May 2009
Summer Plans—Grounded in the Word
The Bible is central to everything we do.
It is the content of our teaching. It informs the key aspects of our ministry
like small groups, personal discipleship and our weekly meeting. It is our
personal guide for life and our professional guide for work. It leads people to
Jesus and keeps their lives centered on him. Without it we would be just another
social club, concerned only with the mental and physical well-being of our
members, failing to deal with the real internal problems on sin and selfishness.
This summer I have two opportunities to
build into men and women a love for the Word of God, an increased ability to
understand it, and an ability to communicate it effectively to others. I have
done each of these in previous years.
New Staff Training
Those who join Campus Crusade for Christ as
full-time ministers are all required to attend a five week training session
during the summer prior to their initial support raising time and reporting to
campus. I will be one of the “coaches” for the Bible Study Methods class that
each new staff will take in addition to other classes and training sessions.
This class takes these staff beyond the
basics of Bible study, exposing them to new tools and methods that will allow
them to come to a fuller understanding of Scripture passages. We also train them
on how to take what they are learning through their study and translate that
into a Bible study they can lead in a small group context. Each of them will
write and lead numerous small group studies during their time on staff, making
this class a very practical time of equipping.
As a coach I will teach a smaller group of
20 staff and give them one-on-one help with the methods and tools of Bible
study.
An example of one of the tools, called a
structural layout, that we teach new staff to develop and use in their study of
the Bible
 The
Edge
My next responsibility will be to help lead
The Edge summer project for undergraduate students from around the country. This
two week project is built around Bible classes taught by the top
seminary professors in the country. It is designed to equip students to take
others deeper in their faith. We will challenge them to become more effective
spiritual leaders as they grow in their knowledge of the Word, as they learn to
work with others through exciting excursions in the Rockies and as they connect
with the great community of staff and students.
Why summer assignments?
Some of you may wonder why we have a summer
assignment each year, even when we have significant support needs. With flexible
schedules due to students being out of classes, we have a unique opportunity to
equip these students in a way we cannot do during the school year. The summers
are our best opportunity to train students and staff on how to have an influence
for Christ for a lifetime. Our school year ministry would not be as effective
without it, making the time and expense worth the investment.
Kids' Column
We celebrated the February and March
birthdays with our cousins in Ohio. Dad and Mom didn’t tell us we were going to
Ohio State’s spring game. I was disappointed that I didn’t know ahead of time.
But we had a good time! It’s always so much fun to hang out with our cousins. I
finally got some sunglasses that work with my glasses, too, so that made me
happy.
O-H-I-O. We did that a lot at the game.
This was my first spring game. Andrew is the only one who had been to one
before. It was hot and I think there were some guys playing football. It was
hard to pay attention between eating popcorn, drinking water, and talking with
my cousins.
I wasn’t sure why we had to stay at that
game so long. It was hot and I thought it was boring. Mommy says I just don’t
understand Ohio State football. Papa and Grandma were there, too, so it was fun
to be with all of the family. We are going to get a kickstand for my bike
tonight because I can ride it without training wheels now. We have nice
sidewalks for riding.
Go Bucks! It was fun to see Brutus at the
football game. I saw the stadium before anyone else. It has been so much fun to
play outside. I couldn’t ride my tricycle in the fall, but I can go fast on it
now! Almost as fast as Lightning McQueen!
Caleb 
 We know many of you Buckeye
faithful worry about us living up here in enemy territory. Just let these
pictures, from the Ohio State spring football game with a national spring game
attendance record of
95722, remind you where our family’s true loyalties
lie! And for you Wolverines, remember that we have committed our lives to
reaching Michigan students for Christ...we love this place, even if we can never
make an allegiance with the sports teams! |
