As Christmas quickly approaches I am encouraged by glimpses of God at work. A week and a half ago a guy named Matias, from Austria, prayed to receive Christ after attending church with a missionary kid named Dave who is involved in our ministry. I introduced the two of them before classes began because I was the first American Matias met when he arrived at the Airport in August. Dave speaks German as well and I suggested they hang out. Matias only came for one semester and leaves UK this week to return to Austria. Only now on his return trip he is bringing a relationship with God back with him!
My friend Binita is from Nepal. She has been studying for her doctorate in Nuclear physics at UK. She told me Saturday that God has been pursuing her and inviting her to come find Him. She has had dreams where "Christ" is spelled out in the stars and scripture ("Be Still and know that I am God") running through her mind for several months. She was raised in a Hindu family and has never called herself religious. Now she is searching desperately to know who God is and what his plan is for her life. We had the best conversation about Christ over tea at my house on Saturday night. I gave her a Bible and she called me on Sunday morning to say she had been up for hours "studying" the Bible and writing down a flood of thoughts coming to her mind. She plans to attend church with me this Sunday!
Several of the freshmen girls I work with are coming to the winter conference we host in Greensboro, NC over New Year's Eve every year. Sunday I had the privilege of talking to girls about coming to Senegal with me next summer while we cooked and ate dinner at my house. I even met a man from Senegal at the Verizon store in town a couple weeks ago. He is Muslim and graduated from the University we will be working at while in Dakar. Moment's like me help me love Lexington, it can actually be a "diverse" city.
This week I am planning for the Art expression room at Encounter, the conference held over New Year's, planning for the summer in Senegal already, and tomorrow morning I leave for Chicago with two girls on my team. We are celebrating the completion of several years of training. As of last March, I am now "Senior Staff" and my co-worker Laura completed her training in October. We will stay with a family who used to work with us at UK, but are now reaching international students in Chicago. I am looking forward to the fun!
In other news, Lexington has decided to trade places with New York this year. We have had snow at least 4 times already this month. The last two remaining on the ground for days because the highs have been in the teens. Brrr! I celebrated by buying a coat even my friends in Russia would be jealous of. My roommate and I bundled up, grabbed thermoses of hot apple cider and went for an hour long walk in the snow on Sunday night. It was so fun to laugh together and sing Christmas carols while our neighbors waved and told us we were crazy. Such fun! Leah continues to be a tremendous answer to many of your prayers in the spring. Thank you!
Praying y'all have a Merry Christmas!
Abigail
"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth..." ~ Hebrews 11:13
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
New Life
When the first Chilean miner ascended through the 2000+ miles of earth to the surface and saw his family for the first time in almost 3 months I wept. With each subsequent miner I held my breath and cried with their families until finally, the last of the rescue workers returned from the cavern that had threatened the lives of so many. The President of Chile greeted each miner with an admonishment to use their rebirth well. And the world watched with me.
As the story unfolded, I wondered at how all the world was rooting for each of the miners’ release, and yet there is a danger more immanent then a faulty mine that threatens the souls of every human on earth. Our sins traps and enslaves us. It dooms us to death spiritually that will last not for 3 months, but for all eternity. Our response to this peril is often shocking. As shocking as the Chilean president’s advisors who told him the cost would be too great to try to retrieve the minors and they may die anyway. What if he had headed their suggestion?
In Isaiah the Lord said "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:6-7
And in Isaiah 42:16
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.”
As people who have been set free through Christ, we have the opportunity and privilege of being part of the most EPIC rescue plan. And you have joined with me. Thank you for partnering in this endeavor.
As the story unfolded, I wondered at how all the world was rooting for each of the miners’ release, and yet there is a danger more immanent then a faulty mine that threatens the souls of every human on earth. Our sins traps and enslaves us. It dooms us to death spiritually that will last not for 3 months, but for all eternity. Our response to this peril is often shocking. As shocking as the Chilean president’s advisors who told him the cost would be too great to try to retrieve the minors and they may die anyway. What if he had headed their suggestion?
In Isaiah the Lord said "I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.” Isaiah 42:6-7
And in Isaiah 42:16
“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.”
As people who have been set free through Christ, we have the opportunity and privilege of being part of the most EPIC rescue plan. And you have joined with me. Thank you for partnering in this endeavor.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Nearly 1000 Students Attended the MAZE!!!! :)
This morning before I headed to campus I spent some time thinking about the result of the MAZE coming to campus. At that time I knew that God must be working in people's lives but had not heard of a specific story of life change. So I prayed. I asked the Lord that during my time on campus I would cross paths with someone who needed to speak more of Christ. He answered in a big way through a lunch date with a freshman named Taylor.
Taylor is petite, when I hugged her I swallowed her 5ft frame. Her tiny frame and beautiful appearance make it easy to picture her as the cheerleader and dance team member that she was through high school. She is a dietition major and strate 'A' student. It sounded like nothing interferes with her study, yet upon receiving a flyer for the MAZE on Monday she decided to check it out. Here is a summary of our conversation below.
"I have not been to church in over a year. However, I have done the 'right thing' my whole life. I study hard, don't party or drink but I am not happy. I am looking for change in my life. I know that someone could go to church every day of their life and that will not change them. I came to the maze because I received the flier on campus and thought it might be a cool magic show. I was encouraged to find so much more. Jim talked about God in a way that I have never heard before. He said that religion is not about 'doing,' it is about who we are to be. I wonder about that question and have not found the answer yet. After hearing what you (staff) say, I know that I have no other questions. I want to ask Jesus into my life to change me."
I shared how Taylor could experience change in her life today. In the middle of the chaos of 12 oclock lunch our in UK's Student Center, Taylor prayed and relinquished control of her life to Christ. She shared that she had wanted to get plugged into a Christian group on campus, but until the Maze, she didn't know where to look. Now she is excited to join Bible study and to meet with me more to discuss her new life in Christ.
Taylor is petite, when I hugged her I swallowed her 5ft frame. Her tiny frame and beautiful appearance make it easy to picture her as the cheerleader and dance team member that she was through high school. She is a dietition major and strate 'A' student. It sounded like nothing interferes with her study, yet upon receiving a flyer for the MAZE on Monday she decided to check it out. Here is a summary of our conversation below.
"I have not been to church in over a year. However, I have done the 'right thing' my whole life. I study hard, don't party or drink but I am not happy. I am looking for change in my life. I know that someone could go to church every day of their life and that will not change them. I came to the maze because I received the flier on campus and thought it might be a cool magic show. I was encouraged to find so much more. Jim talked about God in a way that I have never heard before. He said that religion is not about 'doing,' it is about who we are to be. I wonder about that question and have not found the answer yet. After hearing what you (staff) say, I know that I have no other questions. I want to ask Jesus into my life to change me."
I shared how Taylor could experience change in her life today. In the middle of the chaos of 12 oclock lunch our in UK's Student Center, Taylor prayed and relinquished control of her life to Christ. She shared that she had wanted to get plugged into a Christian group on campus, but until the Maze, she didn't know where to look. Now she is excited to join Bible study and to meet with me more to discuss her new life in Christ.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Wow....Keep praying
Brief update! Thank you for your prayers! I spoke at the Panhellenic and Inter Fraternity Council meetings on campus yesterday. Delegates from all the Greek chapters on campus were there and 22 houses invited us to come over on Sunday with our friends from the Maze. Most Greek Chapters have about 200 members. That means that potentially 4400 people could receive a personal invitation to the MAZE event and have an opportunity to hear the gospel. These are the leaders on campus. The student body president at UK is Greek.
