"Be Black and be blessed..."
My first experience at Lincoln University was shaking a delivery guy's hand.
Allow me to explain. In 2014, our Missouri staff team took a group of students to Columbia for a campus scouting trip. We explored different campuses in the state to pray over them and hopefully see if there was some work to be planted. My team went to Lincoln University, just 30 minutes south of Columbia in Jefferson City, the state capital.
This wasn't the first time a staff had visited Lincoln. The previous year, Megan took a volunteer and a student leader down there to pray. Still, this felt like a maiden voyage of sorts. I'd done some praying and scouting at the different campuses in Columbia (Stephens, Columbia College, and Moberly Area Community College, to go along with Mizzou), and visited a few other campuses along I-70 but this was my first trip south and it felt new and exciting.
I didn't know anything about Lincoln University except that it was a Historically Black College/University (HBCU) and that there was no InterVarsity presence there. We parked the car, made our way to one of the dorms, and tried to talk to students. The lobby was empty except for the Residential Adviser at the check-in desk and a Chinese guy just standing there. At first I got really excited because if there were actually Asians and Asian Americans at Lincoln, that would be much more in my comfort zone. I introduced myself, shook his hand, and then watched as students came down out of the elevator, paid him for their food, grabbed their bags, went back up to their rooms, and he went out the door. So much for that... =0).
Despite a somewhat embarrassing start, we did get to meet some students and talk to them. They all said the same thing. I needed to meet Pastor Howard, who runs to bookstore. The next semester, when I officially started coming down to Lincoln once a week to plant, I sought out Pastor Howard. There were two pieces of advice he gave me. The first was to hang around for a while. Campus pastors have come and gone through Lincoln's campus and they usually only hang out for a semester before determining that the work is too hard and they move onto something else. If InterVarsity really wanted to make an impact, I needed to commit to the long haul. The second piece of advice was to seek out Pastor Nelson, who led a church just off campus and had just started Lincoln's first Christian student group. Both those pieces of advice turned out to be invaluable as I worked at Lincoln for these past 2.5 years.
Folk who have kept up with this blog know what planting at Lincoln has been like. We aren't an official student group because the old administration didn't like Christian groups. So, I came back week after week, setting up my proxe outside, trying to talk to students about Jesus. Pastor Nelson and I partnered together extremely well and both his students and my students were blessed by the partnership. We saw students come to Jesus, other students fall off the face of the earth, and some students come by week after week with more and more questions, opening themselves up to the idea that Jesus might be for them. Some weeks the weather wouldn't cooperate and I just spent my time in the cafeteria, talking to students and learning everything I didn't know I didn't know about Black culture. It was an educational and enriching experience, to say the least.
Lincoln University is actually more than 50% White. Still, most of those white students are commuters who do not actively participate in student life. The best way I can describe Lincoln is that it is an HBCU that is also a community college. For the past 2.5 years, it has been my heart.
"Be Black and be blessed" was the last thing that Pastor Nelson said to me after I had our final Lincoln University InterVarsity meeting of the semester, and my last meeting ever. I'd bought everyone lunch and had them sign up for Imani, our Black student conference happening in February. Then, I said my goodbyes, and headed off into the sunset. When Pastor Nelson said that to me, I quipped back, "You know I can only be one of those things, right?"
His response: "Nah, you can have both. You earned it." I'd just been given my "Black Card." =0).
Joking aside, the truth is that working at Lincoln changed me. I was able to speak first hand with Black students and hear about their experiences living in these United States. I remember coming down to Lincoln the day after the Mizzou protests and seeing nothing but unity between the Black and White students because they spent so much time together in class and actually knew one another. I remember praying with students after the 2016 election because they felt like the country didn't care about them. I remember talking with students about the Black Lives Matter movement and being all the more educated about its nuances. I've seen the Gospel through Black eyes and it is a good Gospel... a really good Gospel. Lincoln changed me and it changed me for the better.
