Hello, friends!
Sorry about my last post. Apparently, folk thought that the title of my last post meant that Meg was pregnant. I can assure you that she is not. =0).
This summer, ACFers have undertaken a daring, bold, and pretty sweet project. They want to outreach to the entire campus and show them how to rethink what community service is.
Re:Think is quite an undertaking. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, ACFers and friends, do a different community service project. Love INC. is a local organization working to build a stronger community. Immigration and refugee services helps new residents to Columbia get acclimated to life in Missouri. Habitat for Humanity builds houses for low income families. Each work site has a student team leader and the students who participate are committed to those projects for the semester, allowing them to build relationships with the organizations and each other.
Wednesday night, just like during the school year, is Large Group night. There's a potluck, fellowship, and one of the student leaders leads the group in a bible study discussion, giving students an opportunity to talk about how service is actually part of the Gospel. They've also designated Saturdays as a Sabbath, where students can spend time together in fellowship and be restored by the Spirit.
Pretty much, I couldn't be prouder of the leaders who have organized and executed Re:Think. What I have always said is that we build structures around people instead of fitting people into structures. Instead of the normal "Summer ACF" model of hanging out once a week, the students decided that they wanted to do something more. The leaders have owned Re:Think and new students are getting involved.
Friends, please be praying for Re:Think. Pray specifically for:
- Our student leaders. Pray that as they lead, they will be filled up by Jesus and that they will avoid burnout and fatigue.
- Our non-Christians attending. Pray that this will be something that gets them interested in following Jesus in a real way.
- Our community. Pray that God will continue to do a good work in the city of Columbia.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Re:Birth
Hello, friends!
Meg and I have been doing this thing during the month of June where we spend some time in listening prayer together. We've both felt this need to listen to Jesus more as we plan for this summer and next year. If this is going to be real partnership, it's good to start by partnering in prayer together, right? =0).
This morning, as we were praying, I got really excited by what we think we heard from Jesus. We heard two things. The first was, "there is more," in terms of Columbia. The second was a vision of a few of our friends giving birth.
Before you get weirded out, allow me to provide some context. There is a lot that goes into getting pregnant. Besides the actual biology of it (which I can tell you about when you're older), there's also the fact that nothing in guaranteed. We know a number of folk who have had trouble getting pregnant for one reason or another.
From what I understand, pregnancy and birth are pretty big processes. The body does all this work to make sure that the baby can survive in the womb and then there is a lot of pushing and contractions, and other unpleasant sounding things like that. Both my sister and Meg's older sister are Labor and Delivery nurses so you can ask them for more detail if you'd like.
Here's the thing though. After all the work is done, the 9 months of carrying around a bowling ball, the sore back, the intense pain and such, once the baby is born, it's all pure joy. Everything else that came before it was absolutely worth it.
I think that's how I feel about Columbia right now. Leaving St. Louis is going to be hard. There are the logistics of everything that still need to be done. There are people who we will be leaving, including family, which is so important to me. We have to pack up our apartment, unback it at our new place, then redecorate the whole thing. There's still the matter of the $18,000 we still need to raise.
You know what though? I really believe that in the end it will be totally worth it. Here's hoping anyway.
Prayer Points:
- Thanks to everyone who has already been so generous and have partnered with us in our ministry. Please continue to pray for us as we finish things up for the year.
- The summer seems to be flying by. Between weddings, trainings, and moving, there won't be a lot of time for rest over these next few weeks. Please pray that Meg and I will get good rest and be restored by Jesus during this crazy time.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Meg and I have been doing this thing during the month of June where we spend some time in listening prayer together. We've both felt this need to listen to Jesus more as we plan for this summer and next year. If this is going to be real partnership, it's good to start by partnering in prayer together, right? =0).
This morning, as we were praying, I got really excited by what we think we heard from Jesus. We heard two things. The first was, "there is more," in terms of Columbia. The second was a vision of a few of our friends giving birth.
