It all started last Thursday night (even though the planning started way before then). Groups of students went out into the neighborhoods surrounding the project house to begin inviting the Wildwood community to a free BBQ. Free BBQ? Why? Many were so dumbfounded when they were invited to this event. Why in the world would they be invited by someone they didn't know to a free BBQ? Because that is what Jesus would do.
Approximately 300 neighbors and vacationers came to this event. There was food, water balloons, limbo, karaoke, lots of conversation....and many open doors to share the Gospel. Two of our students shared their testimonies of how they began a relationship with Jesus. Many more of our students had conversations about the Gospel as a result of those stories being shared. We know that at least 4 people prayed to receive Christ. Who knows what else God did that night in people's hearts. I am sure more than we can imagine.
Its hard to believe we have less than 2 weeks left here. We are excited for all that is left during these weeks. There is a whole lot left to experience before we head back home.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
A Conversation on the Boardwalk
Its hard to believe that the students have been here for 2 1/2 weeks already! We've seen God move in so many ways, in such a short amount of time. We are all continuing to learn and live out what it truly means to treasure Jesus and make Him known!
About a week ago, I was on the boardwalk having spiritual conversations. A project student and I approached two women sitting on a bench. They were excited to talk with us. They love having spiritual conversations. Having just had one a few days before with another organization, they were ready for this one....or so they thought. God has been teaching me the art of asking questions, which helps people process themselves what they truly believe. At one point, one of the women said to me, "I believe in God. I lead my own life and do what I think is right. He is always there for me. God is in everyone. I have his wisdom in case I ever need it." My responsive question to that was, "so what you are telling me is that you are your own God and you think the real God is your sidekick?" From that point on, the women got very uncomfortable, because they realized what they truly believed...that they were their own God. As we walked back to the project house, the student and I prayed for them. Please join us in praying for them as well as others in Wildwood that God would continue to show people their need for Him and draw them into a loving relationship with Himself.
This morning, an international student stopped by the project house wondering if we rented out rooms. While we weren't able to do that, I was encouraged to walk onto the project porch an hour later and seeing a bunch of our men having brunch with this student. They made pancakes and were sitting on the porch loving this student from another country who had just arrived here. What an awesome testimony to the love of Christ...how Jesus has changed these project student's lives and how they are making Jesus known to others.
These are only a few of the many stories that have happened so far this summer. Thank you for praying for us.
About a week ago, I was on the boardwalk having spiritual conversations. A project student and I approached two women sitting on a bench. They were excited to talk with us. They love having spiritual conversations. Having just had one a few days before with another organization, they were ready for this one....or so they thought. God has been teaching me the art of asking questions, which helps people process themselves what they truly believe. At one point, one of the women said to me, "I believe in God. I lead my own life and do what I think is right. He is always there for me. God is in everyone. I have his wisdom in case I ever need it." My responsive question to that was, "so what you are telling me is that you are your own God and you think the real God is your sidekick?" From that point on, the women got very uncomfortable, because they realized what they truly believed...that they were their own God. As we walked back to the project house, the student and I prayed for them. Please join us in praying for them as well as others in Wildwood that God would continue to show people their need for Him and draw them into a loving relationship with Himself.
This morning, an international student stopped by the project house wondering if we rented out rooms. While we weren't able to do that, I was encouraged to walk onto the project porch an hour later and seeing a bunch of our men having brunch with this student. They made pancakes and were sitting on the porch loving this student from another country who had just arrived here. What an awesome testimony to the love of Christ...how Jesus has changed these project student's lives and how they are making Jesus known to others.
These are only a few of the many stories that have happened so far this summer. Thank you for praying for us.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
We are in Wildwood!
We are in Wildwood! Our family is settled in. After a week of staff orientation and preparation, we are excited for students to arrive on Tuesday, June 1st.
And with Memorial Day weekend...summer has arrived! Overnight, the Wildwood population goes from a few hundred to thousands. One day, the shops are all boarded up and the only people on the boardwalk are the few local runners getting their daily exercise. The next, the shops are open and their loud music and flashy t-shirts lure in vacationers. The funnel cakes and french fries can be smelt for miles. And then there are the seagulls....well I am sure they were there before everyone arrived, but now they are in full attack mode at the sight of anything slightly resembling food. (probably my best motivation to not eat food on the boardwalk! They freak me out!) The beach is overflowing with families, friends, college students, high school seniors (celebrating senior week) and lots of international students. It is quite the atmosphere!
Joe and I are really looking forward to getting to know our neighbors this summer. The neighbor to our right is a girl from Turkey. The neighbors to our right are a large group of girls who just graduated from high school. Please pray that God would give us many opportunities to build relationships with them.
