May Update

Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke . . . .Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter . . . . and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday(Isaiah 58:6,7).



He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).



In the past year, God has continued to impress upon my heart His passion for the needy, and the role He expects believers to play in meeting needs in His Name. I have been blown away by the intensity of God's feelings about this. Over and over again, throughout Scripture, God demonstrates His righteous wrath toward those who inflict injustice, and His earnest desire for His body of believers to be vanguards of peace and altruism. God not only desires it; He commands it.



As my mother said to me out of the blue a couple of weeks ago during a telephone conversation. "Simi, give. Don't wait until you have a lot; give now from whatever little you have." I think this applies not only to material giving, but to "spending ourselves" on the behalf of others by giving time, encouragement, love . . . even when we don't have a lot of these commodities, ourselves. Seeking ways to obey God in this has been a joyous experience for me!

In the time since I began writing this particular blog, I found out that my dear cousin, one of my greatest "spiritual heroes", passed away. He was a partner in ministry, and he was instrumental in affirming me when I had doubts about being called to ministry. I pause now to reflect on his life and his love for God. My "Uncle Philip" is an example of a man who spent himself on behalf of others, and he encouraged me to do the same. "Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death" (Isaiah 57:2).

Gearing Up for Summer
In a few weeks, high school students in the Dallas area will be out of school for the summer. This summer, Student Venture Dallas will be inaugurating a summer-long ministry initiative called "Summer Venture". We will kick off with GetAway, our summer conference in Colorado, and continue through the summer with metro-wide outreach events, Bible studies, and one-on-one discipleship. I look forward to what God is going to do this summer.

Please Pray . . .

• That God will be sovereign over all our upcoming end-of-school-year activities.
• Next Monday, students will have the opportunity to bring their friends who are "seeking" to CiCi's pizza after school and participate in sharing the gospel of Christ with them. Ask that God will open up hearts to receive Him.
• We will be having a GetAway pre-party to next Friday to spur enthusiasm for the summer conference. It will be a time for students going to the conference from different cities to meet one another, and for those who have not committed to attend to be convinced, if God wills for them to attend.

Thank you for your friendship and partnership in ministry. I am grateful to God for all of you! God bless you.

April Update

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Genesis 8:22

I've got to be honest--I am really glad God threw "heat" into the mix. I'm relishing these 82-degree Texas spring days; plus--the interesting phenomena of bluebonnet-covered lawns is keeping me amused.

It's been a busy and eventful month since I last wrote. There were quite a few celebrations: I turned a quarter-of-a-century on March 10th. I am enjoying being twenty-five. Easter was also a wonderful time of celebration with friends; we rejoiced together over what God did for us through His Son. At the end of March, I had the double-joy of attending the wedding of two dear friends, Laura and Matthew.

On the ministry front, I'm still loving the opportunity to disciple young ladies through weekly Bible studies. Last Wednesday, we held our annual March Madness Basketball Tournament at Newman Smith High School. It was a well attended outreach, with a personal testimony and a gospel presentation given by students.

There were three new decisions for Christ and many indications of interest in becoming a part of Student Venture :) The next couple of weeks will be spent following up with these students who have just begun or are seeking to grow in their relationship with God.

Summer will be here before we know it. Recruiting for the summer conference, GetAway, has been going wonderfully well--praise God! So far, more than twenty students have signed up . . . and counting.

Prayer Requests

I would appreciate your prayers for the girls I am currently discipling through Bible studies. As they continue to seek to grow in their faith, the enemy has been on the attack with stress, discouragement, and temptations in their personal lives. Praise God that we are overcomers, in Christ! Please pray for the continued realization of victory in the lives of the students.

Please pray for God to direct my steps and my words as I follow up with a few students this week. Pray that I will be able to clearly explain what a relationship with Christ means in their lives, and that they will be interested in continuing one-on-one and group discipleship.

March Newsletter

March already!

