8PM Midnight Prayer

This is happening tonight! Shining a light at Rutgers University in New Brunswick only a week away from Halloween! Please cover us in your prayers team!

New Beginnings

        It’s a new year but I feel like God’s been making things new for a while now. Usually campus ministry can often feel new because there are always new freshmen and new leaders leading the ministry, and even sometimes new staff.  This year there seems to be more of a spiritual renewal. In 2012 God was working the same thing in my personal life and ministry life as He was with my church (Calvary Baptist Church in NYC). There seemed to be a Spirit-led call in 2012 to focus on prayer. I often prayed that God would not let my students feel complacent in their walks with Jesus and that students who don’t know Him personally would have a hunger to know Him.

This past semester, two students prayed to receive Christ at Kean’s weekly Bible study meetings called Cru.  Throughout the semester, two Muslim student women attended Cru on three separate occasions and invited us to their Muslim Student Association (MSA) meetings.  My attendance to two of their meetings caused the rest of the Muslim students to inquire more about Christianity, its differences from Islam, and its origin! I’m happy to say that as a result of God’s response to our prayers, there are five newly involved leaders who are soon to be spiritual multipliers and are currently ready to be discipled and trained to help lead a small movement, share their faith boldly and build into others. Another answered prayer is Joel Aponte (pictured kneeling), this year’s intern who is working at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and Kean University. Joel has been a positive influence on some of the men at Kean, the ministry at NJIT and with students across the state. Please pray for him as he follows God’s lead in choosing his new career path, whether with Cru full-time or something else.

God's Different Plans

Fall Retreat (Oct. 2012) - UNMASKED

Women from Kean Cru at Fall Retreat 2012

              October went by so fast and Sandy came so quickly that I didn’t have time to tell you about the wonderful things that happened throughout Fall Retreat. Our theme was intended to be an encouragement to the 200+ students to show an appropriately vulnerable and transparent self while at  the conference with God and with others. At one of our break-out seminars, students did just that.  I was supposed to lead only one seminar on “How to know God personally” for those who may not yet know Jesus and for those who want to share how to.  With the exception of little light, the seminar went well.

 Immediately following this, I planned to attend the “sexual abuse” seminar with a student of mine who was looking for community. Upon arriving, I learned that our speaker (who turned out to be very ill) had not yet arrived. I immediately grew concerned for the 40+ young people in the room who had something to communicate about this topic. :( As I prayed, I felt the Spirit lead me to engage in conversation with these young adults. In the corner stood one of the regional directors, Jeff Martin and his wife Mary. With their support and the prayers of our intern/friend, Joel Aponte, I facilitated a really good conversation where students simply shared insights on how to listen and receive news that could be shocking, how to pray and comfort those in pain, and what to avoid saying to someone in this situation. God truly used this time for His good.

 
Throughout the past month a few students from this meeting have made me a “facebook friend”  and have sought out encouragement and prayer. To God be all the glory! Please pray for these young men and women, that they may seek God for comfort and if need be, seek a counselor or safe living environment soon!

NJMetro Summit

Nearly 100 students showed up!

Sept. 14th 7-11pm, nearly 100 students showed up to a room on the College ave Campus of Rutgers University to realign themselves to the mission of this movement and to reconnect with students from around the state involved in similar ministries. They listened to Mark Scott, our new state director, cast vision for the ministry.

They connected with staff and students from across the state, sharing stories about all that God is doing from Kean University to Rowan University in south NJ.



They planned for how best they would each reach their campus for Christ, influencing the state and ultimately the world!  Praise God for all that He has done!

This is one of our new banners! :)

Don't dismiss what you can't see...

Interesting time at Kean today.... 
....Especially consider I had just told my directors that "nothing is happening at Kean". Literally. I said that. (Now if you're a Kean student, please remember I'm fallen!) I mean with all things considered I guess I shouldn't say "nothing" because God is always doing something whether we we see it or not. However, in my defense, this Fall started off very slow because despite the best efforts from the Kean Cru leaders to plan for "freshmen week" (where freshmen get all of our attention & love), nothing happened. We couldn't book rooms for our events, freshmen were already so busy with moving in and attending seminars, and none of the upperclassmen were on campus yet to help promote things. Needless to say, I was growing discouraged.