You would not believe the other conversations I have been having on campus. Here is a text message that I received tonight at 10:30.
"So I thought about you a lot today. And I decided, that you make me feel safe. You reassure me that I can make it through the day...that's how my relationship with God is supposed to be ...isn't it? Listening to you inspires me...gives me hope. Its like you were sent especially for me, to help me learn, understand and forgive God. Thank you, so much for everything Abigail...I feel like I can't say that enough."
If y'all could only sit in on my conversations with "Sarah". Imagine, a cheery looking blond with blue eyes. A little shy with a country accent. Sarah loves the bands "Skillet", riding quads in Tennessee (I had to ask what they were, for other city folk like me, that is a 4 wheeler). A t-shirt, jeans and pony-tale kind of girl.
She loves to laugh, talk about life, and loves being at a school where not everyone knows the move you made the day before.
Behind her timid eyes lays a hurt so deep and confusion so dark that it has pushed her to numerous suicide attempts that even her parents are unaware of. She wants to know, is there a God. Does He really care about me, and can He be trusted.
Do you even realize the impact you have as you pray and as you join in this ministry? I could not have this conversation on my own. I met Sarah because she filled out a spiritual survey in order to get blue and white beaded necklaces at an event before school began. When i called her because of the survey she chose to come meet with a total stranger. God has given me an opportunity to see her, to invite her into my home for dinner, and to pray His protection and truth over her. All of this because You are praying and giving. Thank you. Please continue to pray. The Lord desires Sarah experience HIS love, not just my own. I want her to know Jesus and only He can change her.
From one in AWE of the glorious God we serve,
Abigail
You would not believe the other conversations I have been having on campus. Here is a text message that I received tonight at 10:30.
"So I thought about you a lot today. And I decided, that you make me feel safe. You reassure me that I can make it through the day...that's how my relationship with God is supposed to be ...isn't it? Listening to you inspires me...gives me hope. Its like you were sent especially for me, to help me learn, understand and forgive God. Thank you, so much for everything Abigail...I feel like I can't say that enough."
If y'all could only sit in on my conversations with "Sarah". Imagine, a cheery looking blond with blue eyes. A little shy with a country accent. Sarah loves the bands "Skillet", riding quads in Tennessee (I had to ask what they were, for other city folk like me, that is a 4 wheeler). A t-shirt, jeans and pony-tale kind of girl.
She loves to laugh, talk about life, and loves being at a school where not everyone knows the move you made the day before.
Behind her timid eyes lays a hurt so deep and confusion so dark that it has pushed her to numerous suicide attempts that even her parents are unaware of. She wants to know, is there a God. Does He really care about me, and can He be trusted.
Do you even realize the impact you have as you pray and as you join in this ministry? I could not have this conversation on my own. I met Sarah because she filled out a spiritual survey in order to get blue and white beaded necklaces at an event before school began. When i called her because of the survey she chose to come meet with a total stranger. God has given me an opportunity to see her, to invite her into my home for dinner, and to pray His protection and truth over her. All of this because You are praying and giving. Thank you. Please continue to pray. The Lord desires Sarah experience HIS love, not just my own. I want her to know Jesus and only He can change her.
From one in AWE of the glorious God we serve,
Abigail
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Facebook conversation August 18 --
"Praying for you today. I know that the first week of moving everyone in is crazy. Stood by Jewel yesterday during a walk and prayed for you and your girls. Hope that today is encouraging and full of laughter as you get stuff done." ~ Abigail
"Thank you so much, Abigail. I really wanted to ask you to pray for me when i saw you...but you did anyway! :) thank you again. Talk to you soon.." ~WeyeNeshet
This conversation was only the beginning of something marvelous that God is starting on campus this fall. I met WeyeNeshet while hosting a program for her hall in October of last year. We continued to see one another around campus and met at Starbucks one day, but I never had an opportunity to hear where she was spiritually.
As the Lord began preparing my heart for returning to UK this fall he brought WeyeNeshet to mind. I began to pray for her heart to be changed and open to the gospel. You can see from this correspondence that He did! We made dinner plans for the first day of class and met in the dining area on North Campus. There, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of students sharing updates from the day I was able to talk to WeyeNeshet about Jesus. She decided to follow Him that evening and prayed with me.
Since that day we have met three times to talk through scripture and what it means to follow Jesus. Last week I gave WeyeNeshet a Bible. Saturday she messaged me and said she had time to read and only brought her Bible. She wanted to know where she should start reading!. It is so fun to see her filled with Joy as she understands God's grace in her life.
I have seen 2 other girls trust Christ since the beginning of the semester and am enjoying meeting with them and watching them grow. WeyeNeshet, Cristina, Jessica, and a guy that accepted Christ are all from a number of activities that we did the first couple weeks to meet students. There are about 5000 freshmen at UK this year and we were able to meet about 2000!
Other activities have included co-leading a Bible study for older women in CRU, co-leading a freshmen co-ed Bible study, pursuing international students on campus, catching up with girls I know from last year, and preparing for an upcoming outreach event called "The MAZE".
This week my team leaders are out of town on business and have commissioned me to lead our team while they are gone. Please pray for sensitivity to my team and dependence on the Lord for strength. I am preparing and giving a talk at our weekly meeting on Thursday and preparing our campus and churches in the area for the Maze event on Sunday and Monday September 20 and 21.
Praise:
- For the 4 new believers that my team and I are now meeting with
- My computor is back and in working order after 3 weeks of captivity by Best Buy! My hard drive is in tact and I didn't have to reload everything
- For sweet fellowship with my roommate - we are praying together for her co-workers to come to Jesus. It is so fun to see both of us in places to trust the Lord.
- For God's provision
Prayer
- Leadership as interim director this week
- Speaking in front of the Leaders of Fraternities and Sororities to prepare for the MAZE on Monday September 13.
- For wisdom in what to say and the Lord to speak through me as I give the talk at our weekly meeting Thursday September 16
- The MAZE on Campus Sunday September 19 and Monday September 20
- Following up all of the people who come in the couple days following the Maze (we are praying for 1000 people to come)
- Doctors appointment on Tuesday September 21 for my TMJ with a specialist
- Dessert for Freshmen on Wednesday September 22
- Fall retreat in Bagdad, KY on Friday September 24-26. Mark Cahill is our speaker.
Thank you so much for your prayers! I could not do all of this without you.
Abigail
"Praying for you today. I know that the first week of moving everyone in is crazy. Stood by Jewel yesterday during a walk and prayed for you and your girls. Hope that today is encouraging and full of laughter as you get stuff done." ~ Abigail
"Thank you so much, Abigail. I really wanted to ask you to pray for me when i saw you...but you did anyway! :) thank you again. Talk to you soon.." ~WeyeNeshet
This conversation was only the beginning of something marvelous that God is starting on campus this fall. I met WeyeNeshet while hosting a program for her hall in October of last year. We continued to see one another around campus and met at Starbucks one day, but I never had an opportunity to hear where she was spiritually.
As the Lord began preparing my heart for returning to UK this fall he brought WeyeNeshet to mind. I began to pray for her heart to be changed and open to the gospel. You can see from this correspondence that He did! We made dinner plans for the first day of class and met in the dining area on North Campus. There, in the middle of the hustle and bustle of students sharing updates from the day I was able to talk to WeyeNeshet about Jesus. She decided to follow Him that evening and prayed with me.
