Newsletters

January 2005

Christmas Conference

This year’s Christmas Conference was life changing both  for the students and for the staff members who serve and run it. Even though I was glad to have missed it because of Lindsey’s birth last year, it was good to be back and be a part of this great conference again.

The Theme: He Is.  One of the amazing (and sometimes frustrating) things about our infinite God is that we as finite people can never fully grasp entirely who He is…even with an entire lifetime to do it! Our desire was to see God for who He is—not a mere caricature that society has created, but to see His real character.  We wanted to see God in new and fresh ways and to take God out of our box of ideas in which we often try to contain Him.

The Speaker:  Gary Purdy is a dynamic and compelling speaker; his vulnerability and humility pointed us straight to God. He is the director of the Campus Crusade ministry at the University of Georgia. He talked about God as Father, Friend, Lover and King in a fresh, enlightening way. I was able to TA for Gary this past summer in Orlando as he facilitated the Biblical Communication class for staff.

The Students: Around 2100 students arrived on Tuesday the 28^th and stayed through the ring of the New Year. They came from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. They had the opportunity to hear about summer projects, internships, short term international teams and a myriad of other things we offer.

The Vision: The morning of New Year’s Eve, after we had seen God do so much that week, the students caught the vision. God has called every Christian to be His ambassador—a minister of reconciliation—to those who do not know Him. The students heard about different opportunities in the U.S. and all over the world to go and share about Him. A few students from Michigan made decisions to go into ministry next year partially as a result of this conference.

You may wonder what we as staff do at these conferences. Every person in our region has a role helping to run the conference. I was in training this year to be the Assistant Tech Director (at work in the tech booth, top). This role involves making sure the ballroom for our main meetings is ready to go for each session, making sure we control the flow of students well, helping the Tech Director run a smooth and effective meeting, concentrating on the many different sets of lights (some of the cool lighting for our worship band, above). What this meant was very long but rewarding days, helping to make each meeting a special and powerful time during which students could connect with God.

Kids' Column

You can never play in the snow too much. That is how I feel! Daddy said the snow this morning is very packable, so we are going out when Lindsey goes down for her nap. Yesterday we took squirt bottles filled with colored water and made the snow look really nice. I started school again. I still like math a lot. Mommy says I’ll get to learn to tell time this semester. And maybe how to tie my shoes—but I’m not sure I really want to learn that!

NOTE: These are Andrew's and Lauren's real signatures

It is so much fun to have a little sister! I like to wrestle with her and read books to her. She likes to eat the books, though, so I keep them away from her. Sometimes Lindsey and I talk when we are supposed to be sleeping. But don’t tell my Mom, I don’t think she knows. I like making snow angels. And I do a pretty good job of shoveling the snow from the yard onto the driveway. Why do Daddy and Mommy shovel it back to the yard?

Everybody made a big fuss over me for my birthday. It’s pretty cool to be one. I am walking all over the place and even starting to move pretty fast when I catch the gate open and think I can make a break to get upstairs. Although that time I fell down the stairs didn't feel too great, so maybe I won’t try it again. I wasn’t too sure about playing in the snow until Mommy pulled me in the sled. It was fun until I capsized face-first in the snow. A nap made it all better! I like to walk around holding the TV remote like I’m talking on the phone. I’m even saying a couple words occasionally.

Andrew and Lauren enjoy their time with the grandparents over Christmas (above)

Andrew and Lauren have made the most of the great snow we’ve gotten over the past month (with a little help from Mommy and Daddy and some food coloring for her skit and hair)

Lindsey enjoys one of her birthday cakes

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