We're Just Getting Started!

My Friends! My Team!

It's about this time each year that I'm reminded how important it is to work hard all through these first few weeks of school. Your partnership and support have paved the way for so many new friendships to be built on God's campuses. God has been showing me a very specific message this year: consistency. I sometimes put so much worry and stress about all of the things that I need to plan, accomplish, or handle when often God just needs his faithful to show up and he'll do the rest. Even in the times when I feel most confident in my own abilities and accomplishments, God reminds me that it's only by his mercy and grace that I'm here getting to serve him on his campuses.

Yesterday we had our first Richland FOCUS org fair table set up (see pictures below) and it was a huge success! We did 'bad tattoos' for students walking by and they loved it! We got to meet some of the other Christian ministries on campus and network with them. Please be praying for all of the students that we met yesterday on campus. Each year it feels like I learn something new about myself and how to reach the students - I hope that the lessons learned last year will pave the way for new disciples to be made by the power of the Spirit!

I hope you enjoy the photos below of these first few weeks of school. I am blown away at how faithful God is when we are consistent. Simply show up and be prepared for what he has planned. Thank you for your support and partnership over the years! Let's have a great year :)

Our first Friday Night Fellowship @ UT Dallas!

Our first Richland College organization fair yesterday! We met so many students here. Please pray that spiritual friendships would be built!

We did "bad tattoos" as an outreach event and it worked so well! I was amazed at how many students wanted us to draw pictures on their hands, necks and arms. It was a blast!

Another picture from the organization fair at Richland!

Picture from last week at our Friday Night UTD gathering!

We're making a video for our 20-year celebration coming up in October and our tagline is "What are you celebrating" stay tuned for upcoming videos posted on our social media accounts!

(from left to right), Me (Sirak), John Cheng, Charlie Holman, and Byron Barlowe all got to be a part of our annual campus minister lunch. Each year before the school year begins, all of the campus ministers at UT Dallas go and grab lunch with one another to pray and discuss what we've got planned for the year!

Our 2016-17 UTD/Richland staff!

Our September student testimony:

Thank you all so much for your partnership and friendship. I'm blown away I get to serve God's campuses knowing that you're right beside me believing in and encouraging me to be consistent and show up. Love you and please don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything I can be praying for you about!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak

The Beginning Is Near!

My friends,

In just a few weeks there will be thousands of students walking onto our DFW college campuses. Some of these students will be looking to make a difference, some may be focused 100% on their grades and nothing else, some will be directionless and others will be desperate for friendship and a fresh start to their lives. There will be students who are lonely and longing for purpose. Pray that we would be the first people that all of these students meet.

This is especially meaningful to me because when I first walked onto campus for my freshman year in 2006 I was lonely and desperate for anyone to be my friend. In those first few months, I was showered with God's goodness and faithfulness. Men like Brad, Kale and Weston were those first men in my college experience to walk alongside me and show me the heart of Christ. I was forever changed.

Our staff spent last weekend together in Austin for our staff retreat and read, "In The Name of Jesus" by Henri Nouwen. The book was a reflection on Christian leadership and it was very timely and great for our staff to read in this season of ministry. Our society measures successful leadership in terms of the effectiveness of the individual and how 'impressive' and 'influential' they are. In this text, Henri Nouwen offers a counter definition that is driven by communal and mutual experience. For Nouwen, leadership cannot function outside of the community. Pastors are to know their congregation and be known by their congregation deeply. This is especially true as our community continues to grow we want to be a place where every student can know their pastor intimately and deeply. He returns to the idea that we are a 'people' called, not just a 'person' called. When the world sees individualism and leadership through power as the keys to successful leadership, Nouwen argues that Christian leadership in the 20th century will need to be driven by service and involvement through and by the people.

Thank you for your support and partnership. As we enter into the school year, I am in shock as this will be my fifth year of this campus missionary journey. Thank you for believing in me. Thank you for praying. Thank you for being a partner. I am unsure what I ever did to deserve such a wonderful group of friends and family to walk alongside me in this but I am grateful to God every day for you. Thank you.

