While many things in campus ministry change with the new year starting, one thing always stays the same - reaching out to new students. From carrying boxes into apartments to help new students move-in, to our first BBQ & fellowship meeting, to going bowling, to taking students to feed the homeless in downtown, the last 3 weeks have been filled with the flurry of meeting first year students and transfer students on campus, as well as welcoming back our returning core of students in the ministry. Our big event - our BBQ and 1st "DEEP" fellowship meeting of the year, drew 60 students into the apartment that we meet in! Over 40 of those students stayed that night and then came back again last week.

What's even more encouraging is how our returning students are stepping into greater leadership in the ministry. A central focus for us this year is helping our core students develop from members to ministers to leaders. One such student, Davon, is hosting the fellowship meeting in his apartment and is stepping into the emcee role. I met Davon as a freshman two years ago during our new student outreach. He got involved early and by the next year, he became a Christian. Now, he is taking on more leadership, both as the emcee and also aw we work together to reach more men with the Gospel and serve them on campus.

Pray for all of the new students that God is bringing into our midsts to care for. And pray for our students, like Davon, to step into greater leadership on campus in influencing their friends and peers to experience Jesus. I'll send out more updates in the coming weeks to keep you current on how this is going this quarter. Thanks for you partnership.