Kevin Pike Ministry Blog #22

 March Blog

    Hey everyone! I hope y'all had a good spring break and are preparing for the solar eclipse cause I know I am. This month had a lot of great gifts from God and I can't wait to share them with ya!

Outreach Update 

    Doing outreach at the Wylie campus is a blast. Recently, I met a student who very bluntly told me he is searching for purpose in life. After meeting him at outreach, I got lunch with him and he explained that he can't find the purpose in anything and wants to see if Christianity is the answer. I was shocked at first because I had never met anyone so blunt and to the point. I was reminded of the verse,

Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart," 

    We have started doing FOJ (Focus on Jesus) which is a Bible study that focuses directly on who Jesus is and what his ministry was about. He also has been attending our small group on Wednesday night. I get really excited thinking about this student and the potential for his life to be changed by Jesus. I see the quiet desperation of many of the men of this generation in him. Knowing that there is more to life but not having a clue where to find it. They think that choosing working out, pursuing money, 

    I know that Jesus will reveal himself to this student and he will have the choice to follow him as the semester goes on. Be praying for him that he can accept Jesus in his life! Here is an unrelated picture of an outreach event we did called, "Leave an anxiety and take an encouragement" 

Class Update 

    This year I have been in a Christian History class which has been so amazing. Last semester we started at the period right after Jesus's death and now we are at the Enlightenment period. This period of history spans from the late 17th century to the 18th century. What makes this period so fascinating and also sad is because the ideas that were created then, now continue to influence our own society today. 

    For example, science began to be seen as the highest and utmost authority. Nothing can be proven to be true unless cold, hard science proves it so. This is one of the many reasons that people see science and religion being separate instead of combined. Another one is that human reason is universal and that we should trust in our own understanding first and foremost. This was revolutionary since before then, everyone sought reason from the Bible and cited that it is what all knowledge derives from. These ideas and thoughts are what drove many people away from religion sadly in our modern times. 

    These ideas continue to thrive in our climate today and it is extremely sad to see these amongst our students today. However, learning about where these ideas have come from is a great way to learn how to dismantle them and prove them false. The one idea I find easy to dismantle is the idea that human reason and pure truth can be found without the use of the Bible, which is also the same idea that Adam and Eve fell for. I have asked multiple students before if they believe that society has benefited from the rejection of the Bible. I always point to the fact that whenever we get rid of something in our society, we fill that void up with something else. When Europe decided to get rid of the Bible, they replaced it with fervent nationalism which led to two of the most deadly world wars in history killing millions of people. It leads to nihilism which has increased depression and anxiety in America by 30-40%. Abortion is now a common choice in our world for pregnant mothers. All of this to say, ideas have consequences. 

Life Update 

    There has been a lot going on in March for me and I thought it would be good to share it with y'all. I recently had a deviated septum surgery which is an inner nose surgery so that I could breathe better during the day and night. I've been trying to fix my sleep and my doctor recommended me this surgery and it went well. Here's a picture of me after surgery:

    During spring break, since all the students go back home us pastors get a break as well. I went down to Houston to visit my girlfriend's family for the week. It was a lot of fun getting to know her family better and also getting to explore Houston. I had a great time and got to get some quality rest time in. Here are some pictures from the spring break trip:

    Prayer Requests:

    

    Every other year we have students from the CCF ministry in Washington come to Texas to learn and engage in outreach all week at our college. They are coming this week and I ask for prayers that everything goes smoothly for them and that they can have some great conversations with the students at Collin college. 

    Thank You: 

   Thank you so much for your generous contributions to our college campus Christian ministry. Your unwavering support sustains the heart of our mission to make and mature disciples of Christ. Through your kindness, you have not only invested in our students but also in the spiritual growth and well-being of our entire community. Your belief in our vision fuels our devotion and strengthens our resolve to spread God's love and grace on campus. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for your commitment, generosity, and faithfulness. Your partnership is a true blessing, and we are immensely grateful for your continued support.

    P.S. This is a testimony from one of our students at the UTD campus which shows the power of Jesus and a personal reflection of how your support directly impacts students.