Walking by Faith

My college friend Leah from Troy grew up in bible studies and discipleship groups with me throughout college. Her life as well as mine was shaped by Campus Outreach and what we learned about walking by faith in college. Here is a bit of a recent update from her...as I read her thoughts I completely sympathize! So I thought I'd share... Leah could definetly use your prayers as she seeks to share the gospel in France.

"I'd be lying if I told you that I have everything together. The definition of "missionary" for me, continues to be defined as "asking for grace and guidance from the Lord daily, because I have no idea what I'm doing & never cease to fail every time I rely on my own strength to do anything."

Thankfully, this verse has been particularly encouraging to me in this, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians12:9

Thank you LORD for your constant undeserved love for us!

Prayer Requests

-For the Lord to bring more opportunities to share the gospel & build friendships with: Amy, Sarah, Rebecca & Chloe.

-Our church's college ministry. We have several fun events coming up this month! Please pray that these would lead to informal spiritual conversations & the desire for constant fellowship with other believers.

-Language training. This area has been tough for me! Please pray that the Lord would bring a French Luminy student in my life to tutor me.

-A new pastor for the church plant of South Marseille.

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Phil. 1:3

Paul couldn't have said it better, I send my deepest gratitude for your constant prayers & support as I co-labor with you in Marseille. I pray that you & your family enjoy this holiday season as we celebrate our Savior.

Love from France,
Leah

We are memorizing a passage over the christmas break with our student leaders. Feel free to memorize with us or ask me if you see me to tell you what I have memorized!! Here is an e-mail I sent out to our team of students about this.....

The staff was thinking that we could all be challenged to memorize a passage over the break. We decided on Col 1:9-29. This passage is packed with prayer, with Christ, the gospel, and Paul’s desire to “warn and teach everyone”. It will be a good one to "hide in our hearts."

In light of our evaluation time I think it would be good for us to hold each other accountable in this by talking about it with each other and even asking when we talk to each other (phone, facebook, NYC) to say the passage. This is one of the best ways to spur on gospel community.....by encouraging each other to know God's word!!!

If any of you are like me sometimes if I don't get someone to hold me accountable to something it just might not happen....especially over the holidays!!!! So a helpful hint would be to find yourself an accountability partner if you need one to call consistently over the break to talk about the passage with. You can say it to each other, talk about what it means, principles you're learning, and how you can apply it, etc.... Just a thought!

Merry Christmas!

Please pray for our upcoming
Campus Outreach Winter Conference in Nashville, TN this coming December 27-31st. At this conference, over 1,000 students from 30 of our college campuses in 8 states will gather together for an exciting week of learning and teaching about what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ and how to grow in that relationship with Him. There will be worship times, teaching sessions, and growth seminars designed to meet the spiritual needs of these students. Please pray for the hearts of these students who attend to be moldable to God and His Word, and that many who attend would come to enter into a personal relationship with God.

It was off to lunch with Hannah!!! We began to talk about spiritual things Later I tried to sleep but couldn’t, and my heart felt so broken. I went to Kristen’s, tell her of my day, I was so very nervous, but then she prayed for me, the sweetest words ever spoken, she then went over some words of the Bible. Romans 6:23. I recited with her, I almost started to tear up, being so out of my element. The Lord has become everything that I've wanted. At 22 (Campus Outreach) they spoke of how everyone seeks happiness and we were asked where do we seek happiness? As I spoke the words to the Lord, with Kristen by my side, 11:23, August 31, 2009. I asked God to come into my heart, 19 years of age, I have started my destination with true happiness, that which is of the Lord, the happiness that is so secure. Thank you for all the prayers. for I am forever grateful, and looking forward to this new life. The Lord himself will fight for you. Exodus: 14:14. —Logan Robinson


Kristen, Hannah, and Logan

Thanks to all of you I have been able to finish this year in the “black” God has faithfully provided through each of you 100% of my support needs for this last year! Something only he could do!!! I have some monthly support to raise for next year and will be looking to 2010 preparations. Please let me know if you can not continue your commitment through the next year (2010) so that I can plan accordingly to make sure we have the finances needed to make it through the year. I can not ever thank you all enough for your investment through finances and prayer in our ministry….it is so needed and appreciated! It’s truly an investment in lives

We have had 4 students (Jeremy, Chris, Jacob, and Logan) give their lives to Christ this semester!!! There are many others who are asking questions as they seek the claims of Christ. We trust that God would transform their hearts and develop them with a desire to deny self, take up their cross daily, and follow him.