Moving on from Lincoln is going to be one of the hardest parts of leaving Columbia. For the past 2.5 years, even though I was only there once a week, I grew connected to the campus and to the students. Knowing that I won't be seeing Roosevelt, Marcus, Mar'Che, Gloria, Roz, Asha, Pastor Nelson, Hannah, Alex, Maurice, Rayonna, Dom, and the rest of my InterVarsity students and "proxe station regulars" is hard. My prayer is that the work will continue and that LUIV will thrive for years to come.
We don't know if there's another staff who will be coming to take my place at Lincoln yet. We have a potential staff but nothing has been set in stone. I'm not worried about the Gospel going forward at Lincoln. Pastor Nelson is there and the students are motivated. Please pray with me the same prayer I've been praying every time I've washed my hands for the past 2.5 years. LORD, please bring a revival to Lincoln University.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Monday, January 1, 2018
Tip Day...
"February 21, 2022"
What's so significant about February 21, 2022? It's not that the Beijing Winter Olympics will have just ended (although that will be a big deal). It doesn't have anything to do with Spring Training for baseball (as far as I know anyway). February 21, 2022, was supposed to be my "Tip Day."
I moved to St. Louis as a freshman in college (Go Bears!) on August 4, 2003. It was the hottest day of the year and apparently the hottest day in St. Louis in quite some time. At that point, I was 18 years, 6 months, and 21 days old. I can't tell you exactly what made me think this but as soon as I moved into my dorm room, I knew that I was not going to be living full time in California ever again. When that realization happened, I looked forward to my "tip day." That would be the day that I was going to have lived in Missouri longer than I'd lived in California. It was going to be a pretty great day.
My dad grew up in St. Louis and we would visit a lot of summers. I grew up a Cardinals fan and a Blues fan. I love Imo's Pizza and White Castle. A friend once told me that while I may never be able to say that I'm from St. Louis, I can call myself a St. Louisan.
Back in 2002, when I was a Junior in high school, if you'd told me that I would leave California, I would have told you that you were crazy. Yet, something changed and I found myself in St. Louis. A few years later, if you'd told me that I'd ever leave St. Louis, I'd have told you you were crazy. Yet, something changed and I moved to CoMO. Even just 2 years ago, if you'd told me that I'd ever leave CoMO, I'd have told you that you were crazy. Yet, something changed and as you're reading this, I'm now a resident of Nebraska. I guess Jesus does some funny stuff.
Now, Tip Day is going to mean something different for me. I'll still celebrate it as the day I've spent more of my life living out of California than in it. Maybe I'll make it a tip day for being a Midwestern dweller. I'm not sure. What I do know is that when I got here in 2003, I was sure I'd never leave. Now, here we are, and things have changed.
Transitioning is not something that I do particularly well. I'm a rhythms and structures kind of guy. This move isn't going to be easy for me, which is one of the reasons why we're moving during the early part of our Sabbatical. I'm going to need as much time as possible to develop new rhythms in my new home. If you have a moment over these next few months, please pray for me, my family, and our transition.
For those keeping track at home, Nebraska-Missouri Tip Day is July 22, 2032. That will be the day I'll have lived in Nebraska longer than in Missouri. Here's hoping we get there.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
What's so significant about February 21, 2022? It's not that the Beijing Winter Olympics will have just ended (although that will be a big deal). It doesn't have anything to do with Spring Training for baseball (as far as I know anyway). February 21, 2022, was supposed to be my "Tip Day."
I moved to St. Louis as a freshman in college (Go Bears!) on August 4, 2003. It was the hottest day of the year and apparently the hottest day in St. Louis in quite some time. At that point, I was 18 years, 6 months, and 21 days old. I can't tell you exactly what made me think this but as soon as I moved into my dorm room, I knew that I was not going to be living full time in California ever again. When that realization happened, I looked forward to my "tip day." That would be the day that I was going to have lived in Missouri longer than I'd lived in California. It was going to be a pretty great day.
My dad grew up in St. Louis and we would visit a lot of summers. I grew up a Cardinals fan and a Blues fan. I love Imo's Pizza and White Castle. A friend once told me that while I may never be able to say that I'm from St. Louis, I can call myself a St. Louisan.
