March is Over & We're At The Final Stretch!

 My friends & team!

March is officially over and we have 6 weeks left of school. Wow. If I could sum up this entire year with one word it would be: new beginnings. Well, that's two words, but, you get the point.

One of my favorite aspects of serving in campus ministry is watching these students meet in August, apprehensively decide to attend fall camp in October, come back from fall camp excited to have new community and by January they are comfortably & confidently praising the Lord together as he moves and works among them! This spring 2023 semester has seen the fruit of disciple-making and long term friendships being formed. 

Our students have a genuine love for one another that is open-hearted, vulnerable, and fun! Our students LOVE to have fun with each other (as the photos below can hopefully convey!). 

Our daughter is officially at the 24 week mark and we are almost..or maybe past the halfway point. All I know is that this baby girl is due July 29th and I'm so excited to meet her :) 

I've had a few people ask me if I feel ready to be a father. I tell them that there is the part of me that openly acknowledges that I have no utter idea what it is that I am doing or will do and yet, there is another part of me that feels God continually remind me: it's okay my son, you're ready. I suppose both parts of me will learn to coexist with one another :) 

As always, thank you for your support and for believing in our mission to love college students. I am blown away that I get to walk on our campuses & love the students that God has placed in front of us. He is always faithful & good. 

I hope that the pictures below encourage you all :) We couldn't do what we do without you!

   

Our students planned a park day with each other and it was a blast!

Ricky (right) brought his baby daughter to Thursday Night FOCUS and let me hold her for much of the night. I'm currently learning as many baby-holding techniques as I possibly can before our daughter arrives :) 

It's been such an awesome privilege to get to lead worship every week with our students. They are engaged and excited week to week. I love getting to see them use their talents & abilities to serve our community and grow closer together!

A bunch of our students got together during spring break to go for a hike together and grab lunch afterward.

baby girl is growing! Can't wait to meet you!

Sloan and I closed on a home! We'll be moving in during the first week of April! Please be praying for a safe & easy move! 

Our Wednesday 12:30pm core has been such a blessing to get to serve with. they show up each week ready to pray with one another, read scripture, and engage with what is going on in one another's lives. Awesome stuff!

One of our students, Juan, did a great job leading Investing In The Vision! 

Thank you all so much for your support & for believing in our mission to serve & love college students! Year after year I'm touched by the generations that God sends our way onto his campuses. He entrusts us to love them with the same love he loves us with. 

Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have anything you'd like prayer for in your life!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak 

At The Halfway Point of the Spring!

My friends & team! 

We're here in March and we're almost at the halfway point of the spring semester! I'm blown away at all of the wonderful things God is doing on campus at Dallas College Richland Campus. He has given us probably the sweetest group of students that we have ever had in Richland FOCUS. They are genuine, kind, and all excited to be around each other week to week. 

I hope the pictures below encourage you regarding the work we get to do on campus as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit. I'm grateful for all of our students that we have met, befriended, and welcomed into our lives for this short & unique time in their lives. God truly loves his college campuses and desires to see young people come to know & experience him!

For the last three years we have had our large-group fellowship meetings on Thursdays at 7pm on campus, but, after many discussions and prayer - we have decided to shift our large group fellowship time(s) to Wednesdays at 6pm on campus!

This is a big shift and we are hoping that moving it earlier & on a day that has a higher volume of students present on campus, we can reach more students while still having Thursdays open for 1 on 1 bible studies and group hangouts. Please pray for us!

Thank you so much for your continued support & ministry partnership! If you ever need prayer for something in your life, do not hesitate to reach out. Enjoy the pictures!

Our 2022-23 Richland FOCUS Leader Team! 

Our BLISS/Release event - led by Lailah, one of our FOCUS staff at UT Dallas! She did a great job creating an event that celebrated Black & African culture!

I loved getting to co-MC the event with Lailah - It was a joy and an honor!

On Thursday nights I have gotten the opportunity to help with leading worship with our worship band, "Post-Pandemic Praise" - it's been a great opportunity! 

Great news - my wife & I closed on a house recently and are very excited to move in! Thank you for your prayers and for being a part of our journey!

Our Wednesday 12:30pm Men's Bible Study! I've been honored to get to spend time talking about God with these guys each week and sharing how God is calling us deeper! 

Our weekly Thursday Night FOCUS meeting! (Soon to be Wednesday Night FOCUS!)

Thank you again for your support and for believing in our mission to love college students! I am honored to get to love & serve these students each and every day.

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak