Snippets of Last Year

It's been a while since I updated you on what's happening on the campuses of New Jersey with Cru, so here are some short snippets from my monthly prayer letter. If you ever wanted to sign up to receive these letters via email, click here.

November

YOU'RE INVITED
The month of November was full of invitations for students. The Jersey Metro staff team invited students to Jersey Cru (pictured above) where students heard invitations to our winter conference called “RADIATE”, and to Summer Mission with Cru.

 Every year, we invite students to these conferences to give them opportunities to grow in their faith with other students in similar life stages and college circumstances. One of these students, Kassy Martinez (pictured left), is an emcee at our statewide meeting who’s been involved in the ministry at Kean University for three years. Last year, both emcees were our student representatives for RADIATE encouraging other students to attend the 4-day conference in DC. 

For the last two summers, Jeffery has participated and some form of summer mission but Kassy confessed she’s avoided it. Before an audience of her peers, Kassy confessed her selfishness and fear that prevented her from living on mission for God during her summers. At that moment, she declared that before graduation in May, she would apply for a summer mission trip with Cru. She’s not yet sure if she will go to the Dominican Republic or our stateside partnership – Hampton Beach, NH so please continue to keep her in your prayers as she prepares to raise the funds necessary to go. 

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December

Luis & Chris-John at Fall Retreat in October 

As our new staff, Joel Aponte, continues to raise his support away from campus activities, I’ve had the privilege of stepping in to coach the NJIT Cru ministry.  The New Jersey Institute of Technology is full of aspiring engineers who enjoy math, science & strategic planning.

Several of these fun & intelligent young men lead the movement of 10 students. Please pray for Chris-John, Luis, Nick & Tyler as they help lead their campus to Christ. March 2^nd, they will have an outreach called Pizza & God. 

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January

All throughout Scripture, God promises to be with his people. From the pillar of cloud in Exodus, to the Great Commission in Matthew, God assures his people over and over again that he will be with them wherever they go.

WITH US

This year, speakers at our winter conference (RADIATE) taught on this life-giving truth, and the implications it has for us today. 1,228 students from New York to Virginia packed into a DC hotel for four days to learn more about the great God we serve. Almost 100 students from New Jersey took this opportunity to grow in their faith and in community with other college students.

 

622 students signed this pledge: "Lord Jesus, I submit to you and in the power of your Spirit, I will...go where you want me to go, do what you want me to do, say what you want me to say, and give what you want me to give." Of those who signed the pledge, 29 trusted Christ as their Savior, 110 committed to spending at least a year of their life in full-time vocational ministry and 283 committed to going on a Summer Mission with Cru! 

Last letter, I told you about Kassy  (pictured right of me) who made a pledge before 200 of her peers at Jersey Cru to go on a Summer Mission Trip. I’m happy to report that she has just been accepted to the two-week missions trip to the Dominican Republic! Please pray for her and the other Jersey students who will begin raising the financial support necessary to go this summer!

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Jersey Metro Cru is Unique

Students who are and alumni who were involved in the Cru movements of New Jersey (known as Jersey Metro Cru) are unique. These young Christian leaders have been exposed to the Good News of Jesus as expressed through a variety of people and cultures.

Kean University Cru @ Fall Retreat 2014

A DIFFERENT WORLD
Not many college campus movements are made up of such an ethnically diverse group. Being involved in Cru at just one campus, you can befriend someone from Singapore, dorm with a Filipino American, meet African-Americans, Chinese Americans, first generation Haitians, second generation Dominicans or Puerto Ricans, Portuguese students and even 7th generation Germans. It's not uncommon to see this group having dinner, fellowshipping in the game lounge or going on mission trips together - especially in the northeast parts of New Jersey.

In fact, Steve Douglass, president of Campus Crusade for Christ - the worldwide non-churched based organization to which Cru belongs, spoke at Jersey Cru (our statewide Cru meeting) just two years ago. He told stories of people from around the world coming to know Jesus and then looked at the crowd and pointed out the reality of the amazing diversity in the room. We once asked how many people spoke a second-language and 2/3 students stood up. Darryl Smith, president of the high school ministry of Cru also came to speak at this meeting and noted feeling like it was heaven but without the amazing food.

STEP BY STEP
This type of environment didn't just happen overnight. 
A few students had to make a decision to be uncomfortable in a setting that was for the majority different than what they were used to. These students challenged the band to learn new music for worship, gave the staff different background music to play before and after the meetings, and introduced various Pastors and speakers to the team. Each individual student engaged with as many of the majority culture in the room as possible so that each person they met would know that not all stereotypes are correct and crossing culture isn't so scary. When other ethnic minorities came, they felt more comfortable seeing people who looked like them and sounded like them. This initial group stayed and created space for others to come and continue to create space. The ministry in New Jersey isn't perfect but also hasn't lost it's core values to glorify God but now expresses them through a variety of ways.

