Although
we’ve been planning and working toward our students’ return since Spring
Semester ended, the reality that it’s about to happen has finally just hit me.
In a little less than a week from the time I write this, students from all over
the country (and even the world) will descend upon the campus of Ohio
University. The first couple days will be a fury of moving boxes, traffic jams,
meetings, and social mixers. Would you please join us in praying that students
are able to connect with ROC in the midst of all the other things happening
during this busy time?
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| New Orleans Mission Team |
Speaking
of connecting with students, I am really excited to be a part of ROC’s annual
cookie outreach. It’s amazing how excited people get to receive a gift like
homemade cookies (something familiar) during a process like move-in (something
unfamiliar). We appreciate ROC’s many supporters who undertake this labor of
love, which in turn allows us to show the love of Christ in practical ways and
make meaningful connections with students as they arrive on campus. It’s
amazing how many of our students’ “ROC Stories” begin with, “I first heard
about ROC during move-in when someone offered me some cookies.” Thank you so
much for your role in this incredible ministry.
As a
new semester gets ready to kick-off, we are looking forward to another year of
Crosswalk (our larger community worship and teaching time), small group Bible
studies, social events, church visits, ROC lunches, and much more. These
regular events are really the building blocks for our community and help propel
us into some of our larger special events.
Speaking
of special events, there are several that I am really excited about that I
would ask you to join us in praying for. The first on the calendar is our fall
retreat. This year fall retreat is scheduled for the weekend of September 23-25th.
Last year’s retreat was fantastic, and really made an impact in the lives of
the students who attended.
The
second event is new for 2016. This is our “Student Ministry Summit.” This year
ROC is reaching OUt to our local student ministries and inviting them to
participate in a workshop designed to encourage and equip students in our local
churches. This year’s theme will center around “Disciple Making” with ROC
students leading the teaching times and small group discussions. Additionally,
Kentucky Christian’s traveling praise team “Elevate” will join us for the
afternoon and lead the entire group in worship! (If you know of a youth group
or church that you’d like us to share this information with, please let us
know!)
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| Posing with part of the 2016 NOLA Team |
The last
special event that I’d like you to be in prayer about is our winter service
trip. This winter break a team of ROC students will be joining with some adults
and high school students from local churches and spending a week in the
Dominican Republic serving, evangelizing, and growing together on the mission
field. There is always so much that has to come together for a trip of this
nature, so we are asking for our friends and ministry partners to join us in
praying for God to pull together all the details and to move in mighty ways
both in our group and in the D.R.
We are
incredibly excited about all of these opportunities! But we are even
more excited to know that we have people like you who through prayer, encouragement, and financial support
make these types of events, and the
ministry of ROC possible. I really wish I could find a way to adequately
describe to you the eternal impact that your partnership is making
in the lives of students. Maybe one day you can join us for Crosswalk,
a mission trip, or even Year End Bash and see (if just in part) this
for yourself. Until that time, just know that I am eternally grateful for
each and every one of you.
