Knedgen Reflections: An Update on Our Family and Happenings on Campus
This July it will be 2 years since we started the process of raising up a team of ministry partners for our ministry at the University of Michigan. During this time, we’ve weathered a few storms and experienced several interruptions to our fundraising work as a result. We’re deeply thankful to the Lord for his faithfulness and grace in sustaining us through them all:
- 3 US Army Resevere Annual trainings of more than 14 days for Bryan (and single parenting for Angela!)
- 8 weeks of recovery from Angela’s emergency surgery in October of ‘14
- 5 days each month of US Army Reserve Battle Assembly for Bryan
- Normal life happenings from raising a 2-3 year old (Martel will be 4 next month!)
As we transition from our recent 21 day Army annual training back into regular life, we are reminded of God’s care for us and provision for our ministry. Thank you for weathering the storms with us. Your prayers, giving and words of encouragement have helped sustain us through the most difficult and spiritual refining season of our lives.
We are excited to share with you that we only have $1,300 in monthly giving to raise before the start of the school year in September! We’ve seen the Lord provide over $1,000 in monthly commitments since last December and some benefits from the Army that will decrease our ongoing personal financial needs.
Join us in praising the Lord for his provision and trusting him for the remaining $1,300 needed for us to be fully-funded and reported to campus to join our Cru staff team in connecting students to Jesus Christ at the University of Michigan this fall.
U-M Cru Staff Team Reflections: Happenings on Campus
The Cru community is experiencing the transforming work of Jesus Christ in changing lives in many ways. The ministry at the University of Michigan has grown in numbers and in depth. This past school year, students grew deeper and deeper roots in the gospel while more and more people joined the ministry.
During the end of the year planning time, our staff team took time to reflect on ways they saw the Lord at work this year and we’re excited to share some of those reflections with you.
Nick, a graduating senior and prospective Cru intern for the 2016-17 school year said this: “I feel like our Cru community is becoming more and more a group of believers who are passionate about growing in their faith and connecting their peers to Jesus. It feels very genuine, like God really is moving in the hearts of students. It has been incredible to be a part of the growth that has taken place over the last 5 years, and I am so excited to continue to be a part of that next year.
God has been working in me in crazy ways to change the direction I thought my life was headed after graduation. Instead of engineering, I am interning with Cru, and it is something I am very excited about. It will be a huge step of faith that I never thought I would take, but God is good and has an awesome plan.”
Josie and Allison, our second year interns, were encouraged and thankful for the student leaders they disciple (spiritual mentorship) engaging in mentoring other students this year. And Janelle, a new staff woman and U-M alumna, was encouraged by her growing relationships with the students under her care, their perseverance in ministry and growth in love of the gospel.
Kyle, a 7 year veteran of our staff team and Michigan graduate, said this about an intern guy that joined the team last fall, “Matthew ( pictured on the left with another Matt on our team) has encouraged me. God provided such a skilled, authentic and passionate laborer for our ministry in him.
Showing up every week to development with an evangelistic opportunity already set up shows both his heart for the lost, his skill to reach them, and God’s hand on his ministry. Getting to coach him, encourage him and shepherd him through the good and bad of life and ministry has been such a glimpse into God’s goodness. So enjoy him and am encouraged by all the ways he has impacted our ministry this year.”