Back to the Basics (And School)

 

All of our student leaders (corefas) at our prep day

School is officially back in session so we are too! A couple weeks ago, all of our student leaders gathered in our directors backyard to prepare and pray for the year. We have 18 students who have volunteered their time to facilitate small groups with students as well as meet one on one with other students to study scripture. I'm so thankful and proud of each of them for the sacrifices they're making with their time and comfort in order to serve other students at Collin College. I get to lead with two of them - one at our Preston Ridge campus and one at Spring Creek. All of our cores are meeting outside at parks or in backyards and social distancing the whole time.

Adriana and I are both peer team leaders - we meet one on one with leaders to pour into them and help them navigate their roles in other students lives. On Monday nights we with our girls all meet together and we've had so much fun together so far! We've got two girls who have to stay home for now and they lead a virtual small group and they join VIA Zoom every week.
Left to right: Bella, Adriana, Bailey, Me, Hannah and DeAnne on the computer, Jessica, Andrea, and Hailey.

Collin College has some fully online classes and some hybrid classes where classes are split online and in person so half of the class comes one day and the other half comes another day in order to maintain social distancing in all classrooms. With these new limitations, campus ministry has its own obstacles. We can't have any events on campus to meet people and the campuses are fairly empty. Going into the semester, our team was unsure of what the year would look like. We decided to put all of our energy into small groups (core) and one on one ministry rather than large group events such as welcome week volleyball nights or fellowship nights. This is okay with all of us because our core values are rooted in relational ministry. So instead of having events on campus and connecting people with arts and crafts or games during the first few weeks, we're simply spending a significant amount of time on campus every day and offering people human interaction and relationship. We're required to wear masks on campus and we distance from people, but we've actually had quite a few people interested in engaging. Students have been at home, lonely for months. Freshman lost the most exciting part of their senior years. We want to be there to welcome them and give them the best possible freshman year amidst a pandemic. 

  

On the left, I took this picture one afternoon when I was walking around campus to meet people and wanted to capture just how empty it was even outside in the typically eventful area. On the right, my friend and coworker, Kristen, made a poster and sat down on campus! We're trying to get creative this year!

Despite our uncertainty, we've already seen God do really cool things. We're meeting people who are very interested in friendships and learning more about Jesus! People are showing up to the cores we have and engaging in meaningful conversations on campus. Things might look different, but God is still showing up and we're here for our students! The start this month is only getting me more excited to see what fruit will come from this year!

Fundraising update: I'm only $11 per month away from my goal and my friend, Adriana, is over fundraised so she is going to try to reallocate some of her's to me! It's been amazing to see people step in to help, increase gifts, join my team, etc. Our entire team has had a very successful year in regards to fundraising - which we found ironic considering the circumstances. But God works in mysterious ways!!

Prayer Requests:

• Everything this year is still fresh and new, pray that we would be flexible and full of grace as we navigate changes and continue to seek what would be best for our students.
• Pray that we would be wise in our actions. Again, there are so many new obstacles and we are no experts!
• Endurance and patience for our team as we continue to go and meet people - it's so easy yet can also be draining at the same time. Pray that we would remember why we are doing this.
• Pray for our team to remain united in Christ and for our new members to feel welcome and connect with us quickly.

I have no doubts it will be an amazing year! I'm so excited to have you alongside me as we figure it out!

I'm here for you and praying for you. Let me know if you need anything!

With love,

Jacy

P.S. I will try to be more diligent about sharing our student testimonies this year! This is from a student leader in my peer team. I've loved getting to know DeAnne in the short time I've known her!