Changes

In our last newsletter I mentioned that there are changes coming for Erika and me. I moved into a new position with Campus Crusade for Christ this fall. We are excited about the transition for a number of reasons. The best way to so this is by asking (and answering) some questions that we are asked as we talk about the new role.

What is your new role?
I took my boss’ job! Instead of having one campus to over see and reach with the Gospel I will now work with a team of 7 others to lead and resource 16 teams in 6 states (CO, WY, NM, NE, MO and KS) and another 14 teams in 7 nations (Serbia, Russia, China, Ireland, Mexico, Spain and Chile) In some ways to think of my new job as campus ministry with a bigger campus.

Will you still work with students?
Yes! I will be on campus at the School of Mines in Golden and still part time at UNC. This was a deciding factor in taking this role. In this position I can take more responsibility in reaching the world with the Gospel and not lose too much face time with students.

How many staff and students are in your “scope” of ministry?
Currently there are about there are about 32 teams with about 400 staff representing over 3 million students! This is overwhelming to think about at times, yet we have never sensed God’s calling to what we are doing more than now. And we are assured that God has led us to this new role.

Will this mean more travel?
The simple answer to that is “yes”. I will visit all of the campuses in the US this year and in the next few years I want to visit those overseas as well. I will connect with the directors of all these campuses and walk through getting the gospel to every student in their area of responsibility. On a daily basis I will track with them through phone and email.

Why did you take this new role if you like being on campus so much?
The first reason is that we believe in college students and the impact they can have on the world. Those first years away from home after high school are the defining years of a person’s faith. We want to be there as they work out what it means to walk with God. In this role I will have a direct impact on the way that we (our region) gets to all those students with the Gospel. People in college have more time, energy and are free to do what God calls them to do. Erika and I want to be a pat of mobilizing these laborers for ministry while they are in school and ensure that they are trained for a lifetime of ministry. Imagine if every year hundreds of thousands of students graduated with a heart to do ministry and a mind that was devoted to Jesus.

Do you still need to raise support to do this new job?
Yes, still have the privilege to raise all our own finances for insurance, income and retirement. We are grateful for a system that makes us dependant on Jesus to provide daily bread. And we are grateful for you as a conduit of his grace!