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A few highlights from the first part of the fall semester. A couple things coming up this fall to pray for.
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Establishing Witnessing Communities at
Northern Michigan University
Cake with a Match for a Candle
As I looked at my phone I had two minutes before the
worship team would start Saturday evening at our
weekend conference. I had put up an evangelism station
the day before hoping to teach it to some students during
free moments. “Hey, I need some people to come over
here so I can show you this station!” Five students from
our chapter who were nearby quickly circled the four
display panels. I randomly asked Abby to be the
participant and hurriedly asked a series of questions as she
interacted with the display. Two of her responses caught
me strangely, so I asked Abby if she had ever made a
decision to follow Jesus. Since she was a regular to our
fellowship I had encouraged her to attend a track for
Christian freshmen that weekend, and not the track for
those investigating Jesus. To my surprise, not only was
Jesus new to her, she was more than ready to pray and
commit herself to Jesus! During our chapter prayer time
we got to hear more of her story. We celebrated with
Abby singing happy birthday with a piece of cake we found
and a match for a candle. Bailey an NMU student, is
meeting this week with Abby for the second time. They
are going through the Gospel of Matthew and Bailey is
using discipleship skills she learned the same weekend in a
different track. Students like Abby like to feel welcomed
to a group before they start considering Jesus. Even
though she came from a strong Christian family, she says
she has understood the Gospel for the first time!
Andy Liimatta- Campus Staff Worker [email protected] 906-236-9219
more campus stories at https://nmuintervarsity.wordpress.com/
Why Would I Go to Urbana?
“Is God calling me to foreign missions?” That is the
questions students ask themselves internally as we
invite them to the Urbana Missions Conference Dec
27-31 in St. Louis. However, that is not the primary
question we want them to have in considering if they
will go! Urbana is not 5 days of arm twisting to recruit
missionaries. Instead, Urbana is a time to see our
world. We see the broken parts and we see the work
of God’s people in being the church in those broken
areas. Often at Urbana students realize deeply for the
first time that God can use them at all! Often at
Urbana students first see that the Gospel message of
hope is desperately needed everywhere. The
possibilities of serving Jesus are endless (and the
organizations with booths inviting participation in
proclamation and serving around the Gospel are
endless at Urbana). I’m praying for 10 students to
decide to attend Urbana. Spending 5 days thinking
about the Gospel and what God is doing in the world
will shape the way they think about God’s growing
kingdom forever! Please also pray that students don’t
give in to fear in fundraising for the trip and that they
would not be afraid to talk to their parents about
wanting to go to a mission conference.
Fall Conference: Andy, Abby, Melanie, Emily, Makayla, Erin, Tamina, Bailey, Maddie, Julie, Kayla, Nancy (Tim not pictured)
InterVarsity students running a table raising funds in Jamrich Hall
for Worldvision work among Syrian refuges
Looking for Apprentices!
Instead of looking for new leaders this year, we
are first looking for apprentices. I’m inviting 10
freshmen to join me for several weeks of
intentional missional activity on campus.
InterVarsity has noted that when we start with
training around getting to know non-Christians,
sharing life and the Gospel; it has the effect of
boosting other areas of their spiritual life. It’s in
the risk taking that we trust and truly see God’s
faithfulness and power. After being an
apprentice I’ll be inviting some of these
students into co-leading or planting small group
Bible studies during the winter semester. So be
in prayer for these apprentices. We have great
materials, videos, activities, Bible studies put
together nationally and we’re looking forward
to our campus being blessed through this
leadership development.
Praying about Transitions
Every day I think and pray a bit more about what I
might be doing a year from now. The thinking isn’t
born out of tiredness for campus ministry or fear of
the future; but is more a curious waiting. I believe
that guidance comes from God, and that God likes to
use his Church to help guide, so I’d like to quickly
share a few options Karen and I are praying around;
(that you could pray for also). We don’t feel God is
calling me to years of seminary. My passion area is
for teaching and training in an under-served context.
We are thinking God is calling us to stay in the
Marquette area (Karen will be looking for a Special
Ed teaching positions fall 2016). The broad areas of
interest are: 1) If Karen is hired out of the area I
could serve on a church staff in that new town. 2)
Planting a church in Ishpeming or Marquette focused
on unchurched non-professionals (service industry
workers). 3) Offer a variety of training seminars at
churches around the central U.P. helping people
grow in evangelism, Bible study skills, discipleship,
etc. 4) Taking 5 classes with my denomination that
will allow me to serve as a pastor in a church without
a pastor, likely in the northern Lower Peninsula. 5)
Karen is considering attending the Urbana Missions
conference with me (Dec 27-31) since we are both
going through transitions in our professional life, we
thought it would be good to consider how God might
speak to us at Urbana. Thanks for your prayers for us
and all those going through transitions.
NMU Cares For Syria
If you search Face Book for “NMU Cares For
Syria” you will see the work of one of our small
group Bible Studies. Julie, the small group
leader has us praying and giving to the work of
Worldvision among those living in refugee
camps. The funds help provide food, water,
basic health care and support for children
exposed to seeing violence in the Syrian Civil
War. It has been encouraging to see Julie
organize this fundraiser and open it to the
university community. Our goal is to raise
$10,000 by the end of the year. We are at
$535. Julie wanted to invite those receiving
my ministry update letter to consider giving a
donation through the link on Facebook.