THE SLAMERS

It is exciting to see summer ministry spring into existence digitally!  69 students from all over the US will test drive a digital summer mission reaching out to fellow students right here in the US.  We are preparing to launch 17 virtual international summer missions which will include digital evangelism with college students around the world. 

475 students have registered for our “Summer of Theology” course that will enable students to go deeper in their understanding of God and his word.  We have students from around the world signing up for this.  A Ghanaian student in Ukraine is registered, as well as a PhD student in East Asia, who just became a believer one year ago!  Wow!  God is equipping his young saints around the globe!

Over 300 Cru staff nationwide have been released to develop new ministry strategies throughout the summer.   Scott recently set up an online forum for them to share what they are trying and learning weekly.  The tested ideas that will be posted there will serve to advance God’s mission through Cru’s campus ministry in the days ahead!

From prison, the apostle Paul wrote, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”  Philippians 1:12.  What has happened with COVID-19 has caused much hardship and change.  But God and his purposes are not hindered.  The gospel is moving out in new and creative ways!

Praise & Prayer Requests!

Family Request: 

Please pray for Becky and the kids as they are wrapping up another year of homeschooling. Sarah is finishing 11th grade and Ethan is finishing 8th grade. We will soon have two high schoolers!

There are some difficult and sobering realities that we are all facing, to varying degrees, during this time. But we are also very encouraged by the way staff and students are finding innovative ways to minister. Here are a few of those ways:

• In February, a church in a Sacramento suburb (Elk Grove) asked the Sac Team to train their young adults in evangelism. Sunday nights, their team now teaches those young adults a new skill to point people to Jesus. During the week, each of those 16 students put what they’ve learned into practice primarily through texts and FaceTime with their friends.

• “What if we made a TikTok (social media platform) about mental health in the midst of COVID-19?” “What if we did an Easter outreach on Instagram Live?” “Let’s start doing our weekly meetings on Zoom so our classmates can keep coming!” Ideas that high school students in the Los Angeles area came up with.
• Scott lead the process for our campus ministry staff to receive reassignments for ministry this summer. He and his team’s work culminated in a video guiding all of our staff through the new process to determine their summer ministry assignment. Some of those assignments will be innovations that lead us into the future of campus ministry!

Here are some great Cru resources for ministry during this time:

We know this is a difficult time, and we care about you. We would love to hear how COVID-19 has affected you and how we can pray.

Praise & Prayer Requests!

How are you?  We have been praying for you during this unique time of world pandemic.  Lives have been turned upside down and disoriented in so many ways.  We know that some have lost jobs, others are more vulnerable and live in fear, and others are healing from the virus and hoping they have not infected others.  But everyone can relate to the upheaval of life as we were used to, and quarantine defining the new normal. 

We’ve struggled to get a handle on a new rhythm this season.  It is exhausting to move through the day, constantly making decisions about how to do normal life, in a completely different reality.  There are so many unknowns and the situation has changed so rapidly over the past couple of weeks.

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear…” Psalm 46:1-2a (ESV)

What a comfort to know God is present and totally in control of COVID-19.  There are no unknowns to him, and he is our refuge.  He cares deeply about each of his children right now, and has given them all the resources needed to navigate this season.

“So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.”  Colossians 2:10 (NLT)

God has the attention of the world.  So, this is also an opportunity.  “Lord, what are you doing?  How do you want to use me in this season?”  are questions we find ourselves asking often.  Surely, everything He does is to cause people to seek and depend upon him more and more.  So, this is a time to tune into the Lord, and wait for His direction.

Of the many things that will come out of this unique time in history, innovation will be one of them.  Sadly, we’ve had to cancel all Cru Summer Mission trips for 2020, but God’s mission is never put on hold.  

“…for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” 1 Samuel 14:6b (ESV).

“I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal.  But the word of God is not bound!”  2 Timothy 2:8-9

God has blessed our Cru staff with an abundance of innovators.  Below are a few of the new ministry ideas that are being generated by our staff daily, and happening on campuses now.  Many of these ideas you could adapt for your context too.     

Please Pray for:

A prayer adapted from Colossians 4:3-6

 “Lord, open to us a door for your word, that we might declare the mystery of Christ, while we are quarantined, that we might make it clear as we ought to speak. Help us to conduct ourselves in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. May our speech be always gracious, seasoned with salt, so that we might know how we ought to answer each person.”

Click on the image below to watch our February video update, or see the previous post to read our print version.

Sarah from Chico State shared this after our Day of Outreach.  She was part of the group I (Scott) led at Winter Conference in San Francisco.  One day is devoted to outreach in the community, so 1,000 college students and staff were scattered about the Bay Area to share the love of Jesus in words and deeds.  For some, that was the first time they had done any kind of outreach or shared their faith.  They served the Bay Area with vigor and love, and returned more excited for what God did, and could do!  I did too!  I was reminded again why I love working with college students so much!  Winter Conference is all about taking steps of faith, to move closer to Jesus and his purposes in the world.  College students are ripe for the call!  Thanks for partnering with us in God’s work among the next generation of leaders!

Praise & Prayer Requests!

• Praise God for hundreds of students who grew and took steps of faith at Winter Conference!

• Pray for our summer mission team leaders as they continue to prepare for their trips.  Lots of details are up-in-the-air at this time of year.

• Pray for God’s direction as we prepare our processes, tools, and opportunities for Summer Mission Trips in 2021.

Family Requests: 

• Please pray for Scott’s complete healing of a small gastric ulcer.

• Sarah & Ethan are performing in Frozen JR., March 27-28, with our homeschool group. Ethan is in the midst of All Stars for soccer. Please pray that our family would be a blessing as we invest in these communities!

Upcoming Summer Mission Team Leaders share about their trips, and what they are trusting God for.

January 10-13 Cru hosted our annual Summer Mission Team Leaders Training (SMTLT) Conference in Denver, CO.  Nearly 400 Cru Staff, Interns, and 31 students, came from around the country to gain perspective, skills, and tools for effectively leading a Summer Mission Trip with Cru.  New leaders rubbed shoulders with experienced leaders, and had time to begin planning their trips.  They will lead 200 different mission trips around the globe this summer; from San Diego to Hampton Beach, and Manila to Moscow.

Scott gave oversight to the conference in general, and served wherever needed.   We love what God does through these mission trips each summer,  and the thousands of student lives that are impacted for Christ as a result.  Please check out our website at www.theslamers.com for a video where Summer Mission Team Leaders share a short piece about their mission trips.

Praise & Prayer Requests!

• Praise God for a successful Summer Mission Team Leader training conference!

• Pray for our summer mission team leaders as they:

• Recruit students to come and that many will take that step of faith.
• Evaluate student applications.
• Plan their trips.

Family Requests: 

Thank you for your generous gifts at the end of the year!  Pray for us as we choose a new family van that would be used for His glory in our everyday lives and ministry!