Beautiful things.

 I love photography...by that I mean my favorite type of art ever is photography. I wish I knew how to take pictures. Thats one of my dreams in life, to get a good camera, and then do my dream job....photojournalist/evangelist in an unreached people group. Sometimes I look at pictures on etsy.com, where people sell their pictures. If I could I would buy tons of them!! Maybe thats what I should have asked for for Christmas. Here are some pictures that are beautiful and to me reflect God and the beauty of His creation....

 Romans 1:20 "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."




Psalm 19:1 "The heavens declare the glory of God; 
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Christmas at Furman!!!

Well, these past few weeks have been some of the busiest yet! We've had 2 huge parties and have been preparing for the ALIVE conference in DC! 

Even though you couldn't be there, here are some highlights of our Christmas bash we had last week:

-smores, hot chocolate, and tons of treats!

-an eggnog chugging contest....not really my thing but VERY entertaining!!

-SLIP N SLIDE!!! In 30 degree weather, some guys (and a couple girls were brave enough to try) did a soapy and wet slip n slide in the guys front yard!

Natalee, Jordan, me, Hayly, Martha, and Suzanne (all freshman girls!)

Hayley, Martha, Suzanne, & Cecilia at our freshman Bible study white elephant gift exchange

Eggnog chugging contest.....very gross if you ask me! But the crowd loved it!

Alyssa, me, Anna, Allie, and Casey at my house!! 3 of these girls are KD's

The guys (Daniel, Sam, & Peters) house all ready for the Christmas party! Looks awesome!

Me and some girls hanging by the fire!!!

help me Lord.

Bethany Dillon- Hallelujah 



Who can hold the stars
And my weary heart?
Who can see everything?

I've fallen so hard
Sometimes I feel so far
But not beyond your reach

I could climb a mountain
Swim the ocean
Or do anything
But it's when you hold me
That I start unfolding
And all I can say is

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
Help me to sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
I'll choose to sing hallelujah

The same sun that
Rises over castles
And welcomes the day

Spills over buildings
Into the streets
Where orphans play

And only you can see the good
In broken things
You took my heart of stone
And you made it home
And set this prisoner free

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
Help me to sing hallelujah
Hallelujah, hallelujah
Whatever's in front of me
I'll choose to sing hallelujah 




Dad, help me choose to believe your promises, to believe that you are enough even when I dont feel like it, and make my greatest joy in life be YOU. Alone.

LADY ANTEBELLUM!

Margaret, Katie, me, Em, and Leila!!

 Well, if you know me you know I LOVE country music!!! A couple weeks ago, I went with 3 freshman girls (and my sis Em!!) to see them at Furman! Of course it was awesome. I love that we really believe (campus outreach and me personally) in incarnational ministry AKA Life on Life....living life with people you are ministering to!! Jesus lived life with His 12 disciples. Ministry isnt just the times when you're studying the Bible and praying but its also the timesba when you're just hanging out, going to Wal Mart together, walking to the library together, getting a snack in the dining hall!! Thats one reason I think I want to talk to people about Jesus for a living forever- it combines my 2 passions- JESUS and LIVING!!

me and Katie!!! 

Beautiful Furman. Pray for this school and all the students!!  "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord....."

Thanksgiving Dinner!!!

Girls hanging out at Thanksgiving dinner!

Last Monday, over 100 students piled into Thomas and Sarah's backyard for a festive potluck dinner! The night was complete with live music, pie eating contest, and lots of eating! It was AWESOME. It was truly a celebration for our staff team, celebrating all that the Lord has allowed us to do this semester. This semester has been spent really plowing the fields, building relationships and sharing Christ with students. Our team has really worked together and worked tirelessly to be on the campus, living life with these students.

Me, Emily, and Hunter!

Molly, Emmi, and me!

Pie eating contest!

If you would have told me last year that at this time this year we would be putting on something like THAT, I would have bet you anything it would never happen. Look at what God has done in just ONE year!!!!!! I am so thankful.

Now...check out this AWESOME 1 MINUTE VIDEO from the night!!
thanksgiving dinner!

