The students have arrived and August is in full swing!

Hello everyone!

Thank you so much for all the prayers and support you all have shown me over the past few months. With August more than halfway over, I wanted to share some updates about things I have already learned and seen both in class and the first days on campus as we welcome in new students and reunite with friends returning from the summer. I hope to include as many photos as possible in these letters, so you can see personally the love that your support allows us share generously to so many people.

Photo from staff retreat of everyone! Play "Where is Paul?".

It has been so great to meet all the other people on staff from across different campuses. Fellowship of Christian University Students has an organization at most major Dallas universities, so across the team there is so much wisdom and experience that I have the opportunity to learn from. At the beginning of August, we went on a three day staff retreat. At this retreat, we had a series of discussions over different qualities within the heart of ministry. On the second day when talking about humble servitude, one of our campus pastors suggested that maybe every act of ministry is not to gain the "life to the full" described in John 10:9-11, but rather is the full life lived out. The word 'minister' in itself comes from the Latin word 'minus' which means less than, or translated into servant. Rolling this thought over in my head along with the passage in Ephesians 4:1-13 that repeats this goal in achieving the "fullness of Christ" through equipping people for works of service has brought a lot of humility in how I approach welcoming new students on campus.

Whataburger run after zombie tag!

Speaking of new students on campus....our 'Weeks of Welcome' is here and moving quick! We have been able to host events on campus every day this past week as Freshman move into the dorm. This includes field game nights, zombie tag in the buildings, whataburger runs, and a fun "Find Your Classes" tour for people wanting to feel more comfortable moving through campus. This is a full circle moment for me, because it was four years ago as a freshman at UTD that I had my first encounters with this organization at similar events. Meeting people so full of joy and love that pointed back to the Cross made me realize the most genuine love that comes from Jesus.

A goodbye party from a leader and great friend
from last year, Changhee. He is going to get his PhD!

Field game night by the dorms

It is so cool to immediately see people connect and share their number as a large campus starts to feel smaller. I have been able to eat in the dining hall three times now with one of my good friends Josh Brock. Each time, we go around and invite each person sitting by themselves to a larger table, and we eat a 'Thanksgiving' style meal. I love seeing people who were before sitting on their phone with headphones in now talking and making friends with one another. Would you please pray for a bold spirit in all of our leaders as we keep meeting new people and inviting them in?

Outside of being on campus, a large part of my time each day has been in my Old Testament class. We hit this class hard at the beginning of August, so we have plenty of time to get good reading and studying in before the school year really kicks off. I am already through 1 Samuel! One thing I have been learning in this class is the obvious emphasis of God's mercy to Israel. God does not seem to be trying to constantly reenforce the curse from Genesis 3, but He continually provides the means to deliver Israel from it. Reading whole books in one sitting really has helped me see the continued themes and patterns through the generations.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this, but more importantly for joining me in this mission at UT Dallas. I am praying expectantly that God will use this year for so much growth and transformation. God's love is enough to evoke big change, and my role is to remain steady set on it and be free in showing it to others. As I continue to share blog posts about this season, you can visit my blog by going to the website paul.micus.anyfocus.org to see past and current posts!

With love,

Paul