Hello everyone!
Clossssingggg timeeeee (turn on song here). Funny story is that my best friends freshman year of college would always play this song when it was time to leave their dorm room at night. Subtle, but clear. I think it is funny to still play that song today at the end of events and see who is able to read the room and know it is time to leave lol. Some social skills just have to be caught, not taught.
This may be a blog of photos. Well, actually, all my blogs have photos. But this one especially is already special to my heart as it is my last one that follows this school year of ministry. I have joked some that I am emo this month to see this year of ministry end as this job has exceeded all my expectations. This month we have gotten to say goodbye both through graduations and end of year parties, celebrated baptisms, and even traveled across the country to Seattle and Bellingham, Washington with 150 of our students! With all of this excitement, I have had to remind myself this month more than others to just sit with Jesus. To bring my questions, worries, and doubts to Him and let them all be replaced with a clear vision and confidence in where He is leading me.
At the end of another school year, something that has been buzzing through my head is seeing the difference with a freshman first leaving their childhood home and a senior that is graduating into the work force. College is such a sweet window to include Jesus in these big, transformational years as they are becoming the person and building the framework that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. One of the crossroads many of us are brought to is asking "What is God's will for my life". I believe that Matthew 22:34-38 shares with us that 1. our entire being is already designed to love God and 2. if we look to love one another the way that Jesus loved us (John 13:34-35), then the love we show to other people is an equalized reflection of our body's natural affinity to display love to God. How we treat and see people matters! And the maturing seen from a freshman to a senior is not an accidental process, but rather a cycle of this love being passed from student to student as they spur each other on towards Jesus together. Okay, enough said. Let's see some photos!
First core photo from September 2024!
Last core photo of the year May 2025.
With core ending, so have many of the one on one bible studies outside of the small group. Three of those Bible studies ended with first time decisions to follow Jesus. More on that down below. However, there are many Focus on Jesus bible studies that are now about to start or have the ability to meet more consistently now that we are in the summer. I currently have four planned to keep going during the summer, possibly to ask one or two other guys to start one. From these studies, one guy who I have not talked about all year is Jackson Montee! He is the guy that my right arm is around in the black shirt in the photo from September. A lot of his Spring was spent traveling with the baseball team at UTD, busy hitting homeruns and playing third base. But despite such an involved schedule, I have seen him purposefully commit to our growing community and be such a faithful disciple of Jesus to other guys who are seeking him. Big fan.
Logan is the king on the right in the crocs and Jeremiah is the king with the towel.
Me, Logan, and Felipe in the pool on campus! I love seeing baptisms here because our whole community gathers around the edge of the pool and celebrates with us. No looking at our feet here please.
BAPTISMS!!!!! Our small group got to party eternally with two guys who made the decision to follow Jesus for the first time. Would you please be praying for them and that no descendant after them fails to know the love God has for his children? Would you also be praying for those in our group who are still in process or maybe just curious for Jesus? I have felt some sadness this month contrasting these joyful moments with those I know who have yet to know God's love personally. I remind myself that this burden isn't my own, but felt and carried fully by Jesus who experienced the weight of it on the cross. And because of that great love, we are not consumed!
Buzz cut jump scare! Hair is gone. This is me and my partner in crime this year, Kole (but also not pictured, Joshua, who just graduated), at our end of year party. Congrats Josh on graduating! Hope you see this. Or if your mom does, she can tell you congrats for me! (just joking just joking).
Currently, I am writing this post from Bellingham, Washington. Yes, like 20 minutes from Canada. This is because I am currently traveling with over 150 of our students to attend the Student Institute of Campus Ministry (SICM), hosted by a ministry that works out of colleges up in the northwest. We are here for about 10 days, with the first two spent as tourists in Seattle before we traveled up to Bellingham to stay with very hospitable host families. In this trip, we hope to see disciples of Jesus grow in learning how to make more disciples, and feel fired up and ready to go into the next school year. In following Jesus' model of ministry we see that it 1. Has to be relational, or else it won't work. 2. Has to be purposeful, or else growth doesn't happen and 3. It has to be repeatable, or else it won't last!
The world is so green here. Although, Washington is not beating the allegations of it being rainy. It has rained almost every day this week.
I am sitting next to a young man named Juan. He probably won't see this, but he's going to become one of my good friends once we move past the 'first getting to know one another' stage.
Me in the Seattle airport with my group of traveling students on the flight that left at 7am after essentially pulling an all-nighter to pack. I have beef with the Seattle airport. Nothing happened, it just is bad (no offense).
People made fun of me for my socks being out like this. I think it's a vibe but lmk in the comments (@Shay Rowe what do you think??). Not pictured is my friend Carson Seely who is also on this trip. I am currently watching him play an Atari though as I type this. Very proud of him.
People look at this and say it happed by chance. Bruh...Does an intricate building not point towards a skilled architect? Nature is such a clear picture for me of God's faithfulness. The sun always rises. Spring always becomes summer. The tide comes on and out on a clock. Wow.
Well, that is it for this year guys and gals. Thank you for faithfully following God's call for your life and partnering with me in ministry. I will continue to send blogs during the summer, but they will not be as jam packed as these until August again. Over the summer, would you please pray for the many college students spending time at home that they are able to steward it for God? Also, as I start to fundraise for next year, that I fully trust His provision?
If you have decided that you will be stepping off this year from giving to my mission work at UTD, can I just say 1. I have nothing but gratitude, love, and appreciation for you, and 2. Please let me know if you would like to continue receiving these updates through email. I would love to keeping sending them to you so that you can partner with me through prayer. Otherwise, if you ever would like to see what's going on, my website paul.micus.anyfocus.org will stay active and up to date! Also, 3. If you know anyone who is especially excited about college ministry and would be interested in talking about FOCUS and joining my support team, please feel free to let them know about what is going on in Dallas. And finally 4. I would love to be a resource to you, your friends, your friends friends, or anyone you know who may have children going to UTD or other Dallas schools. If they need community, a ride to the airport, a jump start for their car, my community is YOUR community.
With love,
Paul M
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