Please pray:
Email us (Joe: joe.cassel@uscm.org or Jen: jen.cassel@gmail.com) and let us know how we can be praying for you.
-Jen
And with Memorial Day weekend...summer has arrived! Overnight, the Wildwood population goes from a few hundred to thousands. One day, the shops are all boarded up and the only people on the boardwalk are the few local runners getting their daily exercise. The next, the shops are open and their loud music and flashy t-shirts lure in vacationers. The funnel cakes and french fries can be smelt for miles. And then there are the seagulls....well I am sure they were there before everyone arrived, but now they are in full attack mode at the sight of anything slightly resembling food. (probably my best motivation to not eat food on the boardwalk! They freak me out!) The beach is overflowing with families, friends, college students, high school seniors (celebrating senior week) and lots of international students. It is quite the atmosphere!
Joe and I are really looking forward to getting to know our neighbors this summer. The neighbor to our right is a girl from Turkey. The neighbors to our right are a large group of girls who just graduated from high school. Please pray that God would give us many opportunities to build relationships with them.
Please pray:
- for our outreach tomorrow on the boardwalk from 1-2:30; that we would follow the Lord's leading to the people He would have us talk to.
- that we would start relationships with many store owners, workers and vacationers
- that many people would hear the Gospel and have an opportunity to respond to Jesus.
- that each person on our staff team would have their faith stretched and would really lean hard on Jesus this summer.
- for the students as they arrive that God would continue preparing their hearts for their time here this summer.
Email us (Joe: joe.cassel@uscm.org or Jen: jen.cassel@gmail.com) and let us know how we can be praying for you.
-Jen
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Wrap up!
Can you believe it? The semester is fully over. Students are in exams or on their way home. Today, as a staff team, we just finished our semester evaluation and fall planning. There is so much to celebrate and look forward to. Sometime over the next few days, you will be getting our April/May newsletter with a list of things to celebrate from the semester. Enjoy reading about what God has done!
Last night, we had some of Siena leaders over for dinner to celebrate the end of the school year. We had pizza and wings. Then, we walked up to the local ice cream shop. We finished the night by playing Monopoly Slam (card game). I am so thankful for each of them. They each bring such unique personalities and giftings to the table, and God has used each of them in a different way on the Siena campus this semester. It was great to invite them into our home and give them a chance to rest and have fun. It was awesome to be a part of a conversation they started at the ice cream shop about how they can more effectively reach their campus with the Gospel in the Fall. I was so encouraged by how THEY brought it up. God is doing something in each of their hearts to help them live out of an eternal perspective.
So...with that part of the year completed, we look to Wildwood. I am sure you have all received a letter from us in the mail about support for the summer and our goal of $3,500. We are praising Him as we see Him provide! Please keep praying for these funds to be raised up. We start our time in NJ on the 16th in my hometown of Moorestown. If you will be around, we would love to see you. Please let us know. We head to Wildwood on May 22nd. Please pray for this time of transition.
Last night, we had some of Siena leaders over for dinner to celebrate the end of the school year. We had pizza and wings. Then, we walked up to the local ice cream shop. We finished the night by playing Monopoly Slam (card game). I am so thankful for each of them. They each bring such unique personalities and giftings to the table, and God has used each of them in a different way on the Siena campus this semester. It was great to invite them into our home and give them a chance to rest and have fun. It was awesome to be a part of a conversation they started at the ice cream shop about how they can more effectively reach their campus with the Gospel in the Fall. I was so encouraged by how THEY brought it up. God is doing something in each of their hearts to help them live out of an eternal perspective.
So...with that part of the year completed, we look to Wildwood. I am sure you have all received a letter from us in the mail about support for the summer and our goal of $3,500. We are praising Him as we see Him provide! Please keep praying for these funds to be raised up. We start our time in NJ on the 16th in my hometown of Moorestown. If you will be around, we would love to see you. Please let us know. We head to Wildwood on May 22nd. Please pray for this time of transition.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Sharing Jesus at Siena
For those of you who read our last paper newsletter, you know that this week is the week where Siena leaders with Campus Crusade are taking a part of their day, every day to engage in spiritual conversations with other students on campus. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to use Soularium (a picture survey that asks questions about the individual's life and spiritual journey, giving lots of opportunities to share the Gospel) with one of our leaders. We set up the pictures outside of the library in the rain. Some students came and talked about the images and their views of God. We also got to share with a few. I can't wait to hear more stories from our leaders about how God is using them this week! Please pray for them, great conversations and students to know Christ!