Before you get weirded out, allow me to provide some context. There is a lot that goes into getting pregnant. Besides the actual biology of it (which I can tell you about when you're older), there's also the fact that nothing in guaranteed. We know a number of folk who have had trouble getting pregnant for one reason or another.
From what I understand, pregnancy and birth are pretty big processes. The body does all this work to make sure that the baby can survive in the womb and then there is a lot of pushing and contractions, and other unpleasant sounding things like that. Both my sister and Meg's older sister are Labor and Delivery nurses so you can ask them for more detail if you'd like.
Here's the thing though. After all the work is done, the 9 months of carrying around a bowling ball, the sore back, the intense pain and such, once the baby is born, it's all pure joy. Everything else that came before it was absolutely worth it.
I think that's how I feel about Columbia right now. Leaving St. Louis is going to be hard. There are the logistics of everything that still need to be done. There are people who we will be leaving, including family, which is so important to me. We have to pack up our apartment, unback it at our new place, then redecorate the whole thing. There's still the matter of the $18,000 we still need to raise.
You know what though? I really believe that in the end it will be totally worth it. Here's hoping anyway.
Prayer Points:
- Thanks to everyone who has already been so generous and have partnered with us in our ministry. Please continue to pray for us as we finish things up for the year.
- The summer seems to be flying by. Between weddings, trainings, and moving, there won't be a lot of time for rest over these next few weeks. Please pray that Meg and I will get good rest and be restored by Jesus during this crazy time.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Friday, June 7, 2013
Catalyst Part 1
Hello, friends!
Today's post is the first part of a two part post on Catalyst, our end of the year Spring Conference. I figure that since Catalyst is two weeks long, and I was there for 2 weeks, 2 posts makes sense, right? =0). I can't promise that Part 2 will come tomorrow but it will come.
I thought it would be good to start with things from the staff perspective, particularly form this staff's perspective. I was wearing a number of different hats for Catalyst. I was on the worship team, led a bible study for 1 week, led 3 seminars, organized a Catalyst party as well as a relay race, and did chapter time for Mizzou during Week 2. Oh yeah, I also worte and performed the Catalyst Welcome Song. =0). If I could describe the 2 weeks that were in one word, that word would have to be "exhausting."
Being staff for Catalyst means this:
- Some staff are up @ 7am for morning prayer
- Everyone else is up by 8am for breakfast
- At 9 is the morning session followed by the bible study you are leading
- If you are leading a seminar, you are on from 11:30-12:30
- Lunch is spent hanging out with students (that's why we're here, right?)
- Freetime goes form 1:30-dinner (5:30), which could be a break unless you are catching up with students from your chapter, meeting new students so they feel welcome, rehearsing with the worship team or in charge of a rec activity
- Dinner is @ 5:30 (see lunch)
- The session starts @ 7
- Chapter time goes form 9 until everyone is done processing
- Chapter curfew is 11, so after that the role is playing noise police
- Eventually you get to sleep so you can do it all again the next day
Doesn't that seem tiring? Honestly, it was. Normally it takes me some time to fall asleep because I need to quiet my brain. That was NOT a problem during Catalyst. I slept like a baby and I slept hard.
You know what though? I love being 2-week staff. Not everyone is there for 2 weeks but since I was on the worship team I was. I'm glad that I was.
I love being there for 2 weeks for a number of reasons. I love being able to see my coworkers from other parts on the region. I love being able to see the Spirit move in students lives. I love being able to see what happens in Week 1 so I can make Week 2 better. I love the sense of completion that comes from setting up in the beginning and tearing down at the end. I am well aware that I am in the minority on this one but hey, that's me. =0).
So, in my many days there, what did I see? I saw a bunch of students make decisions to follow Jesus. I saw how God can use students to reach other students. I saw staff come together to listen for to Jesus and make adjustments mid-conference. I saw a lot of people having fun.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Today's post is the first part of a two part post on Catalyst, our end of the year Spring Conference. I figure that since Catalyst is two weeks long, and I was there for 2 weeks, 2 posts makes sense, right? =0). I can't promise that Part 2 will come tomorrow but it will come.