Double Click on the picture for a larger view!

I must admit my thoughts were skeptical....will college students really come to a pumpkin carving contest? However boy was I wrong! More students came to this event than we've had at anything! AND everyone had a really great time! The best part was that we were able to meet and connect with many students and are hoping to build on those relationships....for the sake of the gospel!

The first ever south alabama football game! We got to tailgate and spend time with students which was fun....here are some pics!


YAY!

This is Shautoya one of our students.

The band...

Katherine is a USA and campus outreach alum....great to see her!

This was maybe the second week of school when I was just getting to know the students. It's a little late putting them up I'll admit

Laura Jo, me and Brynn (these girls are leading a bible study in chi o (their sorority)

Guys cooking

Everyone playing catch phrase
!
Richard and Derek two of our student leaders

Chillin

Recently I went for a professional development day with other staff girls on different campuses for campus outreach. A lady named Colleen who was on staff in the 80s during the first years of the organization gave us some talks on different subjects and I learned so much! One of the talks she gave to us was on the subject of contentment.
Here is one of the most significant things I walked away with in how to worship God no matter what the circumstances are that I am in.

“Let me say I am here 1) by God’s appointment 2) in his keeping 3) under his training 4) for his time.”
-Robert J. Morgan in “Red Sea Rules”

Christ died to give us life and life abundantly so Colleen challenged us to remember in all circumstances to have the perspective of being here by his appointment, in his keeping, under his training, and for his time.

At a recent workshop we were asked to think of scriptures that describe what in life that you know for sure. The only stipulations were to focus on God’s character and how he relates to you. Here are the verses I came up with. It was a refreshing time with God if you want to try to make your own list of “What you know for sure”

Things I Know for Sure
Isaiah 43:11
Isaiah 43: 1, 2, 4
Romans 5:8
Psalm 73:25-26
Psalm 73:28
Romans 8:28, 31-32
Philippians 1:6
1 John 2:25
2 Corinthians 5:17

So Sorry it has taken me awhile to update. It's partly because so much has been going on that I don't know what to tell you about. Her are are a few highlights and things you can pray for from the past few weeks at South!

Highlights

1. We had almost 100 students at our Tuesday night meeting. I was able to share my testimony and my staff partner Jeffrey gave a talk about "broken cisterns" which don't hold water and how we give our lives to things that don't satisfy rather than to God who is the fountain of living water. We were able to follow up with many conversations afterward and this week asking what are the broken cisterns in your life that you turn to instead of God? 2 students Jacob (guy) and Logan (girl) became Christians this week! Yeah!

2. God provided an opportunity for me to share my faith with Alexa a new freshmen at south. We happened to run into each other each with an hour to spare and nothing to do yesterday...(It was a God thing) as we were talking I was able to share the Gospel with her...although she would call herself a Christian (Catholic) she later became vulnerable admitting that she wasn't sure if God would really forgive her of her sin and was just hoping that when it came time that he would hopefully let her into heaven. I was encouraged because she seemed amazed to understand the gospel for the first time and it was huge in her life to understand that a relationship with Christ is not about what we do but it's about what he did for us on the cross.I challenged her to make a decision about giving her life to him that day (yesterday) then her boyfriend walked up and interruppted...oh no! It's ok though God's perfect timing has her wrestling through this decision and taking some more time. Please pray for her that she gives her life to him soon! I was encouraged to be exactly where God has placed me in that moment!

3. South is getting a football team! The first game is on saturday! We are using the tailgating experience to get to know more students.

Things to Pray For:

1. The university has decided to not give non-university faculty and staff I.D.s...this means that we are unable to go to the rec center where many students go throughout the day, get parking passes (and I have already gotten a ticket), and the athletic games(well we just pay to get in). A new person just got this job and is worried about liability for the university but he is open to hearing a proposal. Most universities allow this so all the campus ministries together are working on a proposal to share how we add to the life of the university and how other universities handle this....we are praying to recieve university IDs soon!

