Paul's Ministry Update!

After the Grove each Friday, we typically take over a restaurant or two. This is us at chipotle. Hello! This has been such a fast month. I remember so clearly the last time I sat down to write this blog at my desk. Probably because I do not sit at my desk too much anymore as so many of my days are spent moving around and meeting with students. But I am so excited to share some of these moments from this past month with you! I recently reflected over two back to back parables from Jesus in Matthew 13:44-45 of the hidden treasure and the pearls. These are two similar parables about the kingdom of Heaven. In one, a man was purposefully looking for it. In another, he happened to stumble upon it. But both of their response is the same, and that's what matters. I see how the man's response in finding the treasure or the pearl is a reflection on discipleship. What is my response to finding the kingdom of Heaven? To sell the pearl and buy all my old stuff and old ways back? No! The Kin...

 Hello! We are reaching Fall weather in DFW, and I want to share with you everything exciting that has been going on this month in FOCUS. By this time of the year, things start to settle in and I see more of a rhythm of what is going on week to week. Looking at the calendar, we really only have five more weeks of consistent school in the semester. It is wild to think we are about 11 weeks in, but with it being November, on paper that makes sense. Our weekly core group has reached a consistent size and the guys are starting to become closer friends with each other. Felipe and I have decided to spend some weeks going through some of Jesus' parables. We often split into two groups for part of the discussion to allow more people the chance to talk in a group this size. Our guys have also started this game of tag around campus with a rubber wristband that they pass around. It's funny to watch, but it encourages them to try and see one another throughout the week! This month we also ...

Hello! Almost two full months on campus have come and gone. August was full of outreach, and September has been full of starting up our small group again and beginning my one on one Bible studies. I meet so many people during the first two months of school, it can be difficult juggling so many different relationships and conversations while integrating them with friendships formed last year. In my time with God this month, I have been reminded of how He describes himself in Exodus 3 as the faithful " I AM". Knowing that He is the "I AM" who will be there with me as I am moving about campus or going to meet with someone. But what a good reminder that without God, nothing can grow from the seeds I plant. No matter what conversation I have, questions I ask, or meetings I plan. God provides the growth (1 Cor 3). Our core group this year! We are probably sitting at around 25 people with 3/4ths of them being new to our ministry. We call the small groups of our ministry ...

 Hello everyone! The students are back and school has started! Hopefully I can share a lot of photos in this post for you to give a glimpse of what has been going on this month, especially the last two weeks as students have arrived at UTD. Photo from our staff retreat in early August. As we are growing to new campuses like NCTC and TCC, our staff is growing too.  The first week of August, we had our first of two staff retreats during the year. I always really look forward to this time because it is after a long summer of everyone being in and out of town on different schedules. We spend this time building relationships with each other and refocusing our hearts on the mission at our college campuses.  I feel like I have met hundreds of freshmen at this point. This was at one of our many field nights outside the Res Halls. I love these nights because only the freshmen are on campus the first week, and the school does not host many events to welcome them. That is where we s...