Merry Christmas everyone!!!!
It’s coming up to the end of the year, and fantastic stuff has happened, is happening, and is continuing to happen. God is moving strongly, and I’m excited to partner with Him in this!
A Cultural Thanksgiving
My co-worker, Tanya, and I wanted to extend a tangible expression of love to the people in our ballroom dancing class, so we had decided to do a Thanksgiving dinner for them. Thank you to all who helped with food, and to a friend who offered her home to host it. It was fantastic! We had a small group; a graduate student from China and an older gentleman from Russia who brought his daughter, who attends UT. We ended up sitting and talking for nearly 4 hours, talking about China, Russia and the US, and not only were we able to love on them in an open and caring way, there were some spiritual conversations. Yafei, the graduate student, had already received Christ in China and is hungry for more of Him. Vladimir and Anastasiya are atheist, but some of our conversation had them asking questions and changing their perceptions. They enjoyed it so much, Yafei was asking about Christmas celebrations, and Anastasiya, who hasn’t attend the ballroom class, is now excited to join us and continue the friendship. I’m loving this ongoing God story, don’t you!?!?
Campus Renewal: A Practical Plan for Uniting Campus Ministries in Prayer and Mission
The story of campus Renewal Ministries has been told and published! Find out what happens by reading about what God is doing at the University of Texas through Campus Renewal Ministries. God has united campus ministries around a vision to reach all 50,000 students at UT with the gospel each year, and they are taking practical steps to see their vision accomplished. It’s an awesome testimony of the transformation of what has already happened, and a peek at what is coming. This is a great read for people passionate about campus ministry, Austin, transformation, God stories… basically everyone! Check it out at www.campusrenewal.org/campusrenewalbook to read a chapter and to buy. You can also contact me and I can get you a copy for $10.
University Students and Transformation
For those of you who were able to make it, on Sunday night, Bill Johnson spoke about the need for fathers, and in it, he spoke, no, mandated a call for spiritual fathers and mothers for the college age generation. I felt like he took my heart and passion and laid out for everyone to see, spoke into the need of this generation. Let me restate an excerpt of what he had said.
“We need fathers and mothers; they do not compete, like siblings, friends. People who will deal with the stuff, who will celebrate the victories, our destinies… We also need to give birth to mothers and fathers. The Jesus People Movement in the late 60’s/ early 70’s - there’s a new Jesus people movement forming right now. We’re going to see absolute revival spread through major colleges and universities of our country. This one will be different… the difference will be this, if we actually have spiritual mothers and fathers in place…
“I’m looking for [spiritual mothers and fathers]. And I’m looking for this out of this house. I’m looking for a company of people that will sacrifice their own Christmas gifts, spiritually speaking, for the benefit of a generation that could quite possibly shape the course of world history. It’s positioning ourselves to get the most out of a moment; the most out of a movement, the most out of what God has promised and released upon us.”
I would encourage you to listen to the message; here is the link: http://cothaudio.org/Church_of_the_Hills/Teachings/Entries/2010/12/5_Entry_1_1.html. It was like he looked into my heart and spoke out why I am here at Campus Renewal, and why my heart is desperate to find like-minded people who are willing to invest in this generation. I had a dream a couple of years ago, and God has resurfaced it in my mind, and makes me aware of it every day. In the dream, I walked onto a battlefield that was full of chaos. People were wandering around, confused and directionless. There was fighting on a couple of fronts, but there were holes everywhere. I remember thinking, I just need to do what I need to do, and picked up my armor and weapons and headed to one of the holes in the fighting line. As I went, I looked back and saw people picking up their weapons also. While some followed me, some went to other places in the battle, and some headed to the recovery tents – the point is, they all went where they were needed. A friend of mine once told me, “I may not be able to or am called to fight in the frontlines, but I can equip you to do that, and know that I am part of that victory.”
Bill asked, “What would it be to have a company of people who just says, ‘yes’? I sense such a summons from God, a summoning from the Lord for mothers and fathers to arise… I want to see this next go around, this next Jesus People Movement. I want to see mothers and fathers in place.”
This is something tangible, not far off, not a vague “I can do something sometime if some need comes up somewhere.” We need people to come along side of us as well as those who hold down the fort. We need those mothers and fathers who can mentor and encourage, and we need people willing to teach and pastor. Also, to continue in my role, we need those who will financially support me in my part for the ministry as a whole. And, as always, we need and appreciate your prayer support.
I would love to talk and meet with you if you would like to find out if our how you can volunteer or work with Campus Renewal, (or just college students in general). If you’d like to make a special or monthly gift, you can go to www.campusrenewal.org and click on donate, mail a check to Campus Renewal Ministries, 2421 San Antonio St suite B, Austin, Texas 78705. If you would like to make a stock donation, please call 512.331.5991. Remember to check with your employers to see if they do matching donations.
Really great God stories have come out of this year, and I’m anticipating even more for this next year, for all of us! Merry Christmas, and have a blessed New Year!
Much Love,
Akpene
512.293.9107
Akpenesadventures.blogspot.com
Find me on Facebook – Akpene at Campus Renewal Ministries
www.reachingcampus.com
+ All contributions to Campus Renewal Ministries are income tax deductible, and are made with the understanding that Campus Renewal Ministries has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds. +
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