Hello, friends!
Guess what 2015 is! It's an URBANA YEAR!!! =0). Allow me to explain:
Urbana is InterVarsity USA's tri-annual global missions conference for college students. Every 3 years, college aged students from all over the world descend on St. Louis, MO for 5 days of multi-ethnic worship, incredible speakers, mind-blowing seminars, life changing Bible studies, and pretty much the best week of their college careers. (Can you tell I'm a fan?)
When I talk to people about Urbana, I give them this rundown of a "typical" Urbana day:
- Wake up and do an inductive Bible study with 300 of your closest friends led by some really bright folk
- Then attend the morning session where you Patrick Fung, president of OMF international will exposit the word for us
- Students can then spend the afternoon attending various seminars as well as visiting the expo center, where over 250 different seminaries and missions organizations will be offering information on their different groups
- The evening is spend participating in multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-dimensional worship, engaging in the arts, the globe, and hearing from speakers like David Platt and Francis Chan
- Sleep hard, because it all starts up again tomorrow!
This will be Urbana #4 for me, 1 as a student and my 3rd as a staff. I have seen lives changed at Urbana. I have seen people be set free at Urbana. I have had significant movements in my own life happen at Urbana. Urbana... changes... lives...
Friends, here is where I need your help. We have a group of 8 students from Mizzou as well as another few potentially from Lincoln who are geared up and ready to go. The only thing that is stopping them from going is money. 5 days of awesomeness isn't cheap and when you include housing costs, it doesn't get any cheaper.
Here's where you can help. My goal is to raise $5000 so that students can attend Urbana at a reduced cost and cover their housing. Praise Jesus, we have already made a lot of progress towards that goal but there is still much work to be done. If you're interested, you can click here and give towards our scholarship goal. Even if it's just $5, every little bit help.
Even better, if you have friends, family, coworkers, church folk, etc., who may be interested in helping get students to Urbana, send this blog on to them!
One last thing. Would you pray for us? Pray for God's provision. Pray for more students to sign up. Pray that the students attend will receive from the LORD. Pray for us staff as we lead the students. Please, pray.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Friday, October 30, 2015
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Fighting Well...
Hello, friends!
My mother, my wife, and more than one ex-girlfriend will tell you that I am always up for a good fight. I don't know if it's because I'm highly competitive, if my personality lends itself to being combative, or I just don't have enough sense to walk away but if there's a fight to be had, I'm usually game to go a few rounds.
Back in the day, my fights (or debates, discussions, conversations, etc.) were pretty much academic in the sense that I would pick fights for the fun of it. My position didn't matter as much as the fact that it was the opposite of yours. I could pass as a liberal, a conservative, a libertarian, a hippie, an evangelical, or even an agnostic if the mood suited me. For me, the fight was less about learning and more about the thrill of the chase.
The problem with my love of the fight was that my style of engagement left a lot of carnage in my wake. It didn't really matter much to me if I hurt someone, flustered someone, or generally made myself look like a jerk. I was having fun and that is what mattered.
When I made the decision to follow Jesus with my everything in college, a number of things changed for me. One of those things was God changing my heart towards how I fought. The thrill of the chase was still present but there were new rules in place. Let them know when you're just screwing around. Always argue with a smile. Care about your audience. Let it go unless it's actually a big deal. Above all, when you're in a real fight, always speak with an attempt at love, compassion, understanding, and empathy.
Over the course of the past year or so, ever since Michael Brown was shot and killed in Ferguson, I've found myself engaged in a lot more fights than before. Questions of white privilege, equal rights, the significance of #blacklivesmatter, Asian American rights, immigration, and a whole slew of other things have led to discussions, conversations, debates, and ultimately, fights. Some discussions have been productive. Most, not so much. Through them all, I've done my best to follow my own rules but I'm sure that I've made mistakes.
Here's the thing though. I can't stop fighting. There is real injustice that needs to be addressed. There are things that cannot "just be let go." There are things to be said and perspectives to be shared. It would not be right for me to avoid these conversations because they may lead to discomfort. I'm pursuing fewer fights than before but I believe these are the "right" fights.
So, friends, if you see me going after one cause or another, especially via Facebook, know that I believe passionately in the cause, trust that I am seeing after Jesus, forgive me if I speak harshly, and be prepared to see me go hard. You can pray for my words and pray that my heart will be known by all and in line with God's.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
My mother, my wife, and more than one ex-girlfriend will tell you that I am always up for a good fight. I don't know if it's because I'm highly competitive, if my personality lends itself to being combative, or I just don't have enough sense to walk away but if there's a fight to be had, I'm usually game to go a few rounds.