Tonight, we are having our second Athletes in Action meeting at UAlbany. Last week, we had 10 athletes come out from 5 different sports. It was awesome! I was talking to a softball player at the end and asked her if she would come back next week. She said that she would. She shared that she was a little skeptical of the evening at first, but that it was so much different than what she expected. She is excited for this week! Please pray for Keyana (our student athlete leader) who is leading the group tonight.
As we end the year, God continues to show up in powerful ways. It reminds me that just because the school year is wrapping up, it doesn't mean that God stops working in people's hearts. Amazing! Thanks for praying for us!
Tonight, we are having our second Athletes in Action meeting at UAlbany. Last week, we had 10 athletes come out from 5 different sports. It was awesome! I was talking to a softball player at the end and asked her if she would come back next week. She said that she would. She shared that she was a little skeptical of the evening at first, but that it was so much different than what she expected. She is excited for this week! Please pray for Keyana (our student athlete leader) who is leading the group tonight.
As we end the year, God continues to show up in powerful ways. It reminds me that just because the school year is wrapping up, it doesn't mean that God stops working in people's hearts. Amazing! Thanks for praying for us!
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
AIA Launch
Last night, I had the chance to sit with a friend and remember all that God has done in the lives of student athletes at UAlbany. It all started with a connection to one coach, which led to a connection with the women's basketball team, which led to a connection to the football team. Then, a freshman athlete steps up and says that "I want to lead a movement of student athletes at UAlbany."
Tonight, we are going to launch an Athletes in Action movement at UAlbany. Some members of our staff team and one key student leader have put a lot of time and effort into this informational meeting tonight. We know that every student athlete is on the heart of God, so we expect He has big things in store. Posters have been put up around the athletic facilities and e-mails have been sent out to every athlete. Please pray for this event tonight. Pray for freshman basketball player, Keyana, as she shares what it looks like to be a student athlete who plays and lives for Jesus. Pray for the video testimonials that we will show of athletes whose lives have been changed. Pray for the staff as we trust God with tonight's event. Pray for me as I share with the athletes from God's Word at the end of the time. We are praying that 50 athletes will come tonight. We are so excited and will be sure to keep you updated!
Tonight, we are going to launch an Athletes in Action movement at UAlbany. Some members of our staff team and one key student leader have put a lot of time and effort into this informational meeting tonight. We know that every student athlete is on the heart of God, so we expect He has big things in store. Posters have been put up around the athletic facilities and e-mails have been sent out to every athlete. Please pray for this event tonight. Pray for freshman basketball player, Keyana, as she shares what it looks like to be a student athlete who plays and lives for Jesus. Pray for the video testimonials that we will show of athletes whose lives have been changed. Pray for the staff as we trust God with tonight's event. Pray for me as I share with the athletes from God's Word at the end of the time. We are praying that 50 athletes will come tonight. We are so excited and will be sure to keep you updated!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Big Break 2010
As I sit here and reflect on the past 2 weeks, I am thinking about how God is such a provider. He loves to meet our needs! Jen and I worried so much about taking the trip to Florida with an infant. Needless to say, God reminded us again that He is the one who takes care of us, freeing us to enjoy all the adventures He has for us! What a great 2 weeks!
We fly back to Philadelphia today and then drive home to Albany tomorrow. Last week, we had a great week with our students in Panama City Beach among the thousands of Spring Breakers from around the country. We talked with so many awesome people, who have so much hurt and emptiness in their life. It was so much fun to meet them where they are at in life, here about their life and spiritual journeys, and often have a chance to share the Gospel with them. I was sitting on our balcony one morning overlooking the great ocean. The beach was quiet. God quietly reminded me that even in a place of so much brokeness, He is still there, working in the lives of so many people and drawing them closer to Himself. The results of the week showed that truth. During the week we were there, 2,811 spiritual conversations were initiated with people on the beach. Of these, 2,206 spiritual conversations were actually held. 311 conversations were held about the Spirit-filled life and 72 people prayed to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Gospel was presented to 1,619 people and 309 people prayed to receive Christ! What a great week...and what a great God!
Another blessing of the week was packing meals for people in Haiti. The students had the opportunity to take part in this during one afternoon of the week. During the course of Big Break 2010 (which lasts for 5 weeks) 1,009,068 meals were packed for people in Haiti. These meals consist of rice with a chicken flavoring and vegetables. Each meal feeds 6 people. The meals were shipped out of Panama City that Friday and should be close to arriving in Haiti, if not already have arrived.
So, after spending the week in Panama City Beach, we drove 8 hours south with Abby (that was an adventure in itself) to relax and spend time with family at Jen's grandmother's house. It was a great time to rest up and get ready for the rest of the semester (less than a month!) We're ready to get back and excited to see what the rest of the semester has in store! Stay tuned...
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