I thought it would be good to start with things from the staff perspective, particularly form this staff's perspective. I was wearing a number of different hats for Catalyst. I was on the worship team, led a bible study for 1 week, led 3 seminars, organized a Catalyst party as well as a relay race, and did chapter time for Mizzou during Week 2. Oh yeah, I also worte and performed the Catalyst Welcome Song. =0). If I could describe the 2 weeks that were in one word, that word would have to be "exhausting."
Being staff for Catalyst means this:
- Some staff are up @ 7am for morning prayer
- Everyone else is up by 8am for breakfast
- At 9 is the morning session followed by the bible study you are leading
- If you are leading a seminar, you are on from 11:30-12:30
- Lunch is spent hanging out with students (that's why we're here, right?)
- Freetime goes form 1:30-dinner (5:30), which could be a break unless you are catching up with students from your chapter, meeting new students so they feel welcome, rehearsing with the worship team or in charge of a rec activity
- Dinner is @ 5:30 (see lunch)
- The session starts @ 7
- Chapter time goes form 9 until everyone is done processing
- Chapter curfew is 11, so after that the role is playing noise police
- Eventually you get to sleep so you can do it all again the next day
Doesn't that seem tiring? Honestly, it was. Normally it takes me some time to fall asleep because I need to quiet my brain. That was NOT a problem during Catalyst. I slept like a baby and I slept hard.
You know what though? I love being 2-week staff. Not everyone is there for 2 weeks but since I was on the worship team I was. I'm glad that I was.
I love being there for 2 weeks for a number of reasons. I love being able to see my coworkers from other parts on the region. I love being able to see the Spirit move in students lives. I love being able to see what happens in Week 1 so I can make Week 2 better. I love the sense of completion that comes from setting up in the beginning and tearing down at the end. I am well aware that I am in the minority on this one but hey, that's me. =0).
So, in my many days there, what did I see? I saw a bunch of students make decisions to follow Jesus. I saw how God can use students to reach other students. I saw staff come together to listen for to Jesus and make adjustments mid-conference. I saw a lot of people having fun.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Adios, Seniors!
Hello, friends!
Ok, so this is WAY late but I figure that today would be a good day for me to write about our Seniors. They are now all graduated but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate them, right? =0).
This year we had a really great class of Seniors. Actually, at our Senior Sendoff, we had over 21 students who were either graduating or going back to their home countries, compared to the 4 we said goodbye to last year. It was quite a sight to behold, all the students who will not be around next year.
In all honesty, I didn't actually know a lot of the seniors. Many of them only joined this year when I wasn't in town much so I didn't get to spend a ton of time with them. Still, I wanted to take some space to write about a few of the Seniors who I got to spend time with and see grow over the past few years. In no particular order:
Tony: I remember when Tony came to Mizzou in the Spring of 2009. What stuck out to me was his passion for his walk with Jesus and how much he loved and desired good community. Over the years, through a few meals and plenty of talk about sports, I was able to see Tony's heart grow and see him grow as a leader in ACF. Tony will be deploying this summer to Afghanistan. He will definitely be in my prayers.
David: David was not only a great tenant this year as a resident of the Man Cave but he also has one of the sweetest male voices I've ever heard. He was a part of the worship team these past 2 years and it has been a pleasure seeing him grow in his confidence and stage presence. What I will always remember about David is how he had a quiet strength about him. David didn't talk much but he always did good work.
Tim: What can I say about Tim Tan? Without Tim, ACF wouldn't be where it is today in terms of international student ministry. It was at Urbana09 that Tim decided to give his life to Jesus. From there, God grew his heart in 2 areas: Social Justice and International Students. Through his time in ACF, Tim pretty much planted our international student ministry. We'd always had a few international students who came around and fewer who stayed but when Tim decided that he was going to intentionally spend time investing in international students is when we really saw things grow.