Awesome Sophomores!

Every Thurdsay night, all the sophomores pile into our basement for Bible Study!! 23 girls are in the group this year, and its awesome!! This semester were going through the Lies Women Believe book & study guide, which I think is very relatable and important for all women. The lies we have talked about so far deal with lies we believe about God, ourselves, and even talking about the nature of Satan- he uses things that look pleasing and appealing, even good things, to entrap us and lure us in. My prayer is that through this Bible study, the girls would really start to uproot some of the lies that they have been believing for years!

happy birthday Karen!

Karen is a sophomore at Furman from Pennsylvania. If you saw my video from the summer, you've met Karen!!
About a month ago, we had a party for Karen at my house for her Birthday!!!

Karen is one of the girls who always asks me how Im doing- and really has taken the time to get to know me, ask me questions. Her genuine heart and tender spirit always warm my heart:)

I will sing of my redeemer...

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,
With His blood He purchased me,
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant pow'r I'll tell,
How the victory He giveth
Over sin, and death, and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His heav'nly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Son of God with Him to be.


The composition was found in a piece of baggage rescued from a fiery train wreck on the day of December 20, 1876. The poem’s author, 38-year-old Philip P. Bliss, has been traveling with his wife to Chicago to fulfill an engagement at D. L. Moody’s Tabernacle.

Near Ashtabula, Ohio a bridge collapsed and the train plunged into an icy river bed. It is said that Bliss survived the fall and climbed out through a coach window only to return, looking for his wife. Reunited, they died together in the flaming wreckage.


a beautiful, simple hymn.

fun things.

today, despite things not going by my plan, God blessed me greatly. If you know me, you know that my like and dislikes lists must include the following:

likes:
reading and journaling
exercise
people
life stories
any small animal

dislikes:
well, i was born a pessimist so i wont fill that out, but lets just say, when i dont accomplish all i want/plan to :(

Today, I woke up at 6:30, had 2 hours with God, all to myself, THe house was so quiet you could hear a mouse run across the floor if it dared. I studied acts 2, journaled, read my fav blog (scotty smith's http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/), and really heard God speak to me in Acts 2 about community, and trusting the Lord to add to our number daily, not Lindsay owens to add to the number and do all the work.

Later, I took a short nap, went to the halls at Furman and had a heart to heart with Laura, a sophomore...God is doing amazing things, so much that we both were almost in tears at HIS faithfulness, HIS work, HIs power.

Then, I went to ZUMBA!! a dance class...interestingly enough in the old building where we had our meetings. It was crazy, but so energizing and completely FUN. I even got a treat to see my old boss from atlanta bread!!

At my favorite time of day, nearing sunset when the sky is periwinkle, I went to furman by the lake. What appeared in my path by God's sovereign grace?? A tiny dog!!! what a joy...turns out the lady was a christian, we sat and talked for an hour. Our pasts were so similar, and for one of the first times, I had victory in the Lord to share my wounds with another wounded. amazing grace that we are saved by.

Then, I got to come home and talk to lynn. We never get to talk on weekdays because of our schedules,but God knew we needed to laugh and pray together.

One of my conclusions is that God knows what we need. I had planned on going to the dorms for 3 hours. Even now I feel guilty...and am repenting of this need to control and do all things. Even small interruptions, chance encounters, and dance classes are gifts from HIm.

Father, help me trust you with these girls at Furman. I want them to know you first, I want to love them and share you with them, but I want to be led by the Spirit, and to trust you completely. Help me trust you and not myself, and thank you that you give me rest, even when I think I dont need it. Thank you that my job allows me to share daily and grows me like nothing else. Give me an undivided heart. I love you Dad.

This prayer really spoke to my heart.

God is desiring more freedom in my life, and teaching me about what it means to be fully broken, real, and needy of HIm. Scotty Smith writes,


A Prayer About More Freedom from Jesus

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

Dear Lord Jesus, I’m still not as free as you intend. Though you’ve already freed me from trying to earn my salvation by anything I do or based on anything in me… though you’ve already liberated me from the illusion that I can earn more of God’s love by ramping up my obedience and decreasing my foolishness… though the chains of condemnation have already been broken and the fears of death, Judgment Day and the future have been sent packing… I’m still not as free as you intend.

