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The time for the Northeast Staff Conference comes faster and faster every year. No joke. This year it seems impossible that it is already the end of November and we will be heading up to Camp of the Woods at the end of this week. We love this time of the year. It is good to be with people who live out the mission and work in the same context. We have such great friends on staff and Abby loves her little friends too! We'll have great times of worship through music, hear from speakers, get some training and have a lot of time to rest and relax. Please take some time and pray for this conference. Ask the Lord to help staff continue to apply the Gospel to our lives and experience the freedom found in Jesus. Pray also that kids won't get sick (as often happens when there are tons of them in one room for childcare), families get rest and ultimately, that God is glorified over the three days we are there.

Facebook! Our goal is in the midst of a busy schedule on campus, is to keep in touch with our partners in ministry as best as we can. We love and appreciate each of you and are thankful for the sacrifice you make to give every student an opportunity to respond to the Gospel. To this end, we have created a facebook page for you to join and keep up date to date on what is going on here in the Capital Region. We're excited about this! So, go here and like the page for up-to-date information on how God is moving forward!

Jen and I are thankful for you. It is humbling to think that there are friends, family and churches throughout the United States that are praying for us and our ministry and giving of their finances. Thank you for walking by faith and trusting God to use us to continue to expand His Kingdom. My prayer for all of us this Thanksgiving is that we would celebrate and thank God for Jesus- the one who set us free from darkness and provided a way to live the life that we were truly made to live. Enjoy friends and family- and Happy Thanksgiving!

A Preview to the Future

Albany, NY was the scene of a gathering of 88 students this weekend as they sought God and His will for their future. Every year, the Northeast Region has a conference for juniors and seniors called the Preview Weekend. It is a weekend conference, where students can get away for free and hear great talks on Kingdom Vision. The main question being, "how are they going to spend their years loving Jesus after college?"

I was there for the day on Saturday. It was so encouraging to hear from students, "I had my plans laid out. I think God might be shifting me in a different direction. I really need to stop and pray about this." Awesome. On Saturday night, students were invited to join us as interns or new staff. One of our staff gave great vision for the Northeast, encouraging students to consider the influence it has on the world, as well as the great need for students to hear about Jesus. The weekend was encouraging for me as well, reminding me to keep my eyes on things that are eternal and not temporary. Overall, it was a great reminder of the depth of God's love through Jesus!

Please pray for these students as they process their future (as well as for those seniors who did not attend the weekend). Pray that their response to Jesus would be, "Here I am Lord! Send me!"

Amazed

I just had to get on here right away. I just returned home from campus after a busy, but incredible day in the athletic department. I am, once again, amazed at the Lord and all He is doing. Let me share with you a few of the highlights:

• Had the chance to meet and talk with the athletic director this morning. I enjoyed my time talking with him. He is excited about us being here.
• I met the men's basketball coach and will be setting up a time to meet with him in the near future.
• I had a chance to speak with the women's basketball team and had them fill out response cards. Here is some of what they expressed:

1. 4 women expressed interest in talking with someone about developing or growing in a relationship with God.
   
2. 9 women said they would like to be involved in some sort of small group or weekly meeting.
3. There are 13 women on the team.
   
4. One shared with us a question she has: "How do I discover a relationship with God?" Wow!
   

This is the third team that I have spoken in front of this semester, giving them an opportunity to be a part of Athletes in Action at UA. On both of the other teams, the majority of athletes have expressed that they are not interested. On this team, only 3 expressed they weren't interested. Three that I had never met. This shows me something that is key. Relationships. These players have known me for a few years. Therefore, they are willing to share more of what is really going on in their heart. God has been working in the lives of the athletes on this team for a while and it is so great to see this unfold. Please pray for Jen, the athletes and I as we move forward with the women's basketball team, as well as the rest of the teams in the athletic department.

A Busy Tuesday

You know it is God at work when you walk into the athletic department at UAlbany one day and leave with 4 appointments set up for the same day the following week (tomorrow). As you know, we have been praying for God to open doors in this specific part of campus. Its very clear He has been doing this for a while. Jen and I are praying that I will have a chance to speak with each team and invite them to be a part of Athletes in Action (the athletic ministry of the larger UA campus ministry, Real Life/Cru).