OUR VISION
Empowered and led by the Holy Spirit, each staff and student strive to advance God's kingdom by making Jesus Christ known in whatever way possible to whomever possible for the sake of influencing the state and the world. These staff and students recognize that there are students attending college on U.S. soil who are citizens of countries in which Christians are not allowed. They also see and seize opportunities to create communities that are ethnically diverse and reflective of their state.

SO WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL? 
Students, staff and alumni of New Jersey have a unique perspective of the body of Christ. 

• We can more easily connect with others across cultures unlike many in our nation.
• So we can share the Good News of Jesus with MORE people.

• We see the spiritual depravity first-hand as we engage in spiritual conversations across ethnic barriers on campus.
• So we can step up in leadership within and outside of our ethnic cultures to bring about positive change.

• We have seen and acknowledged the racism within our own hearts and the relational divide within the body of Christ nationwide.
• So we can challenge our brothers and sisters in Christ here and around the U.S. to grow in building relationships and loving others across cultures.

#GETOUTTHERE

God didn't just place you in the Jersey Metro ministry of Cru for no reason. Our nation is currently suffering from the lack of knowledge and love for each other that comes with the experiences we've had living here. You know this breaks God's heart. So Have His Heart for our nation.

Could God want you to go somewhere, say something, do something, or give something that can be a small step towards the healing of our nation? 

September is OVER!

New "Jersey Metro" Mission Statement

God is doing SO much! How is it already October?!

First of all, I am so sorry for getting this letter out so late! This new job is very time-consuming.

Second, thank you SO much for praying for me throughout the beginning of the school year! I have felt God's power in me through your prayers!

Our staff are already prepared for Fall Retreat coming up NEXT WEEKEND! We only have about 60 students from New Jersey Colleges and Universities attending the $100 weekend retreat, but we hope many more sign up this week!

We don't just want students there for the sake of numbers! In our experience, college students have been transformed by God because they are surrounded by peers who are also seeking God, they are being poured into through multiple biblical talks, and they can experience being still through something we call a "Prayer Journey." This all combined over two nights and five meals! That's a LOT of JESUS! :) Please pray for the Lord to connect with students at Fall Retreat.

Another super exciting thing that has already happened is JERSEY CRU! This year I actually got a chance to speak at our statewide student meeting, where a third of the room was filled with NEW students! This is very exciting for us as a Jersey Metro team. We have been praying for the 550 students involved across the state to attend the monthly gathering and almost 200 have come! I was able to speak about the very real spiritual war we are in as Christians and challenge our students to persevere when our enemies: our flesh, the world, and Satan attack.

One of the ways we hope they go on the offense in this war is by taking something the world says to use for our own glory and use it for God's! 

Social Media is on the rise.... still. Why not use your Facebook page, Twitter post, or your Instagram picture to advance God's kingdom and His GOOD NEWS?! We've been encouraging our students to do this and use the hashtag, #GOSPELGOESVIRAL so that we can track how many people are reading what we post on social media about Jesus! Join us and let's see what happens! 

I'll be posting on my blog, facebook and twitter. Feel free to simply "share" or copy and paste what I'm posting. Be sure to #GOSPELGOESVIRAL :)

New Job!!!

From Chicago, he grew up in a predominantly African American church, has a beautiful, talented, intelligent wife named Jocelyn and 3 hilarious, fun, loving children. He couldn't be thug if he wanted but is the chillest White dude I know. ;) He's like my big bro... and NOW MY CO-DIRECTOR for Jersey Metro, Mark Scott! #jerseymetro #BIGNEWS

Crazy how a Boricua (Puerto Rican) from the South Bronx would end up raising funds to move to the step-sister state of New York, known as Jersey (not New Jersey, Jersey) to promote the mission and vision of God to complete strangers. #Bronx #NewYork #Give #NewJersey

Visit give.cru.org/0597677 to partner with us in advancing the mission of God. :)

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.

Working with my Father

Everyday is "Take Your Daughter to Work" day for me bc I get to join my heavenly Father and watch Him do these amazing things! Check out this video! So cool!

http://vimeo.com/91575798

#Cru #2014 #AmazingGod #StudentTestimonies #Stories #ToGodbetheglory #YoungPeople #happy #JCru #NewJersey #Christians #diversity #encouraged #myjob

RADIATE - In Awe

instagram

This year, RADIATE is in our nation's capitol, Washington, D.C.

900 students joined a couple hundred staff to be IN AWE of God for four days through worship in song and in His Scriptures.

Students gave thousands of dollars to support new city ministries and took several hours on New Years Eve to go out into DC and share the Gospel with people everywhere!

To the left is an Instagram post day 1 of RADIATE2013. These cool brochures announced vital information for the students including a seminar on Sunday morning I gave on "Complete Surrender". :)

^ Women's Time - +Jen Durlin guiding the women through stories of Peter at #RADIATE2013 #InAwe #WomenOfGod

Speakers this year included Tim Henderson (former staff), Dr. Heather Holleman (Professor & Staff), Matt Mikalatos (author) & Pastor Rich Perez of Christ Crucified Fellowship in NYC.

God's Word was preached through the wonderful power of the Holy Spirit by His willing servants and many were challenged to KNOW Him even more!

