| Working in campus ministry, it’s a little ironic to us that “spring semester” kicks off with snow & cold in NH! But amidst the snow last month in Dallas, Edward and his team helped host the national training conference for the hundreds of staff who will lead summer missions. One of Cru’s biggest focuses is sending college students on missions. To take a team of students on mission well takes an enormous amount of prep work, starting long before flip-flop weather arrives. These summer mission leaders are already thinking through housing, plane tickets, spiritual formation content and more. It’s a job that can feel daunting...One summer mission leader put it this way: “This summer I’m doing both roles, overseeing all the logistics, and caring for students’ and staff’s well-being and development. I was feeling really overwhelmed until I got to this conference and was reminded, I’m not alone. Edward helped coach me with this last year and Edward and his team are here for me this year!” Edward and his team are so glad they get to help send thousands of students and staff to share the hope of Christ around the world each year. Please pray for them and for the leaders they’re coaching! |
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Speaking of conferences, we went to the Cru Northeast Winter Conference last weekend. There hasn’t been a winter conference in the Northeast in many years so no one was sure how this would go. Conference planners were praying for 300 students to attend...and more than 600 ended up coming, including 45 from NH campuses! During our NH campus dinner, one student shared how a seminar he attended quoted a recent survey showing 8 out of 10 college students are open to talking about their spiritual journeys. He felt challenged to better engage in conversations with those around him about their spiritual beliefs.
I(Emily) found that spiritual openness to be true recently. Edward and Sophia have been down with the flu for the last week and shoveling 8 inches of snow while 32 weeks pregnant didn’t seem like my best idea. Fortunately, one of our sweet Cru students texted to say she was coming over to shovel and bringing friends! As I cleaned cars and they shoveled piles of snow, I asked one student about his spiritual beliefs. He shared why he’s an atheist and then asked why I believe what I believe. I mentioned the different factors that have led me to follow Jesus, including reading several books by the late British professor and author CS Lewis. When he expressed an interest in reading something by him, I snagged several books from our collection and let him and our Cru student look through and pick one that would be the most engaging. No matter what season—spring, winter or even flu season—God is working!
We're so grateful for your partnership and prayers for us,
Edward & Emily |
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