All Hands on Deck!

Hello again everyone! I hope the summer has been an enjoyable one. I apologize for the delay in my posting online, but I’m glad to get back into the swing of things now!

Put simply, this is the most critical time of year for our ministry on campus: current leaders are returning after summers spent around the globe, students from all walks of life are returning to campus, many of whom are looking to “turn over a new leaf”, and of course, new freshmen and transfer students are everywhere!

Even as I type this, our staff are in the midst of the most significant “sprint” of their staff year. They are casting vision to their leaders, hosting tables at organizational fairs, going door to door in the dorms visiting those students who sign up, and striking up conversation after conversation with literally dozens of students.

It is both an exhausting and exhilarating time of year. Hours are long and filled with what can feel like near endless details and initiation, but each day brings new conversations that have been appointed by God. Our chapter populations turn-over every four years, and these freshmen that we meet will soon be leading our chapters, so it is “mission-critical” time for campus ministry!

So for now, I’d love to invite your prayer as we begin this sprint. In general, you can be praying for the following:
* Pray that our student leaders would join our staff in a vision for mission and campus engagement; it is critical that our leaders buy-in!
* Pray for endurance and passion for our staff as they progress through this exhausting season.
* Pray for divine appointments, both with new missional leaders and spiritually hungry students who are looking to explore faith in college.

If you prefer, you can pray for me through my schedule for the next few weeks:
8.25- On campus and Speaking at UNI (John 1- Calling of the Disciples)
8.26- Meeting with key student at DMACC and Drake staff
8.27- On campus at Penn and Central
8.28- On campus at Grinnell
8.29- On campus at Coe
9.3- On campus and Speaking at Drake (John 4- Samaritan Woman)
9.5- First Area Meeting of the year
9.10- On campus and Speaking at Central (“Reaching Samaria- Unreached People Groups on Campus”)
9.12-14- Men’s Road Trip to Mt. Bierstadt, Colorado (Please pray for my recruitment which is already beginning!)
9.16- On campus and speaking at Grinnell (TBD!)

I’ll greatly look forward to sharing with you incredible stories of God’s provision and faithfulness, the fruit of your prayers and our labors!

With Expectation!
Jon