We are just a few short weeks away
from move-in at Ohio University, and the staff and students at ROC are eagerly
anticipating this exciting opportunity to meet new students. Along with a new
year of ministry (ROC’s 42nd and the beginning of my 4th)
comes a rush of outreach events, social gatherings, and pizza parties all
planned in an effort to connect with students as they arrive on campus for the
first time.
 |
Dodger with students from Ripley
Church of Christ (Mani & Franki Harrah
and Shelby Anderson) who were part of
ROC summer mission team. |
I’m asking all of our supporters and
ministry partners to pray for our staff and student leaders during this very
important time. Please pray for meaningful connections to be made and for God
to be glorified through our outreach efforts. While our outreach never stops,
the first few weeks after students arrive on campus tend to be some of the most
fruitful.
From my time with ROC, I’ve observed
that the ebb and flow of students entering and leaving the ministry is one of
the most bittersweet parts of the job. Each year we say good-bye to students
who have been influential parts of the community, while preparing to meet those
who will shape the face of the ministry for the next several years. We
prayerfully watch those who depart, excited to see where God leads them, even
as we eagerly anticipate the students we will be investing in over the course
of the coming years. This cycle is repeated year after year. Thankfully, the
constant is, and has always been, God’s faithfulness.
Sometimes we are blessed to walk
alongside students for four or more years, sometimes the blessing comes in
knowing them for just a season. In this month’s student spotlight, you’ll hear
about the latter. Reagan entered Ohio University as a freshman last year and
got involved with ROC very early on. During her second semester at OU she went
through ROC’s leadership training in preparation to serve the community this
fall. But God had something different planned for Reagan. Reagan spent the
summer serving at a church camp in Idaho. While there she made the decision to
transfer to Lincoln Christian University this fall. As I mentioned before,
while we are sad to see our friend go, we are excited to see what God is doing
in and through her life, and are blessed to know that ROC played a role in
God’s design for her.
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| 2017 Adventure Camp students with ROC Students at Old Man's Cave |
In the coming weeks I am certain that
we will be meeting the students who will be helping us carry out our mission of
impacting the campus of Ohio University in the name of Jesus Christ for a new
generation. Our supporters have always played an all-important role in this
process. First, as many of you are aware, our cookie outreach is one of the
most successful outreach events we hold each year. Because of your commitment
to this event in baking and supplying cookies, we have been affectionately
named “the cookie people” on campus. It’s amazing to see what a homemade cookie
(something familiar) can mean to students during an overwhelmingly hectic time
like move-in (something unfamiliar). It’s equally remarkable to hear how many
of our current students’ ROC stories begin with “well I first heard about ROC
when someone gave me a bag of cookies.”
Secondly, our supporters provide for the needs of
the ministry both prayerfully and financially. There would be no outreach, no
student org, and no ROC community without people just like you. For this
reason, each month we include a student spotlight like Reagan’s so you can see
the real impact that your support is making in the individual lives of our
community members. I am eternally grateful for your encouragement, prayers, and
commitment to seeing lives changed. Thank you!
