October: An Amazing Fall Retreat!

 

Fall retreat was so COOL! God is moving in Denton. We had way more people show up than we initially expected (260, are you kidding me?!) but more than that, so many students are excited and ready for God to transform and reshape their lives. 

We do a big game competition every year and split the small groups into teams to work together for bragging rights. This year was so fun! Here's a couple of the teams, they really get into the team spirit.

Janae (right) and Lilli (middle left) are two girls I get to study the Bible with. They are so sweet; I love watching them grow closer to God.

MJ and Owen

Some of our staff sneaked away to the local Sonic ... and ran into a bunch of our students! We had a good laugh about that.

These students are a breath of fresh air. Trying to pastor a community that has grown so rapidly in a year comes with some challenges. How do we communicate to so many well? What do we emphasize? When there is inevitable conflict, how to we help people handle it with wisdom and grace? When people disagree, how do we find unity to glorify God?

This season of ministry has been humbling, in the sense that I am constantly being faced with how necessary humility is when serving God and loving people. I could do things my way and follow what seems best to me. But ultimately that leads people to me and not God. If I'm going to lead others, I have to do it by showing them how to sit at Jesus' feet. I have to constant hold what is true and right and good over what is comfortable to say to people. That's challenging at times but the fruit of that is so much more meaningful than anything surface level I can produce. I'm so grateful that God would want to teach and shape me in these ways. 

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5. Such good news!

Exciting news for next month, our Keep FOCUS Growing campaign is coming up!

I would very much appreciate if you would prayerfully consider giving to this fundraiser! I'll be sending more details out in November but please reach out if you have any questions!

Love y'all! Let me know if there's any way I can be praying for you!