We Knew It Was Coming

Yesterday was my first official day "off-campus." In case you are not too familiar with how the fundraising process works in InterVarsity, each staff worker is personally responsible for raising a ministry budget and salary. We gauge how far along we have come in the fundraising process in terms of the percentage of our total budget we have raised through one-time gifts and pledges. When I say I am at 41%, that means that if were June 30 (the last day of our fiscal year), I would have raised 41% of my total budget for the year. InterVarsity realizes how difficult the fundraising process is, especially for a full-time position, and therefore, in order for their staff to not become burned out in the long-term between campus ministry and fundraising full-time, they require that a staff worker be at 70% of their total budget before they engage in campus ministry. This ensures that people can do this job for a lifetime and not just collapse after a year. Staff are allowed to be involved with programming during the first two weeks of school in order to get the ball rolling, but must step away from direct involvement quickly thereafter if funds are not yet to the 70% mark. I am currently at 41% and so, though I am certainly making progress, there is still a ways to go. The first two weeks of school are past and now I will begin the process of full-time fundraising.

Technical details aside, even these first few days in have been a difficult transition. Our core group of leaders (The Edge) met last night for the first time and I was not able to be in attendance. My staff partner (Esther) handled things beautifully and we had eighteen students show up and commit to living a life of mission on campus! I was thrilled to hear the stories of the evening but being away from something I am so passionate about was incredibly difficult. I completely trust my staff partner and we have been blessed with more capable, visionary leaders than we have ever had but still, I long to be on the frontlines with them. I feel the tug on my heart for the student groups for which God has softened my heart. I seem to be standing on the sidelines; as encouraging and uplifting as coaching can be, I long to be in the game. But, I trust my supervisors and I know that God wouldn't have led me to a support-raising ministry unless He intended me to spend time raising support. Patience is the lesson and it is a bitter pill to swallow at times, but I know it will cure what ails me. I trust that God knows where we are going even when we can't see beyond these hills we tread.

Please continue praying for me as I work hard to get back to campus as soon as possible. Pray for the Edge as these eighteen students look to grow their group and take the Gospel to the far corners of campus. Pray for unity of vision and the movement of the Spirit in leading these students to the groups on campus to which Jesus would send them. Pray for strength, vision, and rest for my staff partner Esther as she does much of the leading and training of SLU InterVarsity for the time being. Pray for revival at SLU - we want to see the Kingdom come this year! Thanks for supporting us.