#ReflectCampusMissions - Apprenticeship Ripple Effects

Greetings from Casey!

"Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you."

2 Corinthians 10:15-16

I have used this verse a lot to describe our work here at UD. I love how Paul emphasizes 4 things:

• Paul wants their faith to continue to grow. It may be hard to measure but over months and years it should be obvious that we are growing in our trust of God.

• Sphere of activity will greatly expand. This is what I like to call a holy discontent. We are thankful for where the gospel is now, but we want it to expand beyond where it is now. 

• We want it to expand so that new regions can hear the gospel. I couldn't help but think of this paraphrase--so that we can preach the gospel on the campuses beyond you.

• Finally, this is Paul's missionary hope. This is what motivates him to press on. Paul has a hopeful vision of new people someday coming to know Jesus because of what is being done now. 

The Blue Hens for Christ (BHC) apprenticeship fulfills all of these!

1. Our apprentice, Conner Brown, will have completed two years of training with us this summer. His faith is growing! He is meeting all kinds of students here--international and American, seeker, skeptic and followers of Jesus. He is wrestling with faith questions that students ask and gets to serve them and walk alongside them. He has visited a few sites like Rowan University, Penn State Harrisburg and Boston (which may have the most universities of any city in the world!). We have visited UConn and Rhode Island and are considering next steps. These are real places where Conner could end up serving...campuses in regions beyond us. The first pic is Conner on the Princeton campus from last year and the second pic is Conner on the University of Connecticut campus this past month. There are churches and mentors and interest in having someone like Conner helping them reach college students where they are. And I know that would give Paul hope! 
   
   
2. But I also want to share how this helps all of us here at UD. First, it allows students here to connect with Conner and learn why he is here. They know he's only here for two years. They know he will be sent out. They have to make the most of the time they have with him. Their faith will grow as they build relationships with Conner, whose faith is growing. 
   
   
3. We get to talk about Conner's discernment trips (traveling to new campuses) and where he might end up. We also get to post pictures on social media when we travel so that students remember Conner is looking for long term work elsewhere. It helps them think about other campuses even though they are here. We hope it stirs prayers in them for Conner's future and maybe even THEIR future. 
   
   
4. We have begun to challenge our students that THEY could apply for the BHC apprenticeship if they believe God is calling them to a life of ministry on campus. If they have a good experience with BHC and do not feel passionate about the degree they are working on, they might consider apprenticing with us. I had a great campus ministry experience at Arkansas but was not passionate about my Chemical Engineering training. Thus a campus missionary was born! 
   
   
5. And we have begun to challenge them to consider JOINING Conner and supporting his ministry when they graduate here. We get them to imagine that if Conner were to move to Rhode Island (just an example!), they would look for jobs there too or if they still need a Masters or PhD, they could apply to a university where Conner might be reaching out to students. The relationships that have been built here might get to continue because their hearts are connected to Conner and the campus! 

All of this works well with Paul's language about things happening "among us" and "beyond us." Much work has been done among us while Conner is here. But soon we hope to send him out beyond us to another campus. 

I believe this work would give Paul hope and I hope it gives you hope as well! 

For the kingdom and the campus,

Casey

Prayer List for new campus missions:

• James and Allie Goodpasture - Harding - P.O.D. Missionaries
• Shane and Bekah Standerfer - Univ of Oklahoma - P.O.D. Missionaries
• Dean and Jasmine Thompson - Univ of North Carolina Charlotte - Plant
• Pray for Reflect as we help equip and guide them.