Summer, is that you?

This is definitely a summer for the books as it's certainly one like no other. Every year I have my own expectations as the season approaches - as I'm sure everyone does. I've been inside so much mid-day that when I went out to run errands at 3 in the afternoon this week, I was confused by the 100+ degree heat and why I couldn't cool down more quickly. If you're wondering if I'm laughing at myself as I type this - of course I am! Aside from not having a "normal" summer, it has still been one of rest and preparation. God has been present in all things and shown me so over and over again.

This is not a recent picture! But it is from a time when all of our student leader ladies got to get together at the park one night. A lot of them are transferring to universities this year, but probably not in the way the originally planned. And some are staying at Collin this year - which will also look radically different. Please pray for our returning and transferring students as we head into new territory.

We usually have Summer FOCUS on Thursday nights for students still in the DFW area over the summer to come together once a week for worship and fellowship. We've still been doing that this summer but all virtually. We live stream a service through Twitch, then every campus individually has a Zoom call going at the same time where we split students into breakout rooms of 5-6 people for discussions throughout the service. It's been a cool way to connect with students I don't know very well and gives people something to look forward to on Thursday nights! This year FOCUS created a small planning team for our Thursday night's and I have been on the team primarily to plan after events and advertise. After events are usually fun things people go do after Summer FOCUS, like going to Whataburger or playing volleyball somewhere. But we've had to get creative finding virtual things for people to get together and do. It's been fun playing Jackbox games and online Pictionary with people all across our ministry.

This is my book club! Sirak is our leader and the spotlight video. On the top from l to r it's Austin, Sirak, Pedro, me, and Darby. Rhett must have been on vacation.

The entire staff team is reading a book by William H. Willimon called Pastor this summer and we're divided up into book clubs to reflect together as well as get to know people who work on other campuses. The book explores the complexity of the title "pastor" and what that possibly entails.

Our campus team has been spending most of our meetings this summer getting to know one another better, and I look forward to it every week. Something we've been talking about a lot is intimacy with the Lord. Through them, I've been reminded that there's no "one-size-fits-all" for how people relate to God. But it's been encouraging to see how other people do which has given me new things to try.

    

My sweet friend, and ministry partner, Kennedy, Facetimed me a few weeks ago and we matched! We have a knack of accidentally matching with stripes. Other picture circa...2018?

Building my team (of all of you) has been incredibly encouraging. I hit 80% of my goal halfway through summer! Thank you all for your generosity and partnership with me in campus ministry. God has shown me his faithfulness through each and every one of you. I'm currently sitting at 86% and at a solid stand still. I only need $420 more per month and I've got 3 more weeks of summer. Please pray for me as I look for people to join my team!

Prayer Requests

• Our team is starting to plan for the upcoming year: pray we would discern how best to structure our campus ministry when campuses will most likely be very empty and we are still in the middle of a global pandemic
• Fundraising as I mentioned before
• Please pray for those who feel isolated in these strange times, that we would have eyes to see them and hearts to help them
• Pray for our own hearts, souls, and minds, that we wouldn't grow weary or lose hope

Please let me know how I can be praying for you. I can't say it enough, but thank you for joining me in this.

Here is a testimony from my friend, Keanna!

With love,

Jacy