What was it like to wrestle through the idea that God was calling Joe out of an engineering career and into ministry? In this newsletter Joe recalls the call…..
At the close of this semester Annie and I have completed ten full years of full-time ministry reaching out to college students. It’s hard to imagine that so much time has past and so much ministry has happened, so many lives impacted… but perhaps the most impacted lives are not the students we reach out to, but rather Annie and myself…
Fifteen years ago, Annie was expecting our fourth child when Val Nordbye (now the national director) came to our church raising support and sharing her vision and the importance of campus ministry. I had been sensing a need to become involved in a ministry focused on evangelism and as Val and the students she brought with her shared… something inside of me was stirred.
After the service I talked with Val and told her I was interested in working with Campus Ambassadors (CA). Val was excited about my inquiry and asked if she could come out to our house and talk together with Annie and me. I still remember Val sitting in our living room and unveiling what full-time ministry would look like. Somehow my idea of being involved in a limited capacity around my work and family schedule was understood by Val to be a desire to enter full-time ministry! While I listened carefully, I did not have the heart to tell her I was not at all interested in leaving my career as an engineering program manager, however Val ended the conversation with these words, “Why not just hangout with us and see where God takes it.” I thought to myself, I could do that.. hangout… and see… So in April of 1997 I began to hang out to see where God would take it.
I recently spent some time reading through my old journals and tracked comments about the idea of moving from engineering to campus ministry. Here are a few entries:
4/26/1997 – It’s Saturday at the Abby. A beautiful day. The main issue on my mind lately is about CA. I feel God is calling me to this ministry, but financially I am afraid.
5/17/1997 – This morning I am struggling emotionally and physically. It seems to be an impossibility to be given this salary and to raise this amount of support. I go from high to low not knowing what direction God is leading. I struggle with the amount of time, money, and faith needed to make this transition. I understand there are no impossibilities with God but it is so difficult to know his will.
I know I am called to a ministry, but what ministry? Is this the one? Should I have more faith to live on less? Should I sell everything? There is no clear answer. I have the Word and prayer and even that is difficult. God’s will is so simple and yet so complex. I have a desire to do this but I question my motives. Am I doing this for me or am I doing this for the college students who do not know Christ? My motive should be one thing and one thing only, to glorify Christ.
7/12/1997 – I am still at a loss for what to do concerning CA. I feel the call and therefore must move in that direction. But I cannot see financially how I can. What is stepping out in faith? What is being responsible for your family? Where does the line cross? I know I must (and ultimately will) be obedient to His call but I also must feel at peace with the decision and its cost. Perhaps that is what I need time for most.
10/4/1997 – Today Annie and I are staying at a bed and breakfast on Cape Cod. On Monday it will be our 13th wedding anniversary. We walked the beach this morning and prayed together and talked more about making the move to full time ministry. It’s good to talk. I don’t know how we will raise the support needed. My own desire is to have all things in order first. But perhaps that is not God’s plan. He wants to see faith first. It’s not easy to walk by faith, it’s not natural it’s supernatural!
11/7/1997 – I went on the CA fall retreat it was great. On Saturday the worship service was held in front of a fireplace and we played choruses unplugged. Then student after student shared their testimony. Each had their own set of hurts and pains, and many revealed how they had found Christ through CA. On Sunday, four students were baptized in the lake. I stood in the cold water with Remy, a student who has been coming to our house for a while now on Tuesday nights to play guitar and talk. While it was cold, it was beautiful! More and more I think about this call.
1/1/1998 – I had breakfast with Val yesterday, it went well. She is very encouraging. I still feel the call to campus ministry and that I should act on this soon. I have an appointment to meet Grey from the Mission in early March. This will be good to do as well.