I’m still a babe… a neophyte… a raw rookie in so many gospel-freedoms. Only the gospel helps me see and acknowledge these things. Only your grace keeps me from going to shame and self-contempt as I offer these prayers…

Jesus, please free me for being less irritated… more often… with fewer people. Please turn my hair-trigger reactions into slower, wiser responses. Please help me to use less words and more listening, when engaging others. Please unshackle me from the illusion of control and my commitment to a pain-free heart.

Jesus, please liberate me from thinking about the next thing, so I can be present in the current moment. Please help me make better eye contact and heart connection with others. Please help me to be more intrigued with people I don’t know and less timid around strangers.

Jesus, please break even more of the chains of my insecurities. Please free me from the grave-clothes of feeling incompetent about important things in life. Please unfetter me from thinking too much about what I’m not… by showing me more of you and who I am in you.

Jesus, please free me for greater spontaneity… louder laughter… saltier tears… and quicker repentances. So very Amen, I pray, in your most compassionate name.

Discipline:The Glad Surrender

Right now I'm reading Elisabeth Elliot's book called Discipline: the Glad Surrender. Its really making me think about what God really calls us to when He calls us to Himself, to come and die and live a new life.
She says, "the conditions are not such as attract multitudes. Jesus stated them :

1. He must leave self behind
2. he must take up his cross
3. and come with me

The result of the decision is guaranteed:
1.Whoever cares for his own safety is lost
2.but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self

Elisabeth says that to be a Christian MEANS we are disciples...means that we leave ourselves behind.
So often I hear myself saying, like those she mentions, "Yes, I'll be a disciple, but no, I certainly don't want to leave self behind."

This is the essence of being a Christian. And its very hard...I know God is teaching me about how selfish and self reliant I am right now. Following Christ is not as simple and easy as praying a prayer, reading the Bible, and going on your merry way..it is about denying self and living for Christ! Before I was a Christian, I lived totally for myself, so the same sin creeps into my life as Christian- selfishness. I know God is changing me day by day, and I have to trust Him that He can and will. And that the Gospel isnt about me, not about doing enough good things...but this challenges me
Do I really believe that Christ is worth it? Do I believe He deserves my all? Is He my treasure alone?

Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Praying that will be true for me every day.

fundraising

My blog has been staring at me today, but somehow theres not that much to write about all my girls....Im fundraising. Most definitely the most challenging part of being a missionary in America! All the time I experience things like..."What a minute..where are you going?"
me: "what do you mean?"
"i mean, where are you going to be a missionary?"

Me: "the college campus. Furman University."

"oh. I thought you said you were going to be a missionary."

Sometimes I feel guilty that Im not in the 10/40 window, doing the real thing. Hang on.. This IS the real thing, Maybe not forever here in America, but for now. I know that people who think that missions exist only outside america dont mean to be rude or anything, maybe they have never talked to anyone outside a church about Jesus, faith, God, eternity, But, I challenge you- do it. Talk to someone that you may have known forever and not talked about spiritual things to, or someone you have just met, at the store, getting your nails done, wherever, and experience the truth - most people dont know HIm. Theyve heard of Him but they dont deeply know Him. Live for Him, treasure Him, spend time with HIm. we must tell people in our nation about the only One who can save us. Jesus.

Once upon a time, I had no idea there was more to being a Christian than just going to church and being a good person. I thought missionaries only needed to go to where people were hungry and physically broken. Somewhere not as fortunate. But, ironically, someone was a missionary TO ME. Someone came to me on the college campus. Someone helped me see the truth, and the need that right next door to my dorm room, across the hall, in the library, the dining hall, everywhere, people were wasting their lives. Ive learned this year how needy every single person is of a Savior. They may look like they have it all together on the outside, but what about their heart? We must be Jesus to the hungry, the poor, the brokenhearted, but we must also be Jesus to the rich, the businessman or woman, the arrogant teenager who is living for the future, the middle class mom who relies on herself to get things done. I was one of those people, searching for something, nothing was working. Until God changed me. I really really really really see a need for us to send people to our own children and youth. No one ever asked me about my personal relationship with Jesus till i was 19 years old.

