Wrapping Up Another Year!

   We're wrapping up the school year - students are out for the summer and our pastor team is transitioning to planning for the next school year. I really can't get over how much God has shown up this year. In the fall, we were blown away by how many students were on campus. This was our first year post-COVID where it really felt like there were actually people to meet. Our small groups have been massive because so many people wanted friends and a chance to connect with the Lord. And so many stuck around! What a sweet blessing. And I love love love all of the end of the year pictures I got these last couple of weeks!

Our staff team could not pass up an opportunity to take a picture with this gorgeous sunset. I'm so grateful for this team that supports each other so easily. I love that the people I work with are some of my closest friends!

We had a great turn out for our End-of-Year party despite the weather threatening rain!

My sweet, kind small group this year has been such an encouragement and a real source of friendship to me! This doesn't happen every year in my experience (and that's okay!) but these girls have really learned to pour into others and to care deeply. They check on each other often and have real friendships outside of simply meeting in a group once a week. I've loved watching them grow closer and spur each other on towards love and good deeds!

Madai and Hannah, who I had the pleasure of facilitating core with, were such a blessing to me this year!

And of course, my amazing peer team! I feel like I brag on these girls all the time but they have just blown me away with all of their hard work this year. They have each worked so hard to balance challenging school and work schedules while they dedicate so much time to pouring into students on campus and in their small groups. I am so proud of them for being responsive to God's call to serve others when it would be easy to be self-protective and pull back from other people as things get hard. 

And we had some graduates too - Madai, Markia, Keanna, and Olivia! (Actually a lot of people in our ministry graduated this year but these girls were from peer team.) I'm so excited to see where God takes them from here!

    I've felt extra nostalgic as I think about how ministry will look different after baby Owen is here. If I haven't said, I plan on sticking around and learning how to do campus ministry while being a new parent. I know it'll look different but I'm already so excited for him to get to grow up around college students. At our last small group, we wrote encouragement cards to each other and they surprised me with a card just for Owen. How sweet and thoughtful is that?! I love that I have so many girls around me who are so excited to be a part of his life. I know there will be challenges and I won't get to do things in the same way but I am just really looking forward to getting to share my life and kiddo with these students. 

    With that, I am also entering my fundraising season and praying for God to provide how he sees fit for us and this baby. Currently, I have about $1,500 a month left to raise. So many of you support me (in numerous ways!) and I am just incredibly appreciative of your hearts for me and these students. If you're reading this and you would be interested in joining my prayer or financial support team or increasing your giving, I'd love to talk with you about that! I'm including a very short interest form if you want me to reach out about any of the above options. Filling out the form isn't a firm commitment at all, just another way for me to answer any questions or let you know more about how ministry is going.

Interest Form

Another way you can help is by letting me know if you have friends or family that may be interested in supporting me. My main hurdle in fundraising is building new connections with people who have a heart for campus ministry or young people. So if you know of anyone who might want to hear more about what I do them please let me know!

And of course, if you would join me in praying for God to provide for me and for the rest of our pastor team, I would really appreciate it!

Here's our student Testimony for May!

Love you guys always! Thank you for being a part of the work God is doing on these campuses!