Back in the day, my fights (or debates, discussions, conversations, etc.) were pretty much academic in the sense that I would pick fights for the fun of it. My position didn't matter as much as the fact that it was the opposite of yours. I could pass as a liberal, a conservative, a libertarian, a hippie, an evangelical, or even an agnostic if the mood suited me. For me, the fight was less about learning and more about the thrill of the chase.
The problem with my love of the fight was that my style of engagement left a lot of carnage in my wake. It didn't really matter much to me if I hurt someone, flustered someone, or generally made myself look like a jerk. I was having fun and that is what mattered.
When I made the decision to follow Jesus with my everything in college, a number of things changed for me. One of those things was God changing my heart towards how I fought. The thrill of the chase was still present but there were new rules in place. Let them know when you're just screwing around. Always argue with a smile. Care about your audience. Let it go unless it's actually a big deal. Above all, when you're in a real fight, always speak with an attempt at love, compassion, understanding, and empathy.
Over the course of the past year or so, ever since Michael Brown was shot and killed in Ferguson, I've found myself engaged in a lot more fights than before. Questions of white privilege, equal rights, the significance of #blacklivesmatter, Asian American rights, immigration, and a whole slew of other things have led to discussions, conversations, debates, and ultimately, fights. Some discussions have been productive. Most, not so much. Through them all, I've done my best to follow my own rules but I'm sure that I've made mistakes.
Here's the thing though. I can't stop fighting. There is real injustice that needs to be addressed. There are things that cannot "just be let go." There are things to be said and perspectives to be shared. It would not be right for me to avoid these conversations because they may lead to discomfort. I'm pursuing fewer fights than before but I believe these are the "right" fights.
So, friends, if you see me going after one cause or another, especially via Facebook, know that I believe passionately in the cause, trust that I am seeing after Jesus, forgive me if I speak harshly, and be prepared to see me go hard. You can pray for my words and pray that my heart will be known by all and in line with God's.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Boston on My Mind...
Hello, friends!
I wrote last week about how I would be going to Boston to do a little staff training. I've recovered from the travel and such so I figure now is as good a time as any to update y'all on the trip! Here are a few high (and low) lights:
- Boston roads are the worst. Boston is an old city and like most old cities, it was built without city-wide infrastructure in mind. For some, this gives Boston a certain amount of charm. For those of us who suffer from motion sickness, this gives Boston a certain amount of disdain. We were moving between the Harvard and Boston University areas so there was much car driving. I was not a fan.
- I love working with Asian American students. The purpose of my trip was to coach a staff as she worked with Asian American students to reach other Asian American students via the secular Asian American student orgs. Needless to say, I spent a LOT of time around Asian American students and I really loved it. I love the work that I'm doing now at Lincoln and with nurses but there's something nice about being back with the students who started it all.
- I'm not as smart as I think I am. For one of our team building events, we went to an escape room in Boston. If you've never been to an Escape Room, allow me to explain. You're locked in a room. You have one hour to figure out how to get out of the room. There are puzzles to solve that will lead to clues that will lead to the key to get you out of the room. We did not get out of the room on time... =0).
- I have been burned into Ezra's long term memory. This really has nothing to do with the trip but when I picked Ezra and Megan up from the airport, Ezra's eyes totally lit up and he smiled when he saw me. We spent 3.5 days away from each other and it was a grind. Thankfully, I was pretty busy the entire time so I didn't have a lot of time to dwell on the fact that I wasn't with my family. Still, it was different not putting the little guy to sleep.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
I wrote last week about how I would be going to Boston to do a little staff training. I've recovered from the travel and such so I figure now is as good a time as any to update y'all on the trip! Here are a few high (and low) lights:
- Boston roads are the worst. Boston is an old city and like most old cities, it was built without city-wide infrastructure in mind. For some, this gives Boston a certain amount of charm. For those of us who suffer from motion sickness, this gives Boston a certain amount of disdain. We were moving between the Harvard and Boston University areas so there was much car driving. I was not a fan.
- I love working with Asian American students. The purpose of my trip was to coach a staff as she worked with Asian American students to reach other Asian American students via the secular Asian American student orgs. Needless to say, I spent a LOT of time around Asian American students and I really loved it. I love the work that I'm doing now at Lincoln and with nurses but there's something nice about being back with the students who started it all.
- I'm not as smart as I think I am. For one of our team building events, we went to an escape room in Boston. If you've never been to an Escape Room, allow me to explain. You're locked in a room. You have one hour to figure out how to get out of the room. There are puzzles to solve that will lead to clues that will lead to the key to get you out of the room. We did not get out of the room on time... =0).