Anyways, I have about 2 weeks to try and raise the remainder of my financial support! Pray that God provides. I have about 400 dollars a month left to raise, and I am praying that God supply it by July 21st. A big prayer I know, but please join me in it. I can tell you that while I have been meeting with people, I have been SO ENCOURAGED. Seeing people in Rutherfordton living for something greater than themselves. Seeing how they raise their children to be godly. Seeing how they want to be a part of reaching this next generation of leaders. And getting to share the joys of this past year with people.

here is a verse i am praying for this time in my life:phil 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I
press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Pray for the Unreached!

I was thinking of ideas for missions for our students, and remembered I wanted to post my missionary's story on here for all of you to read!

Have you ever heard of the 10/40 window? Its the largest area of non Christians in the world, which are mostly unreached- have never heard the name of Jesus, most don't have Bibles or missionaries to tell them the good news. According to another website, 1% of missionaries go there (so 99% are reaching the reached) and .05% of missions funds are sent there. We must pray for God to send out workers into the harvest field, to the reached and the unreached!!

Matt 9:37-38

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Matthew 24:14

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Everyone must hear the news!!!

I support a missionary named Harpreet in India through the gospel of asiahttp://www.gfa.org/, check it out!

here is her story-

Harpreet's Testimony

I was born February 2, 1991 into a non-Christian family in India. My parents were devout in worshipping and performing pujas (rituals) to our gods but I had no interest in taking part in any activities of our religion. On the other hand, I was an atheist and argued with friends and family about the existence of God.

As I grew up, I was very staunch in my personal belief but never understood that there is a living God who is my Savior. My family always counseled me to change my attitude and to follow their religion and they explained the principles that the religion emphasized. However, I continued to live a life according to my will and desire. Thus I have no interest to know the reality.

It was during this time, my mother happened to take active participation in the religious activities. She became a follower of a god-woman and began to worship her. One day, my mother fell sick and was rushed to the hospital. The whole family was worried and was not able to understand what to do? Life became miserable when the doctors explained us that my mother had a heart problem and need to undergo an operation immediately. We were discouraged and my father struggled to meet the expenses for the operation.

At this desperate situation, my father happened to meet a Bible woman in my aunt's home. After knowing the critical condition of our family, she shared the Gospel and requested my father to believe in Christ to attain healing and to bring my mother to a nearby church for prayer. As a last resort, my father was convinced and we happened to take my mother for prayer. The Spirit-filled worship and the powerful Word comforted us. As the days passed by, slowly my mother recovered and received complete healing. The river of joy filled my heart, and I understood that God is real and Christ Jesus is the only God. So, I began to spend more time in attending church meetings and prayer fellowships.

My mother's deliverance helped me to understand the need of knowing the Lord personally. Meanwhile, my pastor shared with me the Gospel and in no time we confessed my sins along with my family members and received Jesus as my personal Savior. From then on, I experienced great peace in my heart. Later, I made a public testimony of my faith.

After transformation, seeing my interest in spiritual matter, my father asked me to seek God's will for my life. In due time, I received the call and began to help my pastor in all the activities of my church. Soon, I understood the importance of a systematic study of the Word and the desire to know the Lord closely. I then joined a Bible School to train myself for the ministry ahead.

Present Ministry

I am presently serving the Lord as a Bible woman in India. The majority of the people among whom I am working are non-Christians. To expand God's kingdom, I share His Word through Gospel tract distribution, house visitation and home prayer fellowships. I also work among women and children.

Please pray for me that I may fulfill God's plan to expand His kingdom.

Pray for her as she shares, pray for the nations!

Field day....GO WHITE!

