Spring 2018

Classes start today and so does the new plan to reach out to students on campus.  One of the challenges we found last semester was that students weren’t feeling connected to each other which hindered the ability to reach other students on campus.  Therefore this semester we’re intentionally opening up more of our lives including our exercise schedule.  The plan is to build relationships while also getting healthier.  Ideally, this will enable more nonleaders to organize activities to build connections with each other and to have a place to invite their friends as well.

As small groups start next week, we are excited to also reach out into the art building.  We started intentionally reaching music students and faculty last semester and now we’re branching out into the art building.  We want to counteract the isolation that artists often have as they spend hours perfecting themselves and competing against others.  

Please be praying for the students and staff as we work to build authentic relationships with each other so we can reach other students and faculty with the love of Christ.  

Fasting for the New Year!

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that is commonly used to help us abstain from temporary desires and focus on God.  I used it as a student at Fredonia most Saturdays during lunch to spend that extended time with God.  Now, I've chosen to start the New Year off with a 10 day fast after completing some shorter ones this year.  I believe that by giving Him the first days of the year, He'll honor that sacrifice.  

• The Goals: 
  • Align myself closer to God and His Mission on campus and in my life
  • Pray deeply in more extended lengths
    • for personal needs (specifically my funding as IV staff, but choose your own) 
    • for campus (that we would reach more students with God's love, especially artists)
    • for the world (in light of the tragedies that have happened in 2017)
• The Plan
  • Prayerfully choose what to fast for and for how long 
    • Please be safe fasting, especially if it's your first one.  Read 
    • Food, electronics, 1 day, 1 meal a day, 3 days, 10 days... all can be options
  • Invite others to join you in fasting so there's solidarity in seeking God together. 
  • Post on the IV Facebook group your stories (joys, insights or struggles) of fasting
• Results
  • Personal and Corporal spiritual growth
  • Prayers as action for God 
  • Who knows what else...

If you're interested, please let me know by messaging Kathryn and I look forward to seeking God together with you as we start the new year with our choices aligned to what He wants.  

Urbana Invite

Where can you pray, worship and learn with 16,000 other people from many different denominations, cultures and walks of life?

Where can you be part of a daily Scripture study with hundreds of other college students that is facilitated by some of the best Bible study leaders in the world?

Where can you step into a sacred space to hear from God about your unique place in his worldwide mission?

Where can you take part in the most rocking and worshipful New Year's Eve party you've ever experienced? 

The answer, of course, is Urbana '18! And these are just a few of the many reasons to join us for InterVarsity's student missions conference, December 27-31, 2018 in St. Louis, MO. This world-class event happens only once every three years, so don't miss your chance! 

We know, December 27, 2018 seems like a long way off. But the time to start preparing is already here! Here are some things you can be doing now if you think you'd like to go:

1) Check out the Urbana website - Start researching what this conference is all about and learn more about what to expect, registration details and more.

2) Talk with your parents/guardians this winter break - If you are going to take off (maybe literally) for 6 days right after Christmas next year, you probably ought to start talking with them about it and expressing your interest now. 

3) Start saving! - The cost is well worth it, but it does add up. Between, the conference cost itself, travel, hotel accommodations, food and miscellaneous expenses (like books!), you can expect to pay anywhere from $700 on the low end (if you register early bird between March 1-June 30 and carpool to St. Louis) to $1200 on the high end (if you register late and fly). Some saving ideas include: Having an Urbana piggy bank that you put aside money in each week (from your paycheck, loose change etc.), ask for Urbana money for your birthday and Christmas, collect cans around your neighborhood/dorm. There will be opportunities to write fundraising letters and earn scholarship money as well! 

We hope you will consider taking advantage of this rare opportunity!

Every Corner, Every Campus

I just listened to the video about the partnership between InterVarsity and Cru.  I'm excited to see them (and hopefully other campus ministries) partner to reach all colleges in the US with a witnessing community.  As I've reframed my own thinking of just being called to the Fredonia campus, I've been challenged to think of the students who are transferring from Fredonia to a community college as blessings to that college.  Some of those places have a witnessing community, while others we're working to plant something at (like ECC).  Each missional student sent there has the potential to help that work begin.  