Since that day we have met three times to talk through scripture and what it means to follow Jesus. Last week I gave WeyeNeshet a Bible. Saturday she messaged me and said she had time to read and only brought her Bible. She wanted to know where she should start reading!. It is so fun to see her filled with Joy as she understands God's grace in her life.
I have seen 2 other girls trust Christ since the beginning of the semester and am enjoying meeting with them and watching them grow. WeyeNeshet, Cristina, Jessica, and a guy that accepted Christ are all from a number of activities that we did the first couple weeks to meet students. There are about 5000 freshmen at UK this year and we were able to meet about 2000!
Other activities have included co-leading a Bible study for older women in CRU, co-leading a freshmen co-ed Bible study, pursuing international students on campus, catching up with girls I know from last year, and preparing for an upcoming outreach event called "The MAZE".
This week my team leaders are out of town on business and have commissioned me to lead our team while they are gone. Please pray for sensitivity to my team and dependence on the Lord for strength. I am preparing and giving a talk at our weekly meeting on Thursday and preparing our campus and churches in the area for the Maze event on Sunday and Monday September 20 and 21.
Praise:
- For the 4 new believers that my team and I are now meeting with
- My computor is back and in working order after 3 weeks of captivity by Best Buy! My hard drive is in tact and I didn't have to reload everything
- For sweet fellowship with my roommate - we are praying together for her co-workers to come to Jesus. It is so fun to see both of us in places to trust the Lord.
- For God's provision
Prayer
- Leadership as interim director this week
- Speaking in front of the Leaders of Fraternities and Sororities to prepare for the MAZE on Monday September 13.
- For wisdom in what to say and the Lord to speak through me as I give the talk at our weekly meeting Thursday September 16
- The MAZE on Campus Sunday September 19 and Monday September 20
- Following up all of the people who come in the couple days following the Maze (we are praying for 1000 people to come)
- Doctors appointment on Tuesday September 21 for my TMJ with a specialist
- Dessert for Freshmen on Wednesday September 22
- Fall retreat in Bagdad, KY on Friday September 24-26. Mark Cahill is our speaker.
Thank you so much for your prayers! I could not do all of this without you.
Abigail
Thursday, August 19, 2010
New Land, New Home
I often laugh at the idea of putting my job description on a resume. Today I created registration sheets for students to volunteer in ministry opportunities, worked on preparation for an outreach event called "The Maze" (we are preparing for 1000 students to show up), purchased a root beer keg, cooked food for a picnic, hosted a picnic for returning UK students, painted sandwich boards to advertise our events, and am now preparing to head to the airport to pick up a student arriving from China to study at UK. When I wake up in the morning, I will head to UK's campus to help the stream of 5,500 wide-eyed freshmen and their terrified parents move into the dorms on campus.
At the end of the day, I will meet a graduate student from China at Starbucks in the Student Center to discuss his thoughts on the Bible and Jesus. I met Matthew last Sunday at a picnic for international students and he kept repeating that my name "Abigail", is a biblical name. I was astonished at his recognition and asked if he had read the Bible. He responded yes, that he is not a Christian, but he likes Jesus and talking about the Bible. Before leaving my car for his apartment he made me put my number in his phone so we can talk. I found him on campus later this week and he immediately asked when we were going meet. Please be praying for us at 3:30. I am bringing Mark, a student in our ministry who is caring for internationals, to meet him as well.
If writing a resume for the week, I would say international liaison (we have picked up students from China, Austria, Finland, England, and Germany this week), organizational planning, hosted table at resource fair for Resident Assistants (42 signed up to have us host a program on their floor this year!), Video Designer, life coach, and a number of other things. Sometimes it is hard to know how to describe what I do.
This is just the beginning! As classes kick in, so do we. And this year there are more freshmen then ever moving onto campus who need to hear of the love of Jesus and His purpose for their lives. Please keep my team and I in your prayers. Below are some of the upcoming events.
Friday August 20: Freshmen Move on Campus. Sorority Bid
Saturday August 21: Leadership Breakfast and Campus Ruckas (a pep rally for students and an opportunity for us to hold a booth, pass out blue and white beads, and hopefully fill out surveys with 500 freshmen
Sunday August 22: Calling Parties to get in touch with freshmen we met at Ruckas and invite them to dinner, church, or just to hang out
Monday August 23: FUSION, a service project hosted by the university. Usually 600 or so freshmen and greeks participate. Our staff team and students are partnering with the university to host groups. In the evening we will take students to a place called Champs where they will get all the pizza, laser tag, skating and arcade games they can handle. The first 50 freshmen get in free
Tuesday August 24: Following up freshmen. Freshmen Bible studies begin, and we host the Great American Country Dance outside on campus. We hope for several hundred students to attend.
Wednesday August 25: "Freshmen Stop Here" tables on campus. We are passing out 800 free tshirts in exchange for freshmen to fill out a 30 sec survey asking them if they are interested in talking to someone about a relationship with God and if they are interested in a Bible discussion group. That night we are having our second set of Freshmen Bible studies Begin on North Campus
Thursday August 26: Following up surveys. First Main meeting begins. Root Beer Float "keg" party to follow.
Friday August 27: Staff regroup, evaluate and plan. Follow up more freshmen
Saturday August 28: Ultimate Frisbee tournaments
Sunday August 29: Student Leadership Meeting in the evening
Then the week begins again. We have many more large events coming up this semester. Please pray for stamina to keep up with students. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit and His leading as we point them to Christ. It is our Prayer that 400 students will have an opportunity to hear the gospel and respond sometime during this semester and much of that will happen in the first few weeks of school. Below are some more prayer requests.
1. Energy - I am entering the semester more tired then usual
2. Favor from UK for the events and activities we are planning
3. For young men and women whose hearts are ready for the gospel
4. For Student leaders who join us in ministry
5. My computer crashed last week. I am handicapped in planning things until it returns. This message is from my roommates laptop.
6. TMJ - my jaw has had ongoing problems this summer. I am currently waiting to see a specialist because I am limited in being able to eat. It has caused quite a bit of pain and many headaches.
7. Connecting with ministry partners. I am in need of more people to partner with me in financially. I am currently meeting with people to share, but it will be hard with our busy schedule. My last 2 pay checks have been short because I need more funds.
8. Finding community for me in Lexington. More of my friends have moved and I am praying that the Lord will provide people where I can be refreshed and pointed to Him.
Thank you so much! I couldn't do this without you. :)
"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31
At the end of the day, I will meet a graduate student from China at Starbucks in the Student Center to discuss his thoughts on the Bible and Jesus. I met Matthew last Sunday at a picnic for international students and he kept repeating that my name "Abigail", is a biblical name. I was astonished at his recognition and asked if he had read the Bible. He responded yes, that he is not a Christian, but he likes Jesus and talking about the Bible. Before leaving my car for his apartment he made me put my number in his phone so we can talk. I found him on campus later this week and he immediately asked when we were going meet. Please be praying for us at 3:30. I am bringing Mark, a student in our ministry who is caring for internationals, to meet him as well.
If writing a resume for the week, I would say international liaison (we have picked up students from China, Austria, Finland, England, and Germany this week), organizational planning, hosted table at resource fair for Resident Assistants (42 signed up to have us host a program on their floor this year!), Video Designer, life coach, and a number of other things. Sometimes it is hard to know how to describe what I do.
