Monday, March 4, 2024

February Has Been Faithful!

My friends & team! 

Thank you so much for your support & believing in our mission. I wanted to share a prayer w/ you (below) that has been on my heart & mind. It is the prayer of St. Francis.

2024 has been an up & down year - moments where I feel in control (which, of course, is an illusion) and others where I feel as if life is acting upon me. Fatherhood has brought me to the heights of joy and the depths of fear & worry. 

In the midst of the ups and downs, I am continually trusting that God has a rich and perfect plan for me. My prayer is that God would use me as an instrument even though the tune that is being played through my life feels a bit out of tune, at times. 

As a leader team, we have been having conversations surrounding what it looks like to build a culture of love & outreach versus feeling the individual pressure to reach out to & love every student that we come across. In other words, we are learning that it is not our job to care for everybody but it is our responsibility to help create a culture where everyone is cared for. 

We are learning the tough lesson that we cannot do it all nor can we carry the weight of all that needs to get done! 

Pray for us as we lean into how to build a culture that long outlasts us on campus. Our prayer is that this culture can change & shape generations to come! 


Our Richland FOCUS ministry! Thank you for your support <3 

Our 2024 FOCUS Winter Retreat photo - grateful for each of these students! 

Our weekly Wednesday Night FOCUS gathering - love our students so much! 



I got to play some electric guitar for our "Night of Black Church" last week! It was wonderful <3 

My girls <3 

Baby Anaya is getting so big! We feel so blessed <3 

Our Men's FOCUS leader team - grateful for each of these guys! 

Each week we get together to pray about & read through 1 Corinthians - this has been one of my favorite meetings this year! 


Thank you all for your support & believing in us week-to-week! I feel so blessed to have you on my support team & walking with me through this experience of being a campus missionary.

Love each of you!

In Christ,

Sirak 


Monday, February 5, 2024

Thank You Lord for January!

My friends & team!

January was a wild month! Well, January is typically always a wild month in campus ministry. The ups, downs, back-to-back events (staff retreat & winter retreat), students returning, and re-adjusting from Christmas break can all potentially overwhelm, but, God has been good in preparing us for what is going to be an awesome Spring semester!

In some ways, as a college pastor, I feel as if I never quite left college. Hah! Spending the majority of my time with college students is a blessing and reminds me of how unique & special of a season of life it is to be graduated from high school and pondering the interpersonal, cultural, and spiritual questions of life! 

Jesus met me in college in a fresh way that invited me to consider what my faith can look like in the context of community & a shared life among one another (my fellow students/classmates). It was revolutionary and forced me to step out of my individualistic & self-focused methods of expressing my faith. 

Even as a 35-year-old, married, father of one - I am still learning how to express my faith in the context of community. I am still reminding myself that our faith - is just as much about us as it is about me

Even though I am feeling more & more "out of touch" with the trends & phrases & lingo of young people today, I am still very much convinced that our lives are to be shared with one another. As a college pastor, the most important job I have is to show up (regardless of how uncomfortable it may make me feel, at times - which, says as much about me as it does about them!). As a parent, we are invited to show up. As a friend, we are invited to show up

I say this as a helpful reminder because, truly - college ministry is not much different from any type of ministry. College students are a demographic that are asking particular questions related to their specific place in time. Based on that definition, does that not also describe every one who has ever lived? :) And what is it that they need? I believe the answer is: men & women willing to show up - to love them. To love them in the midst of their weakness (and ours!) and point to Christ! Daily & forevermore. 

Thank you for your support and for continually believing in me! I truly love each of you. Let's have a great February :)  


Baby Anaya has turned 6-months! We feel so blessed & filled with joy to have her in our lives. What a gift life is! 

Our Wednesday Night FOCUS meetings have been awesome! We are working out way through 1 Corinthians and the students have been deeply moved & intrigued by Paul and his message to the church in Corinth! 

Another picture of our Wednesday night FOCUS meeting! 

I've had the fun privilege of leading a group called, "Exploring My Strange Bible" - each week, we meet and read a chapter of scripture. Last semester we read through Mark and this semester we are reading through the book of 1 Corinthians!

Arnold, one of our student leaders, sharing about how Winter Retreat impacted & shaped his heart!


Winter Retreat was a blast :) What a gift to get to spend a holiday weekend with students across our campuses :) 

We had a great time during praise & worship with our gospel choir! Our students loved it and were deeply moved. Lailah (one of our staff at UT Dallas) did an awesome job leading it!

Our FOCUS staff retreats have been a blessing! During the first week of January, our staff got together to prepare for the semester & winter retreat. I feel blessed to serve with such an awesome group of ministers!