2. We are praying that at least 15 people would become believers through this ministry this semester!

3. I'm having a game and icecream night in the hallway of the freshmen girls dorm next wednesday...the goal is to build relationships and get to know more students that we can share our faith with and push towards Christ. We are planning on starting some evangelistic bible studies in a month but right now the goal is to get to know as many people as we can, build relationships, and share our faith. I've been getting to know a few girls on the track team as well so I'm praying for an oppurtunity to have them all over for dinner and get to know them better.

Ok so maybe I can't keep it short....but these are all things that are going on because you make it possible! Thanks for investing in me!

This is Jeffrey, Ben, me and Tony. We are the Campus Outreach staff for South Alabama!

This is the Brazil team a couple of weeks ago at Beach Project the night they put on a presentation about their summer called a vision rally. It was encouraging to see and hear about the things they learned in another culuture as well as hear stories about lives they were able to impact. Here are some personal videos that they showed us...please watch them. These are individual lives in another country that God working in and using you as a part of that impact! This is Raphael, Gabi, and Carol. Rapheal and Gabi are now following Jesus and Carol is still thinking about what truth really is.

Raphael


Gabi


Carol

Ok so I'm so close! I'm at 92%! Move-in day on campus is on August 15th(when I'm hoping to start meeting students). I have $245 a month to raise before then. It is a short amount of time left and I must admit I'm a little stressed about it BUT if there is one thing that I've learned throughout this process it's that God is BIG and he can do anything! Please pray that I will meet the few people that I need to give monthly and partner with me as well to have all budget needs met so that I can get on campus full time next week! If you are interested in talking with me about this opportunity to be a part of the ministry please call me at 251-604-8044 or e-mail at hbanning@campusoutreach.org. Thanks!
~Holly

I heard some newcomers to the site might be interested in what exactly it is we do with Campus Outreach and why.....here is our info!

OUR VISION

The vision of Campus Outreach is "Glorifying God by Building Laborers on the Campus for the Lost World." We seek to build laborers with a commitment to the Great Commission through evangelism and discipleship. We are passionately reaching students with the gospel and training them to become mature followers of Christ. Our desire is then to see students leave college fully equipped to labor in the harvest field for the glory of God.

Building Laborers
The need of the hour for the church is trained followers of Jesus Christ. Our desire is not to babysit students but to work to help grow them up to mature disciples. Matthew 9:36-38 says, "The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few. Pray that the Lord of the harvest would send out workers into the fields." We believe God has called Campus Outreach to raise up men and women from the college campus and train them to be effective workers that will labor in the various fields of today’s world.


On the Campus
The college campus is a strategic mission field. College students are at the crossroads of life, making lifetime decisions and moving out to influence the world.



For the Lost World
These same college students who are trained on campuses eventually become men and women in the workplace, the home, our schools and many other avenues of life. Upon graduation they have the potential to affect the lost world with the gospel and to train others to labor for Christ.



"...He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd... the harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few..."




The Overwhelming Need
There are approximately 2,600 colleges in the United States without an evangelical campus ministry.

The Indisputable Command
From Genesis to Revelation, God's shows His desire and command to bring the lost into a personal relationship with Himself. It is our joy to obey His Great Commission.

The Window of Opportunity
For many college students this is a critical time of life, and decisions made while in school can affect a student's life forever. Leaders built on the campus can have an impact on their generation for a lifetime.

Discipleship
Discipleship has always been the very heartbeat of the ministry philosophy. Just as Christ chose twelve men who turned the world upside down, we believe that investing in a few faithful individuals can impact hundreds or even thousands of lives.

Our Strategy
Reach college students with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Build college students into mature disciples of Christ.

Equip college students to be laborers for Christ.

Mobilize graduates into their spheres of influence throughout the world.


"Campus Outreach not only affected my college life, but the training I received through this ministry continues to affect my life every day. No matter where I go or what I do, I want to impact the world for Christ, and Campus Outreach has equipped me to do that." - Kevin Steedley, Campus Outreach Alumnus


So what exactly will I be doing at South Alabama? Well everything listed above to the best of my ability and only by God's grace and power seeing students come to know and grow in Christ. If I'm focusing on evangelism this might mean you can find me in the dorms, cafeteria, or soriority house making friends and getting to know girls in the hopes I can also share the love of Christ with them. I will be helping other Christian students to do this as well as we teach students how to study the word and share the gospel. We also focus heavily on discipleship looking to Jesus's ministry and how he had life on life training with his disciples. We have bible studies on campus and are hoping to do as it says in...