It's been an interesting month since I last wrote. Particularly in the past week, the weather has been erratic -- sultry heat one day, and snow the next :)

I am enjoying getting to know the girls in the Freshman Girls and Sophomore Girls Bible studies that got started in January. As I shared in a previous newsletter, the girls are at so many different levels in their relationship with God. Some are from non-Christian backgrounds; some just received Christ/rededicated their lives to Him in the past couple of months; and some are growing Christians. One thing is common to them all-- they are all hungry for spiritual things.
I have been reminded over and over again not to rely on my own understanding; to step back sometimes and allow God to work on the hearts of the students since He knows their needs better than I do.

Sometime in early April, we will be having a "March Madness" basketball tournament as an outreach. It has been a very fruitful outreach in the past, and we are excited about this year's event. The tournament is usually held in the gym at Newman Smith High School. Teams sign up to compete about a week or two in advance, and about 120 or more students gather on the selected day to play or to cheer. During "half-time", SV student leaders share their testimonies and give a gospel presentation.

We are also gearing up for Getaway, a summer conference in Colorado (June 14-20). You may remember my report on last year's Getaway conference. It is exciting to see students who received Christ at the conference last year actively recruiting their friends and classmates to come and experience God this summer. We held one informational "Pre-Party" last Monday, and we hope to hold another one sometime in April. Our first fundraiser for the conference is on March 29th --the students will be sponsored to build a house for a single mother and her daughter!

Please pray about the events we have coming up, and also pray for the new Bible studies (there are also a couple of new boys' Bible studies). I particularly want to request prayer for three freshman girls who have not yet accepted Christ, but are searching; ask that God would break through barriers and reveal Himself to them.
I would also appreciate your prayers for focus, patience, and energy as God continue's to unfold His plans in His own ways and in His own timing. I'm glad to be a part of what God is doing, and I'm glad you're a part of it as well!

February Update

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" - Jesus (John 15:13).



I asked the freshman girls in my Bible study yesterday in what ways they have demonstrated love toward others, or had love demonstrated toward them. One girl shared that her mother had changed her mind about an initial decision to abort her. Another girl said her father had left his country and his loved ones to be with his family in the United States. One girl said her dog shows its love by licking her face :)



Together, we looked at Paul's exhortation in Romans 12 to give ourselves to God as "living sacrifices"--in essence, to place our lives on the altar for His use. When we do so, honoring God and honoring others above ourselves (v.10), God blesses us and enables us to participate in that great love which involves laying down one's life for friends. The ultimate expression of love was exemplified by Christ and is manifested in many ways, including serving others, encouraging others, giving, and blessing (vv. 7-21), in those who have placed themselves on the altar of sacrifice.


The freshman girls were awed by the reminder of how Jesus demonstrated His love; they were equally amazed that God can use them to love in like manner as they offer themselves as living sacrifices.



Praise Reports

I apologize for the tardiness of this particular report: God answered our prayers for Fastbreak beyond my wildest dreams! (Picture on right: Recreation at Fastbreak). The conference was life-changing for the 50+ students and volunteers who went from Carrollton. One student received Christ, several recommitted their lives to Him, and many had the opportunity to share their faith and lead others to receive Christ for the first time. Upon our return to Carrollton, a few students indicated a desire to begin a Bible study, so 3 new Bible studies have resulted from the Fastbreak conference. Staff members and volunteers have received calls from parents who are excited by the change they see in the lives of their children. And this is only the beginning!

Still riding on the momentum from Fastbreak, the students invited their friends to a Superbowl party on February 2nd. Students Dave, Jordan, Natalia, and RJ shared their testimonies and the gospel and six students prayed to accept Christ into their hearts! Jordan was sharing his testimony for the first time. He is one of the students who received Christ at the Getaway conference last summer, and this year, he saw his friend receive Christ at Fastbreak :) Oh, the joy of "mulitplication"!

Prayer Requests

• Please pray that God will continue His work of transformation in the lives of the students who accepted Christ or recommitted their lives to Him at Fastbreak.
  
• Pray that the Bible studies will not grow stagnant, but they will be training grounds for the students to equip them as laborers who will go out and disciple others.


