What's shaking at UNO

As many of you know we've been working at the University of New Orleans this semester. It is one of the four schools we currently work with (Delgado CC, Tulane and Xavier being the other three). It has been a semester of ups and downs and a lot of learning on everyone's side.

Jess and I watched our Campus Directors for a couple weeks and observed how they met with students and encouraged them to start leadership teams and then we went out on our own and did the same. When the fall began we had only two students at UNO-Kim and Adam, both gifted sophomores. Soon we were meeting with them weekly, showing them how to do ministry, how to help a new believer understand the basics of the faith and how to lead others spiritually. Their first couple of Bible Studies were small but they were persistant and prayed and spread the word. Now there are 10-14 people there weekly and they all share the load when it comes to leading the Bible studies. It's no longer Adam who leads it but it rotates from person to person every week!

It is our job to keep the vision of a Christ-centered movement before them where they make winning, building and sending the priority of their movement. In my own experience it's easy to gather Christians together and unintentionally create a "christian club" rather than an outward focused movement. This is where our expertise comes in handy and we help the student leaders see what they are doing, assess what is good and what can improve then implement it.

Some of the big wins this semester have been the weekly Bible study. They read through material that the president of Campus Crusade has written specifically for college students then pray for each other. It's simple but very effective. Another big win has been their weekly prayer gathering. They gather at the auditorium every week (It's New Orleans so it's either swelteringly hot, raining or great weather) and pray for their campus, for any individual concerns they may have and then for their friends. We assure them that if they do anything well, anything consistant that it should be prayer, nothing else will make a bigger difference on their campus. Some other big wins have been their Thanksgiving party and rebuilding days where they go and help local homeowners rebuild their homes and their lives.

Jess and I praise God for the great things he has done at UNO. We're excited to see what God has in store for it next semester. Please continue praying with us for the students and professors of UNO!