Still Going Strong...

After the excitement of starting a new semester and meeting new students it's nice to settle into a bit of a groove. I've been really pumped this semester to have the same group of people back for another go around. This makes the third semester of leading my co-ed small group. The great part about this is that the discipleship that has taken place over the last year and a half can continue to develop.

This semester I stumbled upon a strategy that lets the students decide what we will study. It's been great, each week we look at a different verse or group of verses that someone in the group has chosen. This has helped to maintain a higher and more consistent level of interest and participation which leads to a sense of ownership for the students.

(from left to right: Jess Vinyard, Gary Cronk(legs), Dawson Swan(photographer),Sarah Lahnert, Me, Ralph(the dog) and Hannah Moore.

On the Horizon...

So what is Rugged doing next? Right now we are maintaining what we currently have going, weekly Bible studies and group activities. We plan one big event a month, whether it be an outdoor activity like climbing, mtn. biking or snowboarding or a relaxing movie or game night. This month we are going to see a ski movie produced by Warren Miller Films. They follow some of the top skiiers and snowboarders in the world around to the most challenging, strange and beautiful locations in the world and produce full length feature ski videos.

Since we try and see purpose in every opportunity the purpose of this event is to draw new students to come and enjoy the film with us and hopefully make a connection to us and our group. The greater hope here is that through us they will make a connection with Christ, if they don't already have one, or get connected to one of our Bible study groups. It's also to get us all pumped up for the upcoming ski season. Last winter we had a great time building relationships with students through the activity of skiing and snowboarding together.

May I make a request...?

I would ask you to join me in praying for a few specific things. As I mentioned above the ski season is a great time to build relationships with students. Long car rides to the slopes, time in the chair lift and re-living your epic day over pizza on the way home all offer opportunities to get to know each on deeper levels and allow trust to built. Trust is a key part of any form discipleship. Please pray this winter for safety but also that God would bless the conversations that will happen. Pray that trust will be built, that truth would be shared and accepted and that spiritual growth would be the outcome.

1 corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Gearing up

This summer was fast and full and here we are at another September with fall knocking on the door. Students are rolling into campus and I am excited for another semester to begin.

Since our inception we (Rugged) have been trying to become established as a club on the campus of The Colorado School of Mines in Golden, CO. On September 4th we had the privilege to set up a booth for “Celebration of Mines” which is where students learn about the different clubs and activities on campus. It was a very exciting step and we were able to meet some new students. Our hope is to begin to get these newbie’s plugged in to our weekly studies and some one-on-one mentorship relationships.
It was encouraging to talk with the students and hear their curiosity about Rugged and what our purpose is. So many students at Mines and in Colorado in general are into outdoor activities that a ministry such as ours is very appealing.

Running for Jesus

I am continuing to meet with Jesse on a regular basis. We have been enjoying going trail running together. It’s fun to see this common bond be a catalyst for deeper conversation and accountability. Jesse has introduced me to a band called 'As I Lay Dying'. It's a heavy metal band full of Christian men who love the Lord and it comes out in their lyrics, ha, even if you can't understand them. Don't judge too quickly, I was hesitant at first until I read their lyrics and their

testimonial. They're leggit.

Other News

The co-ed study I lead on Tuesday nights has started up again (we took a break for while due to summer schedules). This semester we are going over verses that the students have picked out to study. It’s encouraging to see the same faces back again with hopes of adding some new ones. Please pray for continued participation and growth on an individual level as well as a community.

Please Pray

I am still in need of monthly supporters. I took a hit this summer loosing two monthly supporters. Please pray for God' provision. If you have been thinking about supporting now would be a great time.

I am also looking to move. I realized this summer that I need more space. The nature of both Rugged and my carpentry job both require gear and tools and I have plenty of both. I'm looking to find a rental house with two friends. Please pray that we would find a house in a good location and with lots of space.

Let me tell you a little story about Moab, Utah. A month ago we embarked on a trip looking for some biking and rappelling in the desert playground known as Moab. What we found there was a deep well of experience and community.

The first night we hiked to the top of a rock and looked out over the vast expanse of the desert. It was a good moment for some quiet reflection that set the tone for the rest of the trip. I was
humbled to look out over God's grand creation and have the mind boggling thought that, after He made all that we see, He made us. Throughout the trip whether; stuck in the trailer that became our evening shelter for three nights due to high winds and cold temps, or out enjoying the days events, the desert continuously begs the question, "who is this amazing God?". It can be a humbling experience.

We had a blast doing crazy things. We mountain biked on the otherworldly “slickrock” terrain that Moab offers. We threw ourselves, ever so carefully off into the abyss by partnering up and simul-rappelling from the Morning Glory Arch into Negro Bill Canyon.
The coolest thing about the trip was that we got to connect on an even deeper level. We talked about our deepest fears and our biggest dreams. Those connections were able to be brought back to our community and plugged directly into what is already going on. This trip opened my eyes to what these guys need in their lives and enabled me to now tailor studies and other discipleship methods more specifically. This is the whole reason for Rugged and it blew me away to see it in action.

Other News
While we are still doing weekly Bible studies we have been working to adapt our other activities in the attempt to attract more students. We have moved our Sunday morning meetings to a Sunday night time of fellowship. With this we hope to maintain current relationships and provide a place for our regular students to bring friends.
Please pray for provision and direction, not only for myself and Rugged but for yourself as we are all the body of Christ and are interconnected no matter where we are or what we do. I am still in need of monthly donors and prayer warriors. I am currently hovering around 20% of my goal. I have been blessed to this point with donors and a part-time carpentry job. But my ultimate goal is be able to work full-time for Rugged.