God’s NOT Dead

“Son of God”, “Noah”, “Heaven is For Real”, and “God’s Not Dead” - Seems as though the month of April is Christian month for the American theaters.

I work with college students. College is a time where young people are searching for truth and clarity about themselves and what they grew up learning… sometimes that includes truth about who God is. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of taking a few students to see the movie “God’s NOT Dead”. This film is a good example of an experience many students (including myself) have had as Christians in secular schools. This is one reason Cru exists – to help build the young Christian in their faith.

*We also hope to train students to share the reason for their faith (Jesus) with their professors and peers with uncompromising truth and loving respect.

Once a month on a Friday night, we gather students together for some praise and worship, a little spiritual jump-start, and a chance to hear what God is doing on these campuses through these students.We call it Jersey Cru.

At this month’s Jersey Cru, I will be announced as the female director of Jersey Metro. This is such a unique ministry with over 22 campus movements and about 20 staff spread across the state. 

Each movement and its staff coach are unique in geography, ethnic make-up, socio-economic status, and spiritual health. Some of these campus movements only have a part-time staff person who coaches the student leaders to share their faith and build Christ-centered movements at their university. Some of these movements are not yet officially recognized by the administration at their school. Jersey Metro is definitely a complex ministry.

 

With this new role, I get the honor to serve the staff persons who coach these students. Along with Mark Scott (current male area director pictured right), some of my new responsibilities will be to care for staff, cast vision for the purpose of the ministry and motivate the team and students to go wherever God calls us to go.

Thank God, these movements are all led by a God who pursued us to the point of becoming man who lived a life we couldn't, suffered a death we should have died so that we can live a life we don't deserve.

Please pray that I will be sensitive and obedient to the guiding of the Holy Spirit as He leads me to take part in leading this team.

"LEVEL3:16 Missionaries on the Scene"

LEVEL3:16 at Rutgers Camden

“Cru and Impact for the win!! I love how the Lord brought us together for such a powerful outreach in NJ. Partnerships like this MUST continue!” – Crystal Whitaker, band member & Impact Music Staff

Each week this the past semester consisted of prayer, evangelism, Scripture, checking email, planning, discipleship, fund-raising & LEVEL 3:16! 

I met the majority of the band this past summer, in Colorado, during the Cru National Staff Conference. I even had the opportunity to interpret their concert on the main stage. Immediately, God laid on my heart the value, purpose and need for LEVEL in ministry & especially in Jersey!

LEVEL 3:16 uses the beautiful harmony of vocalists Candace Jones, Kristin Mason & Crystal Whitaker in combination with the sharpening scripture-based lyrics of Steve Gaskin & Chris Tabron all supported by the fun and engaging DJ skills of Kristen (KB) Newton.

LEVEL IN NEW JERSEY:

In their concert at New Jersey City University, Wednesday night, 40 students were challenged to enjoy the Christian life while taking Christ very seriously.         

Thursday consisted of panel discussions at Rutgers Camden (pictured above) & Kean University, where each member of the group shared their testimony of faith in Jesus and the Gospel message was clearly presented along with a few special musical tunes. J

Friday night ended with LEVEL joining us at Jersey Cru, leading us in worship for part of the night and ending in praise to our King with a few of their own songs! Following JCru I got into a conversation with a Jehovah’s Witness who is exploring Christianity and her faith because of the impact LEVEL had through their music!

About 100 people in total on these three campuses heard the Gospel & where challenged to live out Christ.

Bringing LEVEL3:16 here was not only strategic in reaching those students who have grown up in the church but still don’t embrace full surrender (live at His level – John 3:16), but it also challenged those who do live for Him to engage with others in the truth of Jesus (#getoutthere) & for those who don’t know Jesus, it challenged their view of Christians. AKA through their stories & music, LEVEL said: “Christians, STEP IT UP! Don’t be a sad representation of the greatest story ever told! Show them the joy that comes with knowing and loving JESUS!” And, “we love you world! Look at our first love, His name is JESUS!”

Special Story:

At Rutgers Camden, we ended defending the true faith of Christians to two lost students who believe there is a “mother god” who we must accept in order to be saved. L LEVEL 3:16 in town was not only good for NJ students, but for the band members as well! They had the chance to defend their faith & share in one of the most dangerous cities in America.

Emcee, Chris Tabron says:

“My experience in NJ was very re-affirming in regard to my faith. I was encouraged and also challenged in many different ways. It was a good mixture of a long week of ministry and relaxation. Go NJ. Thanks!”

The week was very busy with lots of driving, little sleep for a few of us and plenty of flights to last through the year! So Saturday we decided to celebrate with a day of fun in NYC with my sister, Eliza and Jersey Metro intern, Christine (pictured right).

Although it was a very busy week, I think God used it in ways beyond our knowledge here on earth for His eternal glory. One of the tangible ways I can see is in my own life as I served this group in various ways. Each of the young musicians with Impact, the African-American sister ministry of Cru, pursued me in love all week long and even sought ways to serve me. I am so grateful to God for providing all that was needed to bring them in and for using them for His glory!

God has once again proven He is the one and only Sovereign King, and HE IS GOOD!

Please pray for the women I disciple, students I coach and staff I work alongside to continue to submit to the Holy Spirit throughout the winter break.

Pray also for the students who have decided to attend RADIATE Dec. 28^th -Jan.1^st

Please pray for me as I prepare a seminar & interview for this year’s winter conference, RADIATE - In Awe (logo below).