(From left to right) Me, Ryan, Laurence, and Garrett. Ryan (2016-17 Collin College Apprentice) just graduated from the University of North Texas and we're excited to be on staff with him this year! Laurence (UTD) will be starting his fourth year on staff at UTD. And one of my longest friends on staff, Garrett has been the Collin College Campus Pastor these last six years.

This summer, me and some of my Richland FOCUS students got together for a hangout hosted by two friends of mine who are on staff with CRU.

Nick (left) and JD (middle) were both students in our FOCUS ministry. Nick has worked in California the last couple of years so JD and I decided to visit him and hang out for a weekend. It was a blast to catch up!

Our DFW family of churches had an all-church service celebrating our youth camp. I took a photo to show the cross-generational power of ministry and fellowship.

A panoramic photo of our staff this year! I'm so pumped to get to serve alongside these other campus ministers this year!

So this is a throwback photo from my Junior year at UTD (2010-11). Campus ministry is powerful and happens in a very formative and influential time in the lives of college students. I still remain good friends with all of the people in this photo! I can't wait to see all of the many friendships God brings together this year!

I couldn't do this without supporters and partners like you who believe in the mission and help make it happen through your partnership. Please be praying that we'll be well prepared and equipped to make sure every student is invited to core, met up with, and introduced to Jesus! Let's have an awesome year!

Your campus pastor,

Sirak

Sirak's June 2016 Update!

My dear, wonderful partners and friends!

Summer has been flying by and we're prepping for a fantastic fall semester. Please be praying for our upcoming first-year student leaders who are going to be leading core groups for the first time. I remember my first year leading core and the feelings of fear, discomfort, and insecurity that plagued my mind. The Lord was faithful that year at growing and stretching me, however, I couldn't have done it without the people that he placed in my life. Pray that our students leading would be in a support system that they are vulnerable, gracious and loving with!

This Saturday evening I'm hosting an event at my house called "Songs & Stories". If you're available for it I'd love for you to make it. It will be this Saturday, July 9th from 7:00pm - 9:00pm @ 3013 Parkside Dr. Plano, TX 75075. We have many students in our ministry who are artists at heart and create songs, poetry, and/or short stories. This will be an evening of having them share what they've written and how it inspires them to think deeply about God. I love summer because it is an opportunity to host events like this and do some creative things that a busy school year may not offer!

John (far right), a campus pastor for CRU @ UTD, hosted me and our Richland FOCUS group at his house in June. It was so thoughtful and sweet of him to do that. He cooked noodles for us and we hung out all afternoon. The students in our Richland FOCUS ministry live all across the DFW metroplex and this was such a great opportunity for us all to get together and fellowship. 

Jarvis (right), is one of our members at Northeast Church. All of our FOCUS ministries are partnered with a local church for our students to be a part of and serve with. 

(From left to right) Austin, Kale and Stephen all came down to UTD and we played some basketball outside. These are all guys who have led in our ministry so it was great to see them and spend some time with them. 

June Student Testimony Below!:

Thank you all so much for your partnership and support! I am going to be in touch with you all soon. Until then, please don't hesitate to contact me with anything that I can be in prayer for you about!

Your Campus Missionary,

Sirak

Sirak's May Update!

My Friends!

I hope that this blog entry finds you well-rested and encouraged. Well-rested because of the rainfall we've been having down in Texas and encouraged in God's faithfulness. I can't believe that it's already June and that almost half of 2016 is behind us! The school year has finished and we couldn't have asked for a better year with our students. Thank you for your prayers and partnership over the years, I couldn't think of a better team of partners and supporters.

We are having our Summer FOCUS meetings at 7:30pm on Thursdays and I'd love to see you there if you can make it. We are meeting at Richardson East Church of Christ in Richardson, TX. I'd be happy to introduce you to our students and show you what we've got planned this summer. I hope that my monthly posts & pictures have been consistent reminders pointing to what your support has accomplished and I would personally love to show what we're doing first-hand. If you're interested in coming, please don't hesitate to contact me! My phone number is (214) 802-7262.

