Sirak's March Update! April is here!

My friends! My Team!

I can't believe that we're already in April! March was a month full of outreach events, new friendships being formed, and preparing for the end of the year. These years are flying by but one thing remains true: God is faithful. 

Last week at our staff meeting we read over the lyrics to "Great Is Thy Faithfulness". It is an older hymn that has been sung in churches for many years. As we were reading over the lyrics, something hit me about the line that says: "Summer and winter, springtime and harvest, sun moon and stars in their courses above / join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness mercy and love". As I was reading these words, it hit me that God's faithfulness has stretched through the centuries and across the cosmos. What we are doing on his campuses is only a small part of the big picture of what God is involved in. Your support, partnership, and commitment to this mission is all connected with what God is doing in his creation. I hope that this ministers to you and I encourage you to listen to the song sometime! I especially recommend the version by Chris Rice!

Thank you for your support and partnership! I hope that the photos below encourage you and remind you of God's faithfulness just like the hymn did for me. Enjoy!

Our student testimony for the month of March! Siena has such a unique story and has been having a great year in our UTD FOCUS ministry!

Our students announcing their SICM event after FOCUS. SICM is a week-long campus missionary training event that we send our students to. It is a bit expensive so we host fundraisers to help fund our students. It is always a blast!

Here is a picture that I took of my core. I love getting to spend time with these students and dive deep into the word with them. They love to laugh with each other and share about what is going on in one another's lives. Wednesdays @ 1:30pm is my favorite time of the week!

Photo of our students hanging out after one of our Friday Night FOCUS events.

Our Dallas FOCUS staff went out to eat ice cream together :) I love working with these folks. They are some of the most brilliant minds that I know. They are loving, friendly, challenging and deeply committed to Jesus Christ. 

Candice, one of our SMU FOCUS students got baptized! Dawn, our SMU FOCUS apprentice, has been studying the bible with her and we all got together at Laurence's house to celebrate her commitment to following Jesus!

We had a bit of trouble reserving rooms on campus for our Friday Night FOCUS meeting(s) and CARE Church in Richardson has been so gracious in letting us meet there! We love our relationship with them and are so grateful for the way they serve the city.

Our Dallas FOCUS Student Leader Team! They are so engaged and willing to work hard to serve the campuses they are on. Every Monday night we meet to share in what God is doing in our core's, our campus, and our lives! Love working with this team of students!

Below are some photos of SSI Week! We had an entire week of outreach events to meet new students and engage our campus in spiritual discussion(s). This week was full of stories of people encountering God for the first time and students being bold for the gospel. This week is always encouraging because it's a reminder that God is working in the minds & hearts of people long before we ever encounter them during outreach and then long after we may never see them again. Enjoy the photos and be encouraged that God is faithful!

Thank you so much for believing in our work and thank you for your support. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have anything you'd like prayer for! I'm honored to have you on my team and I'm looking forward to many years together as a team :)

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak

God is Faithful! Sirak's February 2018 Update!

My friends! How is it going?

I can't believe that we're already in March! February flew by and there's so much to update you on what we've been up to this month. Right after winter camp, we hit the ground running with outreach events, our core groups, and jumping into sermon series' about "Social Justice" and "The Relationship of Faith & Science". Our students really enjoyed the topics and there were many great conversations that opened up because of them.

Over the last few week's, I have spent time thinking through God's unconditional love for us. I will be turning 30 years old this July and I have had some time to reflect on how much I've changed since my time in college. I think that one of the most perplexing attributes of God is his ability and willingness to love us for who we presently are AND have a vision for what we can be one day. There are days when I wish I was better, stronger, more mature, etc. and I think there are also days that I wish the students I spend time with were better, strong, more mature, etc. When I sit back and reflect on God's enduring patience for ME I am moved to humility and love for my brother and sister.

Thank YOU so much for your support and friendship. You saw something in this either one year ago or five years ago when our missionary journey began together. You saw what could be possible and you joined in. That is inspiring and pushes me to live a life worthy of the gospel. Thank you for believing in me and our mission.