This is just the beginning! As classes kick in, so do we. And this year there are more freshmen then ever moving onto campus who need to hear of the love of Jesus and His purpose for their lives. Please keep my team and I in your prayers. Below are some of the upcoming events.
Friday August 20: Freshmen Move on Campus. Sorority Bid
Saturday August 21: Leadership Breakfast and Campus Ruckas (a pep rally for students and an opportunity for us to hold a booth, pass out blue and white beads, and hopefully fill out surveys with 500 freshmen
Sunday August 22: Calling Parties to get in touch with freshmen we met at Ruckas and invite them to dinner, church, or just to hang out
Monday August 23: FUSION, a service project hosted by the university. Usually 600 or so freshmen and greeks participate. Our staff team and students are partnering with the university to host groups. In the evening we will take students to a place called Champs where they will get all the pizza, laser tag, skating and arcade games they can handle. The first 50 freshmen get in free
Tuesday August 24: Following up freshmen. Freshmen Bible studies begin, and we host the Great American Country Dance outside on campus. We hope for several hundred students to attend.
Wednesday August 25: "Freshmen Stop Here" tables on campus. We are passing out 800 free tshirts in exchange for freshmen to fill out a 30 sec survey asking them if they are interested in talking to someone about a relationship with God and if they are interested in a Bible discussion group. That night we are having our second set of Freshmen Bible studies Begin on North Campus
Thursday August 26: Following up surveys. First Main meeting begins. Root Beer Float "keg" party to follow.
Friday August 27: Staff regroup, evaluate and plan. Follow up more freshmen
Saturday August 28: Ultimate Frisbee tournaments
Sunday August 29: Student Leadership Meeting in the evening
Then the week begins again. We have many more large events coming up this semester. Please pray for stamina to keep up with students. Pray for sensitivity to the Spirit and His leading as we point them to Christ. It is our Prayer that 400 students will have an opportunity to hear the gospel and respond sometime during this semester and much of that will happen in the first few weeks of school. Below are some more prayer requests.
1. Energy - I am entering the semester more tired then usual
2. Favor from UK for the events and activities we are planning
3. For young men and women whose hearts are ready for the gospel
4. For Student leaders who join us in ministry
5. My computer crashed last week. I am handicapped in planning things until it returns. This message is from my roommates laptop.
6. TMJ - my jaw has had ongoing problems this summer. I am currently waiting to see a specialist because I am limited in being able to eat. It has caused quite a bit of pain and many headaches.
7. Connecting with ministry partners. I am in need of more people to partner with me in financially. I am currently meeting with people to share, but it will be hard with our busy schedule. My last 2 pay checks have been short because I need more funds.
8. Finding community for me in Lexington. More of my friends have moved and I am praying that the Lord will provide people where I can be refreshed and pointed to Him.
Thank you so much! I couldn't do this without you. :)
"but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:31
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
An Unlikely Pair
Patricia and Chelsey – It could have been a disaster. Two very different women, but brought together as roommates for 5 weeks of project. God used their differences to heal and refine one another from the past they had lived. One night in Bible study, Patricia shared about some challenges she was facing and lies that she believed. In that moment, Chelsey (who confessed the first night of small group that she never cries), wept for her roommate and her brokenness. At the end of the summer both the girls laughed and said that their first few nights sleep had been rough because their beds were end to end and often their feet would bump in the middle of the night. Later those random encounters were comforting as they were reminded of the other person being there for them if they needed it.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Who is Jesus? I have a right to know.
*Zane – a handsome playboy who we first met due to his attraction to Brittney’s blue eyes. He is first generation American. His family moved from the Middle East when he was young. After several encounters and Heather’s bold attempts to engage our friend Richa, Zane’s interest shifted and he began peppering us with questions about Christianity. Heather referred him to me to discuss the Trinity further. As you can expect, I was not thrilled about trying to explain this difficult concept to anyone, much less someone of Muslim faith. Zane hurried to me and said, “You, you I have got to talk with then.” He fervently asked, “How can Jesus be God and the Son of God.” Please tell me, I have a right to knowledge.” As our time together unfolded he shared his frustration and failure with keeping simple acts of his faith, such as praying throughout the day. When I asked what happened if people failed to keep certain practices (called the 5 pillars in Islam) he said you go to hell. It was evident that the Holy Spirit was pursuing him and I prayed inwardly throughout the conversation that I would have the right words to speak. He even mentioned that he lays awake at night asking himself if what he believes is true. He asked for a Bible and on our last day on campus we were able to bring him a copy with some key verses highlighted for him to read.
The Bible says that scripture does not return void. Please pray that he does read the Bible we gave him and that God uses it to bring him closer to him. Pray that his search influences the school because he is well known and liked by students on campus.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
More stories from NYC
*Brittney – A fireball of energy with brown hair, sparkling blue eyes, and dimples. I don’t know if there was a day that we entered campus where she demonstrated anything other than enthusiasm, except for maybe about the international men that kept feigning interest in the gospel so that they could talk to her. As I watched her throughout the summer I realized that although she knew many students on campus, she had carried few spiritual conversations. One relationship in particular concerned me. It was with a girl from India that she had become such good friends with her, that Brittney and another girl Heather had been invited to her birthday party. We saw Richa every day. And each time she had plenty of opportunity, but Brittney and the girls carried shallow conversations. I asked Brittney and Heather what their goal was in their friendship and challenged them that it would be really sad if they left New York and Richa never learned what was most important in their life. During our last week both Heather and Brittney stepped up to the plate. They prayed and sought opportunities to learn about Richa’s spiritual beliefs. On our second to last day Brittney had an opportunity to share her testimony and the gospel with Richa! Richa prayed and wanted to know more. Brittney was overwhelmed to see God answer her prayer and honor her boldness. Pray for Richa, because in her culture it is common to adopt all religions. They believe that they each have aspects of truth and can lead individuals to God. Pray that she will recognize that it is Jesus alone who provides a solution for her sin.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Because you prayed and gave financially....
Young people from the Caribbean Islands, Eastern Europe Central Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, South America, Africa, and Europeans who are here to study on US soil had an opportunity to hear have a conversation about Jesus and many of them, to respond to the gospel. My ministry team of 7 people (there were 35 on our campus team) had the opportunity to share with people from about 20 countries.
It is hard to share with you my favorite part about New York. I could mention favorite food (which was Afghani), favorite tourist activity, conversation, store, ministry moment, food... :), street performer, place to go in the city....The list could go on. What stands out to me more are vignettes, scenes from moments that took place throughout the summer that you almost had to be there to understand. Here is my attempt at inviting you in....
*Amid the hustle and bustle of the common area at LaGuardia Community college, I looked over to see see Ashley, a student I brought with me from UK, sharing about Jesus with Sam (the son of a diplomat from the Middle-East). In April I had invited Ashley to a spa night among the women involved in our ministry at UK. She would not even initiate with other believers then. Now she was interjecting thoughts and questions with a Muslim student from the Middle East! I asked her about it later that day. She said “at the start of project she believed she would never be able to talk about God. Now it is so easy.”
More stories to come as I share how God worked to accomplish our project vision: "Captivated by Christ, changed together by the gospel, compelled to express love and life to the people of the campus, city and world."
