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.