Marjorie: Marjorie is always going have a special place in my heart because she was one of the first students I met at Mizzou's first new student outreach. We ate Subway at the old student center on campus. We did a bible study in her freshman dorm. She always had orchestra rehearsals on Wednesday nights but always felt like an ACFer and was always accepted as one.
Jordan: My first real conversation with Jordan was about girls, particularly about this one girl he liked back home in KC. That relationship didn't end up working out but that gave Jordan more time for ACF, so I can't complain. In the 4 years that I've known Jordan, I've seen him grow from a nominal Catholic who was looking for community to a leader in ACF who has invested his college career in caring for students. I am excited that he will be hanging around for the next 2 years as an intern with InterVarsity.
Rachel: Rachel is a perfect example of "finishing strong" in a tangible way. It actually took some time for Rachel to decide that she really wanted to commit to ACF but when she did, she did it with a bang. Rachel and Jordan were the organizers of our kit build this semester and Rachel raised most of the money we needed. It was a great finish to a great college career.
Paula: Paula is our worship leader. There's no other way to put it. What Paula did with the Worship Team is nothing short of amazing. Her vision was to make us a fellowship that worships God authentically in more ways than just singing. She started by making sure that everyone on her team know what authentic worship was, beyond playing chords and singing the right notes. Along with having an absolutley AMAZING voice, she is also one of the most caring and considerate students I have ever met.
So, there you have it. This list doesn't include SooHong, Ganaa, Areum, and all the other students who left after this year but those folk were also who made ACF what it was this year. To each and every one of you, thank you for being you and for making ACF, and more importantly, the Gospel, a part of your lives while at Mizzou. You will be truly missed.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Ok, so this is WAY late but I figure that today would be a good day for me to write about our Seniors. They are now all graduated but that doesn't mean that I can't appreciate them, right? =0).
This year we had a really great class of Seniors. Actually, at our Senior Sendoff, we had over 21 students who were either graduating or going back to their home countries, compared to the 4 we said goodbye to last year. It was quite a sight to behold, all the students who will not be around next year.
In all honesty, I didn't actually know a lot of the seniors. Many of them only joined this year when I wasn't in town much so I didn't get to spend a ton of time with them. Still, I wanted to take some space to write about a few of the Seniors who I got to spend time with and see grow over the past few years. In no particular order:
Tony: I remember when Tony came to Mizzou in the Spring of 2009. What stuck out to me was his passion for his walk with Jesus and how much he loved and desired good community. Over the years, through a few meals and plenty of talk about sports, I was able to see Tony's heart grow and see him grow as a leader in ACF. Tony will be deploying this summer to Afghanistan. He will definitely be in my prayers.
David: David was not only a great tenant this year as a resident of the Man Cave but he also has one of the sweetest male voices I've ever heard. He was a part of the worship team these past 2 years and it has been a pleasure seeing him grow in his confidence and stage presence. What I will always remember about David is how he had a quiet strength about him. David didn't talk much but he always did good work.
Tim: What can I say about Tim Tan? Without Tim, ACF wouldn't be where it is today in terms of international student ministry. It was at Urbana09 that Tim decided to give his life to Jesus. From there, God grew his heart in 2 areas: Social Justice and International Students. Through his time in ACF, Tim pretty much planted our international student ministry. We'd always had a few international students who came around and fewer who stayed but when Tim decided that he was going to intentionally spend time investing in international students is when we really saw things grow.
Marjorie: Marjorie is always going have a special place in my heart because she was one of the first students I met at Mizzou's first new student outreach. We ate Subway at the old student center on campus. We did a bible study in her freshman dorm. She always had orchestra rehearsals on Wednesday nights but always felt like an ACFer and was always accepted as one.
Jordan: My first real conversation with Jordan was about girls, particularly about this one girl he liked back home in KC. That relationship didn't end up working out but that gave Jordan more time for ACF, so I can't complain. In the 4 years that I've known Jordan, I've seen him grow from a nominal Catholic who was looking for community to a leader in ACF who has invested his college career in caring for students. I am excited that he will be hanging around for the next 2 years as an intern with InterVarsity.