Back in 2002, when I was a Junior in high school, if you'd told me that I would leave California, I would have told you that you were crazy. Yet, something changed and I found myself in St. Louis. A few years later, if you'd told me that I'd ever leave St. Louis, I'd have told you you were crazy. Yet, something changed and I moved to CoMO. Even just 2 years ago, if you'd told me that I'd ever leave CoMO, I'd have told you that you were crazy. Yet, something changed and as you're reading this, I'm now a resident of Nebraska. I guess Jesus does some funny stuff.
Now, Tip Day is going to mean something different for me. I'll still celebrate it as the day I've spent more of my life living out of California than in it. Maybe I'll make it a tip day for being a Midwestern dweller. I'm not sure. What I do know is that when I got here in 2003, I was sure I'd never leave. Now, here we are, and things have changed.
Transitioning is not something that I do particularly well. I'm a rhythms and structures kind of guy. This move isn't going to be easy for me, which is one of the reasons why we're moving during the early part of our Sabbatical. I'm going to need as much time as possible to develop new rhythms in my new home. If you have a moment over these next few months, please pray for me, my family, and our transition.
For those keeping track at home, Nebraska-Missouri Tip Day is July 22, 2032. That will be the day I'll have lived in Nebraska longer than in Missouri. Here's hoping we get there.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Intentional Partnership Tuesday...
Hello, friends!
Here's hoping you had a lovely Thanksgiving full of food, fun, family, and football. Oh, and if you got some shopping in there too, more power to you. =0). We are back from a wonderful week in SoDak visiting with Meg's side of the family.
Friends, have you noticed that the "days" surrounding Thanksgiving have become more numerous in past years? First it was Thanksgiving Day, which makes sense. After that, it's Black Friday. After Black Friday comes Small Business Saturday. I don't think there's anything for Sunday but Cyber Monday comes next. Then we end up here, on Giving Tuesday.
Look, I am all for good marketing and I totally get it. Black Friday is about getting a good deal for your Christmas gifts. American Express wants people to shop locally so they created Small Business Saturday. The online retailers decided to get in on the action for Cyber Monday. Then the non-profit sector hopped on the train for Giving Tuesday. It's the end of the year and folk are looking to maximize their charitable contributions so it makes total sense.
The thing for me is this: my new role next year is going to be a Regional Coordinator focused on Ministry Partnership Development. A big part of my job is going to changing the culture of Ministry Partnership Development in our Region so we can avoid the trap of thinking of it as a chore or something we need to do in order to get on campus but rather as an act of worship, a part of our ministry, and mutual blessing to us as well as our partners. I'm not sure how Giving Tuesday fits into that culture change.
What I really want to see is Intentional Partnership Tuesday. For ministry partners, I don't want your inbox to be flooded with emails asking you to give today, only for you to forget where you gave because there were so many requests. For staff, I don't want us to get into the habit of relying on marketing to bring in money when what we should really desire is the opportunity to cast vision and partner with those we know to bring the Gospel to every corner of the campus. I want our partnerships to be relational and worshipful, not just transactional.
So, here is my proposal:
- IF YOU ARE A MINISTRY PARTNER: If you choose to give to a particular cause or ministry, would you also prayerfully consider partnering with that cause or ministry beyond today? Maybe it means becoming a monthly donor. Maybe it means volunteering. Maybe it means telling your friends about where you're giving so you can give too. The key is to see if there are ways that your giving can turn into tangible partnership.
- IF YOU ARE STAFF: Pray for your ministry partners as you send out your emails. Make sure you have a plan for follow up if folk do choose to give. Write thank you notes and make sure they get Christmas cards. Be sure to add new partners to your address book so you don't forget the wonderful gift they've committed to you. Let's make sure we're caring for our partners well.
If you feel so inclined and would like to partner with the work that Meg and I are doing with InterVarsity, perhaps I could direct your attention to the Mid-Missouri Scholarship fund. Each Year, this fund helps send dozens of students to various InterVarsity conferences at reduced cost, allowing them to enjoy all that God has for them without having to worry about the finances. We have a plethora of conferences in the Spring while we are on Sabbatical, for White, Black, Asian American, LatinX, and international students, as well as conferences in Anaheim for students who want to plant new ministries and for students who want to be missionaries in the Greek system on their campus. We'd love for you to consider partnering with us through the scholarship fund. I promise we'll follow up well. =0).