The last day of the conference, we brought in the New Year through worship and praise to our King, Jesus! #JerseyWomen +Christine Aliberti , +Laura Fairchild , +Tasha Jean-Baptiste, and others!

Please pray for three of my students who have been talking to God about interning or joining staff with various ministries of Cru.

To God be the glory!

A Willing Heart

Will you check out this video describing the organization I work with as a full-time missionary and consider joining my team through prayer or financial support today?

Back to School

Those are three words most students can’t stand to hear…

But when going back to school means returning to a Christian community who shares a common goal to reach your peers and professors for Christ, going back to school isn’t so bad.

 
It’s just the 2^nd week of classes and I’ve already received about five emails from new students asking what Cru is about and hoping to get involved with a Christian community!

Immediately I respond with our tagline explaining that we are just what they were looking for!

Each semester every college & university holds a club fair for new/incoming students to acquaint them to the many opportunities available to get involved. This year, our students at Kean met over 220 students at this fair! Following up with them has been going great with the new MissionHub tool! (missionhub.com)

Keeping Tabs - Hurricane Sandy

#Sandy

The last week of my life has been nothing short of adventurous. All week long, hash tags of “Sandy” like the one above filled my Twitter and Facebook news-feeds.

Reading w/ my niece and nephew after Sandy

After looking at 8 different apartments, I drove to NYC on Saturday afternoon to spend the weekend with my family as we awaited the storm. I was prepared to help them "de-flood" the basement or help my brother (just two blocks away) with his family and home. Although my apartment is still without electricity, the category 1 hurricane barely affected both Bronx homes. Unlike most of my staff team and student leadership team, we had lights and heat and good clean water all week long. Many of my friends in New Jersey were not so fortunate. I knew God was building my prayer life this year but this is way more than I or anyone else expected. With the television and news stations on practically 24/7, all my family and I could do was watch and pray. Literally.

The Holy Spirit placed it on my heart to keep my New Jersey friends informed via text message. If they turned off all of their phone services except text messaging, I could at least keep them posted on what was happening, tips on how to survive, and warnings from the government that were all over the news. Most of them turned off their phones for most of the day and then turned it on to receive my many messages about what’s good to eat in their fridge and where they can go for warmth or electricity. I’ve never felt more like a news reporter. Some of my friends were able to charge their phones in their cars but now gasoline is another issue hitting the coastal sister states.

My new used Toyota Yaris 2007 (35mpg)

Last night my dad spent 3 hours on a line with Nadine to fill up her vehicle and two red gas tanks to bring home. That morning, my brother borrowed my car to take my sister-in-law to the doctor and later in the evening, my cousin borrowed it to take his son to work in Long Island. God is SO sovereign & good! He knew I would need this car in March after my accident (February I was in a car accident that totaled my last car) and He knew it needed to be gas-efficient and low-maintenance for my job. I don’t usually have much, but I was SO EXCITED to give and; share what I did have, my car. Being able to share what God gave me with two family members who are not sure of God's love was especially rewarding! It made me think of how rewarding it can be to give, whatever we have.

One Facebook status of mine said:

:( People fighting for gas, looting stores, cutting people on line for public transportation, cursing drivers out and fighting for gas... NYC, what happened to United We Stand?
:) But thank God for the people who put extension cords out for their neighbors with no power, brought food to those in need, blankets for those who are cold, and other random acts of kindness.

2 Corinthians 8:1-15 demonstrates how extreme poverty and severe affliction can result in an abundance of giving (verse 2). Although some people resorted to doing evil, many others were helping their neighbors and friends just to get through the devastating event. It’s interesting how in severe affliction we begin to give of what we barely even have.

THINK ABOUT IT:

It feels so good to help! So good to give of what one has! Even if I barely have anything, it always feels GREAT when I can help someone else out. What doesn’t feel good is when I can’t give at all or when I’m scared to surrender what I do have for others in fear of running out. Yet every time I give, the joy of giving overwhelms the worry or anxiety of what I will have.

Jon, Joe and Mario at Fall Retreat

A perfect example of this is a Kean Cru student leader named Mario Fernandez. A fairly young believer in love with the Almighty Sovereign King of Kings sacrificed his own comfort in his dry (although without electricity) home to go to his best friend’s house and help empty the basement of rain. Sitting at home where he had nothing to give but prayer would’ve been completely understandable, but Mario chose what was difficult and surrendered his comfort for what ailed his heart… his friend’s comfort. Jonathan Lopez, Mario’s friend & another Kean Cru leader, had water almost to the first floor of his home while four homes on his block exploded. Mario isn’t an expert in removing water from a basement, but he’s a friend capable of movement and decided to give of himself to help his brother in Christ.

Thanks for your prayers and concerns!

If you're interested in experiencing this type of joy and giving out of whatever God has blessed you with, you can visit give.ccci.org & give of what you feel led to 0597677 or email me at edithann.morales@cru.org 

Will you consider being a friend of this ministry and a partner in helping reach lost students, the future leaders of this nation?