Rachel: Rachel is a perfect example of "finishing strong" in a tangible way. It actually took some time for Rachel to decide that she really wanted to commit to ACF but when she did, she did it with a bang. Rachel and Jordan were the organizers of our kit build this semester and Rachel raised most of the money we needed. It was a great finish to a great college career.
Paula: Paula is our worship leader. There's no other way to put it. What Paula did with the Worship Team is nothing short of amazing. Her vision was to make us a fellowship that worships God authentically in more ways than just singing. She started by making sure that everyone on her team know what authentic worship was, beyond playing chords and singing the right notes. Along with having an absolutley AMAZING voice, she is also one of the most caring and considerate students I have ever met.
So, there you have it. This list doesn't include SooHong, Ganaa, Areum, and all the other students who left after this year but those folk were also who made ACF what it was this year. To each and every one of you, thank you for being you and for making ACF, and more importantly, the Gospel, a part of your lives while at Mizzou. You will be truly missed.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
A Word From Meg
Hello, friends!
I told you that there would be more blog posting this week. Let's start off the party with a guest blog from my lovely, wonderful, talented, and oh so beautiful wife, Meg. =0). Enjoy!
I told you that there would be more blog posting this week. Let's start off the party with a guest blog from my lovely, wonderful, talented, and oh so beautiful wife, Meg. =0). Enjoy!
Meg's Corner: Preparing to Move On
Fresh
out of college I moved to St. Louis – energized, naive, & feeling
called. I came in with one purpose - to see a flourishing group at UMSL
where international students would be transformed by the Gospel. I had
no idea what I was getting into. I spent my first year at Washington
University with the International Friends chapter there to learn more
about how to minister cross-culturally. In reality, most of my year was
spent building partnerships in order to be financially able to serve on
campus. 1 year later I had still little experience, but my budget was
raised. I arrived on campus and began planting the ISM ministry at
UMSL.
In
those years God taught me his faithfulness in uncertain times. He
taught me that he is the master gardener who is able to grow a chapter
from just a small seed. 4 years later I have hung up my hat as staff of
UMSL & am preparing to put on another hat with Adam at MIZZOU. I am
so thankful that there is another staff, Andi Schuerrman who like me,
felt God calling her to UMSL to lead there. I know that she is the
perfect person to propel the ministry forward at UMSL.
There is so much more to be done & yet there is so much to celebrate! Won’t you celebrate with me?
Over the past 3 years:
- 50 students were exposed to the Gospel & sent back to their home country
- 7 of those became Christians at UMSL!
Imagine with me how God has used your partnership to change not only the college campus, but the world with His Gospel!
I am saddened to close this chapter, but I know the God who was
faithful 4 years ago will continue to be in this next chapter. I look
forward to hear in heaven all that God has done around the world. Praise
God!
Monday, June 3, 2013
The Home Stretch!!!
Hello, friends!
Has it really been a month since I've posted? Sorry, friends! It really has been too long. Since my last post, we've had Senior Sendoff, Catalyst, and a trip to New York. I promise, we're going to get to each of those, hopefully this week if I can swing it.
But first, I wanted to tell you about an opportunity to partner with Meg and me as we prepare for our transition to Columbia.
For the next 6 weeks, Meg and I are on a mission to raise $18,000 to make sure that we can hit the ground running as soon as we get to Columbia. InterVarsity's fiscal year ends on June 30. Would you please prayerfully consider making either a year end gift, or partnering with us on a monthly basis?
JOIN TEAM LEONG!!!
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Has it really been a month since I've posted? Sorry, friends! It really has been too long. Since my last post, we've had Senior Sendoff, Catalyst, and a trip to New York. I promise, we're going to get to each of those, hopefully this week if I can swing it.
But first, I wanted to tell you about an opportunity to partner with Meg and me as we prepare for our transition to Columbia.