Monday, July 12, 2010
Thirsty
Thirsty. That is how I would describe my physical experience as I live and work in the 100+ degree days we have had in this concrete jungle I call home. Even more then the heat radiating from the subway though, is the longing that has come from the parched hearts of the students that came with me to New York and that I finds I encounter people on campus.
I will write more in the morning, but please be in prayer. There are walls constructed from years of abuse, sin, rejection, and manipulation of truth. I see it in the faces of the girls I disciple and in those of the friendships we have been building at Laguardia Community College. The words on my heart for the summer are freedom and transformation. My roommates anxious talk frequently about how feel we are going to battle for our students hearts to be enlivened with the truth of the gospel.
If you received a student to pray for, and even if you didn't please pray. Pray for "Zane", Sam, Jimmy, and Richa. They are students from Laguardia that we talked about the gospel with today. Zane and Sam are muslim, from a middle eastern country but raised around the world as children of diplomats. Jimmy was raised Jehovah's Witness but now believes he will have to live on the street after his family kicked him out when he announced his gay lifestyle. And Richa is Hindu. She and her family moved to the US when she was young. each of them thirsty for different but similar things. Zane asked about Jesus today. He told me, "i have a right to knowledge. To hear and be able to decide for myself. Please tell me, who is Jesus. How can he be God and the Son of God?" He told us he has been waking up restless, unable to sleep because he wonders if what he knows and believes about life and Islam are true. Please pray with me as we meet again to continue to discuss and give him the Bible he asked for.
Wow...God is at work!
Please pray for tmj that has put me on a soft food diet and kept me awake and in pain at night. Pray for strength, boldness and wisdom as I keep having hard conversations. Pray that I would continue to hear God speak truth into the crusty places in my heart.
Lord, may you fill up the empty places in the hearts of my friends and people in the world. May they see you as the one they are thirsting for.
Blessings,
Abigail
I will write more in the morning, but please be in prayer. There are walls constructed from years of abuse, sin, rejection, and manipulation of truth. I see it in the faces of the girls I disciple and in those of the friendships we have been building at Laguardia Community College. The words on my heart for the summer are freedom and transformation. My roommates anxious talk frequently about how feel we are going to battle for our students hearts to be enlivened with the truth of the gospel.
If you received a student to pray for, and even if you didn't please pray. Pray for "Zane", Sam, Jimmy, and Richa. They are students from Laguardia that we talked about the gospel with today. Zane and Sam are muslim, from a middle eastern country but raised around the world as children of diplomats. Jimmy was raised Jehovah's Witness but now believes he will have to live on the street after his family kicked him out when he announced his gay lifestyle. And Richa is Hindu. She and her family moved to the US when she was young. each of them thirsty for different but similar things. Zane asked about Jesus today. He told me, "i have a right to knowledge. To hear and be able to decide for myself. Please tell me, who is Jesus. How can he be God and the Son of God?" He told us he has been waking up restless, unable to sleep because he wonders if what he knows and believes about life and Islam are true. Please pray with me as we meet again to continue to discuss and give him the Bible he asked for.
Wow...God is at work!
Please pray for tmj that has put me on a soft food diet and kept me awake and in pain at night. Pray for strength, boldness and wisdom as I keep having hard conversations. Pray that I would continue to hear God speak truth into the crusty places in my heart.
Lord, may you fill up the empty places in the hearts of my friends and people in the world. May they see you as the one they are thirsting for.
Blessings,
Abigail
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The World at our fingertips!
"I used to think that all people from the South were rude and ignorant because they were taught the same things. My conversation has changed my mind. I see that you can listen and we can talk about God in a open and honest way."
- A Hunter College grad from Uzbekistan
Yesterday was our first official day of walking on campuses in New York city. We met as a team to receive training on asking good questions and learning how to listen. Then we split up into 4 teams and traveled to campuses around the NYC metro area.
My team (self named, TSA, or Team Something Awesome) traveled to NYU and Baruch College. Our purpose was to "decode" or learn about student life and campus culture. Within 5 hours we had conversations with students from Ukraine, Albania, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and other cultures. They were Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist, Jewish and Orthodox. Most had little to no desire to know God or thought he had no role in their lives. Our Muslim student expressed the most desire to seek God, although for him it could only be through Islam.
My students were overwhelmed, excited and challenged on our first day out. Please pray for them today as they are on LaGuardia Community College campus and the rest of the week as we go to other campuses and step out in faith.
Today began discipleship appointments and Bible study. Students are beginning to move from excitement to exhaustion. God used it tonight to bring about genuine authenticity as the girls spent time sharing about their life stories in small groups.
Please pray for dependence on the Lord for strength (all of us are exhausted)
Pray for wisdom in how I minister to the girls I disciple. Deep issues are beginning to surface in their hearts. Pray they allow God to enter into those areas and that I would know how to come alongside them. This afternoon one student sat and wept and was unable to put thoughts or feelings into words in order to express what was going on in her heart.
Pray for open doors on campus tomorrow. Many of the campuses have high security and we cannot even enter classroom buildings because their are check points and security where you cannot pass unless you have a student ID.
Praise -
Authenticity in sharing about life together tonight.
Community is beginning to form
2 students accepted Christ today! One at City College and one through students on my team at LaGaurdia Community College! Please pray for opportunities to follow up with them.
Thank you for your prayers. God is at work!
Abigail
- A Hunter College grad from Uzbekistan
Yesterday was our first official day of walking on campuses in New York city. We met as a team to receive training on asking good questions and learning how to listen. Then we split up into 4 teams and traveled to campuses around the NYC metro area.
My team (self named, TSA, or Team Something Awesome) traveled to NYU and Baruch College. Our purpose was to "decode" or learn about student life and campus culture. Within 5 hours we had conversations with students from Ukraine, Albania, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, South Korea, and other cultures. They were Muslim, Agnostic, Atheist, Jewish and Orthodox. Most had little to no desire to know God or thought he had no role in their lives. Our Muslim student expressed the most desire to seek God, although for him it could only be through Islam.
My students were overwhelmed, excited and challenged on our first day out. Please pray for them today as they are on LaGuardia Community College campus and the rest of the week as we go to other campuses and step out in faith.
Today began discipleship appointments and Bible study. Students are beginning to move from excitement to exhaustion. God used it tonight to bring about genuine authenticity as the girls spent time sharing about their life stories in small groups.
Please pray for dependence on the Lord for strength (all of us are exhausted)
Pray for wisdom in how I minister to the girls I disciple. Deep issues are beginning to surface in their hearts. Pray they allow God to enter into those areas and that I would know how to come alongside them. This afternoon one student sat and wept and was unable to put thoughts or feelings into words in order to express what was going on in her heart.
Pray for open doors on campus tomorrow. Many of the campuses have high security and we cannot even enter classroom buildings because their are check points and security where you cannot pass unless you have a student ID.
Praise -
Authenticity in sharing about life together tonight.
Community is beginning to form
2 students accepted Christ today! One at City College and one through students on my team at LaGaurdia Community College! Please pray for opportunities to follow up with them.
Thank you for your prayers. God is at work!
Abigail
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Training Opportunities
Hey Everyone!
Thank you for praying. The first few days after the students arrive are filled with orientation, prayer, team building, and training for ministry. Today I have the privilege of training all 120 of the people here for project in how to have spiritual conversation and to equip them to share the gospel. I am so excited! I remember being a student and learning these things for the first time and it changed my relationship with God and with others as I developed a heart for telling them about Jesus and the ability to do so.
