely with Jesus. As you already know, this summer consisted of classes at the Institute of Biblical Studies in Orlando. August however, was very strategic.

  Just two weeks ago, I finished my New Staff Development Curriculum and then went to the Jersey Metro staff retreat. This year we have one new intern coming to Kean University, Joel Aponte (pictured right with Jon & Mario - Kean Cru student leaders), and two part-time female staff for the North and the South parts of the Jersey Metro team. Please pray for Joey & Jenn Sforza (pictured left) who have been raising their financial support for two years and have not yet reported to full-time campus work. We need them in the Urban region, especially at Jersey City University and Kean! Just following the retreat, we had one full week of staff meetings 10-4 everyday to pray, strategically plan, have devotions, and set goals for the entire state. I’m so excited to see what God is going to do at Kean University!

This week is already the first week at Kean University for incoming freshmen. Upperclassmen move in on Friday and classes start on Tuesday, Sept. 4th.  Please pray for the Kean Cru leaders to continue to prioritize their relationships with Jesus as the semester begins to unravel and that be an overflow of their service to the King. These leaders truly love Jesus and want to see His kingdom expanded here, but it can be often difficult to keep that a priority when there are so many other things fighting for their attention as students with jobs other responsibilities. Please pray for me as well as I take on more responsibility with multiple students and ministries in the Urban section of New Jersey, that I may keep Jesus as the focus of my time and affection. :)

These leaders will be coming together on September 14th with Christian student leaders from around the state ministry. Please pray that God will give them wisdom to learn what to do at Kean to reach their community here with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks for your prayers and financial support, which encourages us all as we prepare! :)

Working alongside Christ,

 Tabitha Morales

Friends with Freshmen!

Classes have just started but freshmen have already met the people they will be friends with for the next 4-5 years of their college careers.

Due to the Hurricane, Kean University postponed move-ins til Monday, August 29th. But that didn't change any other activities for the week! Tuesday, the freshmen were oriented to "all things Kean", including Kean cru! Many colleges believe that freshmen need to learn how to survive college, but we believe they also need to be equipped to thrive in life. At a club awareness fair, I was able to set up a table and hand out "freshmen survival kits" (Bibles, water bottles, fliers & "Jesus Without Religion" books by Rick James) to over 100 new freshmen! Within an hour of the first group of freshmen, we had given nearly everything away. And the only reason I believe we still had Bibles was because we had extra donated by a local church.

Answered prayer: KU Cru men leaders! Joe, Harvey, Karl, Jon, Joe

Before anything else happened, I met with all the Kean cru leaders (men pictured right) to divide the 115 surveys so that we could each follow them up. On a survey from 1-10, nearly 30 students marked a 10 to answer the question "rate your desire to know God personally"! Tuesday night, after the fair, students were invited to meet in front of a freshmen residence hall to go out for a photo scavenger hunt! Wednesday, our Kean cru student leaders met over lunch to follow up with more surveys! Thursday, they were all invited to our "meet & greet" in the New Freshmen Residence Hall. About 10 students who attended were freshmen who desired to strengthen their walk with Jesus! Praise the Lord!

Three of these freshmen stated in their intros that they went on mission trips this summer with their churches! I have a great feeling that this year we will see strong freshmen believers sent as missionaries from their local churches to our college campus to share Christ and help transform lives through the power of the Holy Spirit!

Cleared to Report to Campus Full-time!

I realize that many of you might not be sure what it means that I have been given clearance to report to my field with Campus Ministry full-time so below I have clarified this statement with details in italics.

I have been cleared (given permission after my finances where assessed) by my support coach (the person responsible for holding me accountable to being financially responsible) to report to my field (work with students on campus & my team through prayer & wisdom) full-time (40+ hours/week). Thank you so much for your prayers, encouraging words & financial support that continues to help me stay "on campus" and be a full-time servant for the King!

For most of you who may not know what that looks like on a local level, check out the prezi on the right or come back to this blog for regular updates & insights to the life of a campus missionary.

Here is a picture of what typically happens the week after staff planning when students are moving into their dorms, coming our of freshmen orientation, or getting re-acquainted with campus life. Student Activity Fairs are where students (typically freshmen) learn about the different groups and clubs available on campus. Campus Crusade for Christ sets up a table (in the picture: on a HOT day at Montclair State University) and hand out FSK's (Freshmen Survival Kits) which are typically laundry bags stuffed with Bibles, books, water bottles, meeting times & other items with the gospel attached. Our students typically ask freshmen to fill out a 5 question survey that will give us a general idea of their spiritual status in exchange for an FSK.

Can't wait to see what God brings from this! :0)