Campus ministry is this strange environment where you continually need to see people for what they can become. Thank you for seeing what this could become and joining in with us. Enjoy the photos below and be encouraged!

I had the opportunity to preach on the relationship between "Faith & Science". On our student survey that we took last semester, it was revealed that many of our students have wrestled with how to think through the relationship between faith & science. 

Sarah Glenesk, one of our campus pastors, interviewing a student about our upcoming event, Pizza Theology! This year we discussed the 2nd coming of Jesus - the event was titled: "Ready or Not..Here He Comes!" - our students loved it and received it with open arms. 

Our Richland FOCUS group from winter camp - I absolutely love this group of students!

One of our UTD Friday Night FOCUS gatherings. I really love getting together with these students and sharing life with them.

A picture of our group that came to pizza theology (all of the FOCUS campuses). They loved the topic an were engaged throughout the day. We had our event on a Sunday afternoon and were are always amazed at how students are so excited to talk about the deep truths about God and engage with one another! 

Every week after our Richland FOCUS meeting, our students always stay after, hang out, help put the tables back and spend time together. Love this group of students!

Another picture of when I got to preach about our series: "Faith & Science". We have had such a large group of students attending our FOCUS meetings and God has been faithfully plugging students into core-communities as we have grown. Please be praying as we discern and think through our large group meetings and if we are meeting our goals of pushing for 1:1 relationships!

Thank you so much for your support and partnership! I am blown away that I get to work with such brilliant people who love the Lord and are willing to walk alongside me. You all are such an inspiration to me and give me strength when I am weak. I hope that these pictures encourage you and are a reminder of God's faithfulness and what your support is going towards. I wish you all could see the faces and hear the stories of the students that you all are investing in but I am encouraged that you are still there with me through your partnership and support.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have anything you'd like prayer for in your life!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak

January 2018 Flew By!

My friends! My team!

I can't believe that January has already passed by. It was a month full of events and meeting new students. THANK YOU for your support and partnership in campus missions. God is doing big things on his campuses in the North Texas area (also in the world) and I am grateful to have you side by side with me on campus sharing the love of Jesus!

We had our annual FOCUS Winter Camp Jan. 12-15 and once again God was absolutely faithful in providing the funds from Richland College to get our camp paid for by the college. That is such a fantastic blessing. Many students at Richland do not have cars, work part-time, ride public transportation, etc. many of them do not have the resources to afford our $150.00 winter camp. Though we do offer scholarships, it is such a great blessing to have a college campus that supports and believes in building community through their student organizations. Thank you Richland College!

Winter Camp was a huge success! We flew in Geoff and Jessica Mumley from Bellingham, WA and they spoke on what it means to be "sent" into the world. They had a powerful message of, "Your mission is where your feet are." I believe that message stuck with our students and they responded positively to it! During our first week back on campus, many of our students were out meeting new people and inviting them to core!

Thank you so much for your support and believing in what we do. You all are the reason we get to spend our time on campus, meeting students, and pushing forward the message of God's kingdom coming here, on earth. Enjoy the photos below and I hope that they are an encouraging reminder at how your support is pushing the mission forward! (See photos below)

All of our FOCUS campuses gathered together for Winter Camp!

I had the opportunity to serve in leading worship at camp. It's always one of my favorite times of the year to help with worship! Our students brought so much energy and charisma to worship, it was great!

Back picture of our Monday morning worship team!

Our FOCUS podcast is off to a great start! We got to interview Father Jeremy Bergestrom. He is an Episcopal priest with SMU. He has been instrumental in our FOCUS campus ministry plant at SMU. We interviewed him about the importance of liturgy, the history of the church and what his vision is for SMU FOCUS.

Laurence Glenesk, one of our UTD/SMU campus staff - preaching at our Friday Night Fellowship. We opened up the spring semester with sermons about social justice and how we can make a difference in our communities by helping disadvantaged groups. He did such a great job communicating this to our students and staff!

Our Richland FOCUS group that came to winter camp!

Our Richland FOCUS group that attended Winter Camp!

Wide shot of our entire FOCUS ministry (all of the campuses). I'm so thankful for this group of students and how they serve one another. God has slowly been growing our FOCUS ministries and we pray that he would continue to do so!

Thank you so much for your support and believing in our mission. Words cannot express just how humbled I am knowing that you are right there with me on campus through your prayer & support. Some of you have been there since the beginning for me and that blows me away. I hope that you're all encouraged and please do not hesitate to contact me if you need prayer for anything going on in your life!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak

2018 Is Here & So Are We!

My friends! My team!

Happy new year :) I can't believe that 2017 is already behind us and 2018 is before us. I hope that you all had a restful and love-filled December and spent lots of time with the people that you love. As I get older, the more I realize that those times with the ones that we love are so important. Each year brings about a new season - some things stay the same while others change. We begin to see our little cousins and grow up and develop personalities, we begin to see our parents in a clearer light and we begin to see just how short life is. In the midst of all of this change, we serve a God who remains constant and faithful. He is the one who brings us through seasons of change and calls us to grow. He loves us too much to leave us where we are.

Campus ministry has change embedded within it. Each year brings a new group of students, meetings, events, and stories to be told. As campus pastors, much of this change is out of our control and if we aren't careful we just find ourselves reacting to the craziness around us. 2017 has taught me a lot about being patient and being content where the Lord has me. With my ACL reconstruction surgery in October, I was reminded not to grow confident in the things that I do on my own strength. For two weeks I was on my bed, unable to be as mobile as I previously had been. For those two weeks, I spent a lot of time reading and in prayer. It was forced rest and I began to see just how fragile all of the things we do can be.

Please pray that we wouldn't get ahead of ourselves and become confident in what we do - but that we would consistently stop and remember that we are only here because God is good. Thank you so much for your support and constant partnership. I'm blown away that I get to do what I do because of supporters like you. Thank you for your friendship and prayers - 2017 was great and I'm thankful that you were a part of it with me.

Please pray for us as we prepare for our 2018 FOCUS Winter Camp! We have many students preparing to go and it's always one of our biggest events of the year. Pray for safe travels and impactful relationships to be made and conversations to be had! Also please pray for a strong, powerful move of the holy spirit at our camp!

I got to have dinner w/ a group of pastors with CRU! They were gracious in welcoming me and we go to share in what the Lord is doing in our lives.

Our end of the semester lunch/encouragement time with Richland FOCUS! So thankful for these students and their hearts. They are all so sweet and we're preparing for a great winter camp together!

We had a great time at our FOCUS Christmas Party! Our students had performances prepared and they were all so special and funny. 

One of the core performances from the Christmas Party!

For our last FOCUS of the year, we met outside @ UTD and had sang Christmas songs with each other. We had students share about how to have a purposeful break and be a servant with your families. It was a great way to end a wonderful school year!

Another picture of our CRU Christmas Dinner!

Me, Dr. Bill Watson, and Sarah King got to sit down and have a conversation for our next episode of the FOCUS Podcast (coming soon!). Dr. Watson came and spoke at our Fall Pizza Theology and he did such a great job sharing his heart on the Sermon on the Mount.

Garrett Davis (our Collin College Campus Pastor) planned a men's camping evening and it was fun to get to hang out with all of the male staff from our campuses. 

Thank you so much for your support and for believing in our mission to make disciples on God's college campuses. I hope that these photos encouraged you and reminded you of what your support and partnership is going towards. Let's have a great 2018!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak

The Semester Finishes Strong!

My friends!

I hope that all is well with you. I can't believe that it's already December! Wow, 2017 flew by quickly and there are so many stories of God's faithfulness to show for it. I am blown away by how consistent and powerful he is in moving through the lives of our students. I hope that this Christmas holiday we are all reminded at how 2017 was a year where God was present; through the highs and lows & the ups and downs.

I am continually challenged by the idea that God came down to earth and became flesh. The story of Jesus' birth, how he came down from his heavenly home to us, encourages me in our mission to reach college students. No matter where we are or where we're going, we are sent to bring light wherever we go. Thank you for your support and being alongside me as we reach students for the gospel.

This semester was a tough one for me at times. Thank you for your prayers and encouraging text messages regarding my ACL reconstruction surgery. The recovery is going well and I am officially off of crutches! My leg is still very weak but I am able to be weight-bearing and it is getting better every day. The injury was a bit of a setback, but I was able to see how many people (a lot of them, students) came through and supported me in my time of need.

I hope that the pictures below encourage you and give you a glimpse into how God was faithful this past November! (pictures below)

Our November student testimony! Check it out and be encouraged :)

Our last Richland FOCUS of the school year. We had lunch together and shared with each other how we saw Jesus working in the live(s) of one another. It was very touching!

Another picture of our Christmas party performances! It was such a great experience & opportunity!

Our FOCUS Christmas Party! The student-led small groups prepared performances and they were so good!

This is a picture of our Pizza Theology event we had on "The Sermon on the Mount". We had Dr. Watson from Criswell College come and share with our students. He did such a great job and our students absolutely loved it!

Our Dallas (UTD, Richland, SMU, and TWU Dallas) FOCUS team. I love working with this team!

Our last Richland FOCUS of the school year!

Another shot of our pizza theology event. We had so many students attend and show such a deep interest in scripture and getting to know the heart of God.

I hope that your fall semester has been restful and full of reminders of God's faithfulness. I'm blown away that I get to serve on God's college campuses with you all as my team!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak

It's Already November! (Happy Halloween!)

My friends! My team!

Good November to you all! :)

I'm so blown away at how quickly time passes by. It's already November and before you know it, it'll be Thanksgiving. I have so many stories of God's faithfulness and his providence. So many students are encountering the gospel for the first time and authentic relationships are being nurtured in our communities. Thank you for your support and partnership over these years and I'm so excited for the many more to come :)

Featured in this month's student testimony is our very own Richland College's, Josh Erdmann!

Josh came to our Richland ministry last year and I had the privilege of studying the Bible with him and building a spiritual friendship together. He is funny, kind-hearted, and has a deep desire to know God and help others respond to this message of Christ!

Josh's testimony below:

I want you to know that Josh is just one of many students that are being reached across our campuses. Hearing his story, I am reminded why we do what we do. God is so faithful in bringing his word to his people - your support & partnership has opened up doors for this to happen more & more! Enjoy the photos below and please don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything at all that I can be praying for you about!

Sandra, one of our UTD/Richland FOCUS staff sharing her heart @ Richland FOCUS!

Before we did outreach as a ministry, we all got together to seek the holy spirit and worship together. It was such an encouraging night!

Every Wednesday @ Richland we have set up volleyball nets, thrown around the frisbee and have become a presence on campus! We have met so many students each week setting up and doing this!

I took a selfie with my core. I love these students so much - we have gotten to build such a fun group on Wednesdays @ 1:30pm!

Our UTD Friday Night Fellowship meetings!

After our Richland large group meetings - we all usually hang out and go out to eat with each other. So thankful for these students :)

Peter, one of our UTD staff - preaching at Friday Night Fellowship. He did such a great job and has become a favorite among our students. I've known him since he was a student and he has become such a strong and influential leader in our community! 

Getting ready for ACL surgery :) 

My mom and I before surgery. Even though I'm 29 years old, I'll always be a mommas-boy. She drove me to and from the hospital and took care of me the first couple of days after the surgery. So thankful for her! Love you Mommy!

This was my view for the first few days after surgery. I am now able to move around on crutches and the pain has subsided a bit. Please be praying for a quick recovery and that I would stay consistent in physical therapy and my rehab :)

We did outreach at Richland college and asked the question: What would it say on your tombstone? I wasn't able to be there due to my injury, however, I heard that they had GREAT conversations and got to engage our campus deeply!

Another picture of our outreach event @ Richland! Eddie did such a great job planning and initiating this event!

Thank you all so much for your support and partnership! I am blown away and honored to call you all my team :) You've all been there with me since the beginning and I can't ask for a better group of partners. Please keep me in your prayers that I would heal & recover with no delays. 

Until next time, thank you and love you!

Your brother & campus missionary,

Sirak Asfaw