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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Colorado Serving Opportunities

This Summer was full of opportunities to Serve:

Just following MTL training, at our National Staff Conference, I had a really cool opportunity to do a few things on stage during our Campus Ministry time.

All three service opportunities allowed me to use the gifts God gave me to bring Him glory! 

One opportunity was following Roger Hershey's talk on "Tensions in Ministry", where a few ladies and I wrote tensions we experience in ministry as graffiti piece, outlining the words "But God" (pictured right).

The 2nd opportunity was to interpret (using American Sign Language) a mini concert for a band of "musicianaires" (music missionaries) committed to missions outreach, known as LEVEL 3:16.

With two male emcees rapping several verses and three vocalist keeping in beat with DJ KB, this was definitely an exciting challenge!
The best part of the performance was the relationships I started with the band members before the concert. I got to play with new friends in a way that brought more ATTENTION to God's name!


The last way I was able to serve the staff this Summer has to do with technology.

1. Cru offered staff around the country opportunities to bring their tech issues to the Power Bar, which I worked a few shifts in.
2. They also offered opportunities to get training in how to use Cru Apps by Google. I was able to assist three individuals to best use their technology to advance God's kingdom and save time in doing so.



Neat view from the social media deck

3. One fun thing I also did was help with the social media deck, managing tweets and Facebook posts about the conference. 

Technology is one of the main ways people connect today and it was fun to see the virtual Cru world get noticed across the nation. :)

Surviving VS Thriving

WE SURVIVED! 

...AND THRIVED!

It's been an extremely DIFFICULT and yet EXCITING month! 

I expected to do a lot of planning for the Fall and I knew my role on staff would be different but I didn't expect to have so much more responsibility. My new role as the Missional Team Leader (MTL) in the Urban area in New Jersey expands my responsibility to coach a team of student leaders to include staff and intern leaders as well!

To the left is a collage of pictures of my coaching group this Summer on our trip to go white-water rafting. Being a city girl, I didn't often enter into nature's uncontrollable scene. That was God's work and I typically appreciated it from afar with my paint brush and canvas but this time God had something else in mind! I was SO nervous to head into the unfamiliar and basically learn through experience and yet, none of us fell out or were injured! Our guide was younger than us and had only a High School education but he was the expert and knew how to correct our mistakes if and when we did!

Similarly, I know the Holy Spirit is an expert (at the very least) in winning people to Himself! He controls the waves of the sea and he reigns over the waves of ministry! 

Just as the guide taught us how to row correctly, my job now calls me to be a guide and coach the staff, interns & student leaders in how to lead others to Christ, build them up & send them into mission. As their team leader, I will have to be the example but I can't do it alone. I need the help of my team to maneuver through the waves of ministry and I especially need the leading of the Holy Spirit to show us where to go.

• Please take a moment to stop and pray for the Holy Spirit to move before us in the lives of students who don't yet know Christ and those who know Him but don't know how to serve yet.
• Please also pray that God will remove all obstacles that can cause our team to row out of sync and any obstacles that may not allow us to report to campus full-time. (ie: financial support) Pray that we may thrive in His power!

Everyday of my life...

Luke 21:4 "For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."

I am a full-time missionary. My boss is God. Every day of my life I choose to serve Him and His mission to accomplish His vision through the organization formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ, now called Cru.

Using a picture survey to start spiritual conversations

I spend my workday talking to students who have always 'known" Jesus but don't fully know His transforming love (discipleship & training). I spend multiple days a week starting spiritual conversations and building relationships with the students, faculty and staff that God brings across my path who don't yet know Him (evangelism).

Tammy  (my director) & I at a Jersey Metro staff mtg

Twice a week I gather with a group of individuals (my staff team) who are deeply in love with Jesus and passionate about seeing the same vision come to reality across the state of New Jersey so that it ultimately impacts the world. Together, we pray for the college students that flood the campuses and the faculty that guide those students in their knowledge of this world. Together, we listen to God and pray about how He may want us to encourage one another and encourage the students to action; Action in prayer, action in planning and action in stepping out on faith to see those plans come to pass.

