My friends & team!
Why does it feel like I blink and…BAM - it's Friday again? ❤️
Okay, this is a special blog post today.
I wanted to share with you a very special conversation I had with Meech. Meech is a Dallas College FOCUS student who has recently transferred to The University of North Texas after being a part of our Richland FOCUS ministry for the last 2.5 years.
I had the privilege of getting to know Meech, studying the Bible with him, and becoming good friends with Meech. Meech has a special place in my heart as a student who made real life changes during his time at Richland.
We hung out a few weeks ago and he was reflecting on how God had moved so powerfully in his life during his time at Richland. I felt led & asked him (on the spot) if it would be cool if I asked him a few questions, recorded his responses, and shared it with my support team (y'all!) - he said: “Absolutely!”
So - check out the interview below - be encouraged - this is what your support is going toward.
Thank you for believing in me and our mission to love college students. Let's goooo!!!
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| (read interview w/ Meech - below!) |
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Sirak: What has Richland FOCUS meant to you during your time as a student?
Meech: It's been a place where I can have friends. It's been a place where I can learn more about myself, and who I am through God. It's also been a place where I can find godly friends & put myself in the right direction, with community. A place where I can be vulnerable, explore places where I fall short, and realize I'm not alone. God's there with me. There's people here going through the same thing, and God's bringing them through - He's gonna bring me through it too.
Sirak: Your season at Richland is closing and a new one's opening at UNT. Looking back, what has God done in your heart through Richland FOCUS?
Meech: God has given me hope for tomorrow. I can't even lie - I came to FOCUS at one of my lowest lows. I didn't know where to look, but I knew God was the place to go for my troubles, and that's how I found y'all. Shout out Cole.
It's allowed me to forgive myself for all the mistakes I've made in the past, all the wrong I've done to myself or other people. Those people I've wronged have forgiven me, and I've forgiven myself. It's allowed me to walk into a new life in Him, free of shame. I still feel guilt about things when I sin, but not to the point where I completely shut myself off anymore. I feel like there's nothing I can't work through with God.
That's why I feel hope for tomorrow - I've been through 100% of my bad days. I know it's not going to get easier, but I know God's going to be there and get me through it.
Sirak: As you transition to UNT - what's your hope for the students walking onto Dallas College campuses who won't meet FOCUS until winter retreat or something like that?
Meech: That they lean into community, and that FOCUS veterans can be a place they lean on - that the community itself is a place people can feel vulnerable and share hardships. These last couple of cores I went to with Moses and Ricardo, I was glad they were talking about things that really hurt. It hurt to hear some of their sadder stories, but at the beginning of the year, I don't think I would've heard them talk about things like this.
I don't want to say jump into vulnerability right off the bat - but whenever an opportunity to be vulnerable presents itself, don't run away from it. Get into it. Because in those moments, that's where you experience true spiritual growth. I've had to grow in some really uncomfortable ways, and it's made me a better man than I was.
Sirak: What has God gifted you with through your time at Richland FOCUS that you want to bring to the ministry at UNT FOCUS?
Meech: A revelation that I really try my best to be there for people - to be friends with everyone, to make sure no one feels left out, to foster a good community attitude. I hope I can bring that to Denton - make sure nobody gets lost in the crowd, because I know it's going to be different up there.
I also want to help foster a community of men who aren't afraid of feeling their feelings - who aren't afraid to go ask a girl out, to tell someone “hey, what you did made me feel this way,” to tell their parents “I don't like what you're telling me to do, I'd rather do this with my life.” I want that group of men to be vulnerable, assertive, strong-willed, strong-minded men of God - and I hope I can lead by example in that.
Sirak: Richland's a lot smaller than UNT FOCUS - about 30 people compared to 250. How are you going to make sure you don't get lost in the crowd?
Meech: One way is really sticking to my values. We had a great conversation maybe a year ago about how if you don't know what you value, you'll put up with almost anything. So knowing my values, knowing the life I want for myself in my relationship with God - when you know what you value, making choices is actually easy.
It's not just succumbing to gossip, or whatever's in the status quo at Denton that might be just as bad as at Richland. It's going to be harder, but I want to be someone who leads by example - someone people see and think, “Meech doesn't gossip. Meech doesn't do that. He doesn't buy into how everyone else thinks.” He's just a light.
Sirak: Looking back three years ago, when you walked into Richland FOCUS - who was Jesus to you then, and who is Jesus to you now?
Meech: Back then, Jesus was like a “get out of jail free” card - someone I'd call whenever I was down on my luck, kind of like calling my mom for $100 when I needed it. I only really talked to Him in times of need. I didn't picture the relationship as two-way - just Him giving me things and me thanking Him every once in a while.
Now I see God as the divine creator of my life - the hand that guides me everywhere I go. Without Him, I wouldn't even be able to say these things I'm saying right now. The world would've taken me under so quick, but God has remained so faithful. He lets me mess up. He lets me come back. He lets me mess up again, and He lets me come back again. He's helped me become a better person, a better Christian, a better friend, a better son, a better brother - hopefully a better boyfriend, husband, and father someday.
Jesus is honestly my main man. My blueprint. I didn't even know I could strive to be like Jesus until a conversation we had before Sitcom - I looked at some scripture after that and thought, man, Jesus is like… I love that, bro.
(end of interview)
Thank you for believing in the work we do on campus! I hope that this glimpse of Meech's story encourages & enriches your heart. These are real students with real stories and Meech's story is just one of many that will be changed forever thanks to your support & partnership with us ❤️
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| Here is a photo of our Dallas College theme this year: "The River Is Coming"! - (see previous blog post for context & why we chose this theme!) |
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| We got to help with the NSO (New Student Orientations) - this summer! We're so grateful to work with Dallas College and the wonderful organizations that set up this opportunity to meet incoming freshmen! |
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| Picture of me (left) and Meech (right) - grateful for this guy! Please pray for him as he transitions to UNT and settles into the campus in Denton! |
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| Anaya had her 1st day of pre-school! August was wild! |
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| We loved getting to meet all of the incoming freshmen to Richland College - this was our first summer doing the incoming freshman orientations and they were a huge success! |
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| We recently had to sell the recliner that we used since Anaya's birth as her rocker. So many sweet memories were made in that chair :) - We didn't even notice it happening but Anaya outgrew that rocker quick! |
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| This year we got up early and set up our table/canopy on campus (around 7:30am) - everyday the first week of school. We are still learning what the students need & resonate with at Dallas College. Please pray for us as we discern how to meet new students & invite them into our club ❤️ |
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| I don't know if y'all have ever met Becca - (behind table) - but, she is a PRO when meeting new students at our FOCUS tables. When you meet hundreds of new students day to day...it really becomes a craft to have the same conversation over & over in an authentic way...Becca has mastered the craft! |
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| Our Fist Wednesday Night FOCUS! The first week, we had around 25 students - last week we had around 35 students :) Please pray for us as we go week-to-week and continue unpacking the Gospel with our students! |
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| Grateful for all of these students being a part of our ministry so far this year! |
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| We had an after-event @ Sonic and our students showed up! So many awesome friendships are being built in our ministry! |
Thank you for your support and for believing in us! This was a bit of a longer post today so I hope you at least read Meech's interview!
God bless you & please don't hesitate to let me know if you need prayer for anything going on in your life!
Love y'all - will talk to you soon :)
Your brother & campus missionary,
Sirak
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