October Update

I have been really encouraged this month getting to see and hear how our students are growing in their relationships with one another and with Christ.

I'm currently studying the bible with a young guy that I've been spending some time with on and off for about 5 or 6 months.  He's been around our ministry for a couple years, but never very involved or invested.  This past summer was a real low point for him, leaving him feeling disenchanted, isolated, and estranged from God.  On top of that, while it was obvious to him that something was wrong, it was obvious to me that he wouldn't take advice to overcome those things!

I challenged him pretty hard about it near the end of the summer.  About a week later, he contacted me with a much different attitude about the things we'd spoken about.  And while it wasn't overnight, I've gotten to watch him slowly change his mindset and habits.  He committed himself to being a part of the community, to look for ways to give, and to work on building spiritual friendships with some of the guys.

What a change it has brought about in him!  At the end of our time last week, he told me he feels like he's been missing out his entire life.  Growing up without a father in the picture, he said he's never had guys in his life that could help him figure things out and navigate this life in a way that glorifies God.  I just can't wait till he gets to turn around and play that role in the lives of other young men.

Another cool story...  One of our student leaders at Collin this year had shared with me back in the summer that she really wanted to find ways to reach out to her co-workers.  She works at a bank and is by far the youngest person in her department--most of them are old enough to be her parents.  But she has purposefully worked to that end, buying a couple of her co-workers a bible along the way.

Long story short, I found out today that she has set up a one-on-one bible study with a woman in her 40's.  What 20-year-old does that?  This one does!  God is raising up young people in our midst that go into spiritual battle every day in their own spheres of influence.  This isn't just about our campuses, this is about the Kingdom of God expanding wherever His people go.


Please pray that our one-on-one bible studies will be fruitful, that students will come to know the Lord, and that they will understand what it is that He is calling them to.

Thank you for your prayers and continued support.  This work is indeed impossible apart from the grace, love and power of our Lord.  May He receive all the glory!

Much love and thanks,
Casey

September Update

Well we're 6 weeks in already!  People ask me often how things are going, and my most common answer is simply, "Fast."  I guess that's a good thing, because it tells me there's a lot going on...and there is!

Our students have done a tremendous job purposefully meeting, engaging, and befriending people.  We've definitely got the biggest group we've ever had at Collin; I'm betting we've broken 100 several times on Thursday nights.  I've attached a couple photos of Thursday Night Fellowship for you to see:

Where are the guys!?!?

It's a lot of fun to look around and see a full cafeteria, but the truly exciting part is knowing that each of those students are being drawn into relationship with Jesus-people that can share His love with them and speak truth into their lives.  The student leaders have already set up many one-on-one bible studies; in fact, I think most of them have several each.  Please pray that God speaks powerfully through His Word and within those spiritual friendships.

Two weeks ago, we traveled out to the Mount Lebanon Baptist Encampment in Cedar Hill for our annual Fall Retreat.  After getting a huge influx of new students every August, we plan this retreat each September as an opportunity to get away and get to know everyone a little bit.  We had a few students  share a bit of their story, had some walk-and-talk times, shared a few meals, played some pretty crazy games, and talked about the kind of community we desire (and God desires!) to become and the potential roadblocks to getting there.

FOCUS Fall Retreat

Bottom line:  We want to be a place God dwells--a place where people can come and experience Him.

I've been encouraged by all the good feedback we've gotten about camp.  Brianna said several of the girls shared at core group the next week about how thankful they are that they've found FOCUS and how they are really going to make the community a priority in their life this year.

I think the thing I'm most excited about is...well, there are two things.
1. Our student leaders are growing so much already.  God is using our community to raise up workers for the harvest--life-long disciple-makers that will be sent out to many different schools and workplaces in the years to come.
2. God has brought us people that really need him.  I don't know everyone's story, but I know enough to know that we're in the trenches and we're fighting the right battles.

Of course we know that the battle belongs to the Lord.  The victory is His already.  So I ask you to pray for our staff and our students, and for our campuses--that the Kingdom will be advanced.

To Him be the glory!  With much love and gratitude,
Casey