3/20/1998 – I met with Grey for breakfast, we had a great talk. Whenever I talk about full-time ministry with him or Val I leave all fired up and determined to make this transition, whatever the cost. Then the world seems to take that passion and turn it to skepticism and concern. I also had lunch with Carol -a person I met through work. She has been a blessing and has volunteered to be a prayer warrior for me. At one time she wanted to go into the mission field, but did not. We both feel there is a window of opportunity that the Lord provides and we must not delay too long in responding to the call. She told me she would not let me miss the window, our discussion was a true blessing. Father, help me to be discerning and to respond with courage to your call. Help me to see the big picture and be confident in the direction I choose that it is indeed the direction you have planned and ordained for me to go, that I might bring you glory. Help me to be brave as I face trials, struggles and evil. Open my eyes to your pleasing and perfect will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
4/4/1998 – I am scheduled for a stress test on Wednesday. I pray for my health to return. I am frustrated and tired. In spite of all of this, Annie and I have decided to move to full-time ministry with CA. I have been praying and thinking on this issue for one year now, and during this time the one thing that has really held me back has been the financial issue. I have been thinking of ways to be creative that would allow me to support myself. I have been trying to be the “provider” for my family. Seventeen years ago when my heart problem began, I had a similar attitude. It was my heart problem that caused me to realize my need to depend on Christ. Now seventeen years later my heart problem is on the surface again and I realize I depend on the Lord for every breath. So, whether I am dependent on the Lord for my health to earn income, or depending on the Lord for income directly through support raising, there is no difference. I am still dependent on the Creator. The only difference is who the faith is actually in, God or myself. I choose God!
I remember completing the application to be appointed as a full-time missionary. The package was about an inch thick and had to be mailed through the postal system, but I had not mailed it. After attending an evening event on campus I drove to the monastery, where I often pray. It was dark but not too cold. At this point we had sold our Volvo and I was driving a 1979 Caprice Classic. There at the monastery on top of the hill with the stars out so bright and clear, I got out of the car and climbed onto the faded hood. I leaned my back against the windshield holding the 11×17 inch stamped application envelope between my arms and chest. I began to pray, not so much with words but mostly in peaceful quiet. Its funny, for me, staring at the stars brings a strange comfort that God must be real and that I am also to be a shining star (Phil 2:15). So I sat there for a long time and sometime after midnight, with a smile of confidence, I jumped off the hood, got in the car and drove to the post office in town. I walked up to the mailbox, took a deep breath as I opened the flip door. I slid the envelope into the opening. Knowing our lives were about to change in a huge way, and that we were committing to something connected with a lot of uncertainty and adventure, I took a deep breath and let go!
It took almost five years between Val visiting our church and when we had enough support raised to end the consulting business I had started.
Now 15 years later and 10 years of full-time ministry, so much has changed. I am now an area director and through a real team effort our ministry and staff has grown. Jackie and Elizabeth have successfully planted a ministry at Fitchburg State University. Chris and Kelly have a vibrant ministry to international students in Bridgeport CT. Matt and Kendyl are now running the ministry at Worcester State. The Mission now owns a house (directed by Kendyl) within walking distance to Worcester State and able to provide housing to as many as eight students. Sam, a student intern for the past two years, just graduated and was appointed to full-time. Omo, a former student at Worcester State currently living in Indiana, has been appointed to a full-time position and is seeking to move back to MA. Zach has been appointed to a full-time position and once his support has been raised he will be planting a ministry in the Springfield area. In addition to my role as area director, I continue to direct a ministry at Nichols college and have even become an adjunct professor teaching a humanities/religion class once a year.
We have seen the lives of so many students transformed by the gospel, a number of them who will openly admit they would not be alive today if not for our ministry on campus. So many students now are plugged in and serving in local churches and communities. Students who now in their professions represent Christ as doctors, nurses, scientists, teachers, the military, government, engineering, and even a soon-to-be lawyer! The list goes on and on… We have seen students fall in love and I have had the privilege of performing many of their weddings. One student recently asked me to walk her down the isle at her upcoming wedding! And we have seen our kids grow up in an environment that promoted Christ-like love and community, and now our two oldest sons are currently college students involved in the ministry and reaching out to their peers.
So, no matter how many stories I could tell about transformed lives, it’s Annie and I who have changed the most as we have seen God work and provide. Thank you for your role in our transformation! As you share your income, love and prayers with us, we continue to see God’s call confirmed and are enabled to continue to reach out to students, recruit and train staff, maintain current ministries and plant new ones all for his Kingdom!
=== JOE ===
Annie’s Corner:
As Joe made the change to full-time ministry we realized our time together was getting less and less. We decided to take Fridays as our day off and call it our “date day.” We go for walks on different town commons, a movie, or out for lunch, sometimes we visit state parks, or even just walk through Walmart. This past Friday our date day crossed over into ministry. We enjoyed an authentic chinese dinner cooked by the parents and grandparents of one of our students. They were visiting from China and he wanted us to meet them. We had such a great time sharing each others culture and history. We were even invited to come and visit them in China. We had such a great time and did not get home until almost midnight. I am so glad that we save Fridays for special moments together and to sometimes share our day with special people.
