PUERTO RICO

Cru exists in more countries than Coca Cola… AND NOW, we are in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the campus of Rio Piedras!

University Campus Center

This week, I took a short 4 day trip with 10 other staff from the military ministry, faculty ministry, and campus ministry of Cru to San Juan.

La Escalerita - A Christian group we hope to partner with

A campus outreach we attended with all the Christian groups

We explored the campus and the community to see if we can start a Cru movement on the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras! We met students with a Catholic background and some who were protestant. We met a group of Christians who gathered together to sing everyday from 12 - 1 called “Confra” (conference) as well as another Christian club who gathered for Bible  studies and prayer called “Escalerita” (little stairway). We are hoping to partner with Gabriella and Carlos, who lead Escalerita and train them in multiple methods of evangelism and leadership skills. 

God did amazing things in my heart for the people of my heritage as I engaged with students and locals in lots of conversations in Spanglish (English & Spanish). Prayerfully, with the financial support and training needed, I’ll be able to lead a Summer Mission trip to Puerto Rico in 2017. Please pray for our team as we continue to partner with Dr. Bob, a Puerto Rican Christian leader who is helping start Cru movements across the island.

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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AMAZING!

RADIATE - FOUR DAYS YOU WILL NEVER FORGET

“I could write a novel about how absolutely AMAZING my last Radiate as a college student was!”

RADIATE is our annual winter conference with the Mid-Atlantic region of Cru. This December 28th – January 1st, over 1,000 students gathered in Washington, DC for four days of community and growth in their relationships with God.

They heard from great speakers such as Matt Mikalatos, Matt Watts, Heather Holleman & PastorJames White. Students and staff sang in worship with talented bands, and reached out to this city in need of hope. Finally, they participated in worship into the New Year.

A student boasted on Facebook:

“From bonding with my awesome Jersey Cru family & having us win the social media contest, to having my tweet chosen by Emcee Shelby Abbott, and having God completely strengthen the fact that I am indeed 100% Anchored in Him, & starting off the new year worshipping and praising Him, I could not be anymore blessed.” – Ramapo student, Angie Cisneros (pictured center on right)

As a student at RADIATE, I was amazed at the sheer number of students in the room and quickly fascinated by their hearts for God.  Eight years later, now on staff, I am truly blessed to witness God’s work in the lives of so many students!

God at work: Of the 741 students who told us they signed a pledge (here), 24 of them trusted Christ, 105 committed to spending a year of their life in full-time vocational ministry, and 220 committed on going on a Summer Mission with Cru.

Something even more amazing is that when asked to consider helping other students attend conferences and to consider supporting overseas missions, these “broke college students” pledged to give $81,751.74! God truly is at work!

Praise Him!

Team: Players, Coaches, Owners, Fans

Go Giants! Go Yankees!

Now I know many of you are from Pennsylvania, Maryland and even Queens and consequently can’t stand my opening line, but have you ever thought about why?  Sure, Jerry Swierczek, you may argue it’s about pure talent… but even when the Phillies lose? Or how about you Rick Lockhart? The teams you cheer for are solely because they are located in the place where you’re originally from, but my friend Tommy Waters supports teams from a whole different state. So why do we support the teams we do?

My answer is simple, common, & without really good reason – I’m from New York, born and raised in the Bronx, so I support the teams who represent my community.

Some of you may tease later but in all honesty, these teams have no real eternal value. Yet so many around the world put so much money, time, and even prayer toward their achievements. How about us, the body of Christ?

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 1 Timothy 6:17

Who do we glorify with our riches, prayers, attire, and time? Ourselves? Our favorite sports team? Our God? I was recently challenged with looking at my life to see what my heart truly gives attention and glory to.  What or who do I promote?

Being a full-time missionary is like being the field coach of a team.

I recently was hit with this concept of being a coach to student leaders who are leading ministries on their campuses. They are the players on the field, I am their coach, and you are all part of the team after the same goal. God owns it all. Some of you pray and some of you invest financially but together our efforts help advance God’s team through college students in New Jersey to reach the world!

Whatever role you play, first I want to say thank you. Without you, this may very well be impossible. Next, I want to challenge you to increase your investment in this team and support of God’s work. Maybe through prayer every week at church or through financial gifts, whatever the Lord wants you to do.

God has placed me as a coach. Will you continue to support 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).