CLICK HERE TO PARTNER
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Here's hoping you had a lovely Thanksgiving full of food, fun, family, and football. Oh, and if you got some shopping in there too, more power to you. =0). We are back from a wonderful week in SoDak visiting with Meg's side of the family.
Friends, have you noticed that the "days" surrounding Thanksgiving have become more numerous in past years? First it was Thanksgiving Day, which makes sense. After that, it's Black Friday. After Black Friday comes Small Business Saturday. I don't think there's anything for Sunday but Cyber Monday comes next. Then we end up here, on Giving Tuesday.
Look, I am all for good marketing and I totally get it. Black Friday is about getting a good deal for your Christmas gifts. American Express wants people to shop locally so they created Small Business Saturday. The online retailers decided to get in on the action for Cyber Monday. Then the non-profit sector hopped on the train for Giving Tuesday. It's the end of the year and folk are looking to maximize their charitable contributions so it makes total sense.
The thing for me is this: my new role next year is going to be a Regional Coordinator focused on Ministry Partnership Development. A big part of my job is going to changing the culture of Ministry Partnership Development in our Region so we can avoid the trap of thinking of it as a chore or something we need to do in order to get on campus but rather as an act of worship, a part of our ministry, and mutual blessing to us as well as our partners. I'm not sure how Giving Tuesday fits into that culture change.
What I really want to see is Intentional Partnership Tuesday. For ministry partners, I don't want your inbox to be flooded with emails asking you to give today, only for you to forget where you gave because there were so many requests. For staff, I don't want us to get into the habit of relying on marketing to bring in money when what we should really desire is the opportunity to cast vision and partner with those we know to bring the Gospel to every corner of the campus. I want our partnerships to be relational and worshipful, not just transactional.
So, here is my proposal:
- IF YOU ARE A MINISTRY PARTNER: If you choose to give to a particular cause or ministry, would you also prayerfully consider partnering with that cause or ministry beyond today? Maybe it means becoming a monthly donor. Maybe it means volunteering. Maybe it means telling your friends about where you're giving so you can give too. The key is to see if there are ways that your giving can turn into tangible partnership.
- IF YOU ARE STAFF: Pray for your ministry partners as you send out your emails. Make sure you have a plan for follow up if folk do choose to give. Write thank you notes and make sure they get Christmas cards. Be sure to add new partners to your address book so you don't forget the wonderful gift they've committed to you. Let's make sure we're caring for our partners well.
If you feel so inclined and would like to partner with the work that Meg and I are doing with InterVarsity, perhaps I could direct your attention to the Mid-Missouri Scholarship fund. Each Year, this fund helps send dozens of students to various InterVarsity conferences at reduced cost, allowing them to enjoy all that God has for them without having to worry about the finances. We have a plethora of conferences in the Spring while we are on Sabbatical, for White, Black, Asian American, LatinX, and international students, as well as conferences in Anaheim for students who want to plant new ministries and for students who want to be missionaries in the Greek system on their campus. We'd love for you to consider partnering with us through the scholarship fund. I promise we'll follow up well. =0).
CLICK HERE TO PARTNER
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
Thursday, November 16, 2017
Big News from the Leongs!!!
Hello, friends!
For your viewing pleasure, please watch the video below. If you'd rather read the text, it's below the video.
Have an excellent day!
After spending our first year of marriage in St. Louis, we moved to CoMO and here we've found a church home and community, started a family, and seen God do amazing things in the lives of college students here in Mid-Missouri. God has been really good to us here but after much prayer and discernment, we have decided that in 2018, we will be moving to Omaha, Nebraska. The thought of leaving is hard but we are expectant for what God has for us for this new season of life.
What's Next?
