My friends & team! Welcome to November!
I do apologize that I did not have an update last month - so, for this blog post I will be combining two months together (September & October)!
Our cores are doing well and there are some fun shifts happening in our ministry.
As many of you know, a core value of our ministry is: 1-on-1 spiritual friendships. We encourage students to not just talk about their faith sporadically but to engage in week-to-week, committed, Jesus-loving friendships with other students.
In previous years, this core value has been carried out and embodied primarily by the FOCUS pastors and staff. However, this year we have more & more students who are stepping up and initiating these types of spiritual friendships all throughout the ministry! We are so proud of them!
I'm noticing that the Holy Spirit doesn't need you to have degrees, fancy theological ideas, or an impressive resume to impact someone with the love of Christ. All that is required is that you're faithful and consistent.
I see a principle at work that is hard to find words for...however, I shall attempt (continue reading...):
For some reason, God designed (human nature?) people to be deeply impacted by their peers. For example, I (36 years old) can invite a student to FOCUS/core/etc. and say, "I've missed seeing you around, hope to see you this Wednesday!" However, if an 18-year-old is told the same phrase and given the same invitation by a fellow 18-year-old...I feel that the invitation takes deeper root inside of their heart. They are filled with a deeper sense of: "Wow...maybe I am important and loved." // "Hm...maybe I am noticed and seen..." // "Wait...I thought my presence doesn't matter...maybe I do matter?"
Peer-level leadership and influence is something that is truly beautiful and I am seeing it open up more & more right before me. Pray for our student leaders as they step into this role with other students and that lifelong spiritual friendships would emerge and thrive!
Students are being impacted and we love to see it! Enjoy the pictures below & thank you for your continued support - I feel like it'll be May 2025 faster than we can acknowledge, so let's stay connected!
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| Not much to say here other than she is up, running, exploring, and enjoying life! <3 |
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| Happy Halloween :) |
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| Fall Camp was a blast - here is a picture of one of our students, Caleb, sharing his story & testimony with our other students. We feel so blessed and honored to have him in our ministry. |
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| Feeling grateful for this fun group of students in our ministry this year! Please be praying for them as we continue to build spiritual friendships and allow God's guiding light shape and form us! |
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| Each week I get to meet with Karston (middle) and Bernard (right). These two guys are leading a Core Bible study on Mondays at 1pm. They've had a consistent group of guys coming every week and they've been humble, faithful, and teachable this entire time! Pray for them as they continue to grow into their role as leaders <3 |
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| Pretty cool (and random) story: We ran into Anaya's doctor who delivered her! This OB actually wasn't our OB throughout pregnancy but she was a blessing to us that night on August 3rd, 2023 when Anaya was born! |
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| Thank you to the donors & friends who helped us purchase two laptops & other accessories for our student leaders! |
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| My evening routine <3 |
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| Fall Camp was awesome! :) |
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| Veronica & Joey led our students in group-games and we had an absolute blast! |
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| More fall camp pics! |
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| Our last few Wednesday Night FOCUS meetings have been growing...and growing...please pray for us as we love & impact the students around us! |
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| We've been talking about taking more family pictures together! If you know of any local-DFW-photographers, please let me know! |
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| Happy Halloween! |
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| ...she's growing...and growing... |
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| Another pic of our Wednesday Night FOCUS meetings! |
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| Our "Sermon on the Mount" D-Class on Wednesdays has been so fun - love getting together with everyone each week :) |
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| Caleb - one of our new students this year has been a huge blessing to our group and I'm grateful for |
Thank you so much for your continued support and for believing in our mission to love college students!
The year is off to a great start and we are excited for the next 6 weeks, Christmas break, and Winter Camp!
Do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions!
Your brother & campus missionary,
Sirak