Problem? Pray!
When I'm feeling low, I remember our verse of the year: 1 Thessalonians 5:17 which says "Pray without ceasing". So I began to pray... A lot. Every day that an event was cancelled, I prayed. I prayed at home. I prayed in the car. I prayed on campus. I prayed with the students. I prayed with faculty. I prayed with my staff team. I just prayed. Today, September 12th, is the 3rd Wednesday residents are on campus and the second week of classes. Wednesday nights are the new times for our weekly meeting/Bible study where all the students get together for a little worship, opportunity to hear from each other and from a speaker who speaks from scripture. Even though we are two weeks into the semester, we have not been able to book a regular room for our events or meetings and so students have a difficult time finding us on campus.

Lost? Seek Vision!

Leaders pray at Kean

This week, I decided to have a leadership meeting with all the Kean Cru leaders to help cast vision for them, encourage them, and give them a bit of training that will help them better plan outreaches in the future. :)  I sincerely enjoy this part of my job so much! I want to see students "get it"! I want to see students grow deeper in love with Jesus and understand the honor and opportunity they have to respond and then execute well the plans God has for their lives! Out of 13 leaders, 8 were able to make it to the leadership meeting today while others were in class or work. Towards the end, I was confident that some may have been convicted while others were motivated to see change. We started the meeting with 35 minutes of prayer and then talked about the need and their roles on campus (this was mainly in preparation for Friday's statewide planning meeting at Rutgers University). At the end of this meeting, I asked how and when was this evening's activity/outreach happening. The September flyer they created earlier said there would be man-hunt tonight. One student responded with a mellow tone that he doubted anyone would come, so we should just cancel and no one else said anything, so that's just what was decided. - Nothing Happening.

Education and IBS

These letters may be confusing to you if you're not up on the Campus Crusade for Christ lingo. :) Starting this past Monday, I am taking 4 weeks of seminary courses with the Institute of Biblical Studies (IBS) by Cru.

Eliza graduating Monroe College

Last month, my sister graduated from Monroe College with her Culinary Certification as a pastry chef one week after my father graduated from New York School of the Bible with his advanced education certificate in Biblical Studies! :) Even Gia, my 5 year old niece, is ready to read and will start in an advanced Kindergarten class this Fall! So proud of my family seeking to be good stewards of the time, money and skills God has given them.

My 5 yr old niece, Gia, READS!

One way I'm trying to do the same thing this summer is through IBS. Experienced full-time staff and professors from other seminaries around the United States put together various courses that Christians going into full-time ministry typically study and create them as a two week summer class for the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ around the world! - IBS. Next week I will be finishing my first two courses in Biblical Interpretation and Old Testament Survey.

Dad graduating from NYSB with Liberty U.

So far I've really enjoyed them both. Biblical interpretation is something I've learned growing up in a Reformed Baptist Church and with a father who loves "choppin' up" the scriptures. Although it's something I have a heavy background in, it's great to receive organized instruction and learn specific methods of how to best dissect the Word of God. It's also really encouraging to learn the terms to describe the scripture within it's historical, narrative and redemptive context.

Growing up in a Reformed Baptist Church, I knew the importance of properly dividing the Word and so I was slightly intimidated when I found out my professor for "Old Testament Survey" would be Dr. Futato from Reformed Theological Seminary. His lectures are wonderfully detailed and designed for hearers of all backgrounds but I KNOW his exam will NOT be easy. He is a God-fearing man, excited about the knowledge of the scriptures as it pertains to our living to glorify God; he reminds me a lot of my father. I just hope and pray to be able to retain the massive text we have to read and his daily 3 hour lectures! : /

Please continue to pray for me as I study to discern God's Word properly and return with greater ammunition for the spiritual battles on campus in NJ. Please also pray for me to finish raising the support I need to pay for these courses, dorm-life and meal plans.

Crashing into trials (car accident)

2012 Keeping Tabs with Campus Ministry

Kean Cru - Stand guard!
Red Rover, Red Rover, Calling Satan over?!

Kean Cru Bowling in September 2011

Every semester, the Cru ministry at Kean University tries to have an "open house/welcome" meeting. Typically this consists of a snacks, games, and an explanation of the ministry according to Acts 2:42-47.

I was asked by the Kean Cru leadership team to give a short presentation explaining the ministry and our mission and vision at Kean on the first Thursday of the semester, February 2nd. Although I felt physically ill the morning of the talk, I had already prepared a "prezi" for that evening. As I spoke about the ministry, the Holy Spirit kept emphasizing community in my heart. So I pointed out how the community in Acts 2 was constantly together, in prayer, studying scripture, giving to others and staying in fellowship. This community characterized by love caused those around them to be in awe and have favor upon them! I then asked: "Does our community at Kean University cause the faculty, staff and students to be in awe? If not, why? Are we loving one another as God has loved us to the point that it transforms the community around us?"