2 Timothy 2:2
"and the things you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust these things to faithful men who will be able to teach others."

I can't wait to get started please pray for our ministry at South Alabama!

BRAZIL SHIRT GIRLS

Ok so we were missing the "L" for awhile so we played a game!










There it is!

"...a monthly spending plan. Shouldn't we all have one?" -Malerie Lee

I was recently visiting my friend Malerie in Troy. As we were talking the subject of finances came up and she began telling me about her recent success with the Dave Ramsey Total money MakeOver plan. She showed me the envelope system she had made with great excitement exclaiming that "I'm telling my money where to go instead of wondering where it went." For Malerie this system has allowed her to save, give, and has her well on her way to being completly debt free.

As I am starting with Campus Outreach this next month and gaining some more payments; rent, utilities, etc...I want to really be smart and take responsiblity for my life. I borrowed the "Total Money Makeover" from Malerie and have already set up my system seeing how this has helped thousands of others. I also like how simple the principles are and easy to follow.

I'm just getting started but I'm excited that I have a plan!

Dave's plan for getting out of debt is made of up seven "baby steps" that are aimed to keep you on track and prioritize the major financial management decisions that he says are key to getting ahead and building wealth throughout your life. The steps are short and sweet but not easy.

Here's a link to the steps online if you want to take a look! I recommend reading the book for a lot more insight and tips though!

7 Baby Steps

I have attached a link of a ministry in Montgomery, AL. It was started by a guy who formerly worked with Campus Outreach at Troy...This is a ministry worth investing in with your prayers, service, and finances...

6000 Feet Away

I would like to encourage each of you to consider your investment in a ministry that is seeking to bring the Kingdom of God to a place that seems so hopeless.

Someone once said "Change is good, if it wasn't, you would still be wearing yesterday's underwear." But that doesn't mean change is easy...change can be easy, but it can also be hard...scary...fun...exciting...stressful...all of the above....(from my friend Joy) ;)

I'm in the middle of transition now or so I have been lately...Getting ready for the change! I have some support left to raise still but i'm so close...91%! Going to Beach Project for return training the 29-1rst. Then hoping to move in on the first into a rental house and start work on the 7th. But what if I don't get the rest of my support raised? What if something goes wrong with getting the new house and bills in order? What if I'm not effective in ministry at South Alabama at all? Aaaaah!

As I was reading the end of Matthew 6 I was encouraged and also reminded as it says in Philippians 4:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."


Matthew 6:25-34
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

"Our Bible Study for young women on the eastern shore"

Some of the girls travelled from Mobile, Pensacola, and even Gulf Shores to be with us on Mon nights in Daphne, AL.

Kelly holding our book that we studied...."Search for Significance"



A couple of months ago I found myself still raising support of course but not involved in any kind of Bible study or fellowship. For me it makes such a difference in my life to have that (People who push me to walk with God). Joanna (in the yellow) lives in lake forrest and graduated from Troy several years ago also felt the same way to we decided to have a bible study and even if it was only me and her that would be ok! When we started to ask around we found that more and more girls in our area are in the same stage of life and really desperate for fellowship and accountability.

Many of us are campus outreach alums from south and troy and that is how we connected but some are fellow co workers and just friends we've made in the area. Joanna picked the book "search for significance" which has a bible study workbook along with it. Each week we would read a chapter and do the bible study with it and meet to discuss it. Our prayer was that "as iron sharpens iron so one man (woman) sharpens another." God blessed this group in each of our lives. One of the girls described it as "water for my soul." Haha we all agreed that it feels that way as we listen to the discussion about the gospel and the things of God it is water for the soul!

The purpose of the study was two fold....first to talk about the things that we put our significance and self worth in including lies from satan that we believe and the second was to talk about the opposite of each of those things and the truth and freedom that God has made us righteous. It was a great book for discussion and bible study and really revealed a lot to each of us in our own hearts about the wrong things we live by and the truth we are called to live by!

