My friends! My Team! Greetings from 2017 :)
I can't believe 2016 is over and we are embarking on a new journey with one another into uncharted territory: 2017. Logistically nothing really has changed but the name of the year we are in, however, we can be confident that the Lord is faithful yesterday, today, and tomorrow. I am thankful, though, for these year changes because it affords me time to reflect on the previous 365 days of my life. Did I reach my goals? Was I attentive to the Lord working in and around me? How can I re-focus and re-center my life in new and healthy ways? These are all questions I ask myself when entering a new year.
We had our FOCUS staff retreat last week and we read "The Signature of Jesus" by Brennan Manning together. As I reflected on the text and our conversations with one another I am struck by the simplicity and joy that comes with following Jesus. All of this: the students, meetings, prayers, conversations, camps, etc. - it's all for and because of Jesus. Coming out of the Christmas season we spend a lot of time reflecting on the miracle of Jesus' birth and entrance into the world. This entrance into the world is miraculous because he now gives us a blueprint and a purpose for life! Praise God!
Thank you so much for your support and partnership! I am honored to go into 2017 with you all on my team. I am so excited to see what God has planned this semester at UT Dallas & Richland College! Please pray for wisdom for our staff - that we would be well prepared and equipped to listen and respond to the spirit next weekend at our annual FOCUS Winter Camp!
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| Looking forward to seeing all of my Richland FOCUS reunited together at Winter Camp this year! |
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| Our Richland men's core at fall camp! We'll be meeting on Wednesdays at 1:30pm this spring. Please pray for us and for our group. Pray that deep spiritual friendships would be made for the spring semester! |
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| Joseph and Yohan - two of our potential student leaders for Fall 2017! |
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| I'm excited to get back with our students @ Friday Night FOCUS! |
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| Towards the end of last semester, we had an event called Seniors & Smores. It was a time for our upcoming FOCUS graduates to talk and pray about the transition out of college into the real world while maintaining the lifestyle of a disciple! It was so encouraging! |
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| My good friend Ignateus (FOCUS Graduate, 2013) came back in town to spend time with me. He also ran the Dallas Marathon. It was so good to see him and to know that the Lord is faithful in guiding him and loving hiim! |
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| I had the privilege of going to New Orleans to serve in Jesus Project Ministries! It's a non-profit aimed at sharing the love of Jesus with young elementary students in the inner-city. This was such an honor to be a part of! |
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| On the mission trip I brought my clippers and gave free haircuts to the kids in New Orleans! It was such a pleasure to serve all these students through giving them fades and tapers! Within 10 minutes I had a list of 50 people wanting a haircut! |
Thank you so much for being on my team and believing in the mission to make disciples on God's college campuses. He isn't finished yet and I'm honored that he would call be to be on campus making and maturing disciples for his glory. I'm even more honored that he would call people like you to walk side-by-side with me, ensuring a partnership that has encouraged and strengthened me through the year.
If you need prayer for anything in your life please don't hesitate to contact me! I would be honored to pray for you. More soon to come!
Your brother & campus missionary,
Sirak