A nice candid shot of our student leaders! 

My two main men: Yoni (in blue) and Bernard (in the back)! These guys have been consistent and reliable week. They have committed themselves to continual growth and participating in our shared life with one another each week! 

Thank you for your support & for believing in our mission :) 

I'm honored to get to walk alongside you on our campuses as we reach & love students together. 

Thank you!

Your brother,

Sirak 

Friday, January 5, 2024

God Of Fresh Starts :)

 Good morning :) 

Wow, 2024 is here :) 

I remember when my family and I moved to Texas in 1999 thinking: I wonder what life will be like in 2025? Well...it's on the way here pretty soon, buckle-up! 

A few months earlier we had made the move from Toronto, Ontario Canada to Plano, TX. I was in sixth grade and beginning to feel a sense of normalcy that had been absent for several months. 

I was 11 years old when I asked that question. I remember asking it with such...purity of mind. It seemed exciting to ponder and consider all of the possibilities. Who would I become? Who would be my close friends? Would I be married? Would I have children? In other words; I had no clue what it would be like! I couldn't imagine being 15 years old...25...30...even 35 (36 is coming this July!). It was pure anticipation and curiosity. 

These days I have way too many opinions, demands, expectations, suggestions, desires, repulsions, fears and worries that often keep me from that purity of mind that invited me to consider the future. For example, if I were to ask: "I wonder what being 40-years-old will be like?" I am immediately filled with my own expectations, potential disappointments, fears, and judgements...as if I am already not measuring up to the image of a 40-year-old created in my mind! 

I suppose these days I'm more productive and effective than that 11-year-old...but I sense that something is...missing? Or better yet...something somehow someway got "buried" underneath all of the years that keep me from that purity of mind that trusts that whatever the future brings that God will be there with me and it is going to be nothing like I expected. And that is a good thing! God's plans typically trump mine. 

I use to-do list apps to manage my day, calendar apps to mange my months/weeks, email apps to respond quickly to the demands/expectations of my life but I've felt more & more drawn back to...pen & paper. Journaling, reflecting & writing about what is right in front of me to do & experience. Things I'm grateful for. Things I'm feeling and may be drawn to process & surrender to God. 

Over the break I discovered a cool company, Monk Manual (www.monkmanual.com). Their mission is to help individuals combine their productivity with an emphasis on understanding why we are here, who we are becoming, and what matters most. I purchased a journal that they make (their 90-day manual) to kick off 2024 with an attempt to tap into that 11-year-old within me that was curious about who they were becoming without being lost in an agenda & laundry list of to-do items along with my judgements and fears.

Each month when I type this blog - it's a sacramental experience for me to reflect & engage with the past month & celebrate how God has been moving. My hope is that I can somehow integrate similar experiences in my day-to-day life! 

Thank you for your support! Enjoy the photos below - I hope they refresh & encourage you no matter the season of life that you are in! 


Our weekly Wednesday Night FOCUS has been missed! We took a few weeks off for Christmas break, but, we are kicking things off in a couple of weeks! 

One of our first year apprentices, Veronica, did a great job with her first sermon to our students! It was so creative and engaging. She is a true gift to our team & staff. Let's goo!!

Our students truly & deeply love one another :) They can truly hang out for hours and never get bored! 


Merry Christmas from the Asfaw family :) Love all of you & am thankful for you! 

The Richland FOCUS fellas :) We got dinner with each other a few weeks ago to catch up & hear about how our break has been going! Love these guys & am thankful for them! 

On our way to our annual FOCUS staff retreat, I got to catch up with Andrew (one of our former FOCUS apprentices and a co-leader w/ me from way back in 2010)! He's a good guy & I'm grateful for him - time flies! 

Our FOCUS pastoral staff has grown to over 40 people! During this time of the year we connect with one another and spend time in prayer as we prepare for the semester. Grateful for each of them! 

Thank you for your support & for believing in our mission to love college students :) 

I hope these blog posts encourage you & show what your support is going towards. I couldn't do this without you!

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have anything you'd like prayer for or if you just want to connect.

Thank you for believing in me!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak 

Monday, December 4, 2023

2023: A Story of God's Faithfulness

My friends & team - good morning!

What a year - what a semester! Someone asked me recently: How is parenthood going? (I try not to think too deeply anymore and just respond from my gut) - I responded: "It feels like time isn't waiting on me or anyone else." 

Jesus said: "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (Mark 10:15, NIV)

The Message translation writes: "...'These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in.' Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them." (Mark 10:15, The Message)

It feels like time isn't waiting on me or anyone else - can sound discouraging and disheartening. After all, we do know that we are finite beings whose time here on this planet is limited. However, it also invites me to weigh my options: I can either 1) continually feel pulled along by the different forces of life/circumstance/fear/doubt/etc. or I can 2) be fully present & grateful for what is in front of me here & now. 