Most important to me was in our last meeting last night we discussed God's calling for us to know his word and spend time with him. We talked about how we should be memorizing God's word to hide in our hearts and really none of us are. More than that to get to a place of memorizing we discussed an easy next step to take to grow is just to read some in the Bible every day even if it's just a chapter....it's words of life that transform us and replace the lies that we believe without it! We need God's word to live and breathe and how are we supposed to fight sin and all the lies if we don't know or use our weapon that God has given us?

The group was a gift from God for this season in my life and has really done a lot to prepare me for the next season as I step into full time ministry...I'm so thankful for these girls!

One of the girls in our bible study brought in this poem based off of scripture and it was very encouraging to us all.

I MADE HER BECAUSE I LOVE HER

I made her. She is different. She’s unique. With love I formed her in her mother’s womb. I fashioned her with great joy. I remember, with great pleasure the day I created her. (Psalm 139: 13-16)

I love her smile. I love her ways. I love to hear her laugh. And the silly things she says and does. She brings me great pleasure. This is how I made her. (Psalm 139:17)

I made her pretty and not beautiful, Because I know her heart, and she would be vain. I wanted her to search out her heart and to learn that it would be Me in her that would make her beautiful and it would be Me in her that would draw friends to her. (1 Peter 3:3-5)

I made her in such a way, that she would need me. I made her a little more lonesome than she would like to be. Only because I need her to learn and depend on Me. I know her heart, I know if I had not made her like this she would go her own chosen way and forget Me, her Creator. (Psalm 62:5-8)

I have given her many good and happy things, Because I love her. (Psalm 84:11 and Romans 8:32)

Because I love her, I have seen her broken heart and the tears she has cried alone. I have cried with her, And had a broken heart too. (Psalm 56:8)

Many times she has stumbled and fallen alone Only because she would not hold my hand. So many lessons she’s learned the hard way Because she would not listen to my Voice. (Isaiah 53:6)

So many times I have set back and sadly watched her go her merry way alone. Only to watcher her return to My arms sad and broken. (Isaiah 66:2)

And now she is Mine again. I made her, and then I bought her. Because I love her. (Romans 5:8)

I have to reshape and remold her to renew her to what I had planned for her to be. It has not been easy for her or for Me. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I want her to be conformed to My image.This goal I have set for her, Because I love her. (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Hey Everybody!

I'm going to the last week of summer beach project July 29-August 1 for the return of our teams to Brazil and Thailand (they will put on a presentation for parents, SBP students, and supporters about their summer- We call it the vision rally). This week also with all students together we will be having return training which is just getting ready for the fall and I will be spending most of my time with the staff and students of South Alabama. I am excited to get to know some of the girls especially. I want to learn how to help them with their spiritual growth and also they can help introduce me to the campus of South Alabama and help me meet new students.

I will be moving in my house starting that day august 1! My roommate Windy, is a nurse at USA women's and children hospital. Then our staff meetings start on Aug 7 for planning and I believe move-in weekend for south is on the 15th. There are several testimonies from people having been involved with CO or becoming Christians where they met someone who helped them move into the dorms....including me! 2 girls from campus outreach helped me move into my dorm as a freshmen at Troy! So that will be a big event where we are hoping to meet many new freshmen!

Everybody I finally know which campus I will be laboring at.....South Alabama here I come!

I am excited to have a desitination and since knowing for sure where I am going I have grown more and more excited about what's next. Of course it is a new campus so there is a lot of unknown about doing ministry there but I can't wait to walk on campus for the first time and begin to get to know students.

I still have 500 a month left to raise but I'm praying that knowing where I am going will help me find some more partners who might potenitally have a heart for this specific school.

I am planning on spending the last week of July at the summer beach project in PCB. This is the last week of our discipleship training for the summer and both international teams (Students who went to Thailand and Brazil) will be returning this week to the beach project as well. They will put on a "world vision" rally for us to tell about their summers and encourage us to have a heart for the lost all over the world. Mainly this week we will be spending time with the students from each campus. So I will be spending time with the students from South Alabama as we evaluate and look back at what God has done in our lives and also where he is taking us as we move forward. We will be discussing plans for the fall with our student leaders and how we can continue to grow in our relationship wih God and keep community as well.

I am praying to be at 100% by the time I go to the SBP that week. This would enable me to be ready to go when school starts in August and will also give me time to look for a place to live. We will see what God has in store of course but wanted to share the news! Please keep praying for this time of transistion. Thanks so much!
~holly

Jen is a senior at Troy University. She is one of our leaders at the summer beach project and sent this update.

