Good morning my friends & team :)
We're already in April, which means that we have roughly one month left in the school year. This season of the ministry-year invites us to reflect on God's faithfulness from August until now while internalizing the lessons that He has placed in our path.
As of today, I have 3 classes remaining in my MA Theology program I have been slowly working through since 2021. This master's degree has opened my mind & heart to the depth and breadth of Christian Spirituality and Vocational Ministry.
I never planned on being a "pastor". 🤷🏾♂️ My journey is one marked by responding to God's invitation which led to another invitation...and to another. Each invitation along the way required a level of obedience & discernment...and, here we are.
I do believe in free-will and I also believe in divine guidance. Somewhere in-between these two concepts I have landed here - as a 36-year-old college pastor. But, I digress (or is it regress? - I never know).
A key topic of conversation within seminary circles is that of inclusion/diversity. Churches across the western hemisphere are aiming to be spaces of warmth and connection to a wide range of people groups and are curious to understand the how & who of these key topics.
At Richland College, we serve a student-population who are actively looking for belonging and connection during this brief 2-year pitstop called: the community college.
Our ministry is constantly shifting & changing - dependent on the students who show up and engage with us. Our ministry is also naturally inclusive & diverse - both characteristics of the campus we work on.
This unique dynamic at Richland College is not by accident - I believe it is by divine design. My personal story (as referenced earlier) is one marked by responding to God's invitation...over & over again.
It is easy to grow weary as a college pastor. Our campus, though a beautiful place of potential connection - can often be a place marked by a lack of student life, diminished student engagement, increased technological addiction, and students immediately leaving campus once class is finished.
Please pray for our staff team & our student leaders - pray that we would, like our Lord, continually send out invitations...and then some more...and then a few more...trusting & hope that there is, in fact, a divine plan that we are participating in.
Looking ahead, I'm excited to complete my final three classes and apply any theological insights I find to better serve our ever-changing student population & campus context.
More importantly, I'm committed to creating spaces where everyone can experience the belonging and connection they're searching for - just as I found my unexpected but purposeful path in ministry.
Thank you for your support & for partnering with us in this work. ❤️ Your support enables us to continue being a place where divine guidance meets human free will, where diversity is celebrated rather than merely accommodated, and where students find a spiritual home during their pit stop at Richland College.
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| Our weekly WNF Wednesday Gathering! |
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| she loves her books ❤️ |
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| we found the perfect angle to take swing-pictures. God truly provided 😎 - the weather was nice and the pics were 🔥 |
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| Another WNF picture :) - Feeling blessed & grateful for our community! |
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| After one of our Wednesday Night meetings, we did a lectio-divina activity. Scriptures were selected around the theme of "using our words for good" & "taming the tongue" - our students loved getting to slowly read the text & engage with the material! We're definitely planning on doing more of these in the future! |
Thank you for your support & for believing in our mission to love college students! I feel truly blessed to get to walk with these students & serve them. I pray that you're encouraged by the pictures and I hope that you know your support is going toward deep & lifelong connections!
Sirak
