Keep On Going

It's hard to believe there are only 5 weeks left of the semester! Despite it being a strange year, I'm very excited for the holidays coming up. What are your plans this year? I'd love to hear all about it!

This is my Friday core (small group)! I'm so proud of them for showing up even though it was very cold and windy this particular week! Yes I have a sock on my hand because I couldn't find my gloves, haha.

Amidst an overall pretty fast semester, there have definitely been some hard weeks this last month. One week was very cold and rainy - right after a week of sun and 90 degree weather - so there were some funky feelings going around to say the least. On top of that, students have been inviting me into harder situations in their lives than I feel like I've been part of before. It's an honor to be part of them, but I regularly find myself thinking "I have no clue what I'm doing!" I'm incredibly thankful for the support system we have in our ministry to carry burdens with others rather than taking everything on for ourselves. I have several people and resources to help me pastor students who are struggling with really hard things. I'll keep things vague to respect privacy, but it includes hearing sad news as soon as you sit down with someone, emotional phone calls that interrupt my day, going to sit at a clinic for a few hours with a sick friend, a last minute lunch to help someone think through her role in someone else's mental illness, the list goes on. I don't say any of that to boast in my work - again I actually feel pretty helpless in most of these situations. But I share it to show you that it's not always fun and the most exciting job ever as I might make it out to be. I also share it to let you know what you're investing in. These students don't need me specifically in these situations, but they need people who will bear with them and walk alongside them. Each and every one of you are a part of that through your prayers and partnership not only with me but with the entire kingdom vision. So thank you for your commitment to people and loving me and others so well. I've learned from you what that looks like. Please pray for me and our team as we keep on going.

Here's a few fun blurbs from October!

We had a social distanced hangout for all of our Preston Ridge Campus cores! We played tiny UNO which I'm assuming is significantly easier to handle when you don't have to spread out - it was very hard to read the cards from several feet away!

Hannah and DeAnne (top left two girls) hosted a virtual pumpkin spice themed baking day! They lead a Zoom small group together and I get to meet with them every week which is truly a treat.

This is Bailey who I lead a Preston Ridge core with. She loves Taylor Swift, coffee, and doing cartwheels during small group!

This is Hailey who I lead a Spring Creek core with. She loves art and painting and is so creative! She painted this very cute pumpkin which is probably hard for you to see, but it looked amazing.

It's that time of year again! Our annual fundraiser is happening on Giving Tuesday: December 1st! We have a group of generous donors who have agreed to match up to $42,000 in total donations. If we receive $42,000 in total contributions, they will give another $42,000! I will have a facebook fundraiser going on December 1st and I will also send out a link to donate if you would like to give! These funds help cover overhead costs year to year like outreach materials, administrative support, planting new campuses, health and retirement benefits, and more.

Prayer Requests:

• Like I mentioned before, pray for us as we walk alongside our students.
• Please pray for our upcoming Keep FOCUS Growing fundraiser!
• Pray for our students to finish the semester well.

With love,

Jacy