April Update

ROC Hotdog Outreach Crew (who does the kid in front belong to?)

While another academic year is wrapping up, as expected the pace of life around the ROC community has sped up and shows no signs of slowing down until after finals. In many ways I can’t believe that we are already looking at the end of another year, but as I think back over all the activities, events, and trips that have happened in the community this year I can’t help but feel incredibly blessed.

God has blessed us with an incredible opportunity to spend the year with an amazing group of students. We are going to be saying “good-bye” to some special seniors, but we are also eagerly awaiting a new group of freshman who will be arriving in the fall.

This month we wrapped up our Discovery workshop (New Believer class) and started leadership training with a new group of leaders. Fall planning is also underway, and we are preparing for Bobcat Student Orientation that will begin in June (this is our first chance to reach out to the incoming class of freshmen).

The Glouster Church of Christ has also featured ROC as the mission spotlight for their annual Faith Promise Rally. I had an incredible day with the folks at GCC yesterday sharing with them and preaching through the Gospel being “Unleashed” (Romans 1:16-17). Additionally a group of students from ROC was present during the Sunday School hour to talk about ROC’s ministry and values. I’m really looking forward to the next two evenings as I continue to share about ROC’s ministry and how we see the power of the Gospel “unleashed” in the lives of our students.

I could never adequately put into words just how thankful we are for the many prayers, words of encouragement, and financial partnerships from our many supporters that have so faithfully provided for the needs of the community for many years. While it is just a small token of our appreciation for you, we would love to invite you to be our guest for an evening of appreciation. On Saturday evening April 23^rd at 5pm, we are holding our second annual Alumni and Donor Appreciation dinner. This is merely one opportunity for us to show you how much we appreciate you, while also allowing you to meet some of our current ROC students, and to see and hear about all the amazing things God has done in the community over the course of the past year. If you would be interested in joining us, would you please RSVP to either Jean or myself at 740-592-1086?

In Philippians 1, Paul writes to the church at Philippi to tell them how thankful he is for their faithful partnership in the ministry. In verses 3-6 Paul writes the following: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” The ROC staff, student leaders, and community certainly echo Paul’s words. We are so thankful for each of you who make the ministry of ROC possible. This is the reason that we also “pray with joy” when we remember you.