- I have been burned into Ezra's long term memory. This really has nothing to do with the trip but when I picked Ezra and Megan up from the airport, Ezra's eyes totally lit up and he smiled when he saw me. We spent 3.5 days away from each other and it was a grind. Thankfully, I was pretty busy the entire time so I didn't have a lot of time to dwell on the fact that I wasn't with my family. Still, it was different not putting the little guy to sleep.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
A New (but kind of a bummer) Milestone...
Hello, friends!
In just a few hours, we will be embarking on a new adventure, and one that I must say, I'm torn. Here's the scoop.
Y'all know that I love Asian American Ministries. I love being Asian American. I love reaching other Asian Americans with the Gospel. I love talking to people about why it's great to be Asian American and why they should be trying to reach Asian Americans with the Gospel alongside me. It was an easy call then when I was invited to coach a staff out in Boston on how to reach Asian Americans on the campus via the "secular" student organization. When I started Mizzou ACF all those years ago, I started by getting involved in Mizzou's Asian American Association (AAA). With only 2.5% of the student body population being Asian American, AAA was a great way for me to meet a lot of Asian Americans at once. In Boston, they are going to try to reach their Asian Student Union (ASU) so they asked me to coach a staff as she did it. I was more than happy to say yes!
One piece of the coaching includes a visit to Boston to see the staff in action as well as meet her students and give a little "on the ground" coaching. T used to live in Boston so I've been there before but I was definitely excited to go. Megan is going to a wedding in Virginia with Ezra this weekend anyway, so it seemed like as good a weekend as any to make a visit.
While I was packing, I had a revelation... This is going to be my first weekend away from Ezra and Megan since he was born. In fact, this is going to be my first night away from those two since Ezra was born. For the past 3+ months, I've pretty much been able to count on the fact that at the end of the day, I'd be able to kiss my wife and son goodnight before going to sleep. The streak ends tomorrow night.
All said and done, I think I'm ok with it. It was bound to happen at some point, right? It's just a few nights and I'm not a super emotional person anyway. Still, it's a bit of a bummer to think that tomorrow night, I won't be able to bounce Ezra to sleep while singing "Closing Time." I guess all good things must come to an end.
Friends, we really need your prayers this weekend for all of our travels. Please be praying first for journey's mercies, that all 3 of us will get where we need to go and get home safely so we can be together as a family. Second, please be praying especially for Meg. She'll be the one taking Ezra on the plane and taking care of him this weekend in a place that isn't Columbia. Finally, please be praying for Ezra, that he'll be more like his mom on the plane (no motion sickness or discomfort) and less like his dad (generally a mess).
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
In just a few hours, we will be embarking on a new adventure, and one that I must say, I'm torn. Here's the scoop.
Y'all know that I love Asian American Ministries. I love being Asian American. I love reaching other Asian Americans with the Gospel. I love talking to people about why it's great to be Asian American and why they should be trying to reach Asian Americans with the Gospel alongside me. It was an easy call then when I was invited to coach a staff out in Boston on how to reach Asian Americans on the campus via the "secular" student organization. When I started Mizzou ACF all those years ago, I started by getting involved in Mizzou's Asian American Association (AAA). With only 2.5% of the student body population being Asian American, AAA was a great way for me to meet a lot of Asian Americans at once. In Boston, they are going to try to reach their Asian Student Union (ASU) so they asked me to coach a staff as she did it. I was more than happy to say yes!
One piece of the coaching includes a visit to Boston to see the staff in action as well as meet her students and give a little "on the ground" coaching. T used to live in Boston so I've been there before but I was definitely excited to go. Megan is going to a wedding in Virginia with Ezra this weekend anyway, so it seemed like as good a weekend as any to make a visit.
While I was packing, I had a revelation... This is going to be my first weekend away from Ezra and Megan since he was born. In fact, this is going to be my first night away from those two since Ezra was born. For the past 3+ months, I've pretty much been able to count on the fact that at the end of the day, I'd be able to kiss my wife and son goodnight before going to sleep. The streak ends tomorrow night.
All said and done, I think I'm ok with it. It was bound to happen at some point, right? It's just a few nights and I'm not a super emotional person anyway. Still, it's a bit of a bummer to think that tomorrow night, I won't be able to bounce Ezra to sleep while singing "Closing Time." I guess all good things must come to an end.