• One of the leadership students who graduated last year recently found out that her 27 year-old sister was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and has been given one more year to live. We are trusting God for healing and resting in the promise that He "works all things for the good of those who are called according to His purpose." Please join us in prayer.

A Great Start to the New Year!

It's already 15 days into the New Year, and they've been exciting days for Student Venture!Three days from today, we will be leaving for our winter conference, Fastbreak.

About two months ago, I asked you to join our student leaders as they set a goal to take a group of 50 students from Carrollton to the conference. Praise the Lord--He has answered our prayers! To date, we have 51 students registered for the conference from Carrollton . . . and counting!


The picture shows some of the students who will be attending at an informational party we held in December.


The most exciting part of it all is that about half of those attending have never previously been to a Student Venture conference, and several of the students have not made a decision to receive Christ.

Prayer Requests

We covet your prayers as the conference approaches. We know it will be a time of refreshing and recreation for the students, but more than anything, we desire--

• the lost come to know the Savior who gave His life for them.
• that the lukewarm be revived in their faith.
• that the weary receive strength from God to continue as laborers in His vineyard.
• that all the students attending will return to their campuses in and around Texas to make disciples of their classmates.

Please, also pray for the staff, interns and volunteers at the conference:

• that we will be strengthened as we serve the students.
• that this will be a time of personal spiritual growth for each of us.
• that we would glorify God through all the seminars, prayer sessions, Bible studies, and other activities at the conference.

Merry Christmas!

Although it's been said many times, many ways:
A Ku Odun Keresimesi! Merry Christmas!

This Christmas, I have thought a lot about the greeting,"Merry Christmas." As I wrote Christmas cards this year, and as I responded to seasons greetings from cashiers, and friends, and Salvation Army ring-a-bell-ers, I couldn't help wonder what exactly what we mean when we say "Merry Christmas." The words conjure up red and green, candy canes and a pot-bellied Santa.

The angels who heralded the first Christmas used these words:

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger . . . Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

(Luke 2:10-14)

I have decided to memorize this greeting and use it in lieu of "Merry Christmas" from now on. Okay, maybe not. But I do pray for myself and for all of you that as we share Christmas greetings, we may be filled with joy by the incredible Gift of a Savior; and we may look beyond the manger and marvel at the cross on which the gift was completed.

"Merry Christmas," "Joyeux Noel," "E ku Odun,"--whichever way you say it or hear it said, I pray the words bring you joy, fill your heart with peace, and cause you to glorify God by proclaiming the gift of His Son to the world.

December "Mini" Update

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died." 2 Corinthians 5:14

It's been a busy, busy, busy month! But, praise God, it's also been a very fruitful month. We got a new Bible study off the ground. Last Friday, I sat down with four students invlolved in orchestra and co-led a Bible study for them with Brent, one of the students. (I was excited to observe his understanding of God's Word and His love).

I also had the joy of following up with six girls who attended the orchestra outreach last month. I had lunch with them at separate times; I learned a little bit about their current spiritual stance and where they want to go, spiritually. They were all at different levels--a couple of them still not sure if they want to follow Christ, one a new Christian (she received Christ at the outreach), and a couple of them presently struggling in their walk with God. Please pray that God would give me and other Student Venture laborers the wisdom and discernment to guide these students in their walk with Him.

God took me this past week to revisit 2 Corinthians 3:12-5:21. These were passages of Scripture that God placed on my heart two years ago when I first recognized He was calling me to ministry. It was so encouraging to be reminded that it is GOD'S LOVE compelling us to bring his gospel to the lost, and it is GOD working through us as His ministers--clay vessels though we may be.

I will send another newsletter this month--God willing--to recap the end-of-year events and share with you testimonies of God's work at Newman Smith High School and in Carrollton. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare for my finals!! Also, pray for our leadership students as God continues to lead them to invite their friends for our January conference (FastBreak). They prayed to God to fill a whole bus with their friends/classmates (that would be 50 students) and they have 28 students signed up so far!

Thank you for your continued prayers--they are working! I'm also grateful to those of you who gave additional financial gifts this past month. God bless you all, and I'll write again soon. For now, I'm going to study! :)