Because this is what I do with my time, I have a team of supporting friends and family who financially support me to be able to be on campus without concern of finances or food or shelter or health. From financial gifts of $10/month to annual $800 promises or even groceries for a few days, stamps for the week or gas cards in the mail. Because of people like you, I can be used by God to reach the increasing number of students around the world. Thanks you.

If you would like to help in any way, check out the how you can give note on my facebook page or visit give.ccci.org and use account number 0597677 or simply ask me.

July Update - BIG God....BIG News!

“Myyyyy God is SO BIG, so strong and so mighty, there’s nothing my God cannot do – FOR YOU!”

Praise God! - I am currently at 88% of my monthly support goal! I’ve been working hard to reach my monthly support goal and let God bring the increase & HE HAS!

Missions Trip to: Martha’s Vineyard?! Yes indeed! Every year, I get two weeks of vacation when ministry is not as active. This past week I had the grand opportunity to go on a mission trip during that vacation with my church (Calvary Baptist Church, NYC). The Pastor to the young adults & youth Pastor led 4 other young adults beside myself & 5 teenage guys to Martha’s Vineyard, MA. Most people know this island as the get-away for the wealthy. Yet, however rich in material things, we found there to be many on this island who were very poor in spirit.

During this trip I was able to share with two young teenage girls how to live a life lead by the Holy Spirit! This conversation and 5 days of sharing the GOOD NEWS of Jesus on the beach with children rekindled my joy & excitement for ministry! I’m so excited to begin similar tactics with college students soon!

This past month I was also able to attend Pinebrook Bible Conference where I was able to catch up with many of you who regularly pray for and financially support this ministry. Thank you SO much for your partnership in bringing the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ to college students & especially to the deaf community! I came closer to my support goal once again just as I was able to meet with some of you and discuss the ministry needs. I’m so grateful for the Biblical challenges Pinebrook and you all bring into my life every year! At the conference this year, God especially reminded me that He has every little detail of my life in His hands just as He has every HUGE star in the universe in His palm!

One awesome way He has shown me His omnipotence is through the opportunity to interpret worship at Calvary Baptist Church. This opportunity has allowed me to meet several new people with whom I can share the urgent need to bring the Gospel message to the deaf community through my ministry with Campus Crusade for Christ. Please pray that many more will see the need to reach this nearly forgotten people as well as the college students in their own backyard who will soon govern this country. Pray that as they hear the need and the Lord leads them to give, that they may follow through. I could be full-time on campus starting August 15th if I just receive about $300/month more!

Prayer Closet:

• Please pray for the four staff currently raising support & the new couple who just joined staff to finish their support soon so that we can help reach NJ students for Christ!
• Please pray for me to trust God’s sovereignty & rest in His providence while I wait to be at full support.
• Please also pray I find affordable housing in NJ, not too far from NYC or my campus ministries. 
• Praise God! - I am currently at 88% of my monthly support goal! I’ve been working hard to reach my monthly support goal and let God bring the increase & HE HAS!

What am I doing?!

God has miraculously supplied 77% of my support! He is showing me slowly but surely that this is His plan for my life. I just have to be patient for His perfect timing.I realize some of you don't fully understand what I am presently doing or will be doing when I complete my support. Here is a break down:
Where do I work?
I work for Campus Crusade for Christ. Right now, I work from home most of the time. When I am at full support, I will return to New Jersey and work on the campuses out there withing the Jersey Metro Campus Ministry. Pictured left is most of the team I will be working with in New Jersey. A few are missing because they are still raising support and couldn't afford the regional staff conference. We have 10 full-time staff, 4 moms (sorta part-time staff), 3 volunteers, and 4 raising support.


