Newsletters

January 2002

The Semester Ahead

This will be a very busy semester that will have some interesting challenges. Here are a few of the things going on this semester.

Middle East Spring Break Trip

The biggest event for Nate this semester will be his trip to the Middle East. The country we will be visiting is a country of 60 million people that has only a few hundred known Christians. It is a predominantly Muslim country by affiliation, although it is also the most secular of all Islamic countries.

Christianity is legal in this country on a national level, but it is heavily regulated and persecuted by local authorities. While we need to be circumspect in our activities there it is not overtly dangerous.

I will be going with a group of around 15 students to the largest city (14 million). We will be working with short-term Campus Crusade missionaries at the universities of that city. Our goal will be to have conversations about Jesus Christ with the students. Most of them speak enough English to communicate and will love to talk to us just so they can practice the language.

You might wonder about the effectiveness of short-term missions trips. From what the short-term missionaries have told us repeatedly we are a big help. Because they are there longer they must be very careful about what they do lest they be kicked out of the country. We, however, can do some more radical things because we are there only a short time. Also, the in-country workers have been  there for six months now and are a little worn out. They are very excited to have us come!

We leave February 22 and return March 3 (Shelly’s birthday). Please pray for the students who will be going, that God would prepare their hearts and that He would bring in the support they will need. Also pray that all of the details like passports and airline tickets will come together without any problems.

New Staff

M.J. (Michael Jackson) is a Wright State grad who will be reporting to campus within the week after just having completed his support. He is a very gifted leader who is already well-loved by the students who know him. Nate will have the privilege of training M.J. over the next couple years. This will involve helping him to gain experience in a variety of ministry settings and talking through the new staff curriculum developed by Campus Crusade. Nate is really looking forward to learning how to train M.J. Please pray for M.J. as he adjusts to his new job and his new home town. Also, he is a Buckeye fan, so he will be experiencing the same pains that we experienced when we first moved to Ann Arbor! (And we will have someone to watch the games with next year!)

Leadership Interviews

Over the week of January 14-18 we will be conducting  interviews with hundreds of leaders all across campus.  (RAs, fraternity/sorority presidents, student government officers, etc.) These interviews will serve two purposes: We will learn a lot about what student leaders think about leadership and about Christianity; we will also have the chance to talk with many of them about Jesus Christ.

I am especially excited about these interviews when I think about M.J. because it was through a leadership interview  a Campus Crusade staff member did with M.J. when he was a student at Wright State that he recommitted himself to God and became involved in the ministry there. It is our prayer that we will find other students like M.J. here at Michigan.

Intern Evaluator

Graduating students have the option of spending a year doing an internship with Campus Crusade. We have had two women doing an internship at Michigan this year.

Nate will be a big part in evaluating the applications of incoming male interns and STINT workers (short term international missionaries). This is a major responsibility. Please pray for wisdom as Nate reviews their applications and talks with many of them over the phone.

The U-M crew of 120 who attended our annual Christmas Conference.

Kids Corner

I got to move to a toddler bed last week. I got to go buy a pillow and Mommy made me a sheet and a pillowcase with Teletubbies on them. My blanket and my bear still sleep with me. They like the bed a lot.

I helped Daddy shovel the yard Sunday. He thought it was better to shovel the driveway, but I didn’t agree. Mommy and I made a snowman, too.

I took a ride on my fire engine and went down the basement steps. I don’t think I’ll do that too often—it was kind of scary.    

-Andrew    

Since my brother moved to his bed I got to move to his crib. I really don’t notice anything different.

I got to watch Mommy and Andrew build a snowman and Daddy shovel the driveway. That white stuff on the ground was really bright.

My big brother is so fun. He makes me laugh. I like to watch him, but he sure moves really fast!

Mommy says I might get to eat something called cereal soon. Andrew told me that it’s really good. I want to know when I can share cookies with Drew.

-Lauren

In order (left to right):

Andrew giving Lauren a big kiss!

Enjoying the leaf pile.

Andrew enjoying the view at Christmas Conference.

Our little sweetheart.

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