Jesus highlights the way children receive the kingdom. I believe he does this to give us a glimpse into a type of posture that is possible for each of us - for, we were all once children, right? 

I have observed that my daughter, exudes a humble acceptance of whatever is right in front of her. Mommy? Yes. Daddy? Yes. Discomfort? Yes. New people? Yes (In fact, she is unable to NOT make unbroken eye-contact with strangers). Pure joy? Yes. Wake up in the middle of the night? Yes. Absolutely. 

Her posture to all of life (so far) has been a resounding - YES! 

My posture to much of life is a resounding - NO! (I need to get my things done! I need my time! I need my space! I have my preferences for how life should be! etc. etc. etc.)

This posture of - NO! - has often followed me into ministry. The opposite of humble acceptance is most likely angry resistance

I took a seminary class a few quarters ago that taught: Evangelism is helping people take the first step. Discipleship is helping people take the next step. 

So, whichever step you are helping people take - you have to take into account where they are at with a humble acceptance. Meaning: if I have an angry resistance to where people are at - then I will be greatly hindered in my capacity to love people and show them Christ. 

I see in my daughter a humble acceptance of what life is: right in front of her. I believe Jesus was trying to help us cranky, bitter, & opinionated adults to take the next step in our journey of accepting the Kingdom - which, ironically, is a perpetual first step. 

Lord, teach us to take the next step - which involves us humbly accepting where you have us. Let us be filled with joy as we enter this holiday season & grateful for you are the God of both first steps and next steps. Amen. 

Merry Christmas to all of you <3 Thank you for your ministry support! 

                          

<3 

                                          

This picture encompassed 1/2 me reading to Anaya & me thinking: "Wow, this was actually a pretty cook book." I think we need to normalize adults reading children's books before they (adults) go to bed - very calming and relaxing.

Our 2023-24 Richland FOCUS Ministry! Thankful for all of these students! 

I've loved getting to lead core w/ Yoni another year! He's been a true blessing to me & my life. Here he is holding Anaya (Yoni & I have a long side-quest story that theorizes that I may have held him as a baby). 

We had our first Richland FOCUS family night and it was wonderful! Getting to meet the parents & family of our students was a humbling experience for me. As college pastors, we inherit students into our group that have been loved & invested into for years long before we ever meet them! And, for that we say: thank you! 

Thank you to all of the parents & family who came! 

I got to help lead worship at our UTD FOCUS alumni night. I loved getting to see the all of the old & new faces - loved it! 

Our Wednesday FOCUS core went out to lunch and shared with one another all that God has been teaching us day to day :) Thankful for these guys!

Our Richland FOCUS students organized a Friendsgiving! (It seems like these "friendsgiving" events are becoming more & more common each year! So cool!) 

My cousins enjoyed getting to meet & spend time w/ Anaya at her first Thanksgiving! 



Thank you for believing in our mission to love college students and share Christ with them. Thank you for your support over the years and allowing me the immense privilege to walk on campus alongside you day in and day out as we meet & impact students together. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any prayer requests or just want to catch up! Your Christmas cards will be arriving soon :) 

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak 






Monday, November 6, 2023

October Was Spook...tastic!

My people! :) How are things? 

It's strange to see that we've only got a month left in the semester. It's even more strange to know that I have a 3-month old daughter. It feels like a day ago we were walking into the labor & delivery room to welcome our daughter, Anaya. Such is time! 

Thank you for your text messages & encouragements as I have entered this new path of parenthood. I get emotional thinking about all of the years of feeling insecure, not equipped, and unprepared for fatherhood. God is teaching me that all I really need to be is present and he will ultimately resource me as he sees fit. The truth is I have a deep feeling that, when it comes to parenthood, I have no clue what I'm doing. But, isn't that with most things in life? 

When I first was a part of planting Richland FOCUS in 2017 I was filled with similar feelings of inadequacy. It felt vulnerable and scary to share with someone: I know that I'm a campus pastor - but, I have no idea what I'm doing. Truth be told, if I could go back in time to tell 2017-version-Sirak anything I would tell him: "Trust God. Stop trying to do/be/earn everything. Show up. Love students. Go home. Sleep." Or, I would say something like that. 

I wonder what 45-year-old-Sirak would tell current 35-year-old-Sirak? Hopefully something along the lines of: "Show up. Love students. Love your family. Go home. Sleep." I hope 45-year-old-Sirak has healthy knees. 