Please pray that they would connect with the heart of God as I share.
Another fun fact! This last week a large group of us have converged on New York to reach the needs of the city in many ways.
Here is a Breakdown of Numbers on Project
Students: 72
Staff: 52 (9 of these staff are mothers with dependent children)
Children:
Infants: 5
Toddlers: 2
Pre-schoolers: 4
School aged: 2
Pre-adolescent: 3
Teens: 6
________
22
Needless to say it is hard to eat out as a team! :) This group is split into 5 tracks, or individual projects. They are Epic (reaching Asian Americans in the city), Bridges (pursuing international students), Arts (reaching out to the artist and developing the staff and students in their ability to be good artists and good Christians), and Campus (starting movements of people who are hearing the gospel and sharing about him on the campuses in the city.
So much going on! I am excited to share more with you as God is at work.
Blessings,
Abigail
Thank you for praying. The first few days after the students arrive are filled with orientation, prayer, team building, and training for ministry. Today I have the privilege of training all 120 of the people here for project in how to have spiritual conversation and to equip them to share the gospel. I am so excited! I remember being a student and learning these things for the first time and it changed my relationship with God and with others as I developed a heart for telling them about Jesus and the ability to do so.
Please pray that they would connect with the heart of God as I share.
Another fun fact! This last week a large group of us have converged on New York to reach the needs of the city in many ways.
Here is a Breakdown of Numbers on Project
Students: 72
Staff: 52 (9 of these staff are mothers with dependent children)
Children:
Infants: 5
Toddlers: 2
Pre-schoolers: 4
School aged: 2
Pre-adolescent: 3
Teens: 6
________
22
Needless to say it is hard to eat out as a team! :) This group is split into 5 tracks, or individual projects. They are Epic (reaching Asian Americans in the city), Bridges (pursuing international students), Arts (reaching out to the artist and developing the staff and students in their ability to be good artists and good Christians), and Campus (starting movements of people who are hearing the gospel and sharing about him on the campuses in the city.
So much going on! I am excited to share more with you as God is at work.
Blessings,
Abigail
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Live from NYC!
Tribeca summer project is officially launched! Thank you for everyone who has been praying. Long day of getting people settled, but so thrilled for the people God has brought to us! :) Introducing students to the city tomorrow.
I will be discipling Rebecca, Lieryn, and Patricia. Please be praying for me as I seek the Lord in direction for how to encourage and challenge them. Pray for them as they sleep tonight, adjust to the city, and build relationships with students here.
One of my roommates convinced me to join Twitter. You can follow me at: Adancediva to here updates as they happen.
Abigail
I will be discipling Rebecca, Lieryn, and Patricia. Please be praying for me as I seek the Lord in direction for how to encourage and challenge them. Pray for them as they sleep tonight, adjust to the city, and build relationships with students here.
One of my roommates convinced me to join Twitter. You can follow me at: Adancediva to here updates as they happen.
Abigail
Friday, May 21, 2010
That our eyes might be opened to those in need....
I checked my e-mail this morning and found a message from Ashley, a girl I disciple at UK, waiting for me in my inbox. Messages from her aren't unusual, so I wasn't sure what to expect. She is coming with my on a summer mission trip to NYC for 5 weeks this summer. I thought you might appreciate what she had to say. It is a bit long, but really sweet.
"So, crazy story about tonight...
I, along with some other band people were over at Alex's place, just sitting there, hanging out, when her roommate Bethany walks in with this guy, and he's totally drunk, but she's not. He's really really funny, talking about all this random stuff, and then he just starts talking about how he's literally homeless, and he's going out to California to live b/c there's volunteers there that feed you and you can just surf and smoke pot all day, and it's awesome. Then, he starts talking about how he became homeless b/c his mom kicked him out, and how he has such a crappy mom, and how his dad beat him growing up and he's had a crazy life, and it was so weird because the way he told it was so funny, and he was totally drunk, but you could tell that it really affected him, and i felt like he was just baring everything to us, who he's never met before, and it was weird because i feel like i empathize pretty well with people, but I don't know if i've ever, ...not really felt sorry for, because he seemed ok with his life, even though it sucked, i mean i did feel sorry for him, but i guess i've just never felt so much like, sadness for somebody so quickly. And it just made me feel so bad for complaining about my life and petty things. Then i realized how happy I was that i was going to New York this summer b/c I wished that i could do something for him, but would probably never see him again, but thought i'm sure there will be a million people like him or just hurting people in general there, and that's why we're going, and...i'm completely rambling at this point..lol.
but basically to sum it up, this guy really opened my eyes tonight to an emotion i haven't felt in a really long time, and i realized that i could actually do something about it and i am by going to NY and i'm really excited :)"
Thank you to those of you who have begun to pray for the students joining me in NYC. God is working through YOU to prepare their hearts.
Abigail
"So, crazy story about tonight...
I, along with some other band people were over at Alex's place, just sitting there, hanging out, when her roommate Bethany walks in with this guy, and he's totally drunk, but she's not. He's really really funny, talking about all this random stuff, and then he just starts talking about how he's literally homeless, and he's going out to California to live b/c there's volunteers there that feed you and you can just surf and smoke pot all day, and it's awesome. Then, he starts talking about how he became homeless b/c his mom kicked him out, and how he has such a crappy mom, and how his dad beat him growing up and he's had a crazy life, and it was so weird because the way he told it was so funny, and he was totally drunk, but you could tell that it really affected him, and i felt like he was just baring everything to us, who he's never met before, and it was weird because i feel like i empathize pretty well with people, but I don't know if i've ever, ...not really felt sorry for, because he seemed ok with his life, even though it sucked, i mean i did feel sorry for him, but i guess i've just never felt so much like, sadness for somebody so quickly. And it just made me feel so bad for complaining about my life and petty things. Then i realized how happy I was that i was going to New York this summer b/c I wished that i could do something for him, but would probably never see him again, but thought i'm sure there will be a million people like him or just hurting people in general there, and that's why we're going, and...i'm completely rambling at this point..lol.
but basically to sum it up, this guy really opened my eyes tonight to an emotion i haven't felt in a really long time, and i realized that i could actually do something about it and i am by going to NY and i'm really excited :)"
Thank you to those of you who have begun to pray for the students joining me in NYC. God is working through YOU to prepare their hearts.
Abigail
Friday, May 14, 2010
Celebrating What God has Done!
Just saw a video someone made sharing how God has used the US campus ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ in 2009. Thought you would be encouraged to see it.
Go to: http://campuscrusadeforchrist.com/let%E2%80%99s-celebrate-all-god-has-been-doing-in-the-campus-ministry
Our National Directors sent us a message saying that this summer there are 600 more students and faculty going on summer mission trips then went on trips last summer. Plus 150 more going to Haiti for 2 week trips this summer! We just completed training for our interns and STinters (short-term-international-missionaries, people committing to serve for one year overseas). This is the largest group we have ever sent in the 59 years Campus Crusade for Christ has existed. At UK we are sending 2 graduating seniors to spend a year in Central Asia, and 2 are becoming interns to work with us on UK's campus and surrounding campuses in Kentucky.
Thank you for the role you have played in changing these students lives!