We aren't totally sure of the details yet but there are a few things that we do know. We know we'll be moving to Omaha sometime in early 2018. We know that we will still be working for InterVarsity but in slightly different capacities than what we are doing now. We know that Megan will continue to influence the International Student Ministry in our Region and that Adam will be working with Ministry Partnership Development for our Region. We know that we are thankful that we will be closer to Meg's side of the family in South Dakota.
What now?
For now, there are still a lot of details to cover. We are in the process of buying a house in Omaha and getting ready to move. We are finishing up our ministry responsibilities here in CoMO and beginning the hand-off of tasks to the staff who will be taking over. We are also preparing to take a Sabbatical in the first part of 2018, so we can focus on moving and getting established in our new community.
Until Then?
Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for a big transition. Saying goodbye, not just to ministry but also to community will be hard. While we are excited about what God has for us for the future, we still want to stay fully present where we are.
Have an excellent day!
~The Leongs
For your viewing pleasure, please watch the video below. If you'd rather read the text, it's below the video.
Have an excellent day!
Go (North) west, young family!
When Adam first moved to Columbia in 2007, the best piece of advice he got from a veteran staff was that if he wanted to be successful in a new place, he needed to completely adopt his new town as his own. Adam bought into that idea and for the past 10+ years, Columbia has been home. It has been a home full of great joy, great pain, great triumphs, and great trials, but it has been home nonetheless.After spending our first year of marriage in St. Louis, we moved to CoMO and here we've found a church home and community, started a family, and seen God do amazing things in the lives of college students here in Mid-Missouri. God has been really good to us here but after much prayer and discernment, we have decided that in 2018, we will be moving to Omaha, Nebraska. The thought of leaving is hard but we are expectant for what God has for us for this new season of life.
What's Next?
We aren't totally sure of the details yet but there are a few things that we do know. We know we'll be moving to Omaha sometime in early 2018. We know that we will still be working for InterVarsity but in slightly different capacities than what we are doing now. We know that Megan will continue to influence the International Student Ministry in our Region and that Adam will be working with Ministry Partnership Development for our Region. We know that we are thankful that we will be closer to Meg's side of the family in South Dakota.
What now?
For now, there are still a lot of details to cover. We are in the process of buying a house in Omaha and getting ready to move. We are finishing up our ministry responsibilities here in CoMO and beginning the hand-off of tasks to the staff who will be taking over. We are also preparing to take a Sabbatical in the first part of 2018, so we can focus on moving and getting established in our new community.
Until Then?
Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare for a big transition. Saying goodbye, not just to ministry but also to community will be hard. While we are excited about what God has for us for the future, we still want to stay fully present where we are.
Have an excellent day!
~The Leongs
Thursday, November 9, 2017
The Updates are Coming, The Updates are Coming!!!
Hello, friends!
Happy November to you all! As the calendar and the leaves turn, we are one day closer to one of the greatest of all the Fall traditions. It's more satisfying than Thanksgiving dinner. It's more fun than the Macy's parade. It's more impactful than a day of college football... That's right, Meg and I are getting ready to send our end of the year update and partnership ask. Get excited!!! =0).
Friends, if you're reading this blog, you probably already get our updates by email and/or by mail. Thank you so much for being a part of the team and for all of your love, support, and partnership. But maybe you've moved recently and have to update your address? Maybe you have a friend or two who you think would be blessed by learning more about the work that we do with InterVarsity. Maybe you'd like to get some snail mail this holiday season THAT MAY OR MAY NOT INCLUDE A PHOTO OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. If that's you, please take a second to fill out the form below.
As, always, have an excellent day!
~Adam
Happy November to you all! As the calendar and the leaves turn, we are one day closer to one of the greatest of all the Fall traditions. It's more satisfying than Thanksgiving dinner. It's more fun than the Macy's parade. It's more impactful than a day of college football... That's right, Meg and I are getting ready to send our end of the year update and partnership ask. Get excited!!! =0).
Friends, if you're reading this blog, you probably already get our updates by email and/or by mail. Thank you so much for being a part of the team and for all of your love, support, and partnership. But maybe you've moved recently and have to update your address? Maybe you have a friend or two who you think would be blessed by learning more about the work that we do with InterVarsity. Maybe you'd like to get some snail mail this holiday season THAT MAY OR MAY NOT INCLUDE A PHOTO OF OUR BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN. If that's you, please take a second to fill out the form below.