So, what is happening tomorrow? To start off the day, I'll have an appointment with the Athletic Director. I'll have the chance to introduce myself, let him know why we are there and ask how we can specifically serve the athletic department. Following that, I'll have a meeting with two head coaches (track and field hockey) before I head to the basketball court around 2:30. For a while now, we have had a great relationship with the women's basketball team. God has done great things through this team and coaching staff. The head coach will introduce me to the men's basketball head coach. I am hoping to set up a time to meet with him. After this, I will get a chance to talk with the entire women's basketball team again and invite them to be a part of the larger athletic movement.

So, needless to say, tomorrow is a big day. This is so exciting! Please pray. Pray that God would open some new doors, great relationships would start/continue/build and steps would be taken to give every athlete an opportunity to know Jesus and have their life changed for eternity!

A Chance to Relate

It was 8:15 on Saturday morning. Its unusual for me to go to campus that early on a Saturday, but that day was different. At 8:45, 15 football players and coaches would gather together in the player's lounge to spend some time in the Bible together. As I drove over, I prayed that God would give me the chance to relate to them and point them to Jesus.

It was another great chance to meet more of the team. Its so encouraging to see that many players come out on game day, so early in the morning. The question of the day was, "what fuels your fire?" Some said praying, while others said spending time with others. At one point during the time, the conversation shifted into talking about times that we fail. Wow. I can relate to that one! I waited until one of the coaches invited me to share. Then, I shared about the pressure I can face being in ministry and people having expectations of you to live a certain way. I shared with them that in the face of that, I can become discouraged or fearful if I am placing my hope in people themselves. However, through trusting Jesus, I can know that I am fully loved, fully accepted, nothing to fear, nothing to lose, nothing to hide and nothing to prove. I shared for me, what matters is loving Him, because I know His love. When I fail, He still loves me and that motivates me to live for Him! His love is what fuels my fire! It was great to watch their faces as I spoke and see God work in each one of their lives, showing Himself to them!

We have some great partnerships that are popping up in the athletic department. Please continue to pray for these relationships with athletes and coaches. Thank you. Enjoy your week!

Fall Getaway Rewind

Its always fun to go back and remember such a great weekend. Its hard to believe that more than a week ago, we left Long Point Retreat Center for the sixth time after a great Getaway weekend with students from throughout New York State. Our weekend was filled with great times and memories. We had 19 students join us from the Capital Region. Although it rained throughout the weekend, that didn't stop students and staff from enjoying those free hours on Saturday afternoon! Of course, there was the annual East vs. West football game in the mud.

The speaker for the weekend was Drew Hyun, pastor in New York City. One of his main points of the weekend was that because of Jesus and His work on the cross, we are fully loved, fully accepted, have nothing to hide, nothing to prove, nothing to fear and nothing to lose. What a great message for students who are constantly bombarded with the opposite! We had one of our UA athletes there for the weekend. She is consistently told to prove herself in her sport and only feels truly accepted if she does well. God really did a work in her life to help her understand and grasp the Gospel at a deeper level. While there was a huge battle for her to get to the Getaway, it was clear that it was God's desire for her that weekend.

Thanks for praying for us and this ministry. We hope you have a great week!

Apples and a Getaway!

I love Fall! There are so many great events that our family takes part in. The first is apple picking. We went on Saturday morning with some friends, picked apples and got those famous cider donuts! Here are two pictures of Abby and I...one from last year and this year as well. Look at how much she has grown!

Abby and Daddy 2010

Abby and Daddy 2011

Another fun annual event is the Fall Getaway on Seneca Lake! Again this year, we will be heading west with our students and staff team to join up with college students from throughout Upstate New York! This is our 7th year gathering together as New York State! We are praying that many students from the Capital Region (especially freshmen) will make the three hour trip for an awesome weekend. Here are some things to pray for...

• God would move in a powerful way in hearts and we would all grow in faith as we see and respond to Him!
• Safe travels to and from the Getaway
• Great relationships would be built over the weekend
• Protection throughout the weekend- especially for the football game (that no one would end up in the hospital)
• Logistics would continue to come together as staff trust God and walk in faith with the various positions that we have been given
• Our speaker, Drew Hyun
  
• ULTIMATELY, God would be made known and glorified in everything we say and do this weekend

We can't wait to share about the weekend next week!