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!

Saturday Night Lights

I love those football games that are held under the lights on a cool, Fall night. Even though UA lost to Maine, it was fun connecting with some athletes as I watched the football team play. Earlier that day, I had the chance to meet some of them. I was invited to join them in their Chapel time. It was good to see a small group of men come together to talk about God and pray. Jen and I are praying that before the end of the semester, I will have the chance to get to know five of the players well. Please join us.

On Thursday, I will have the chance to meet and share the vision for the athletic movement at UA with the women's soccer coach. One of our students already involved is on the women's soccer team. She has agreed to introduce me to the coach. Hopefully, this will result in me having the chance to stand before this team and invite them as well to be involved with the athletic movement. Please pray for this time. Also, pray for Kendra (the team member) as she continues to have an impact on this team.

Some exciting things are happening! One thing God constantly reminds me of is that the vision God has given us is way bigger than Jen or I. Ephesians 3:20-21 is the verse for our marriage. I believe it fits here as well.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Siena Is Back!

Jen and I hope you all had a great weekend! We took a break from the busyness of campus and continued to put our house together. Jen went to the Beth Moore Simulcast on Sunday and was really encouraged in her relationship with Jesus. We are really thankful for a woman so passionate about the Word of God. She has encouraged both Jen and I so much and pointed us to Jesus again and again.

So...what's been going happening on campus. Let me share a bit. As I shared last week, I had the chance to invite 106 football players to be part of an athletic movement that is being established at UA. 8 players said that they would like to talk with someone about growing or developing in a relationship with God. They also expressed that they would like to meet with other athletes to find out if the Bible is relevant to them as a student athlete. Wow! 6 more shared that they would like to be involved with events. Please pray as we take more steps in connecting with this team and serving them.

Siena is back! They began classes this past Tuesday. I visited their club fair on Friday and was encouraged by their ownership of the movement. They had a decent number of students signed up for their small group. They are taking a new approach this year, where they are a "volunteer service" ministry. They are going out into the community and inviting their peers to go with them. Through this, they hope to share Christ's love with their peers, while being the hands and feet of Jesus to the community around them. Please pray for them as they continue to seek God's direction. We have some great leaders there!

We have our first small group at UA tomorrow night. Pray for this to be Spirit-filled time. We had our UA students to our house last week for a BBQ dinner. All of them expressed a desire for more community in Real Life. We are praying that this community will be established and will spur them on together to reach the campus with the Gospel.

So, here we go! Another week! Pray for us! We are thankful for you!

Back In Action!

This has been the most action packed week we have had in a while! Here are some highlights of the first week back on campus....AND IN OUR NEW HOME!

1. We moved! We sent out a card with our new address that should arrive in your mailbox soon (if not already). It is amazing how much stuff accumulates over three years in an apartment. There was a lot of stuff to move from our small apartment to our new house. It is so good to be there! We've spent the past month painting and preparing the place. Now, we can relax and enjoy it.

2. We have been interviewing freshmen on campuses about their spiritual journey. These interviews were taken over their phone via text messaging. It has been interesting to hear the responses. Please pray for us as we continue to interview freshmen and interact with them.

3. I will be talking to the UA football team on Monday. I am hoping to start a small group with the team. Please pray for doors to open with these influential athletes on campus.

4. We are working to get permission to hit up the freshmen dining hall to continue to interview students. Since every freshman needs to eat, this is a key place in getting in contact with every one of them. Pray that we would get the permission we need to interview this group of students.

I found out yesterday that there was a third suicide at the very end of the last academic year. A freshman took his life off campus the day after graduation. Faculty and staff are tired and many are saying that they can't handle another year like last year. Please pray for this campus. Jesus is hope and we are here to share that! Thanks for partnering with us!