To join us in financial support just fill out the envelope enclosed with this newsletter with a check made out to Missions Door. Please include a separate note that you would like to support Joe and Annie Shea and how often in faith you plan to donate. If you do not have an envelope use the address at the bottom of this page or go online to our website
While May is still a ways off, lately, my mind has been drawn to commencement time, a time that is always bitter sweet to me. Names are called and stu- dents dressed in graduation robes, proudly walk across the platform to receive their degree. It’s a day of accomplishment, celebration, joy and… for me, mixed emotions.
Pride:
As I watch some students walking the walk, there is a sense of joy and pride welling up within me that I can’t fully describe, because I’ve been there, as they faced struggles, made decisions, sorted out life’s problems, and came to know and learn more than just academ- ics, they also came to know my God. They’ll soon enter into business, tech- nology, education, politics, health serv- ices, medical and teaching professions with a resolve to follow Christ, and see His kingdom come! They will be serv- ing in local churches in roles of leader- ship, worship, and teaching, eventually, even raising their own families in those churches. And I feel so privileged to be part of this ministry that brings the light of the gospel to campus. This coming May I will experience that same pride for Stacey, who while I am writing this letter, is likely studying for her last final exam, and will in a few days have all the required credits to graduate. As a freshmen, Stacey struggled with many things most parents hope their children never experience. But then she began to hang out with students in Campus Am- bassadors and she saw something in our lives that she wanted. Soon after, the “Passion of the Christ” film was released and my home church rented out a theater for a private showing. I was asked to give an evangelistic message when the movie was over and they reserved one hundred tickets for me to invite students to come. We found a student for every ticket and one of those tickets went to Stacey. She sat toward the front, and watched with a stunning realization of what this Jesus we were following had done, and for the first time understood… that He did it for her too! As I addressed the crowded theater and brought closure to an almost numb audience, Stacey hung on every word, and when I asked for people ready to make a commitment, to raise their hand, Stacey’s shot up first, tears running down her face, she came forward to pray, and soon after I baptized her. The following day she felt God leading her to become a staff intern, and she followed that call. While on staff she helped a number of single moms on campus by watching their children and serving them, one mom became a daughter of Christ, and Stacey was there in the waters of baptism again, this time standing beside me leading us in prayer. She also helped some other students, who were devastated over a friend’s suicide, put some of the pieces back together, causing another student to rekindle her faith. Continuously, she would not let go of friends who needed a friend, and even more needed Jesus.
Sorrow:
(back to graduation thoughts)
And then there’s the sorrow I feel for each name called that I don’t recognize, for each student I’ve never connected with, and have no idea where they are spiritually… But that sorrow is a paper cut, compared to the heartache I feel seeing a student whom I have shared the gospel with, and know their strug- gles make their way across the platform to receive their diploma without a sav- iour, and I cry inside at the finality of graduation. I know God is sovereign, and I am not the only one God can use to reach them, but I still cry inside wish- ing I had more time and opportunity. This was the case with Jill, a student that from our first meeting, I saw a beautiful diamond in the rough. I saw someone searching for life but looking in all the places that were only causing more pain, hurt and regret. Stacey con- vinced her to come on one of our re- treats called “infusion”, and we had more time to talk throughout the week. Then one of the worst things that could happen happened. One of the students on the retreat from another state began acting inappropriately toward her, and would not stop, I went into Dad mode, and had him put on a bus and sent home. Jill was relieved and perhaps for the first time experienced a group of people that saw her as worth protecting, but she was still not ready to accept what Jesus was offering. The following year she came on the retreat again and with tears we talked, I explained the gospel to her, but again it was not the right time and we patiently waited for other opportunities. And then… she was one of the names called out at graduation walking across the platform and she was gone, once again coming up against the finality of graduation and I cried inside…
Joy:
But Stacey would not give up on Jill, they remained friends. While Jill and I maintained communication over facebook and email, it was Stacey that really held on. Jill began to read the Bible, and in a short time read it cover to cover. Our summer retreat was coming up again and I sent Jill a mes- sage asking her if she would like to come, and told her I was praying for her. This was her reply, “Awww thanks Joe!!! I cannot come this year because work wont let me take anymore days off!… I wish I could attend, I was plan- ning on being baptized this year!!!!!” I replied back, “Jill that is great news. We certainly will miss you at infusion. As for being baptized if you would like, we could talk about setting a weekend for all of us to go camping and all the people from CA could come. How does the saying go…. If Jill cannot come to infusion, then infusion will come to Jill… Anyway that is up to you, I continue to pray that God will continue to reveal himself to you, and that you are able to rest in Him.” Jill was thrilled with the idea, but we were not able to find a weekend that would work for everyone, so I suggested she come on our fall retreat in PA and she said yes! She came up to Worcester over the summer to visit Stacey. The three of us met for a few hours to talk, so I could make sure she under- stood what baptism was and that she had accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. After we talked and I answered some of her questions, I was convinced that Jill had encountered Christ and now possessed a saving faith! When she was getting ready to leave she reached in her purse and slid a card across the picnic table to me, I opened it to find a beautiful thank you card with a hand written poem, that read-
You helped me understand What I did not know was there to learn.