"Our theme for this summer is "Unashamed" and our theme verse for the summer is 2 Timothy 1:12 "That is why I am suffering as I am, yet I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day."

Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy while he (Paul)was in prison about to be executed, so this letter was his last. Through the whole book, he encourages Timothy to live the life of a disciple - a true follower of Christ who lives for God's glory, no matter the cost, because he should be completely convinced of the work
of Jesus. The message of 2 Timothy is not only a call to live unashamed of the gospel of Christ, but it's also a challenge to examine our faith and think about if we're really convinced of what we believe, even to the point of suffering. God calls us to an extreme,radical faith in the gospel, and personally, I have been very
challenged to pursue this sort of depth in my beliefs.

So for the past week, we have been enjoying the beach project environment, studying 2Timothy, going to nightly training session and talks, having discipleship groups, and learning how to share our faith with others in the city. Please pray for a spirit of brokenness on the project, that all of us, disciples and leaders alike, would really see our need for Christ and his complete sufficiency in our weakness. (2Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you,for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.)

I am loving spending time with the girls in my group, and I am very encouraged to see their desire to grow and spend time with God, even while being tired and stressed from work. Please pray that there would be a close bond between us, and that our group time would foster an environment of true trust. For Amanda, Brynn, and Jessica, please pray that they would grow in their understanding of the gospel of Christ and that it is relevant and applies to every area of their lives, including their pasts, their attitudes at work, and the way that they relate with others on the project.

Thank you all so much for you encouragement and your prayers. As Paul wrote "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow,"(1 Corinthians 3:6) so even if we plant and water the seeds,ultimately God is responsible for the growth in our lives! Please pray that he would grow the seeds that are being planted in these students' hearts!!

Here is a little bit of an update from James. He is a student at South Alabama spending his summer with the team in Brazil.

"I have met three (3) Rafael’s. Yes, three. And two of them are bald/shaved heads. But its great. I’ve got to spend a decent amount of time with them the past week and am starting to become close with one in particular.
The whole point of the discussion groups we have every Wednesday night is to get people to ask questions and to think about life and the purpose of it. We might not be sharing the gospel with any method you’re use to but we’re moving the Truth forward slowly. Yesterday, we discussed how short life is and how people deal with it.

Discussion groups are a great time to sit down with different people and share your beliefs. Its really amazed me how open people are to talk about it and how, overall, the Brasilians have loved it. I’ve really started to get a better picture how certain people see the world and who they are and I know this will continue.

This week there has been a futsol (spelling?; its soccer on a basketball court with a goal on either side) tournament on campus. A huge number of students show up for the games. They play two games a day. Right now we’re just trying to meet as many students as we can. I would go into more detail but every day is different. We plan stuff but we have to be really flexible down here. Plans change and that’s okay.

Amber is a junior at Troy...she was recently updating me about her last weekend in Thailand. I think it is interesting perspective on the different culture.
"On Saturday, we went to a Thai orphanage and played with the kids and helped with lunch. we took some of our Thai friends with us so it was good to connect with them in that way. The Thai people are driven by a desire to be good, so going and doing good deeds at an orphanage appeals to them. It took a while for the kids to warm up to us, but through crayons and balloons we won their hearts :)

Sunday we had the privilege of witnessing a Thai baptism. It was so encouraging to see the fruit of the ministry here in Thailand. Several of my close Thai friends were baptized, so that made it even more meaningful. Please pray for Aor and Baan and Ying as they publicly confessed their faith in Christ. It is a bigger sacrifice to follow Christ in Thailand. Aor's family no longer speaks to her because of her belief in Christ."

I'm at 83%......So close!!!!! Just about $600 a month left to raise. Please continue to pray for this. I am beyond excited and getting more and more antzy/anxious to get on campus soon! I will be going down to the beach project(see video below to learn more about SBP) next week to spend time with students as well as working on finishing up support and getting the final decision on which campus I will be going too. God is such a big God and I have been amazed at how he has provided and is continuing to do so. Thanks so much for partnering with me!

~holly

SBP VIDEO! (About 10 minutes)


This is our recruiting video to show students. It pretty much goes over all that we do at the SBP from jobs, to bible study, to evanglism it's such a great opportunity to grow in your relationship with God! My own eperience with SBP has so impacted my life and relationship with God! Our Project this year starts on May 28th and we are expecting about 100 students from 4 different schools to attend!


