We have just finished our first week of ministry on the university of Newcastle campus. Our team of 12 students have been absolutely AMAZING. They are so brave in walking up to Australian students on campus and initiating conversations. They have built friendships already with Aussie's and are talking about spiritual matters with their new friends.
Each day we take the 10 minute train ride to campus, arriving at about 11:00 am. We are on campus until about 4 pm, at which time we take the train back to our hostel house.
Australian students are very open to spiritual conversations. We have been shocked at how many students have no spiritual background whatsoever. It's very different than the US, where it seems that most people at least have a context for what we're talking about. Here at the university, this may be the first time these students have really heard about Jesus. They are open to conversation and really seem to enjoy talking with our students. Each day our students get on the train to come home and have stories of the students they got to talk to and the encouraging conversations they had with Aussie's.
Next week we will be helping the local Campus Crusade staff team start a weekly meeting (kind of like a weekly youth group time). We will be inviting lots of students to come and start to get involved with Campus Crusade (it's called Student Life here). Please pray that the local staff would be able to secure a location and time on campus for this weekly meeting. And pray for our students as they invite their new Aussie friends to come. And pray that students' hearts would be touched as they begin to hear about Jesus and see Jesus in the lives of our students.
Nathan and I have the privilege of discipling the students on our team. We have 7 guys and 5 girls. We spent a lot of time this past week meeting with students individually and pouring into their lives. It is truly amazing how they have been opening their lives up to us, what a privilege. Please pray for wisdom as we engage in their hurt and pain and joys, and speak love and truth into their lives. Also pray for strength for Nathan, as 7 guys is a lot to disciple weekly.
Our team is amazing and we feel SO blessed. The theme of our trip is authenticity...authentic relationships with God and others and then inviting others into authentic relationship with God and people. We are reading a book called "True Faced" about being real and vulnerable and open. Our team has courageously stepped into this concept and are learning to remove their masks and walk into authenticity. Please pray for us as we continue to model this for our team and invite them to walk with us on the journey of being real and vulnerable. The Lord has given us a great team for this and it has really become a safe place for them to be real.
Next blog will be more prayer requests and also how God has been answering prayer...
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How exciting for all of you! And how interesting. It's always helpful when people are honest, open, and willing to be vulnerable enough to tell the truth. We can't keep secrets from God, but we're quite good at it when people are concerned. Keep doing what you're doing!
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