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October Update!

 Let’s just say I feel like I blinked and October is here. 


As we hit our fifth week of school, students are beginning to have their first round tests. This means there is a certain level of stress people are experiencing. As a ministry, we have been able to fight some of that stress. One way has been praying for their exams. I swear that becomes one of the main prayer requests around this time (and for the rest of the year for that matter). Be praying for our students and their time management. Anyways, we fought the stress in another way: we went on our annual fall camp this past weekend. Playing games, eating chick-fil-a and singing worship does wonders to a stressed out soul. 


At our camp, we had a pretty typical structure of lessons and free time. Our sessions focused on our year’s theme based on John 10:10, “ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. Every year focus staff prays over what we think our students need to hear and how we want to refocus. Last year, our theme was “A Voice in the Wilderness' '. That felt so right because last year we were on campus during a global pandemic with students struggling with loneliness and isolation. This year’s theme feels timely: Life to the Full. There’s a level of disenchantment I see around me. Many students feel like they didn’t get the full high school experience because of being online. Some feel discouraged because they spent last year at home instead of on campus. These two examples are things we typically can associate with full life: the perfect senior year and the perfect freshman experience. Those opportunities were just simply gone. My hope with this focus on “life to the full” is that students will come to Jesus and see how much more life can be with him. 




One of my favorite parts of campus was our nighttime session. We had worship stations with different prompts. Students were able to move freely and pick what they wanted to spend time on. We had a station where we could pray for those in our life who don’t know Christ. We had one where we could look at God’s creation and reflect on verses that speak on His majesty. A personal favorite was one where you could taste a bit of honey and reflect on how God’s word has been sweet to you. We wrapped up the night with opening sharing. It was awesome seeing what God had laid on our students’ hearts. 


Speaking of students, I have been leading a core this year. I have had a blast leading with my co-facilitator or cofa, Sam. She is a senior nursing student and I think she’s the best. I believe FOCUS has a neat chance to minister to those going into the healthcare industry at UTA. We have had many faithful nurses come through our ministry and many set the tone that one can be involved while doing something so difficult. Sam truly is setting the example that you can lead and invest in ministry as a nursing student. This is important for our freshman and sophomore ladies to see. I think students can buy into the stress and fear of that major and totally neglect other relationships. Sam is just one of many leaders who is changing that example. I just had to gush about her. Our group has given me a lot of joy so far. Be praying for the ladies we are getting to disciple. Pray they can grow to love Jesus more and follow him.


Lastly, I wanted to give a little update and many prayer requests for TCC. The Lord has been providing for us as we venture into these new campuses. UTA staff have been putting some time at the Northeast and Southeast campuses. The Southeast campus picked up quickly. The campus is a small, two building campus. My friends, Austin and Bailey, are doing outreach there and have several consistent members coming to their small group. Us over at the Northeast campus have seen a faithful three-four coming to our small group. We are in the process of becoming a student organization which will totally help with getting the word out. Be praying for the journey on these community college campuses. 


Thank you for making this ministry happen!  







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