You helped me see you’re born with God’s love, It’s not something you earn.
You pushed me to do better, When I did nothing but push you away.
I was lost, thought you’d give up on me, but you were there to stay.
Your eyes forgave me, before I knew what I had done wrong
I had no idea that you would stick by me this long
I realized that God never abandoned me, he also persisted the way you did.
And now its in my soul, can never be pushed away, will never be rid.
Thank you for having patience and persistence You’ve changed my life.
And so, at the end of October, on a beautiful sun drenched day, with friends crowding around the shore. The finality of graduation was forever shat- tered as Jill shared her testimony before everyone and Stacey and I once again entered the water holding Jill’s hand to publicly proclaim Christ’s death, resur- rection and saving power that even graduation and a four year time frame could not hold back!
Thank you for your prayers and sup- port that enables us to be there!
=== JOE ===
Annie’s Place:
Christmas is here and there is so much to be thankful for! Joe’s surgery went well but he is still experiencing some pain in his knee. He has also been going through a Crohn’s flare- up, but it seems to be coming back under con- trol. Joe has also started writing a book (in his spare time)! I still work at the bookstore on campus always meeting new students. Our sons are all doing so well: Jeremiah hopes to transfer to Worc State in January. He has decided to work with Joe as an intern! He really is growing in his relationship with God. Joey is at a crucial point in his schooling being a junior in high school, he is trying to decide what he would like to do concerning college. He is very funny and enjoys playing the guitar. David is very compassionate and caring, he was a big help caring for Joe while he recovered from his surgery. He is also getting good at playing the guitar. Sam is learning to play the trumpet and will be in the holiday concert at his school this month, he is very excited about it. Aunt Gert is getting over a bad cold, but every- day she is more herself. She is such a bless- ing to the whole family.
Joe and I realize the economy has placed extra burdens on everyone, and we are so grateful for the support that many of our readers continue to provide. Our medical expenses this year have been high, along with the cost of ministry expenses. We are currently $1,288/month short in committed support, causing us to rely heavily on one time gifts and end of year giving. If your not already supporting us would you consider supporting us on a committed level or even with a one time gift? Perhaps you know of someone who would be able to provide an end of year tax donation? It would be so appreciated. The address is at the bottom of the page or you can go to our website.
We wish all of you and your families a Blessed Merry Christmas and New Year. Please con- tinue to pray: for the college students we are reaching, for Joe’s health, and for the financial support we need to remain on campus!
=== ANNIE ===
The Writing is on the Wall… In this newsletter Joe shares how Facebook is an important tool to connect with students and for students to connect with him…
Keeping up with technology and the way it is used by students is so im- portant. For example, did you know email is now considered by many students to be something for “older people”? Did you know that text messaging, instant messaging and online communities like “Myspace” and “Facebook” are fast becoming the new email replacements? Annie and I are both on Facebook, we use it as a way to stay in community with students, to invite them to events, share family and ministry photos, and happenings. Let me be clear though, it is not a replacement for personal contact, but it is a way to increase both awareness of what’s going on and the number of oppor- tunities for personal followup. Let me share with you some of the ba- sics: Once you create an on line ac- count, you begin by finding people you know, and requesting for them to accept you as a “friend.” Once they confirm that they would like to be friends you are on your way to being in an online community! One
of the first things to know about Facebook is your “status.” Everyone on Facebook has the ability to change their status as often as they want. It is a sentence that begins with your name and the word “is.” So if I clicked on my status it would start with “Joe is _______” and I would fill in the blank with some- thing funny or serious that will let everyone know at a glance what I’m up to. Right now my status reads, “Joe is writing his newsletter.” Pre- viously my status read, “Joe is think- ing about not thinking about think- ing.” You should have seen the re- sponses I got from that one! Students update their status often and it gives great insight into how to pray, and even how to shape ministry and sermon topics. Facebook also has the ability to send and receive messages (an equivalent of email), these mes- sages cannot be seen by everyone. Lastly there is your “wall,” this is just what it sounds like, if you write something on your wall or someone else’s wall it’s available for everyone to see. So I sent a message to some friends and asked them to post a note on my wall to you, my readers, to tell you something about what this ministry has done or means to them. Here are responses and posts left on my “wall” in Facebook, enjoy!