At act, I got to talk to a few of the leaders and the advisor from a new SUNY school that was checking out InterVarsity to see if they wanted to affiliate their current ministry.  They talked of the struggles of not having the resources of a wider network when hard times come and I learned afterward they all chose to affiliate.  Then this morning, I read of a phone call that happens for students from a specific background who have big obstacles in their new faith due to their heritage.  The monthly call enables them to grow together and provide support when needed.  After this post, I'll be heading into a time of prayer for the Would Jesus Eat Frybread conference and for the native students gathering together to be sent back to their campuses and nations.  

I, personally, am so thankful of the network of staff, partners, and students, with wide talents and skills all bringing their resources together to advance work.  It saves so much time and effort to be able to work together and helps us all grow closer to Jesus.  I long for this connection to happen at every campus and I mourn when I hear transfer students talk of not having fellowship at their prior colleges.  

If this is something you would like to get involved in, please check out InterVarsity.org to find out where chapters exist and if you don't see your local college on the list, contact a local staff (or me to help you find someone).  And pray... for the community colleges without witnessing communities, for the missional students who desire to bring others to Jesus, and for the resources (prayer, financial, and people).  To give financially, visit donate.intervarsity.org and type in the school name or area (Western New York is my area) to give towards work there.    

Formation and Networking

This week, I was reminded of how important it is to engage in both spiritual practices of detaching from the regular world in order to hear from Jesus and attaching to Him. Through that time of silence, solitude, listening, and scripture study, God showed that He doesn’t want us to worry as He wants us to be obedient to what He’s called us to do. He will provide the things we need as He is God (and we are not). 
As I enter three months of more intense ministry partnership development to get to a place in the ministry where I am fully funded and equipped to serve at Fredonia where He has called me, I’m inviting you to join in that process. My goal is to meet with 200 new people to share about the ministry and invite them to partner with us.
Would you take some time to pray about who in your network might be interested in hearing about God’s work at Fredonia?
If your church isn’t a partner, would you introduce me to the pastor or the missions team?
Do you need some time to recharge and connect with God? I will be leading a free spiritual formation retreat December 2nd from 9:30-3 for students and partners on campus. Contact me to RSVP.   #spiritualformation

Ways to Serve

Ways to Serve

1. Follow up with new and returning students - build connections, eat lunch, coffee, etc.  (Go and Do)
2. Join the worship team to use your musical gifts. (Talk to Mike E)
3. Large group needs people to help set up, clean up, run the ppt, design the ppt slides, emcee, and other activities.  (Talk to Nineth)
4. Join hospitality to help welcome students at large group, to follow up with decisions during calls to faith, and mentor others.  (Talk to Hannah K)
5. Become a small group apprentice to prepare to lead your own small group in your network or to branch off once a current one gets too big.  (Talk to Simona)
6. Design a t-shirt (Talk to Kathryn)
7. Participate in Thirsty or the prayer walk... we also want someone who'll be responsible for buying the water bottles from Walmart. ($ provided)
8. Pray for the campus as an individual or grab a few people together to pray as we seek to have every student and faculty hear about Jesus in a positive way this year.
9. Join the Hurricane Harvey Relief Team as they raise money for those affected. (Talk to Hannah K)
10. Want to spread awareness about human trafficking in the area?  There'll be a concert in November you can help with.  (Talk to Hannah K)
11. Send out the weekly email (Talk to Kathryn)

Other options will come as the year progresses and there are options to serve in the local community as well...specifically with children.

The Impactful Role of act Volunteers

The act staff which proves itself to be indispensable when it comes to one’s spiritual journey is most certainly notable in the guidance they provide. In addition to the staff however, I am extremely grateful for the act volunteers of whom I vividly recall. The smiles offered by the many volunteers, who kindly without any request offered them to the participants such as myself, gave the act environment a profound sense of kindness. Whether it was at the reception desk or the dining hall, or everywhere else in between, the volunteer staff truly made the entire experience much more pleasant. Their kindness, compiled with everything that goes on at act truly helped me achieve a sense of belonging. For that, I am forever grateful to everyone at act, especially the volunteers.

Thank You.

Sincerely,

Oscar