It's been a while... I know

I want to start by apologizing for not keeping up with this as frequently as I should. It has been 2 weeks since I last posted an update. I honestly haven't been spending all that much time on my computer. Nevertheless, I am alive and things are going well.

First off, the ministries are still chugging along, with maybe one hiccup here or there. The English Club at IIT is doing well and has been the scene for some really good conversations with international students studying here in Chicago. That has become a weekly meeting now. We are also trying to follow up over the phone with students who filled out surveys over the last couple weeks. In addition to sharing the Gospel with non-Christians, we are looking for some Christians to mentor so that the ministry at IIT can continue to grow strong after we leave. At Malcolm X College, things have been a little rougher. We have been able to survey a few students, and we are initiating some good conversations there, but some red tape is working against us in setting up a formal survey at the moment. However, we are still looking to initiate some good conversations there in the meantime, and our ultimate goal is to get 7-8 interested students together to form a recognized group at that school to at least start a small Bible study, and eventually a fully functioning Impact movement.

On the home front, God has been working so much in my spirit. Over the past 2 weeks, I have been coming to terms with a lot of ugliness that has been hiding in my life and learning what it means to continually find and turn over those issues to God. As part of that process, I have been studying what it means practically to live life by the Spirit. Through these lessons and through insights from some of the students and staff here, my interactions with other people as well as my self-esteem and my mindset have begun growth in the Lord, and while it is very tough to face my own faults, I am enjoying the benefits. I am starting to see some visible changes in how I approach situations. I am also growing closer to my friends and family in Christ.

If you would like to pray for me, please remember to pray for the people I am following up with, including Doug. Also pray for my continued growth in walking with the Spirit, as I believe that we always have room for more growth in the Spirit. Also pray that the ministries at all of the colleges that we are involved with experience continued growth and that many are reached. Finally, but certainly not the least on this list, please pray that as our staff leave and turn over the rest of this mission to the students, we will all continue to seek after God and allow Him to lead each step we take.

We now have the second half of this project ahead of us. I've heard that the most fun and the best of times on these summer projects happen after the staff leave. I pray that this is true for us, and that not only do we continue to minister to the students on the campuses, but that we minister to the needs of each other. I pray that we all take our responsibilities seriously, while allowing for God to work through us. I pray that we all can experience some serious growth in the Spirit and be able to shine so brightly for God that everyone around us will be drawn to God. And finally, I pray that the rest of this project just ROCKS!!! (I'm sure that it will!!!!)

-Ray