For the next 6 weeks, Meg and I are on a mission to raise $18,000 to make sure that we can hit the ground running as soon as we get to Columbia. InterVarsity's fiscal year ends on June 30. Would you please prayerfully consider making either a year end gift, or partnering with us on a monthly basis?
JOIN TEAM LEONG!!!
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
ACF The New Class...
Hello, friends!
It happens every year. It is unavoidable. No matter what, you can count on it. Seniors graduate...
This is always a bittersweet time of the year when we say goodbye to our Seniors. Wednesday will be our Senior Sendoff Large Group and on Friday I'll post about all of our departing seniors. Since I will devote an entire post to them on Friday, today I will just say that it has been a pleasure working with these guys, as well as seeing each of them grow in their love for Jesus and their love for the campus.
On the one hand, it sucks to lose folk to graduation. You invest 3 or 4 (sometimes 5) years into someone and you see them grow in amazing ways, only to know that inevitably, they are going to graduate. Unless they join staff or stay local and volunteer, your time influencing them is over once they don their cap and gown.
One the other hand, this is the part of the year I love, when new leaders step up and take the place of those who have graduated. Sometimes it is a freshman who jumped feet first into the fellowship. Sometimes it is a rising Senior who has one year left and wants to make it count. Sometimes it is a new Christian and other times it is someone who has been walking with Jesus for a while. Either way, it is always a joy.
I am really excited for this year's group. Not only are we looking at possibly being the biggest team ever (10 committed, with 3 on the fence) but it is a diverse team as well, from a personality standpoint, at least. One thing that unites them all is that they love Jesus and want to see His name be known through ACF. It's going to be an absolute blast.
Friends, please pray for our leaders.
- Pray for our returning leaders, Sarah Liz, Rachael, April, Willin, Colter, Tim, and Danny, that they will use their experience as leaders to better serve the rest of the group.
- Pray for our new leaders, Melody, Vincent, and Jen, that they will grow in confidence in the call that God has given them.
- Pray for our 3 students who are on the fence, that they will hear clearly from God about whether or not He is calling them to lead in ACF.
- Pray for Meg and me as we learn to lead these students.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
It happens every year. It is unavoidable. No matter what, you can count on it. Seniors graduate...
This is always a bittersweet time of the year when we say goodbye to our Seniors. Wednesday will be our Senior Sendoff Large Group and on Friday I'll post about all of our departing seniors. Since I will devote an entire post to them on Friday, today I will just say that it has been a pleasure working with these guys, as well as seeing each of them grow in their love for Jesus and their love for the campus.
On the one hand, it sucks to lose folk to graduation. You invest 3 or 4 (sometimes 5) years into someone and you see them grow in amazing ways, only to know that inevitably, they are going to graduate. Unless they join staff or stay local and volunteer, your time influencing them is over once they don their cap and gown.
One the other hand, this is the part of the year I love, when new leaders step up and take the place of those who have graduated. Sometimes it is a freshman who jumped feet first into the fellowship. Sometimes it is a rising Senior who has one year left and wants to make it count. Sometimes it is a new Christian and other times it is someone who has been walking with Jesus for a while. Either way, it is always a joy.
I am really excited for this year's group. Not only are we looking at possibly being the biggest team ever (10 committed, with 3 on the fence) but it is a diverse team as well, from a personality standpoint, at least. One thing that unites them all is that they love Jesus and want to see His name be known through ACF. It's going to be an absolute blast.
Friends, please pray for our leaders.
- Pray for our returning leaders, Sarah Liz, Rachael, April, Willin, Colter, Tim, and Danny, that they will use their experience as leaders to better serve the rest of the group.
- Pray for our new leaders, Melody, Vincent, and Jen, that they will grow in confidence in the call that God has given them.
- Pray for our 3 students who are on the fence, that they will hear clearly from God about whether or not He is calling them to lead in ACF.
- Pray for Meg and me as we learn to lead these students.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
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