Friends, we really need your prayers this weekend for all of our travels. Please be praying first for journey's mercies, that all 3 of us will get where we need to go and get home safely so we can be together as a family. Second, please be praying especially for Meg. She'll be the one taking Ezra on the plane and taking care of him this weekend in a place that isn't Columbia. Finally, please be praying for Ezra, that he'll be more like his mom on the plane (no motion sickness or discomfort) and less like his dad (generally a mess).
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Friday, October 9, 2015
The Long Play...
Hello, friends!
After a 44 hour work weekend (15 hours Friday, 18 hours Saturday, and 11 hours Sunday), 2 sick days (migraines are the worst!) and a fair amount of Ezra time (I really didn't get enough of it) I feel like I've fully recovered physically from FC15. What a weekend it was!
Fall Conference weekends normally have a certain structure to them. Students arrive on Friday night in anticipation of the weekend to come. We have our first session that is followed by the small group "what are you hoping to get out of this conference?" question. Saturday morning has another session followed by free time. Saturday night, the Holy Spirit falls, the speaker makes a call to faith, a bunch of students "stand up" to make decisions to follow Jesus, and we all leave after the Sunday session refreshed and ready to take on the world. I would venture to say that this structure isn't even special to Fall Conferences but it pretty much standard across the weekend Christian conference landscape. It's a good formula and it works.
However, sometimes you get a conference theme and you know that things aren't going to be wrapped up into a tiny bow come Sunday morning. FC15 definitely had that feel.
"Reconciliation" is a HUGE topic, one that isn't easily defined or easily remidied. Where does one begin? Is racial reconciliation the most important topic? How do we reconcile the good news of the Gospel with what we're seeing in the world right now? What about socioeconimic reconciliation? How about gender reconciliation or sexual reconciliation (asking the LGBT questions)? Students come from a number of different backgrounds and belief systems. It would be impossible to cover everything that needed to be covered in the course of a weekend and we knew that going into FC15. The word that I kept getting was to "remember the long play..."
With a conference theme like "Reconciling All Things," your goal is not to have the conference be self contained. You want it to bleed out beyond Sunday afternoon. We want there to still be conversations, wrestlings, and question asking because the long play says that figuring out our role in God's reconciliation of all things takes time.
Let me give you an example. Saturday morning we held a series of workshops called, "How the Gospel reconciles the _________ community," with "Black," "Asian American," "White," "Latino," "Native American," and "International" filling in the blank spot. Students would attend 2 workshops. First, they would go where they identify (ie, I would attend the Asian American workshop). Second, they would go where they DON'T identify but want to reach. Each workshop was about 45 minutes.
There isn't a lot you can do in 45 minutes and we knew that. What you CAN do though, is start the conversation. I think that's what we did. We had students in the first workshop begin to discover their ethnic identities in ways that they hadn't considered before. In the second workshop, you could see the gears turning for students as they considered what it would look like to connect with someone different from them.
Our job is far from over and our job looks very different from normal. Thinking about the long play means that follow up is more crucial than ever before with every student who attended, not just those who stood up Saturday night. (That's especially true this year as no one stood up Saturday night). It means that FC15, instead of being the end of our New Student Outreach season, actually begins a new season of hopefully hard conversations and new revelations. It means that after 44 hours of conference directing, 2 sick days, and not nearly enough Ezra time, the long play is just beginning.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Friday, October 2, 2015
FC15 Hooray!!!
Hello, friends!
As I'm writing this, we are preparing for our Fall Conference 2015 (FC15), Reconciling All Things. In just a few hours, over 120 college students from all over Missouri will be gathering together to worship, fellowship, and learn about how our God wants to reconcile us to himself and to each other.
I'm directing this conference and have been humbled by God's goodness in a number of ways. He has continued to show me that He is the one who is in charge and that He will take care of the conference and the students.
Will you take a few moments RIGHT NOW and pray for FC15? Here are a few specific ways that you can pray:
- Journey's Mercies. Our site is about a 2-3 hour drive from either St. Louis or Columbia. Pray that students arrive safely and prepared to receive what God has for them.
- Logistical Peace. The only thing you can guarantee at a conference like this is that something will go wrong. As director, I'm feeling the pressure to make sure that we have all our bases covered. Please pray for the peace that surpasses all understanding.
- Soft Hearts. Our topic is a heavy one and we will be having a number of different groups joining us. There will be Black, White, Asian, and International students from a number of different countries all joining us. We also have at least 8 non-Christians. Please pray that God will soften their hearts to receive what He has for them.
- Ezra's First Conference. We're not sure how he'll do. Pray that he'll eat well in a new place, sleep well in a new place, and generally continue to be the happy wonderful baby he has been so far.
Have an excellent weekend!
~Adam
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