From some students:
What has CA done for me???? Well, if it weren’t for Joe and Annie at CA I don’t know what I would have done. I was really alone and I didn’t know who I was least who God was. I didn’t really have a family who loved and supported me and CA gave me that. I remember one summer a friend and I were living on campus and we were so hungry we were eating mac and cheese mixed with tuna like every- day. It was pretty bad. Joe and Annie were so saddened by this that they invited us over for dinner and they “accidentally” made too much food so that we could take some left overs home with us. I think we ate for like two weeks after that. That little gesture of love showed me that someone cared and that I did matter. It also showed me a little taste of what the Lord is like as well. CA brought me to Christ and my life has never been the same since. I want to thank Joe, Annie and the many others who have helped on staff and volunteering for CA. I owe you my life.
At first, I was very intimidated by you because you’re so stoic and quiet and I’m the….exact opposite. But Joe, getting to know you has been an amazing thing for me! Seeing a strong, positive Christian man be an awesome husband, father and teacher showed me that I didn’t have to lower my standards to get the same thing!
Joe, listening to you speak about the Word–your genuiness about it all– seriously moves me. I’m so glad I’ve had such an amazing influence like you in my life and I pray that God continues to use you to glorify Him and be a blessing on the lives of other college students like you are to me!
From a mother and daughter:
It is with great pleasure that we write about Annie, Joe, and Campus Ambassador’s. I came to know Annie & Joe through my daughter. Our daughter graduated HS and didn’t want to go on to college, so we told her to get a job. She did just that and began working with Annie. Immedi- ately, Annie took her under her wing and adopted her as “a second mother.” She invited her to their home, to Campus Ambassadors, and to church services. Our daughter made friends – good friend’s – one’s with morals, values, and ethics. We had no idea just how instrumental Annie and Joe would be on our daughter. As time progressed, our daughter asked to go on a Ministry trip to Mexico. We encouraged the interaction, and felt that it would be a “great life lesson.” After 10 days of working with “The Children of the Dump”, in Puerto Verde, our daughter learned so much. She gave of herself and now values all that she has, even more. We are very proud of her. Her relationship with Annie and Joe continues…and we believe will last for a lifetime. We are very grateful parents for the love, support and counsel they gave her. Thanks for being you!
