Columbia is a ghost town once again. It's been nearly a week since the mass exodus of students from our town, since the last pen stroke of a test was given or the button of a keyboard pressed for the final paper due. It's a time to recollect, set myself before the Lord and look ahead at what's to come. Then, of course, there are the holidays. This week has been a little slower as I've met up with old friends and begun to lay out this break. Lots of things are going to be changing once January 1st hits and it's good to take a little time to brace for it and prepare myself for where God is taking me.
We've recently been having conversations about the future, finances and all that good stuff. Last summer, I quit my second job and pursued support raising once again in response to where God called me to trust in him. I was able to increase my hours at The Rock reasonably and with Aimee taking up her teaching job, we seemed set for the semester. That being the case, within the past couple of weeks, we've taken a look at what needs to happen next semester and have been laboring in prayer as to what to do. What direction is God taking me, vocationally? Where are my hours going to go? How can we begin to prepare for a family and a house, if that's where God is leading us? What will we be doing this summer?
So it seems that once again, it's time for me to increase my paid hours at The Rock. To do this, I will continue my journey building a team of financial supporters for GCM while lightening my load at The Rock. Honestly, it feels very daunting at times and I wonder if God will provide. It unleashes loads of fears and insecurities for me. It's an internal battle that resurfaces because, despite having nearly 40 regular financial partners, I begin to hear lies that no one cares about college ministry and certainly not for me.
Yet God's spirit comforts me and gives me and my wife a resolve that will carry us through. He shows that the heaviness I can feel about support raising is liken to the ever-uphill battle of bringing the Gospel to the University of Missouri students. He shows me that the lies I hear about people giving money parallel the ones about students giving serious consideration that Christ wants to save their soul and become king in their lives. God has called me to be a pastor and, more importantly, a servant of Christ Jesus. Each time I take a step back I see again with clarity the dire need for servants to be on this campus. I look ahead at the future of The Rock and see that God has called me to continue, to grow, to lead, to serve here until I might pastor a church of my own some day.
So if you are reading this, please labor with me in prayer for next semester. Specifically, be praying in these ways:
- That I might reach a monthly support goal of $1000 by May
- That Aimee and I would be united and trusting in the Lord's provision
- That I can continue to do ministry well at The Rock while being faithful to making trips for support raising.
- That God will expand the team in his timing and purpose.
I praise God for those of you who give, encourage and pray fervently for our ministry at Mizzou. Thank you for your support and God bless.
Chris