What am I doing?
My job right now is to raise support through networking via emails, phone calls and other correspondence for 40 hours a week. A lot of my work is from my computer, printer, phone, or traveling to appointments. I often call people to meet with them to discuss (in person) the ministry I work with so that they can understand the need for people to support this particular work for the kingdom.


What happens when I raise 100% support?
When I have enough people supporting my ministry through financial gifts of $10 - $25 - $100 monthly, then I can report to campus because I’ll have enough money to support myself and the ministry. Once I meet 100% of my monthly support goal, then I can return to the campuses of NJ to work with young adults on their relationships with God and others. I will be meeting the the staff for prayer and planning meetings as well as meeting with students for discipleship and Bible Study.


Accountability? 
Every Saturday, I send a weekly update to my “support coach” with a detailed account of what I did to raise the support that week. Every two weeks we talk about how I can better improve and what I can do to get on campus ASAP.


What will my full-time job be when I complete raising monthly support?
My full-time job will be to work with college students to train them to be life-time laborers for the Kingdom of God (building God’s army). Since this is all I will be doing, like the 12 disciples and Paul in scripture, I have to drop all other things. Our goal is three-fold: we desire to co-labor with the Lord to win students to Christ (so I go on campus to plan outreaches and witness), build students in their relationship with Christ (so I meet one-on-one with young women for discipleship, as well as teach students the basic foundations of the faith), and send them out to reach the world for Christ (so I train students in sharing their faith, evangelism, outreaches, etc.). ONE PERCENT OF THE WORLD is in college! Such a small amount of people that will soon rule this world and make the decisions that affect everyone’s life! Our vision is to influence them to be followers of Christ before they influence the world. (Strategic, huh?! ;o)

What are the funds for?
I do not have any other source of income, so the support that I raise is my income. I must raise enough monthly funds to cover my rent, utilities, bills, healthcare, social security, taxes and other missionaries overseas. Once I have these funds, I can report to campus without concerns of how to pay these things. I can give my undivided attention to God and His plan for the lives of 1% of the world!


I hope this explains to you a bit of what I am doing and will do. If you want to be a part of this in any way, please let me know. I am especially looking for appointments to meet new people just to at least talk to them about the need. Maybe your family or friends from church would be interested? Maybe your church itself might want to hear what God's doing with college students? I’d love to come down and meet them. I can even present to a small group of people who might be interested. Even if they can’t financially support, they can pray and maybe even recommend other people. In the past, I’ve done small group dinners or coffee parties at people’s homes. Let me know what you think God is calling you to do here. I’d love to have you partner with me in more ways than one.

Visiting Students for Referrals....hmmmm to do or Not to DO?

This past month, I saw God amazingly bring in 64% of my monthly support goal! He is really speaking to the hearts of friends and family and they are joining my team! Most recently, I've seen a passion in my students to live a life pleasing to God.

The last Friday of September was the first Jersey Cru of the semester. This is a gathering of about 200 students who are involved in Campus Crusade for Christ across the state at different campuses. They come together to fellowship, learn about new ways to grow in the Lord, and hear what's happening on other campuses. Not to mention the awesome band, diverse in appearance and sound! Who said we couldn't do it?! Pah!

Anyway, at this meeting I set up two other meetings at Montclair State University (MSU) & New Jersey City University (NJCU). I met with the student leaders at MSU to discuss referrals to their parents and church leaders. The next day, I went to NJCU an talked to the entire group. (Pic. R. NJCU Praying for my ministry).

I was so proud to hear good NEWS from both of these campuses! As an intern, I coached both campuses and encountered heresy trying to slip through and then struggled with small groups of students who just wanted to be that. A year later and into the Fall semester, the groups are not just growing in number, but in passion! Students are sharing their faith and living their lives out loud as Christians!

(Pictured below are NJCU students who attended our Christmas Conference Dec. 08)

I even have two ladies as me to return as soon as possible because they are thirsty for discipleship! Please pray the Lord will use me in that capacity soon at 100% support or bring someone into their lives for them!