March Ministry Updates

Our DBU ministry! This was from worship night that we did recently.

Planting at a new campus can be hard. You need time to build trust and get people bought into the vision.  You need to build buy-in to the community and foster consistency. (Side note: I do think starting a campus ministry on a Christian campus like DBU is probably easier than a secular campus for a few reasons I won't get into.) I've never been part of such a new campus ministry. FOCUS at UTD was so established. Communicating vision was so much easier since FOCUS had already created a culture there. At times I have found myself discouraged when only one or two girls showed up for core. I was getting frustrated with the lack of consistency in some girls. And I will confess I even found myself comparing the woman's side of the ministry to the men's side.  I was getting so caught up in my frustrations and my own pride, that I was forgetting to have perspective and to be faithful with what God had given me.

FOCUS has this little saying, "Be faithful with what you are given." It is based on the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. It is God who determines how much you are entrusted with and our job is to be faithful with it. Ultimately it is God who grows things. He is the one who is going to bring girls to core and who is going to get them to be consistent. I need to be focused on ministering to the girls that we have who are consistent rather than be focused on those who aren't. Besides God is the one who is going to grow these girls! I am simply a waterer.

6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9

DBU core!

I am learning to be faithful with what God gives me. To remember that He is the one who is actually making change happen. I am a co-worker in His service. What is happening at DBU is exciting and even if at the end of it all only one student is turned into a disciple on fire for God, then it would have been worth it. I need to measure success in terms of the kingdom not based on numbers and my pride.

Pizza Theology with all campuses.

We had Pizza Theology again this past weekend and it was a success! Students learned all about Exodus from the Law to the tabernacle and how it should impact us as modern Christians. I am always encouraged to see how many students are excited about coming to a talk where they engage in scripture and theology at a deeper level than they normally do. (You can listen to the talk here if you are interested!)

Every year we have a fundraiser we call Spring Showcase. It is a concert and art show featuring many of our own students and alumni. We put this on in order to raise money for a trip that we take potential student leaders on called the Student Institute of Campus Ministry (SICM) in Bellingham, WA. All of our corfas (core facilitators/student leaders) have been on this trip and receive hands-on experience and teach from experienced campus pastors. This trip really prepares our students to step up and lead cores, 1-1 bible studies, participate in evangelism, and learn what it means to be a disciple and make disciples. My trip to SICM was transformational in my walk with God as one of His disciples. It really empowered me to step out in faith and serve others through a leadership role as a student at UTD. SICM is not free and we want all the students we invite to be able to come which is why we put on the Spring Showcase every year. If you are in town I would really encourage you to make it out to the showcase. Not only will you have a wonderful time but the money you spend will go directly to students who are going to SICM this summer! If you are not in town I ask that you pray that the showcase will go smoothly and that God will raise the funds we need for SICM this year.

UTA core!

Overall UTA and DBU are both going well! God is really moving and has been so faithful. We just had a recent baptism and are getting to invite not only UTA students to SICM but some DBU students as well! Please join us in praying for all the students going to SICM this year and that God would continue to bring up leaders in our community.

Thank you again for supporting! You make all of this possible! Don't forget to check out the student testimony below!

Many Blessings,
Emily Umstead