Every week at the LP, we have a social. The entire project is required to attend...it can be anything from building sand castles on the beach to a dance party! Last week, we had field day! 3 teams, the Red, White, and Blue teams, all competed for first place. I was on the white team..we lost by 1 point and came in second! It was a huge success- students had a blast in the 2 legged race, water balloon toss, pie eating contest, egg and spoon race, wheelbarrow race, and my least favorite- sardine eating..yuk! I almost forgot to mention, the dizzy bat race. If you've never done it, I don't recommend it- I felt sick for hours after spinning around 10 times and attempting to run in a straight line. It was so entertaining!!! Check it out-

until next time!

GO MARINER's!!!!!! i love cheerleading at the LP!

LP has begun!!!

All the guys, ready to welcome disciples to the leadership project!!

WELCOME to the LP!!!!!

Last week, students from Wofford College, Furman University, Presbyterian College, and Western Carolina University pulled into the Mariner Motel in hot and humid Myrtle Beach SC!! Staff and student leaders eagerly waited for each car to pull in, welcoming them to their summer home!!!!

This past week, students secured jobs- God provided all the jobs we needed! Students will work this summer at Wal Mart, McDonalds, Zaxby's, Salsarita's, Wendy's , Skechers, Build a Bear, and Ocean Creek! As students settled into their rooms, meeting new roomates for the first time, I settled into my room full of 7-8 girls with 1 bathroom!! Just had to tell you that, it is a small challenge for me personally!

Last monday, our staff team planned and put on the theme meeting, which was a pep rally theme!! All of us girls were cheerleaders, plus A-Hawk (andrew) who was our faithful male cheerleader. It was so much fun! For the rest of the summer, students will plan and implement these meetings.

So far, we've been studying 1 Peter and learning an easy method in how to study the Bible. Our memory verse for this week is 1 Peter 1:13

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Thats powerful- our hope is not in the here and now, but in the future, specifically future grace !! Pray that these students would catch an eternal vision, and would set their gaze on the future grace that will be given. Also, pray that no one would leave this summer not believing in Jesus as the only way to God!

blogs

PS:

Check out some of the blogs to the left! They are staff from schools within our region (Western, PC, Furman, Wofford, Clemson) that will be updating this summer! Just thought you all would like to get a bigger picture of what God is doing down at the LP, in South Africa, and in the lives of our students!

Thank you

Thank you for anyone who supports me financially & prayerfully! Over the past 2 weeks, I've met with supporters and shared my vision with many people, and my heart is filled with thankfulness for you who really are a part of what God is doing on the college campus! I could not go if you did not send me.

Personally, I am learning how huge of an impact raising my own support has on my own faith. In the past 2 weeks, my boss, Thomas, asked me to pray for something much larger than I ever thought possible. I rolled my eyes but prayed with a mustard seed of faith- God answered that specific prayer and many more!!! God is growing my faith through this! Thank you for praying for my heart, and really that I would trust God more than anything.

I have to tell you of one encouraging thing that I got to do in Rutherford County- about a week ago, I was able to speak at a college praise and worship session at Adaville Baptist Church. It was SO ENCOURAGING!!!! I was welcomed in by families that I had never met before!! And, I met 2 college students who are doing beach projects- one with Campus Outreach Charlotte, and the other with Crusade in California. God really is reaching college students, even in our tiny town!! I was so encouraged and overjoyed- because I often hurt for students from our small town. I wonder if they ever get a change to grow and experience the joy that God has for us as Christians in true community and in following someone more mature than us in their faith? Until college, I had never experienced anything like the community and growth opportunities that I found in Campus Outreach. Pray for Ned and Chelsea as they grow this summer! Praise God for college ministries on the campuses in our nation!

A staggering statistic I heard on the radio about a month ago was that 85% of teens go to church, but only 15% have authentic relationships with Jesus. I am burdened for the young people of our nation. We must show them what it means to have true life in the person of Jesus Christ alone. I pray now for all the high school and college students who have heard the true gospel, that it would grow into fruit this very year, and for those who have not heard, that God would send more people to tell them. God would you start a revival in our nation in this next generation?

