Kevin Pike Apprenticeship Blog #10

 March Madness 

    Hey everyone! Hope all is well with you, this month has been truly a blessing and I can not wait to share what we have been up to. You are the reason that I get to minister to these students and I am so thankful that you have put your finances to trust in me. It means the world to me! God bless you all! 

    Tuesday night small groups have been going great! I help run the small group with two other students and recently we have made a push to get one on one time with each guy in our Core to help see what their needs or specific questions are. This has been encouraging to see as not only are we creating a more personal connection with the people in our small group, but it is also great seeing the other two leaders grow in disciplining and ministering to others. 

Here is our Frisco campus group meeting up for a birthday

    The time I have been getting with some of the young men that God has given me has been so much fun. The variety of personalities, spiritual directions, and backgrounds makes meeting up with each one a completely different experience each time. It is amazing to see that Jesus can touch each of their lives even though they are so unique. I get the pleasure of meeting up with guys with backgrounds in the Hindu religion and one actively practicing Jewish man. I ask for prayers that the Holy Spirit can use me as a vessel to point them to the cross and help them realize that Jesus is the truth. 

Here is an outreach event we did, we asked the students, "What is Power?"

    This past month, we have also finalized our student selection of who we are going to send to SICM. SICM is a one-week retreat in Oregon that focuses on training students for evangelizing on campus. This is what every student leader in our group goes through and is what I went to about two years ago. This is super exciting because these students, even if they do not become student leaders, will have the opportunity to learn so much about friendships, campus evangelism, and deepening their relationship with God.

                                         Here are two of the students that we are sending to SICM this year

    

    Our apprenticeship classes have been so enriching! We just started a new Eschatology, Teleology, and Soteriology class which I am super excited to dive more into. It is the study of end times and what all that encompasses, I don't know what Teleology and Soteriology mean but I'm sure it's going to be cool. One thing I have learned from my classes recently is that hierarchies of power are human-made ideas. God designed us to serve one another just as each person in the trinity serves each other. The idea that people hold power over each other is a concept that will most likely be gone in heaven. Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." I have never thought of that and see it as a great way to keep me humble and also realize that God is the Lord of us all. 

    Thank y'all so much! Your donation is truly appreciated and has had a significant impact on the students we serve. Your contribution allows us to continue our mission of providing a safe and welcoming space for students to explore and deepen their faith, connect with others, and grow in their spiritual journeys. I am honored to have your trust and support, and we will work diligently to use your gift wisely and effectively. On behalf of the students, staff, and volunteers of our college campus ministry, I offer my sincere thanks and appreciation for your generous support. Your investment in our ministry will make a lasting difference in the lives of many.

    Here is a student testimony from a gal at UTD who has been impacted by FOCUS. Your donations create stories like hers.