More Recent SBP VIDEO! (very similiar to the one above)

This segment aired on WSFA Montgomery a few weeks ago. Check out the link below to see first hand how Bryan Kelly, Kevin King and their families at Common Ground are seeking to rebuild one of the poorest communities in west Montgomery, by showing the love of Christ to the children and families of those in that area; an area Bryan moved his family to in order to be as effective as possible at winning them for Christ. Bryan was actually previously on staff with Campus Outreach and this ministry is offering an awesome opportunity for staff and students to partner by helping out. Also CO has been able to send 3 graduates to Common Ground to intern for this summer.



The mission of CGM is to glorify God by being instrumental in redeeming impoverished and under-resourced communities through spiritual and community development.

"With your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation."
Revelations 5:9



"To sit and worship with americans singing english and brazilians singing in portuguese is a small glimpse of heaven"


All of the students attending this cross cultural project to Brazil for the summer are from South Alabama! They will be spending their summer in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. They are leaving in 2 weeks!!!!!!! Pray for favor with them as they meet Brazilians and seek to share the love of Jesus!

Facts about Brazil:
~South America's leading economic power and a regional leader.
~However highly unequal income distribution and crime remain pressing problems.
~Belo Horizonte in the country's third largest metropolitain area
~The Majority of all Brazilians would call themselves Catholic.


My last roommate Amanda went on this trip 2 years ago with Campus Outreach. I told her that I was updating you guys and asked for her thoughts on the culture and beliefs in Brazil from her experience. These are some of the things she said.

"A lot of them are initially offended by the idea of God and Jesus because the church there is rather corrupt"

"building relationships is very key for the missionaries there and the student teams"

"showing love and not just speaking it is so important in communicating the gospel"

"a lot of them kind of take different stuff from different religions and believe and there is a lot of Brazilians who follow spiritism"

"they are a group centered culture vs. a self centered culture of america so biblical community is very attractive to them"

"community is highly important to them and when they see how a community of believers interacts it's just that much more attractive"

"i think for the american students...experiencing a culture like brazil is such a great growing experience especially in learning to value others and serve them."

"One of the main things I walked away with was learning to see the needs of others and just seeing how big God really is."



"To sit and worship with americans singing english and brazilians singing in portuguese is a small glimpse of heaven"

Campus Outreach Gulf Coast is sending students to Khon Kaen, Thailand for 2 months this summer to partner with Thai missionaries there! They will be spending time with Thai students, building relationships, and sharing the TRUTH!


This is the team! Students are from Troy University, Louisianna Layfayette, and Southeastern Louisianna Universities! They are excited to go! I'm specifically super excited about the 3 girls from Troy that are going; Amber, Lesley, and Amanda! I had the opportunity to disciple these girls my last year in Troy and it is exciting to see them still serving the Lord.

Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Luke 16:15

My friends Lacey and Jason have spent the last 4 months in Puerto Rico with the discover missionary program. Part of their experience involved a short term mission trip to Thailand with Mission to the World. They were able to minister in the slums and areas with high prostitution. A link to their blog is on the right if you want to read more. It's called "Following His Steps"

Here are some of their pics and facts about Thai culture!


96% of the people are Buddhist. Their main thought of religion is much like Hinduism in that you have to be good in this life. If you are you will be reincarnated into a higher status. The goal is to reach "enlightenment/nirvana." Buddha is considered one who reached this level and is recognized as a teacher. Spirit ism and animistic beliefs are mixed in with it as well. They do rituals in order to please the spirits and make offerings to idols as well. Most believe that "to be Thai is to be Buddhist." That means that to denounce your religion, you're denouncing your family and heritage.


These children's parents are raising them to be Buddhist and many have never heard the name of Jesus.

Prayer Request for the CCP (Cross Cultural Project to Thailand)
1. God would bless their fund raising to be at 100% by the time they leave in 2 weeks.
2. That God would grant them favor with the Thai people they meet. That they would desire to befriend the american students and even soften their hearts to the gospel throughout the summer.
3. That God would use this summer to transform the lives of students as well as those they minister to causing them to "count all things as loss compared to the surpassing joy of knowing God."