CHANGE IS NOT EASY

In my last letter, I talked about how New Jersey is a “different world”… but really, it’s more like college life is a different world.

When a freshman walks onto the college campus, he/she is very aware of the differences from home life. Sometimes these differences stem from their ethnic cultures. Often students will start to feel alone, misunderstood, and frustrated by the second month of the semester… unless they meet a friend… someone else who may feel alone or scared but chooses to smile and say “hello”.

Beyond college life, many people are scared of what they do not know or understand and often that leads to assimilation or isolation. However, when someone is bold enough to engage with another person made in the likeness of God, they choose freedom over the bondage of fear.

A friend of mine gave her 3-year old daughter advice for whenever she would meet someone new at our biennial staff conference in July of this year. After her daughter greeted me, Sarah said “Pheobe, do you have a question for Ms. Tabitha?” “Oh yes…. Ummm…. What’s one good thing that happened to you today?” Pheobe would reply. Sarah is teaching her young daughter to not live in fear of the unknown when it comes to relationships but to engage in conversation that leads to freedom over fear.

At Cru15, I witnessed God do something with the fear once in our leaders hearts that was passed on to the 5,000 staff in the room.

Steve Sellers and the national leadership team began to look around and truly SEE who was and who was NOT yet in the room and then they encouraged us to wrestle with the question “why”...Why were there so few ethnic minorities on staff with the ministries of Cru in the United States?

I believe this year's national staff conference was the visible beginning of change for Cru in the U.S. and may even impact Christian evangelicals in America for the next decade. For forty days before the conference, staffs were invited to fast and pray for the Lord's hand in and through Cru15. The staff at Cru15 engaged in difficult conversations, many of which helped bring up some underlying racism they didn't know existed. We did this so that we can move to expand in our diversity ethnically as staff in order to show God’s love in our unity to a dividing nation. We were also challenged to grow in our commitment to share the Good news, move forward in building partnerships with the body of Christ, and take the good news beyond our borders so that everyone may have the opportunity to know God personally.

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

"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).