This week at Summer FOCUS, Matt Clark, our UNT campus pastor, delivered a message on God's love and pursuit of his children. In Luke 15:11-32, Jesus tells the story of "The Prodigal Son". This is a well-known parable teaching on the recklessness in which the younger brother squanders his share of the father's wealth and the love he is shown when he is welcomed back home. I have always read this story and looked at it as a reminder of God's faithfulness and love. Last night, Matt led the group in an activity to imagine ourselves as parents. He asked us to close our eyes and imagine the work, joy, sacrifice, love, fear, investment, discipline, and commitment associated with being a parent. I would like to be a parent one day and this activity helped me relate and empathize with what a father or mother would go through - more specifically, what they would go through if their child decided to leave.

This opened up my mind and heart to what God experiences when his children decide to leave him. As Christians, we believe that God loves us - but do we really know the true depth and gravity of this love? I am fully aware of my inability to love others and pursue them in the way God does, but when I think of God's love for me I have never thought about the distance and space will travel to pursue me even in those moments when I reject him or choose to ignore him. This thought encouraged me to embrace this idea of God's unending love and strive to love others in the same way.

Enjoy the photos below!

Our Richland FOCUS students at the End-of-the-year party! So thankful to have had these students in my life.

I got to meet Stephen (right) and study the bible with him during freshman year in 2012. He was a student-leader in our ministry and became a close friend of mine. He recently graduated in May with a degree in Information Technology Management. He accepted a position in Houston and will be working full-time. We are going to miss Stephen!

Daniel (left) and I flying to Washington state for our week-long SICM (Student Institute of Campus Ministries) conference!

Me (left) and some of our future student-leaders!

When we were in Washington for SICM, we got to attend CCF (Campus Christian Fellowship). This was such a powerful experience. God is working in campus ministries all across our nation and we are so thankful to be partnered one like CCF.

I got to meet one of my favorite authors, J.I. Packer. A few years ago I read "Knowing God", and this book thoroughly influenced how I think and talk about God. He was such a sweet man to meet.

(From left to right) Caleb, me, Aaron, and Manny were all hosted by a wonderful family in Bellingham, WA during SICM. These guys were a blast to stay with and get to know during SICM. 

Nicki (left) was such a great intern this year. She and I worked with each other at Richland College and I couldn't have done it this year without her. She is responsible, caring, funny and loves the Lord. I am blown away at her heart and dedication to the gospel. She will be transitioning off of staff this fall and will be pursuing other career opportunities. We're going to miss you, Nicki!

Jake (right), is one of the CCF staff in Bellingham, WA. During the week we led worship together and he's one of the most thoughtful, spiritual, and loving people I've met.   

Front row at the CCF fellowship gathering.  

Thank you all so much for your partnership and vision for being a part of what God is doing on his campuses. I will be touching base with all of you this summer to catch up, share stories, and minister to one another. If you have anything you'd like prayer for please don't hesitate to contact me! 

Your campus missionary,

Sirak

Sirak's April Update!

My Friends!

I hope that April was a month that was well-rested and was a time of personal growth and sanctification. If you wouldn't be able to describe April in such a way then I pray that May would be a month that we all set goals and make the necessary decisions to follow Christ better. I thank you all for your consistent prayers and partnership in the gospel. There are many tough days in campus ministry but God is constantly reminding me to be faithful as I am encouraged by your faithfulness.

Last night we had our end-of-the-year party for UTD FOCUS. It was a celebration of what God has done this year and we honored the many students who were a part of it. I am consistently blown away at the level of commitment and consistency that our student leaders possess. These are men and women who are in class full-time, many of them work part-time and have other obligations but still decide to lead a small group and make disciples on campus. I never want to take for granted how God has blessed our campus ministry through these students and last night was a celebration of their commitment and the work they can look back on and say, "God did that."

I've got a lot of pictures to update you with what's gone on in April and I hope that if you have any questions, prayer requests, comments, or concerns that you wouldn't hesitate to contact me! (See pictures below)

Our UTD 2015-16 UTD/Richland FOCUS Staff! It's been such a pleasure to lead our campus with such bright ministers. From left to right: Nicki, Dani, Brandon, Carmen, Mandy, Victoria, Laurence, Peter, and me (Sirak)

Daniel (left) and I got to meet weekly to lead a group of our small group leaders as they led our community small groups. Daniel is a Ph.D student studying Neuroscience. He's been one of my favorite people to be around this year, love that guy!

I didn't get to be in this photo because I was serving punch in the cake line, however, this is the men's core that I got to lead this year with Karlo (middle of photo, purple button-down shirt).

During the evening, we sang worship songs and celebrated what God has done this year through his people and campus!

Our Richland FOCUS group!

We took a selfie right after the above photo. Why not right? I love these students!

Kale (right), one of our small group leaders and I. Kale and I met weekly to minister to one another and pray for our campus. The students in his core group were impacted greatly through his leadership!

Our Richland FOCUS' men's bible study! We have met every Wednesday this year and these guys have become some of my closest friends. 

It wouldn't be a men's bible study without a selfie, would it? I'm so thankful for these dudes. 

John, one of our male small-group leaders shared on why it's important to give & invest in the vision.

Our group that has been showing up to our Richland FOCUS combined group.

Our Friday Night Fellowship gatherings at UTD have grown so much this year. These students really love getting together to worship and they've welcomed our Richland FOCUS students with open arms!

Sagar (middle), one of our FOCUS Alumni was on campus last week and we all got to catch up with one another. Rhett (left) was in Sagar's bible study his freshman year and Sagar (middle) was in my bible study his freshman year. The circle of life is complete. Rhett has done such a great job meeting and discipling students this year!

At our end-of-the-year party, the Richland FOCUS group took a selfie together! I love these students so much. I am beyond thankful to call myself their campus pastor! We have one more meeting this Wednesday and then the year is a wrap :) 

Please be praying for our students as they enter summer. We have our summer FOCUS that is going to be meeting on Thursday nights this summer, however, we have a few weeks in-between before we begin. Pray that our students would spend their time wisely and that those going back home to their families would be a light to them.

Thank you all for your support and friendship over the years. I'm blown away that I get to spread the name of Jesus on his college campuses and call you all my partners. I love you all and will be in touch soon!

Your campus missionary,

Sirak

Sirak's March Ministry Update!

My friends! My people! My team!

I hope this message finds you well-rested and that your month of March was encouraging and re-energizing. So much has happened in March but before we go into the details I wanted to share a scripture with you all:

"Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, 'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation'. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain." Philippians 2:14-16 (NIV)

As busy as the month of March was for many of us, I found myself challenged not to complain or boast of the wrong reasons. It is important to know that while we do the work of God people are watching us. As I have led the Richland ministry this year I have seen that many students 'know' who I am without me ever introducing myself. People watch and see what we are up to and it's important for us to stay a light even when we are most comfortable. We are not immune to the attacks of the evil one nor do we live outside of the flesh. I am also reminded of another scripture:

"Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:24-25 (NIV)

I just wanted to encourage you all with this so we can look back soon on the month of April and be confident that we were a light to those around us! Okay, so now on to what happened in March...

We had a group of students from Western Washington University visit us during their spring break to help us with our week-long evangelism initiative (see pictures below). It was such a blessing to have them and so many great spiritual conversations came out of that week. I posted some pictures of our displays that we used to engage students in spiritual conversations.

"If you could ask God any question what would it be?"

"Should we believe in something that can't be scientifically proven?"

After outreach at Richland, our students all gathered to play some board games and hang out during the afternoon. 

We did outreach at UTD and our displays were such a great tool to help spark spiritual conversations. 

"When you die you rot! But does the real you disappear?"

Our Friday Night Fellowship gathering! Victoria (one of our interns) preached that evening and did such a great job.

To kick off our outreach week we had an all-campus worship event! It was so cool to see the many different campus ministries come together and worship together as a united group.

We did outreach at Richland College and our displays attracted many individuals to come and engage us in spiritual conversations. 

Pictures of our outreach at Richland College.

(From left to right: Brandon, Andrew, Dylan and me (Sirak)) Our good friend & FOCUS Alum, Dylan, is going to be moving to San Diego to pursue his dentistry career and we all went out to top golf to reflect on past years and pray over Dylan.

We are wrapping up the year here pretty soon and please be praying as we strive to finish the year well and push our students to continue their growth in Christ. I am so thankful to have you all as my partners in ministry and please don't hesitate to let me know how I can be praying for you!

You all should be personally hearing from me as we get closer to summer so I can encourage you with stories of how your support has contributed to the Kingdom growing on God's campuses :)

Your campus missionary,

Sirak