Interestingly, the Holy Spirit gave me an analogy I never expected to communicate to the twenty-five students before me. Do you remember the children's game "red rover"? As I asked the question, the room of twenty-somethings looked blankly back at me as though I were from an entirely different decade! "I'm only a few years older than you all! Come on!" In the children's game, "Red Rover", there are two lines of people holding hands and facing each other. When one team calls someone from the other team to come over, that person has to try to run and break through the hand-holding chain of the other standing team. If the person breaks through, he/she takes the two people who's hands they separated and brings them over to join his/her team. If the person CANNOT break through, then he/she must join that team. I used this analogy to show the importance of real community in the body of Christ. I defined "real community" as a group of people who know more than each other's names and majors. For example, when I see the enemy coming after my friend, I can "hold her hand more tightly and stand firm". However, if I'm unaware, I'm in danger of being knocked down & allowing my friend to be knocked down as well.

Front of my car (not nearly as bad as the back)

I know the Lord is allowing the enemy to run at me and Kean Cru through trials of various kinds because nothing happens outside of God's knowledge. BUT GOD!... Praise God, I've seen our leadership team at Kean hold tightly to one another through prayer and love in the power of the Holy Spirit so that the enemy CANNOT break through. Sure it hurts when he rams into my car at 45MPH while I wait at a stoplight behind several cars with a student in my car. Yes, it's difficult when the tire on the car I rented pops on the way back from Kean the following night. Sure, it's painfully devastating when I find out I'm allergic to the pain medication I was prescribed at the hospital. However, I know God will be glorified, for we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus! :) As 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 says, "...we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed...."We are staying in prayer, keeping our eyes focused on Jesus, and running the race with endurance until the end.

As for my car, it may be totaled but I'm still not sure. It's definitely not drivable in the state it's currently in (basically squished) but insurance will cover the damages. I'll just have to wait and see God provide! :) Through this all, my students have been getting very sick mentally and physically. I think God is drawing them to their knees to fight this spiritual warfare, remembering that in our weakness, His strength is perfected! Romans 12:12 says "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." When I want to complain, I remember that God is good and ALL that He does is good! I'm grateful for how this is bringing unity to the Kean Cru leadership team. They are recognizing their need for wearing the whole armor of God to engage in this spiritual warfare for the hearts and lives of college students, faculty, and staff on their campus. They are being reminded of the importance of community when we are under attack.

NYC rejects Christian's freedoms!

I usually only post about ministry, but I'm outraged!
Did you hear what's happening  here in NYC? Feels like we're one more step away... Disappointed in NYC... We can be better! As of February 10th, New York City will kick out nearly 70 churches in the 5 boroughs who rent public schools to hold service! Didn't we come to this continent in search of freedom of religion?! To get away from people who tell us who and how we have to serve?! Seriously?! It's not like they are illegally sitting in these building or doing it for free! THEY ARE RENTING!

Okay, I'm going to go breathe and you can read Pastor Tim Keller's more calm and clear statement on the subject.

http://www.redeemer.com/news_and_events/newsletter/?aid=321

An American Christian Prayer

I pray God is bringing you to new levels of growth in Him! This 4th of July (aka - Independence Day) God has reminded me of the wonderful freedoms we have as Americans to seek and love Him in many ways other countries cannot! I'm sure you have read, heard, seen or even experienced these truths in some way as a believer.

This reminder has given me such great appreciation for our country and yet serious concern for it's future. Will you pray with me as I seek to reach the next generation of leaders in this country for Jesus Christ? It is vital to the future of our government that we share the truth of the gospel with those future leaders today so they can influence the world tomorrow.

Our vision is that by all possible means we would advance God's kingdom by making Christ fully known on every campus, influencing the state and ultimately the world.

Maybe someday our Christian family overseas can have the freedoms we enjoy to learn and love our heavenly Father without limitation or persecution. Until then, we pray for them and for their leaders who may come here for education or business. In God We Trust

March, 2010 Newsletter

What lasts in a changing world? What matters at the end of it all?

Our gifts and our work for the Kingdom! 

Thank you for having an eternal perspective in your giving!

A junior Psychology major, Suzanne Dematteo, has been fellowshipping with Cru at Montclair State University for some time now. As a commuter, there wasn’t much she could do to participate and give to the ministry. Here is her story about how she turned from a member to an involved active believer:

“At the end of last year Jonny (our Cru President) asked me to consider switching to the Prayer team. I thought & prayed about it over the summer and I really felt like I had to find a way to incorporate weekly prayer into all our lives without necessarily having a physical meeting. I am a commuter and I work so it is difficult for me to be on campus as much as everyone else. I started praying about different ways I could make prayer more visible in Cru. While I was praying I was also reading this book called, "31 Days of Prayer" by Ruth Meyers. It’s basically like a couple paragraphs of prayer on a certain theme for each day of the month. That is how God placed the idea of weekly prayer emails on my heart. I found that reading those prayers helped me to articulate what I wanted to pray about. It made my devotions and prayer life more productive because I could fit them easily into a day packed with other things. As college students I know it’s difficult to have regular devotion time and for new believers it’s also hard to know what or even how to pray. I thought the emails would be a good easy daily help and reminder for college students as well as a jumping point for other prayer ministries to get started. 

So that’s what got the emails started and encouragement from my friends and family as well as God giving me a heart to keep doing it is what makes me continue to write them! It really does amaze me though that people read them and are encouraged by them because honestly sometimes I just feel like I’m rambling on and no one will get what I’m praying. What I write in those emails is always what the Lord has been affecting me with in my own devotional time so I get nervous sometimes wondering what people think! But it’s for God's glory so I just leave it in His hands!”

This past month I moved back home with my parent’s in the Bronx of New York City to save money as I raise support. Left, I'm with my niece Gia and nephew Aaron. 

Please pray that as I am here, I can expand my network and meet new people to join our team as I sense the urgency to reach college student’s for Christ!

Proverbs 3:5, 6 reminds me that God always keeps His promises and like many Olympians I am confident that even though it can look like lost hope, as I persevere and finish the race, God will bring the reward.

October 2009 - Volume 2 * Issue 10

I am so encouraged to have the enemy attacking me as I write this letter to you. It only means God is preparing me to be used through this life ministry (sooner than later we pray). The Lord is still very gracious and compassionate to His children and He has shown me these characteristics of His through this support-raising time. How easily do we forget the good things He has done and the greater things He has called us to do? Earlier this month, by the undeserving grace of God, I had the opportunity to join my team to pray for our campuses across the state! I was so excited to finally feel like I was on the front-lines with my co-laborers in this mission to fulfill the Great Commission!

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” - 2Timothy 2:1, 2


Every semester, the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ takes one day to pray for their ministries, states and the world. This semester, the Jersey Metro Campus Ministry Team decided to do a prayer walk on a few of our campuses. As we visited and prayed with several students and staff at Kean University, Rutgers University in Newark, and NJIT we saw the Lord’s sovereignty and incredi-ble love. At Kean University, my alma mater, several staff were excited to see us and in need of prayer. Praise the Lord for His guidance to the right place at the right time. Please continue to pray for these staff as they are each a witness and a representa-tive of Christ to our future leaders on a daily bases. Pray that they can appropriately and effectively share Christ with residents and students on these campuses with-out repercussion.


Fall Retreat—Overflow 09’
Jenn Lee, a student of mine, reports from Montclair State University:
“Recently, I (2nd from Left, bottom row) attended Fall Retreat with Campus Crusade for Christ. I was able to experience something that was completely different from what I expected. Last year, I had a lot of problems with my roommate and I prayed for better roommates this year. One of my current roommates (I did not know her at all before we moved in) was having a lot of trouble a week before fall retreat. She was struggling with a lot of different problems. Now that I look back, God was breaking her for a greater purpose (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). I decided to take a step of faith and asked her to come to Tuesday Night Bible study. To my surprise, she was open minded about the idea and followed. After the study, I also invited her to Fall Retreat and once again she easily agreed (bottom row, far right). During Fall Retreat, I really felt that she needed to hear the gospel so I used the Knowing God Personally Booklet ( A booklet that Campus Crusade for Christ uses to easily share the gospel) to speak with her. I went through the four spiritual laws with her and at the end she had to decide whether or not she wanted to personally accept Christ into her life. Without any hesitation, she agreed to say the prayer with me. It was amazing! I shared the gospel with many people before but it was the first time that anyone was SO willing to pray the prayer with me. Before the retreat, I hardly spoke to my roommate. But now, our relationship is completely different from before because Christ is our bridge for our friendship. Praise God!”


Prayer Requests:
 That God will bring in all of my monthly support by the end of the year.
 The student leaders and staff will grow in loving the campuses of New Jersey well as many others show hate.