With one month left in the semester, I am excited about entering the holiday season with a new rhythm that involves life with our daughter while still including traditions of previous years. I'd like to live with a posture of "welcoming". A couple of days ago, Anaya woke up with a bad cough and we had to make a run to the ER. She is now doing fine; we just had a small scare of RSV. Sloan and I felt out of control and were afraid. 

This "welcoming" posture has found its wording in a prayer I have returned to time & time again: 

Jesus, I release my need to feel safe and secure. Welcome Jesus, welcome.
Jesus, I release my need to be accepted and approved. Welcome Jesus, welcome.
Jesus, I release my need to control this person or event. Welcome Jesus, welcome. 
Jesus, I release my need to change reality but accept it as it is. Welcome Jesus, welcome. 

I pray that each of us would do our best and welcome the circumstances that befall us. Life is truly unpredictable and yet excruciatingly beautiful. Let's welcome the beauty that is often hidden in inconveniences and trouble. 

Enjoy the photos below! We are in the process of continuing to welcome new students each week to our Wednesday night fellowship meetings :) Been a fun year so far! 

Wednesday Night FOCUS has been a hit this year! Each week we have had new students show up and share excitement for our mission on campus to love students & share Christ! 

Last week we took Anaya to Wichita Falls, TX to meet some of her cousins! Uncle Ryan and Cousin Sammy were both excited to spend time with Anaya <3 


Our Thursday D-Class has been a highlight for me every week! We have been going through the book of Mark and our weekly conversations have been meaningful and special to me.

Anaya turned 3-months old! We feel so blessed to have her in our lives :) 



We had a scary moment on Sunday when we had to take her to the ER. Anaya had a scary cough and was battling RSV throughout the weekend. Thankful for the doctors & nurses who cared for her!

Please pray for continued wisdom and strength as we finish the semester strong! We feel blessed with the group of students who have been showing up and making FOCUS their home while they are students at Richland. 


Thank you for your support! I hope you feel encouraged and reminded of what your support is going towards as we serve & love the students in our ministry. Let's finish the semester strong! 

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak


Monday, October 2, 2023

This Year Feels Different... (lots of pictures!)

My friends & team! 

As my title says - this year feels different when compared to previous years. I've had to remind myself not to compare my experience year to year due to the fact that every group of students are different and bring with themselves their own set of strengths and challenges. 

Serving in campus ministry at Dallas County Community College for the last 8 years has introduced me to the culture and social climate on campus. In my experience over the years, most of the students I cross paths with are "on their way somewhere else". By this I mean they are typically: 

  • on their way home
  • on their way to class 
  • on their way to eat by themselves in their car (this happens more often than one would think)
  • on their way to a 4-year university and just wanting to get out of here (the community college) as soon as they can
  • on their way to work
  • on their way to nap
  • on their way to study
  • on their way to remember to study...
  • etc. etc. etc.
Needless to say, it can be a challenge to invite students to consider changing up their plan so they can be present, stay on campus, and consider investing in their faith while they are a student! The social & campus life on campus at a community college can, in some ways, be lacking when compared to a 4-year University, but we try to be on campus in such a way that we invite students to remain on campus and get to know Jesus. So, instead of being "on their way" off-campus - we try to encourage students to remain on campus and be present while they are a student! 

Our evening fellowship meetings would average between 20-25 students in previous years, but, already 6 weeks into the school year we are having over 50 students in our Wednesday Night FOCUS meetings! Our 4-person staff team feels a bit overwhelmed but please pray that every student that walks into our meetings will be offered the gift of spiritual friendship! 

Enjoy the photos below! I'm grateful to have each of you on my team! I hope these encourage you to show how your support is clearing a path for God's Kingdom to come on campus! 

Joey has been such a joy to work with on staff. He is a great co-minister to have on campus serving our students. 


Our Wednesday Night Fellowship time(s) have been a blessing to me & our students! Each week we have over 40+ students come to campus at 6pm on Wednesdays to connect with one another and respond to the invitation to grow in their faith!

This is the first year we have begun our Richland D-Class! "D" stands for discipleship and we have been going through the book of Mark together. It is so refreshing and encouraging to get to go straight into the scripture as we learn about the life of Christ and how it impacts us.

Baby Anaya has turned 2 months old! She is growing so fast and we are soaking in all of the moments together. It is truly a blessing to have her in our lives! 

I'm so grateful to lead core again this year with Yoni (grey puma shirt). We have an amazing group of guys that are consistent and hungry to get into the Word each week. 

Another picture of our Wednesday Night FOCUS! 

Thank you for all of your support! :) 


My friends & team :) It's been such a beautiful year and I'm excited for all of the memories we'll make together this 2023-24 school year!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak