Sirak's October Update!!

My friends! My team!

I can't believe that it's already November! October was filled with stories of joy, delight, and great pleasure. I'm consistently blown away at the faithfulness and love that God has shown to me and our students in this season of life. Friendships are being built and lives are continued to be changed through the message of Jesus! Two students currently stick out in my mind: Jackson & David. I am currently spending weekly time with the two of them and absolutely love my time with them. Please pray that God would use me as his tool to shape and develop these two young men!

Over the past two weeks, Ephesians 4:20-24 has been on my mind and heart. It talks about our receiving and response to the message of Christ: "...to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Even in the times when I think that I have 'arrived' and 'feel accomplished' God is reminding me yet again: I'm not done with you, Sirak. I think campus ministry consists of reminding the students around that God isn't finished with them yet. We are continuing to be made new in the attitude of our minds :)

Enjoy the pictures below and remember that God isn't finished yet! I'm consistently blown away at what God can do with a faithful group of people who decide to commit to his vision for community & mission. Please pray that we would be that type of community on God's college campuses!

Our FOCUS 20-year celebration was such an encouraging event! We got to celebrate what God has done and are looking forward to the next 20 years!

Our TWU Dallas ministry (left: Amber, right: Kristin) doing outreach on campus!

We had Friday Night Fellowship at Northeast Church on Friday and then had a Halloween party afterwards :) Our students had so much fun and enjoyed their time together!

Our local church had their annual fall fun fest and it was a great way for the college students to get involved with the event!

We had a guest speaker come to our UTD Friday Night Fellowship, Daniel Rangel, come and speak on sexuality and cultural influence of sex. He spoke on what our response, as Christians, should be to all of the worlds messages on sex and pleasure.

Our Richland FOCUS ministry had a board game day in the cafeteria! It was a good time to hang out and spend the day with each other.

A picture of our Richland FOCUS Wednesday fellowship time!

Our UTD/Richland/TWU Dallas staff (minus Brandon & Mandy) dressed up in our Halloween costumes :) I enjoyed getting spend time with all of them.

Our Richland FOCUS group took a selfie together after one of our Wednesday meetings! It's been such a joy to work together with this group of students :)

Thank you so much for your support and partnership! I am filled with gratitude and thankfulness to my Lord for providing me with you all: friends and family who believe in the mission. You all are the ones to be honored for not just believing in the mission, but participating in it as well. I thank you for that! Please don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything in your life that I can be praying for you about!

Your campus missionary & brother,

Sirak

Sirak's September 2016 Update!!

My friends!

I hope all is well with you :) So much has gone on this past month that I am honored to update you about! First off, God is good. Second off, God is faithful. It's amazing how such a simple idea can be so easy to forget. Throughout this month I have been challenged and shaped through this truth.

As I sit here typing this blog I am reminded about this truth: when you love people deeply from the heart you must also be willing to be hurt deeply from the hurt. When a student decides to reject your invitation into spiritual friendship it hurts. When a student decides to follow a life of sin and immaturity instead of following the call of Christ it is frustrating. Despite these realities of campus ministry, God calls us to be faithful.

"He also said, 'This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain - first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." Mark 4:26-29.

This story has challenged me this month to be faithful. Being faithful can be easy when things are easy and comfortable, however, when things don't make sense or seem to be bearing fruit, being faithful can be a deep struggle. In this story of the farmer sowing seed, I am struck at his faithfulness and confidence in the process of sowing seed. "...the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how...". Father, I pray that you would make us all faithful like this farmer.

I hope to see all of you at our 20-year celebration this Saturday, Oct. 8th @ 4:00pm. (@ Richardson East Church of Christ). I cannot express how excited I am for this event! (see photo below) I'd be honored to see you all and celebrate what God has done over the last 20 years together!

Thank you so much for your partnership and support :) Enjoy the (many) photos below and I pray that you're encouraged at what God is doing on his college campuses!

We set up a table at the student org-fair! We got to meet so many students at Richland during welcome week. 

We had a lunch hangout/board game day and our students really have been doing a great job meeting new students and serving one another. I am amazed at how important community is on a college campus. For many of these students, these are the first Christian friends they've ever had!

We did our first annual FOCUS Worship Conference! It was a joy to lead and share some of the insights and ideas that have challenged and shaped me over the years as a worship leader. 

Our UTD/Richland/TWU Dallas Fall Camp! We spent a good amount of the day Saturday getting to know one another and playing large group games.

Another shot of the worship conference!

Carter, (right, blue shirt), the director of the Office of Student Life, is going to be transferring to Tarrant County and he has been an instrumental part in helping us establish ourselves as an organization on campus. Before he left, he shared his heart for Richland college and his vision - he will be missed!

Our 2016 Richland men's core!

Our Wednesday large group meetings have been such an encouragement mid-week. We have been talking about what it means to live a life following the spirit.

Shot of our worship band at fall camp 2016.

We've been hard at work recording video footage for our 20-year celebration. We've got a lot of cool things planned this Saturday! 

Thank you so much for your partnership and support! This wouldn't be possible without partners like you who believe fully in the mission to make disciples on God's college campuses. I hope to see you all this Saturday at our 20-year celebration but if not please don't hesitate to contact me if you need prayer for anything in your life or just want to catch up :)

FOCUS Student Testimony for October:

Your campus missionary,

Sirak

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