As, always, have an excellent day!
~Adam
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Happy Reformation Day!!!
Hello, friends!
Today, all over the United States, children (and adults) are getting dressed up in costumes, candy is being distributed, ghosts, goblins, vampires, superheros, and the like. There will be parties and there will be fun... That's right, it's Reformation Day!
500 years ago today, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg Church in Germany, sparking what would be known as the Protestant Reformation and a split from the Catholic Church. Regardless of what you think of, Protestantism, Catholicism, Reformed Theology, Arminianism, or Christianity in general, it's hard to argue with the fact that the Reformation was kind of a big deal and that those 95 theses changed the world in a profound way.
Martin Luther is an interesting guy. If you read biographies about him, you can see a man who was deeply dedicated to God and someone who dearly loved the Church. At the same time, he had some very anti-Semitic writings and ideas that should not be tolerated. I suppose, just like all of us, he was a flawed man. I doubt that Luther knew what he was started when he nailed his theses to that door. My guess is that he was just looking for change to a power system that was exploiting the poor and disadvantaged. In many ways, I can see parallels Luther's plight and what is happening today in the United States.
I am decidedly not Reformed in my theology but I can appreciated Reformed Theology for what it does and how it sees the world and salvation. On the main points of the Gospel, the Reformed and I do not disagree. I believe we are broken people who live in a broken world and are powerless to fix either of those things by our own actions. I believe in the power of God's grace (undeserved favor) that changes our hearts and draws us to Himself. This kind of faith is very freeing.
So, friends, as you celebrate your Reformation Day by passing out candy, dressing up, and going to parties, remember this. Jesus loves you and wants you to know that. You don't have to "fix" yourself. Let God do the heavy lifting and be free.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
PS: If you're reading this and aren't a follower of Jesus but are interested in learning more, you should totally message me! I'd love to talk more. =0).
Today, all over the United States, children (and adults) are getting dressed up in costumes, candy is being distributed, ghosts, goblins, vampires, superheros, and the like. There will be parties and there will be fun... That's right, it's Reformation Day!
500 years ago today, Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg Church in Germany, sparking what would be known as the Protestant Reformation and a split from the Catholic Church. Regardless of what you think of, Protestantism, Catholicism, Reformed Theology, Arminianism, or Christianity in general, it's hard to argue with the fact that the Reformation was kind of a big deal and that those 95 theses changed the world in a profound way.
Martin Luther is an interesting guy. If you read biographies about him, you can see a man who was deeply dedicated to God and someone who dearly loved the Church. At the same time, he had some very anti-Semitic writings and ideas that should not be tolerated. I suppose, just like all of us, he was a flawed man. I doubt that Luther knew what he was started when he nailed his theses to that door. My guess is that he was just looking for change to a power system that was exploiting the poor and disadvantaged. In many ways, I can see parallels Luther's plight and what is happening today in the United States.
I am decidedly not Reformed in my theology but I can appreciated Reformed Theology for what it does and how it sees the world and salvation. On the main points of the Gospel, the Reformed and I do not disagree. I believe we are broken people who live in a broken world and are powerless to fix either of those things by our own actions. I believe in the power of God's grace (undeserved favor) that changes our hearts and draws us to Himself. This kind of faith is very freeing.
So, friends, as you celebrate your Reformation Day by passing out candy, dressing up, and going to parties, remember this. Jesus loves you and wants you to know that. You don't have to "fix" yourself. Let God do the heavy lifting and be free.
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
PS: If you're reading this and aren't a follower of Jesus but are interested in learning more, you should totally message me! I'd love to talk more. =0).
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Where Are My Writing Utensils?!
Hello, friends!
