July Ministry Update

 

Jubilant July 

Hello everyone! 

When May rolled around, I had a feeling the summer would come and go in a flash, it seems that it has done just that! As I sit and reflect on the month of July, I can't help but feel gratitude bubble up inside. 

This month has been a reminder of the gift of community, but also the realization that community doesn't happen on accident. Thank you for contributing to the building up of a Christ-centered community of college students here in DFW! 

Something that has felt so special this summer has been the opportunity to connect with my fellow campus ministers! To have such co-workers who are dedicated to loving God and helping others love Him, has been such a tremendous gift. It makes me think of Paul and his how highly he would speak of his fellow co-workers. As Christians refer to each other as brothers and sisters and this summer this has become so real to me. At the end of the month, I am actually going to be moving in with my co-workers and friends, Mackenzie and Adriana! I am looking forward to getting to learn more about the heart of God as I live with these wonderful women! 

When talking about investing in community, it might be tempting to think only about a temporary community that will last so long as the individuals are present in the area. This is not the case though! This month I got the chance to catch up with a few girls I met when we were in FOCUS at UTD. Though we all have graduated and moved around, our friendships have continued. I hope this proves to be a source of encouragement for you too! The ways that you sow into FOCUS won't just give off fruit in a temporary season, but will extend even further. This is my prayer for the students in my ministry too. That they would develop the kinds of Christ-centered friendships that last even as their time in college comes to an end. I met my friend Anuja through one of the first small groups I led at UTD. Anuja has such a sweet heart and getting to catch up on how life has been like the last year built me up in a lot of ways. 

One of the highlights for the month was getting to travel to Florida and Virginia to visit my family there. Though it has been about two years since we've been together, being there felt like no time had passed! There is a simple joy of being around kids who just delight to be with you. It makes me think that the Father delights in our company and we can delight in His company too. I also loved getting to spend quality time with my siblings and really learn from seeing them as parents. Although I don't have any children, in a lot of ways, campus ministry has taught me to think like a parent. There's a soul care involved in ministry and I feel so fortunate to have models that express God's tender love through the ways my siblings parent. 

Summer FOCUS has been such a refreshing element of this summer. Each week hundreds of college students have gathered together to sing praises to Jesus, be built up by the Word, and stay rooted in community. Looking around the room to see so many hearts passionately worship the Lord has often led me to tears. These young men and women are tasting and seeing the goodness of God and their praise for Him is so contagious. Please be praying that the seeds planted over the summer would produce a harvest of righteousness for students as they enter into the next school year!

Prayer and Fundraising Updates: 

Next month, our staff team will be heading into a retreat to prepare our hearts and minds for the school year. Please be praying that the Lord would impress on our heart's his message for students this school year. 

August Welcome Week Retreat - This August 23-25, our Colling team is hosting a retreat for students in preparation for this school year's Welcome Week. The scope of this retreat is to caste a vision on how they can take ownership in building up the Kingdom where they're planted. Would you join me in praying that the students bond well and feel encouraged and equipped to step out one their first week of classes to boldly share with their classmates about what Jesus has done for them and invite them to follow Him together? 

Decisions Being Made - I recently had a 1-on-1 Bible study with a friend and she shared that she wants to commit to following Jesus. Would you pray for my friend to continue choosing to make Jesus Lord this year? 

Support Raising - In preparing to be on campus full-time, I have spent the summer raising my support. I am so thankful for each of you who have partnered in helping me be on campus full-time. Your generosity is never discounted and your contribution has had real effects this year! Thank you for blessing this FOCUS community! As July wraps up, I am continuing to reach out to friends and family to connect with them to see if anyone they know would be encouraged by what the Lord is doing in our community and how they can join in on that. If you know 1 or 2 people who would be excited to hear about it, don't hesitate to reach out! I would be thrilled to share stories from this year with them! 

Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance (Jude v. 2), 

Tania Volosen