Joe, i wanted to post this on your wall but it only said i could post 1000 characters, that was a problem lol. I managed to narrow it down to 1719. hope you can still use something from it. Thanks. When I first started working at WSC I began as a temp in the bookstore where I met Annie. She was so friendly and easy to work with and our personalities just clicked so well. As the days turned into weeks and eventually into months Annie and I developed more than just a coworker relationship. She became a friend; a second mother to me. We used to joke that I was her child with no strings attached. Annie said she had me the easy way and could send me home whenever she wanted. I remember the first time Annie introduced me to Joe and Stacey. She asked me if I would like to have lunch with them. We talked about the bookstore and I learned about CA. It sounded like such an amazing place. Although I am Jewish that did not matter to them or anyone else in CA. They opened me into their hearts no questions asked. I went to a couple of multitudes and also some dinners at the CA House. There I met some amazing people and made some great friends. Unfortunately I be- came so busy with work and school that I didn’t have the time to continue attending. Annie and Joe have been there for me through my best times and my worst. There was a time when I got mixed up with the wrong people and someone ended up taking ad- vantage of me physically. I couldn’t of been more scared or unsure of what to do. At this point in my life I felt alone and it didn’t help that my parents and I were not talking. Annie took time off from work to stay in the hospital with me. Although this may sound silly, she bought me real food when the nurses gave me meatloaf that I couldn’t even look at. That meant a lot to me! Also Joe and Annie let me stay at their house while I was recovering and trying to work things out with my parents. Joe also talked to my mother and me while I was staying there. I really respect how he kept his word of not sharing any- thing I told him with my mom. Honesty goes a long way with me. I could probably write pages on how great Annie and Joe are. I could never repay them for the things they’ve done. They make WSC a better place and a better campus and Campus Ambassadors wouldn’t be the same without them. I know I wouldn’t be
From a local Pastor:
“The ministry of CA has helped and supported our church more than we could possibly give back. Campus Ambassadors, Joe and Annie Shea and co. understand the meaning of “ministry partnership.” Knowing that we can send people to CA with full confidence, and that CA can send people to us and know they will find a welcoming church home is a confidence not to be taken for granted. CA’s mentoring has helped our church move from being an en- dangered relic from the past to a vi- brant and healthy ministry – no exaggeration! Bless you for all you do…
A few months ago a former student and friend who would call himself an agnostic changed his status to read “is thinking more about suicide these days.” Meanwhile I had just finished looking at some pictures that he was in. He was actually on my mind when I logged on and saw his status. I quickly replied, “I just logged on to send you a message. Your status is getting too dark my friend. I could come out to you to have lunch on Wednesday. Would that work for you? praying 4 U”
We have been meeting every two weeks now for lunch. Yesterday he asked if we could go deeper, he would like to understand how I came to have faith in Jesus, and wants to believe but has many challenges, please pray for him to see God’s FACE and for his name to be written in His BOOK!
=== JOE ===
Family Update:
Jeremiah completed his first year at Anna Maria College which is located close to Worc. State, and has been bringing many friends to the weekly worship event and free diners at Worc. State. He plays on the worship team and serves in many ways. He has also been helping Joe with the midnight Bible study at Nichols College. He is even considering going on staff in the ministry as a student intern!
Joey just completed his sophomore year of high school. He and a few friends ended the year by collecting money from their friends to buy enough Mountain Dew for everyone. They purchased over one hundred and fifty 2 liter bottles and stored them in his closet. On the last day of school they filled a small pickup truck and set up a table outside the school and handed them out to everyone. We were really impressed with the organization and execution of the plan! He is also learning to play guitar, and is picking it up fast.
David will now be moving to the eighth grade. He continues to display a deep spirituality and compassion for others into all that he does. From submitting prayer requests at church to bringing Joe’s newsletters into his school and giving them to his teachers. He is also learning to play guitar, and is working on a number of praise songs.
Sam will be entering sixth grade in the fall. This year he decided to learn to play trumpet and has really worked hard at it. We just attended his end of the year concert. He is in the fifth grade band but when it came time for the sixth grade band to come up, Sam did not leave the stage but was asked to play with the sixth grade band as well! We were so proud! So now everyone plays an instrument except me, so Joe is talking about getting me a triangle to play when we all do something together.
Aunt Gert is also doing well, next month she will turn eighty-nine. She enjoys playing cards with David, Sam and me and enjoys reading and learning something new every day. She is a great encourager and tries to get Joe to slow down, not that it works!
Joe continues to keep busy meeting with students, sharing and serving in any way he can. Eight months ago he began to experience discomfort walking, especially his knees. In November it went from ache to pain in his right knee. It seems he has de- veloped a form of arthritis as a com- plication of the Crohns disease that he struggles with. Five months ago he began talking a new medication that he has to inject himself with every two weeks. It does not seem to be working very well so two weeks ago he had an MRI and it revealed multiple tears in his cartilage that will require surgery this summer.
Prayer Requests:
Please pray for new staff, there are three different people considering staff positions.
Our Soul Stride fund raising walk was able to raise $3,500 after ex- penses to help new staff but most of it was used to allow students to at- tend our regional week long leader- ship training retreat called “Infu- sion.” During the retreat two stu- dents made decisions to follow Christ and six students were bap- tized! Please pray for these students and for the support that is still needed for our MA team.
Please pray for Joe’s health and for wisdom concerning this new medica- tion, it is very expensive and does not appear to be helping. If there is no real improvement, Joe is planning to try stopping them after the next injection. Please also pray for the surgery he will be needing, and that he will be able to walk on campus without pain.
=== Annie ===
A Generation In Need