When I started planting at Lincoln, one of the positive externalities of driving down to Jefferson City every week was that I got to carpool with my neighbor and friend Bob because he works down there too. The problem was that Bob needs to be at work by 8 (it used to be 7:30) so we have to leave CoMO by 7:15 to make it there on time. This isn't a problem from a waking up standpoint (most days) but for a campus missionary, there isn't a ton to do at 8 in the morning when it seems like you're the only one on campus. The system that I've worked out is that I drop off my friend, park on campus, and put the prayer box in front of the cafeteria before walking downtown to do work at a local coffee shop.
For the most part, this system has worked out really well. Since I've been doing proxe stations outside, I haven't had a ton of time to see folk in the caf. Still, every week I go collect the prayer requests in the box and it's always full. Students put in the normal college stuff for prayer. Some students want God to bless their studies. Others need help with finances. Other still have family who are sick or are in tough relationships. It's always a joy to see a box full of prayer requests and to be able to pray for the campus in more specific ways during our bible study.
HOWEVER, there is one part of the prayer box that I really don't like... I wish folk would stop stealing my writing utensils.
Pens, pencils, or whatever, when I drop off the prayer box at 8 in the morning, I usually put out 3-4 writing utensils. The prayer box isn't big enough for 3 to 4 people to put prayer requests in at the same time. It's just, I know that folk are going to take the writing utensils so I have to put extras there.
Look, I get it. Students need stuff to write with. I'm sure that at least part of the time, it's just a matter of students forgetting to put back whatever they were using. I'm not mad at the students. I'm not going to hunt down anyone and make them return my pens. I just wish they didn't always get taken.
It may seem silly but I have a theory. I think that folk take my pens because they rationalize that there are other pens so folk can still write prayer requests. No one wants to be the guy or gal who keeps other folk from writing prayer requests, so I can always count on one pen being there.
So, here's my plan to test my theory. Next week, I'm going to put out 8 pens and see how many of them are left at the end of the day. The week after that, I'm going to put out only 1 pen and see if it gets taken or is left. If in either case, exactly 1 pen is left over, I know that my theory is right.
These are the things that I think about sometimes... =0).
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
When I started planting at Lincoln, one of the positive externalities of driving down to Jefferson City every week was that I got to carpool with my neighbor and friend Bob because he works down there too. The problem was that Bob needs to be at work by 8 (it used to be 7:30) so we have to leave CoMO by 7:15 to make it there on time. This isn't a problem from a waking up standpoint (most days) but for a campus missionary, there isn't a ton to do at 8 in the morning when it seems like you're the only one on campus. The system that I've worked out is that I drop off my friend, park on campus, and put the prayer box in front of the cafeteria before walking downtown to do work at a local coffee shop.
For the most part, this system has worked out really well. Since I've been doing proxe stations outside, I haven't had a ton of time to see folk in the caf. Still, every week I go collect the prayer requests in the box and it's always full. Students put in the normal college stuff for prayer. Some students want God to bless their studies. Others need help with finances. Other still have family who are sick or are in tough relationships. It's always a joy to see a box full of prayer requests and to be able to pray for the campus in more specific ways during our bible study.
HOWEVER, there is one part of the prayer box that I really don't like... I wish folk would stop stealing my writing utensils.
Pens, pencils, or whatever, when I drop off the prayer box at 8 in the morning, I usually put out 3-4 writing utensils. The prayer box isn't big enough for 3 to 4 people to put prayer requests in at the same time. It's just, I know that folk are going to take the writing utensils so I have to put extras there.
Look, I get it. Students need stuff to write with. I'm sure that at least part of the time, it's just a matter of students forgetting to put back whatever they were using. I'm not mad at the students. I'm not going to hunt down anyone and make them return my pens. I just wish they didn't always get taken.
It may seem silly but I have a theory. I think that folk take my pens because they rationalize that there are other pens so folk can still write prayer requests. No one wants to be the guy or gal who keeps other folk from writing prayer requests, so I can always count on one pen being there.
So, here's my plan to test my theory. Next week, I'm going to put out 8 pens and see how many of them are left at the end of the day. The week after that, I'm going to put out only 1 pen and see if it gets taken or is left. If in either case, exactly 1 pen is left over, I know that my theory is right.
These are the things that I think about sometimes... =0).
Have an excellent day!
~Adam
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