The Epicenter Experience 2013

The Epicenter Experience is a Cru event. College students GATHER around Jesus in transformational community. We GROW in grace, truth, to love and serve through powerful stories, Biblical teaching and practical training. We GO to serve God and others.

 

 

 

Putting Jesus at the center.  Experiencing His love.

      In two days, approximately 500 students from throughout the Northeast are going to converge on the Holiday Inn right here in Albany.  This annual conference (January 18-21, 2013) provides a great opportunity for them to connect with the Lord and each other before they head back to campus for another semester.  Please pray for these students to receive His grace and truth, which will motivate them to share with others around them.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  We hope you and your family enjoyed celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior!  It is a privilege to partner with you as we join in the work of God on campuses throughout the Capital Region.  We have seen Him do great things!  He is a powerful God!  

Fall Getaway 2012

Capital Region students at Upstate Fall Getaway 2012

Imagine 400 people singing praise to Jesus.  Powerful is one word to describe that one.  We just got back from a great weekend on Seneca Lake.  Jen and I love going back every year- this time with TWO kids.  It brings back great memories and new ones are made.  For us, it started 7 years ago when Jen and I were just dating.  Now, we have a family of 4.  God has done so much in our lives since then.  He is in the business of changing lives.  That is exactly what he did this weekend. 

Friends

 

 

 

We had a record number of students from the Capital Region this year.  We also had a record number of students from UAlbany.  Last year, one athlete went with us.  This year, she brought two friends.  All three met with Jesus and left more in love with Him.  After the weekend, one said, "I realized how broken I am without Jesus.  All I can do is praise Him."  Another put a status on facebook that said, "had a wonderful weekend! Just praising the lord and meeting new friends that adore him as well. It was definitely a life changing experience and I can now say I feel so much closer to my savior, and so refreshed and re-energized."  

It is at times like this when God helps me remember that the hard work is worth it.  Jen and I are so thankful for the privilege to just be a small slice of God's plan for these students' lives.  Thank you for walking and partnering with us.  

Sunday morning breakfast.

Week #1 in Review

Wow.  I couldn't be more tired right now.  At the same time, I look back on the past week and saw God at work in student's lives.  I saw students grasp the meaning of the cross and a personal relationship with God.  I saw students for the first time realize that we know God through faith in Jesus alone- not by works.  I saw students ask really thoughtful questions, that made me depend even more on God for good, solid answers.  I saw God help me through the most challenging, encouraging week I've had in ministry in a long time.  I'm really glad its a long weekend.  I need some good rest.  So does my wife who has been alone with the kids for the majority of the week. 

I had the chance to go through the Gospel with every student that I met with this week.  It wasn't long before they were engaging in a spiritual conversation with me.  One of the student athletes I met with yesterday didn't believe that Jesus was God.  So, after asking some clarifying questions as to why he believes that, I took him to John 1.  That was all the proof he needed to believe that.  Just a great reminder to me that the Word of God is living and active!  Then, we talked about how to have a relationship with Jesus.  He was amazed at the image of Jesus being the bridge between us and God.  That was something he never grasped before.  He didn't trust Christ yesterday, but it was evident that God was working in his life.  Before he left the meeting, he said, "I am going to go tell this to someone else!" 

Please join us in praying for this student athlete and other students on campus.  We are learning that letting God work means joining Him one step at a time.  We are thankful for you and the chance to partner with you in being a part of changing the campus and the world. 

Making a Difference

Thank you for trusting the Lord and walking by faith with us!

(Click on above)

Welcome Ella Margaret!

It is 5:30 am on July 10th.  On a normal day at that time, it would take me a while to actually be able to function.  This morning was different.  Its not every day that you wake up to your wife saying, "I'm having contractions."  I was awake.  In fact, I was wide awake and in full "go mode" getting every organized and ready to go to the hospital.  We dropped Abby off at a friend's house and headed straight to the labor and delivery floor.  A few hours later, at 1:04 pm, Ella Margaret was born, weighing 7 lbs. 14 oz.  God answered so many prayers.  We are thankful for the quick, smooth delivery and healthy baby/mom.

The adjustment at home has been just that.  We are learning that communication between us will look different.  Jen has done a great job at night helping both kids (the older one only wanting mom when she wakes up).  She is tired, but I see her persevering and trusting God every day.  She is such a good mom!  I went back to work at the beginning of the week during the mornings.  Its been good to ease back in slowly and be available to the family in the afternoons.  We are grateful for friends and family who have visited, helped around the house, provided meals, etc.  This has taken a huge load off of us as we learn to take care of 2 kids. 

Please pray for us as we continue to transition into being a family of 4.  It has been a good one for all of us so far.  We love seeing "big sister" love "sissy."  Abby is doing such a great job with Ella.  I also believe it has helped our family grow closer together.  I am thankful for that. 

Ella Margaret

I love this little girl!

Tired, but so excited after the delivery

Such a great face!

Big sister!  First time holding Ella.

Family of 4!

Spending time together

Cute baby

Thank you for the privilege of sharing our lives with you.  We are blessed to have partners and friends who care about us and for us.  We look forward to keeping you updated as Ella grows into the little girl God created her to be.

What's Happening With Us?

Its summer and we are enjoying it!  We have been so blessed to stay in Albany.  After traveling to various places for 4 summers in a row, it is nice to see what summer is like here.  We have enjoyed building relationships with friends and neighbors.  We did some traveling at the beginning of the summer.  Here is a picture of Abby waving to her "friends" during the parade at Sesame Place.  She enjoyed meeting the characters that she always sees on TV.

Now, we are "nesting" and getting ready for our daughter to arrive.  We are so excited, but Abby is especially looking forward to the moment where she gets to go to the hospital and meet her sister.  She knows the plan and recites it to us often. 

Every so often, I'll make a loop around the quiet campus of the University at Albany.  Its such a different scene in the summer.  Things are quiet.  Construction is happening all over the place.  The loop, which is usually filled with runners is next to empty.  However, what I do know is that God is still moving in the lives of students, faculty and staff.  He is far from "taking a break" throughout the summer.  Its great to pray and dream of what He will do in the coming year.  

One of the privileges of my summer has been coaching a group of 4 interns.  During the coming school year, these interns will be serving the Lord on the campuses of UMass Amherst, UNH, UAlbany and Cru Headquarters in Orlando.  Before they head to their various assignments, they are working and trusting the Lord to provide a team of partners to support them prayerfully and financially.  It has been really encouraging to see them walk by faith and persevere through this challenge.  I know their faith has challenged me as well as Jen and I continue to trust the Lord to keep building our team.  I am thankful for them. 

The baby's room is painted and ready.  Jen's hospital bag is packed.  Now, we wait with anticipation.  We are excited to introduce you to her. 

In the meantime, what are you and your family up to this summer?