Go to: http://campuscrusadeforchrist.com/let%E2%80%99s-celebrate-all-god-has-been-doing-in-the-campus-ministry
Our National Directors sent us a message saying that this summer there are 600 more students and faculty going on summer mission trips then went on trips last summer. Plus 150 more going to Haiti for 2 week trips this summer! We just completed training for our interns and STinters (short-term-international-missionaries, people committing to serve for one year overseas). This is the largest group we have ever sent in the 59 years Campus Crusade for Christ has existed. At UK we are sending 2 graduating seniors to spend a year in Central Asia, and 2 are becoming interns to work with us on UK's campus and surrounding campuses in Kentucky.
Thank you for the role you have played in changing these students lives!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Preparation
Preparation. It is often the key to success, although in the hustle and bustle of life it can be rushed or pushed aside altogether. Paul and his journeys were filled with action and activities but we still see him take time to communicate with those praying for him and sending him and to prepare for future journeys.
Finals week at UK was last week and I have the pleasure of doing some of my own preparation for the summer to come. It has been fun to connect with ministry partners on the phone and in person. I have been training people in my church on how to share their faith, speaking in college classes, adult Sunday schools and Bible studies. Working to develop new financial support for the summer and for monthly needs for the next year. God is good. I am encouraged by the notes many of you have mailed and the conversations we are sharing.
Today I am 4 weeks from leaving for 6 weeks of ministry in New York City. Please pray for me and the team of 15 staff and 20 college students that will be joining me as we prepare our hearts and raise funds for the summer. This is often a crucial time for our students before they arrive. Some may not make it if they do not see the Lord provide the finances they need. Others might be living with family who are not believer and do not understand their decision to raise support and go to NYC to do ministry for the summer. Pray that these students are encouraged and persevere. Last year on of the girls I became closest to saw $3000 raised for her trip in the last 24 hours before her flight left for New York. Becca, also a student from last year, had the opportunity to share with her dad about the tools we would be using during out time in the city and after watching the Lord provide her financial support he PRAYED TO RECEIVE CHRIST. Preparation is key to effectiveness.
I have created a way that YOU can be involved in our preparation. It is call the "BIG APPLE" Tree. On it are 21 apples, 1 for each student attending the project and 1 for myself. They include a photo of each person, their school information, and prayer requests listed on the back. I will be passing them out as I meet with people and mailing them to you. Thank you for joining us in prayer. I am excited to see how God uses it in the lives of each of these students.
Finals week at UK was last week and I have the pleasure of doing some of my own preparation for the summer to come. It has been fun to connect with ministry partners on the phone and in person. I have been training people in my church on how to share their faith, speaking in college classes, adult Sunday schools and Bible studies. Working to develop new financial support for the summer and for monthly needs for the next year. God is good. I am encouraged by the notes many of you have mailed and the conversations we are sharing.
Today I am 4 weeks from leaving for 6 weeks of ministry in New York City. Please pray for me and the team of 15 staff and 20 college students that will be joining me as we prepare our hearts and raise funds for the summer. This is often a crucial time for our students before they arrive. Some may not make it if they do not see the Lord provide the finances they need. Others might be living with family who are not believer and do not understand their decision to raise support and go to NYC to do ministry for the summer. Pray that these students are encouraged and persevere. Last year on of the girls I became closest to saw $3000 raised for her trip in the last 24 hours before her flight left for New York. Becca, also a student from last year, had the opportunity to share with her dad about the tools we would be using during out time in the city and after watching the Lord provide her financial support he PRAYED TO RECEIVE CHRIST. Preparation is key to effectiveness.
I have created a way that YOU can be involved in our preparation. It is call the "BIG APPLE" Tree. On it are 21 apples, 1 for each student attending the project and 1 for myself. They include a photo of each person, their school information, and prayer requests listed on the back. I will be passing them out as I meet with people and mailing them to you. Thank you for joining us in prayer. I am excited to see how God uses it in the lives of each of these students.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
“There was a rich man who was dressed purple and fine linen and lived in a luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “’No, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’" ~ Luke 16:19-31
I met with the exchange student I host yesterday. She is from Nepal and came to the United States for Undergraduate studies and is now studying for her doctorate in Nuclear Physics at the University of Kentucky. We had dinner and discussed topics from how we are doing in life to the purpose of human beings existence, a question that has internally been nagging at her since she was child.
At one point in the conversation Binita shared how her family had a New Testament Bible in their home and she read it often as a child. A story that had never left her was the parable Jesus told in Luke 16 written above. She had a deep burden for the rich man in the passage, wishing that he would not have to stay in such a terrible place. She emphasized that it was for eternity, and that eternity is a long time. She couldn’t imagine this poor man being tormented and found herself wanting to pray for him so that he didn’t have to stay there.
At some point in our conversation Binita had shared how when she was younger she went to a Hindu temple in her town and saw a man covered in terrible sores, boils were all over his whole body. He was begging for money. She felt pity for him and gave him money. She was afraid of getting too near though because of his horrible sores so she through the money at him. He moved towards her to say thank you, and she ran off because she didn’t want to touch him.
I wondered if part of her pity for the rich man in the story is because of her own vivid experience with a man much like him. How is it, that she who grew up in a Hindu country has more of a burden to pray so that people will not go to hell, then those of us who God has rescued from the Kingdom of darkness. Her compassion put me to shame.
Binita struggles with believing in God through Jesus. Her sentiment is why God would reveal himself to some and not all people. He has never revealed himself to her, and until such time that he does come and answer her questions, she will remain general in her belief of a higher power. It is like the story in Luke though. Abraham told the rich man that he could not send Lazarus to his brothers. That if they wouldn’t receive and believe Moses and the Prophets, then even a man returning from the dead would not convince them.
Are you praying for the brothers, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances that do not yet know Christ? We are still here on earth and can go to them. Perhaps God could use our prayer and message to reveal himself to them or enable them to understand the signs He is showing them.
Oh Lord, please rescue Binita. Show yourself to her in a way she cannot deny and bring her into relationship with you. Change my heart so that I may love people with the compassion that you have for them. Please, burden me to pray.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ “’No, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’" ~ Luke 16:19-31
I met with the exchange student I host yesterday. She is from Nepal and came to the United States for Undergraduate studies and is now studying for her doctorate in Nuclear Physics at the University of Kentucky. We had dinner and discussed topics from how we are doing in life to the purpose of human beings existence, a question that has internally been nagging at her since she was child.
At one point in the conversation Binita shared how her family had a New Testament Bible in their home and she read it often as a child. A story that had never left her was the parable Jesus told in Luke 16 written above. She had a deep burden for the rich man in the passage, wishing that he would not have to stay in such a terrible place. She emphasized that it was for eternity, and that eternity is a long time. She couldn’t imagine this poor man being tormented and found herself wanting to pray for him so that he didn’t have to stay there.
At some point in our conversation Binita had shared how when she was younger she went to a Hindu temple in her town and saw a man covered in terrible sores, boils were all over his whole body. He was begging for money. She felt pity for him and gave him money. She was afraid of getting too near though because of his horrible sores so she through the money at him. He moved towards her to say thank you, and she ran off because she didn’t want to touch him.
I wondered if part of her pity for the rich man in the story is because of her own vivid experience with a man much like him. How is it, that she who grew up in a Hindu country has more of a burden to pray so that people will not go to hell, then those of us who God has rescued from the Kingdom of darkness. Her compassion put me to shame.