Eph 2:8-9

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹not by works, so that no one can boast."

Romans 10:13-15

for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

¹⁴How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Ephesians

Today I looked back over Ephesians, which I studied this year at Furman and God gave me a verse to claim for this season of my life. If you know me, you know that I don't love change, lean towards self reliance, and wrestle with perfectionism.

Eph 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do."

That's powerful! If youre a Christian, you are Gods 'work of art', have an identity IN Christ, and God is using you, is going to use you, and He decides how!

That is how I feel about ministering on the campus of Furman- that God has really called me here specifically. I've learned more and grown more in the past year than I have in my entire life. So, not only is He using me to advance the Kingdom on the college campus, He is using this time to grow me and change me. This summer, I am claiming that verse for me and for these students that are leading the project!! Pray for us! John Piper talks about what it means to be a great leader maker in one of my favorite sermons- "Barnabas the Maker of a great Leader". Listen to it here- Barnabas: The Maker of a Great Leader :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

Anyway, pray Pipers marks of a great leader for our staff and students this summer:

1. That we would be risk takers- for the Kingdom and on behalf of other potential leaders (Barnabas really took a risk in standing up for Paul, Acts (9:26-27)

2. That we would have good eyes and a glad heart for the potential of grace- that we would look for ways that God is working, have faith for others and ourselves, and not be critical/judgemental

3. Humble and self -effacing- that we would have the ability to fade into the background, to not make much of ourselves, to really serve others,

4. Patient with the failure of others- patient with those who are younger spiritually, older spiritually, and with our own growth, also that we would trust God to change us and others.

5. free from materialism- that we would love GOD and love PEOPLE!! not money and things

and I will add another to this list that I am learning alot about- that we would be men and women of PRAYER. Ephesians says pray in the Spirit on all occasions.....please pray that we would do this.

I have to close by pasting what Piper closes his sermon with..Do we want to be leaders?

If you want to be a biblical leader-maker, ask yourself this: when my mind is free to dream, do I dream of clothes or cars or houses or lake property or sports or profits or stereos or videos or computers or vacations or food or movies or investments . . . ? In other words, am I materialistic in the moments when I dream about what I would like to do and to have? Does my mind naturally fill up with possessions?

That is not what fills the mind of a biblical leader-maker.

When leader-makers lie awake at night, their minds turn to people—people potentials and people strategies. They dream about how to maximize their influence on people for the sake of Christ.

• I could invite that 11 year old boy to spend the night in the International House . . .
  
• We could get behind that 14 year old missionary with our 20:20 group . . .
  
• We could ask that student over for Thanksgiving dinner . . .
  
• We could give an anonymous gift to that struggling seminary student . . .
  
• We could pay her way to Urbana . . .
  
• I could send him a note of thanks for that pastoral prayer . . .
  
• I could read my children a series of missionary biographies . . .
  
• I could write that short-termer a letter of encouragement . . .
  

The list is endless for biblical leader-makers—people who are free from the heart-deadening mentality of materialism.

abc...missing it!

Sitting in ABC at cherrydale, my little place of work the first year I graduated from college! I just had to write as I sit here and people watch.

Well, sounds crazy but I miss it! I miss the people mainly.....

I also am so thankful for supporters. And that God is so in control and has a plan. :)

LP RETREAT!!!

Last weekend, every student who is attending the Leadership Project this summer attended a retreat at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church! Students from Wofford College, Western Carolina, Presbyterian College, and Furman showed up bright and early on Saturday for a day full of fellowship, instruction, and preparation for this summer! The picture above of all the balloons is a pic of when students had to pop all the balloons to find out who was in their room!! The whole day we played cornhole, heard a talk about the theme, students applied for jobs, hung out with their rooms, and met tons of new people! I put a pic of us single girls, Ashley, me, Lynn, and Marybeth, who worked hard to keep the day running smoothly and took a little break for some fun pics :)

I love the "LP". If you would have asked me if I would ever do something like it 5 years ago, I would have just laughed at you. I love being comfortable, being at home, and doing my own thing- and those things just dont describe the LP at all. Students live in tiny motel rooms with 5-8 people, work full time jobs, live in a Christian Community, learn how to share their faith, study the Bible, pray together, and minister to those they work with. Its a busy, productive, but FUN summer! When people say theyre going to the beach for the summer, they pretty much mean they might see the beach for a couple hours each week, but don't count on it.

