We've reached the end!
Thank you for your support & partnership this year. If I could choose one phrase to define this year it would be: convicting comfort (or...comforting conviction?).
In John 14, Jesus says: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever..."
He continues in John 16: "...It is best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Advocate won't come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. The worlds sin is that it refuses to believe in me..."
In John 14, the greek word: Paraklete is referred to when describing the Holy Spirit. This word can often be defined as: comforter, encourager, counselor... (initially described as advocate).
In summary - I find it interesting that Jesus says that it is better for him to leave so that he will send the comforter (greek: paraklete). What is the role of a comforter? Well...to comfort us.
In Jesus' mind - that definition is too small. The role of a comforter is not just to comfort - but also to convict. What a difficult balance to strike! How can one both comfort AND convict?
I defined this year as "convicting comfort" or "comforting conviction" because I have continually felt challenged to discern when to "push" / "challenge" the students in our ministry while also considering the ways I am being led to "comfort" // and "be a safe space" for them as well.
In a world where many long for "safe spaces", and the desire to be seen is a top priority among those we are reaching, how can we make ourselves vessels for the Spirit's redeeming work on our planet?
I am fully aware of the ways I seek comfort over conviction. The ways I choose to detach, numb, or pull-away from the responsibilities right in front of me. God always seems to know the perfect way to invite/call us out of out comfort to taste the convicting realities of what it means to be human.
The Savior we represent on campus is one that saves us from our bondage to the numbing and detaching we are ever so used to. Though there are Christians we focus a little too much on the "convicting" portion of the idea I am presenting - I hope to strike a balance with both, so that this fall, we can be a ministry where students feel safe - while at the same time inviting those students to know we will not compromise our standards of love we have graciously received from Christ ❤️
Pray for us!
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Photos Below:
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| Our Wednesday night FOCUS worship team! - grateful for each of these students (from left to right: Laniah, Jernee, me, Kris, Tom, & Meech) |
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| Our WNF worship team! |
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| Grateful for my friendship w/ Jorge - we didn't know how to pose for our end-of-the-year party...so we did some praying-hands. 🤷🏾♂️ |
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| I'm grateful for my friendship w/ Meech and our time together. We also did not know how to pose so we did a 90s rap poster-type-vibe. |
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| Each week I've had the privilege of meeting w/ these two guys, studying scripture together, and getting to connect about how God is growing & stretching us. Excited for the summer and these two guys being a part of our ministry this fall! |
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| At our end-of-the-year party we prayed for one another as we said goodbye to the transferring students in addition to the students who are entering the workforce. |
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| Our student-leader did a great job sharing at our end-of-the-year party! |
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| Anaya & I at our first daddy-daughter dance! |
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| Our Richland FOCUS 2025-26 staff team! |
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| Our ministry enjoying Raising Canes after one of our Wednesday Night FOCUS meetings :) |
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| Happy Easter! :) |