Binita struggles with believing in God through Jesus. Her sentiment is why God would reveal himself to some and not all people. He has never revealed himself to her, and until such time that he does come and answer her questions, she will remain general in her belief of a higher power. It is like the story in Luke though. Abraham told the rich man that he could not send Lazarus to his brothers. That if they wouldn’t receive and believe Moses and the Prophets, then even a man returning from the dead would not convince them.
Are you praying for the brothers, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances that do not yet know Christ? We are still here on earth and can go to them. Perhaps God could use our prayer and message to reveal himself to them or enable them to understand the signs He is showing them.
Oh Lord, please rescue Binita. Show yourself to her in a way she cannot deny and bring her into relationship with you. Change my heart so that I may love people with the compassion that you have for them. Please, burden me to pray.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 25, 2010
Internalizing the Gospel
Fellow Partners in the Gospel,
Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement throughout the holiday season. I love your Christmas cards and notes. It is crazy to see how fast your families are growing!
I have been back in Lexington since New Years, and am now in the thick of spring semester. Today I went with another member of my staff team and met people in the student center in order to ask them their thoughts on the earthquake in Haiti and how it effects people's thoughts about spiritual things. We talked with 4 freshmen, Alissa, Niesha, Ben, and Sean. It was incredible to see God open doors for the gospel through such a terrible tragedy. We were able to share the gospel clearly with all but Ben, and only Niesha seemed to clearly know the gospel and have a relationship with Christ. Please pray for the Lord to remove the barriers they have to the gospel. Pray that God will wake Ben up from the apathy he expresses towards God and any kind of spiritual life.
My staff team is seeking to develop hearts and minds that are more centered on the gospel. Each week we are memorizing a passage of scripture. God is really challenging me about what it looks like to follow Him as I am dwelling on his word. Best memory tip for me so far, print our the verse in a large font on cardstock. Cut and separate each word or short phrases and then practice putting the verse back together like a puzzle. It forces you to learn it, makes it much more fun, and helped me to think about the significance of repeated words and phrases. Our first passage was Romans 8:31-34. I never realized how often the word "Who" appeared....
"31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."
Did you catch it? It is listed 9 times in 4 verses. The "who" is pointing us back to Christ and what he has done. Memorizing it has made scripture come so much more alive in my life. The next passage is Isaiah 53:3-6. I wrote it out and was thinking on it on the way to campus this morning. I couldn't get past the first verse..."He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed Him not." This is the time of the semester where students are more open to accepting or rejecting relationships with God and involvement in the ministry. My natural instinct is to avoid rejection. This is saying that Christ was rejected, men even hid their faces from him! And scripture says that I am to be like Christ. Wow. I'll admit, I don't know how I feel about that most days. When I accept the gospel, it means I am accepting rejection from men. In return though, I am gaining acceptance from God which is unchanging and eternal.
Please pray for me and my team as we move past the rejection and barriers students and the University give, and pursue to follow Christ through introducing people to Him.
Prayer Calendar:
Wednesday January 27: Freshmen Dessert (Freshmen are leading it and challenging their friends and classmates to pursue Christ and get involved
Wednesday January 27: Program in a freshmen dorm on Beauty. Free makeovers and discussion on where true beauty comes from. Pray that students come and that I am free to share the gospel as I share how God has given be a source for lasting beauty.
Friday January 29-Sunday January 31: Preview Weekend in Atlanta, GA. Please pray for safe travel of our juniors and seniors and they meet up with other students in our region and are challenged for how they can follow the Lord post-graduation.
Small group Bible studies are starting back up - pray students will return from last semester and that we will continue to engage with new people who have yet to hear about Christ.
Fear Killers: A Pastor from Nashville is spending 4 weeks in our Thursday night meeting share about God's perspective of Fear, the ability to move past it, and Nehemiah's response to going where God is calling you. Pray that students take it to heart and are responding with steps of faith with their time, sharing about Christ with their friends, their future.
Saturday February 6: Service project with Habitat for Humanity and Bluegrass Technology Center.
Sorry for such a long message! A lot is on my mind and heart tonight. Attached is my update from the winter conference we took 30 students to over New Years.
Blessings,
Abigail
Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement throughout the holiday season. I love your Christmas cards and notes. It is crazy to see how fast your families are growing!
I have been back in Lexington since New Years, and am now in the thick of spring semester. Today I went with another member of my staff team and met people in the student center in order to ask them their thoughts on the earthquake in Haiti and how it effects people's thoughts about spiritual things. We talked with 4 freshmen, Alissa, Niesha, Ben, and Sean. It was incredible to see God open doors for the gospel through such a terrible tragedy. We were able to share the gospel clearly with all but Ben, and only Niesha seemed to clearly know the gospel and have a relationship with Christ. Please pray for the Lord to remove the barriers they have to the gospel. Pray that God will wake Ben up from the apathy he expresses towards God and any kind of spiritual life.
My staff team is seeking to develop hearts and minds that are more centered on the gospel. Each week we are memorizing a passage of scripture. God is really challenging me about what it looks like to follow Him as I am dwelling on his word. Best memory tip for me so far, print our the verse in a large font on cardstock. Cut and separate each word or short phrases and then practice putting the verse back together like a puzzle. It forces you to learn it, makes it much more fun, and helped me to think about the significance of repeated words and phrases. Our first passage was Romans 8:31-34. I never realized how often the word "Who" appeared....
"31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."
Did you catch it? It is listed 9 times in 4 verses. The "who" is pointing us back to Christ and what he has done. Memorizing it has made scripture come so much more alive in my life. The next passage is Isaiah 53:3-6. I wrote it out and was thinking on it on the way to campus this morning. I couldn't get past the first verse..."He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised and we esteemed Him not." This is the time of the semester where students are more open to accepting or rejecting relationships with God and involvement in the ministry. My natural instinct is to avoid rejection. This is saying that Christ was rejected, men even hid their faces from him! And scripture says that I am to be like Christ. Wow. I'll admit, I don't know how I feel about that most days. When I accept the gospel, it means I am accepting rejection from men. In return though, I am gaining acceptance from God which is unchanging and eternal.
Please pray for me and my team as we move past the rejection and barriers students and the University give, and pursue to follow Christ through introducing people to Him.
Prayer Calendar:
Wednesday January 27: Freshmen Dessert (Freshmen are leading it and challenging their friends and classmates to pursue Christ and get involved
Wednesday January 27: Program in a freshmen dorm on Beauty. Free makeovers and discussion on where true beauty comes from. Pray that students come and that I am free to share the gospel as I share how God has given be a source for lasting beauty.
Friday January 29-Sunday January 31: Preview Weekend in Atlanta, GA. Please pray for safe travel of our juniors and seniors and they meet up with other students in our region and are challenged for how they can follow the Lord post-graduation.
Small group Bible studies are starting back up - pray students will return from last semester and that we will continue to engage with new people who have yet to hear about Christ.
Fear Killers: A Pastor from Nashville is spending 4 weeks in our Thursday night meeting share about God's perspective of Fear, the ability to move past it, and Nehemiah's response to going where God is calling you. Pray that students take it to heart and are responding with steps of faith with their time, sharing about Christ with their friends, their future.
Saturday February 6: Service project with Habitat for Humanity and Bluegrass Technology Center.
Sorry for such a long message! A lot is on my mind and heart tonight. Attached is my update from the winter conference we took 30 students to over New Years.
Blessings,
Abigail
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