As hard as it is, the LP is really a greenhouse for spiritual growth. It reminds me of Acts 2, where the apostles had everything in common, they ate together, prayed together, ministered together.....this is life changing when you experience it for the first time! This is life on life ministry, and it changes lives! Thats what Campus Outreach is all about, because thats what Jesus was all about!

This summer, the theme of the LP is WITNESS. Our theme verse is 1 Peter 2:9, that says,

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

Really, being a witness of Christ means that we are image bearers of God, made in His image, and image reflectors, as we share Him with others!!

Praise God for these students giving up their summer to learn, grow together, and be challenges. Praise Him for the group leaders, which are students that will lead 4-6 students and shepherd them. Please pray for these girls that are near and dear to my heart! Pray for these freshman girls coming from Furman from my Bible study:

Allie, Chelsea, Alyssa, Laura, Emmi

And sophomore and juniors Marilyn, Kara, and Helen

Pray that they would grow in Christ and really know Him this summer.

And pray for these room leaders:

Chelsea, Catheryne, Mills, and Emily- pray they would love Him more than anything, and God would give them strength in Him this summer. Also pray they would KNOW God intimately!

The last pic is a picture of Wendy and me. Wendy will be having a baby, Judah, very soon! Pray for her and for a healthy baby. I wanted to put this picture up because she is one of the reasons I am who I am today. She pursued me, led me, gave her life to me. My best memories my senior year involve Wendy and Jessica. Wendy discipled Jess and I, and together we really knew God better through each other. I miss both of them deeply. Jessica died in a car accident our senior year and was preparing to be a missionary. Her faith impacted me greatly, and as I labor at our alma mater, I tell her story all the time.

Pray for me and these students. Pray that God would do more than all we could ask or imagine!

I recently read an article called Off to College- Can we Keep them? by someone I dont know anything about, but he gave 12 reasons why college students lose their faith. Where I think this applies is- reasons why people that grew up in a Christian home and might not have ever really owned their faith, had a personal relationship with Christ- these are things that choke out any plant growing in their lives. Here a few I see at Furman alot-

1.Young Believers Think They Can Be Solitary Christians

Many young believers go off to college with what I call the "just you and me, God'' view of the Christian life. Separated from their hometown congregation, they think they can worship, pray, study Scripture, and practice the Christian disciplines all by themselves without fellowship with other believers. That's like a soldier thinking he can stay alive and fight Just as well when separated from his unit.

2.They Haven't Learned to Recognize the Desires and Devices of Their Hearts

It's an odd thing about us human beings: Not many of us disbelieve in God and then begin to sin-rather, we get involved in some clinging sin or start wanting to fit in, and then we find excuses to disbelieve in God. For this reason, the best apologetics in the world cannot succeed unless students know how to unmask their own secret motives.

3. They Think Good Intentions Are Enough to Protect Them from Sin

Like so many of the other stumbling blocks, this one is most prominent in the area of sex. For example, a Christian boy and girl may have every intention of remaining chaste but spend every waking moment alone together. This is an impossible combination.

4.Their Understanding of Christian Virtues Is Too Sentimental

Young Christians often confuse friendship with God with a state of their feelings. "I know the Bible says we should avoid doing such and such. But I prayed about it and felt that it was all right." Anyone who thinks like this is a sitting duck for the adversary, having become fatally vulnerable to attacks that would otherwise be easy to repel.

There are days when I wonder why God called me to Furman University, a small private school in the heart of the Bible Belt. But I am reminded- we have a mission field among us. We have a culture to redeem. As I walk the halls at Furman, I see people desperately in need of a savior, of a new life and new heart, of true fulfillment and love. And that can only be found in Christ alone.