June

 Hello everyone! 

I hope you all are doing well this summer and enjoying the heat of it all. This is my first summer spent in Dallas since moving here five years ago, usually spending my May through August at summer camp outside of Houston. But now, having slower days of work in Dallas, I really have come to see how much I love summer (it always has been my favorite season to begin with). I love the heat, the smell of the warm air, the sun, the sound of bugs in the trees....compared to the cold of winter, this is so much more enjoyable for me. 

If you are reading this blog for the first time this month, welcome! I post one each month with tons of photos, updates, and prayer requests of what God is doing at UT Dallas. I am so honored that you are taking the time to read this and have decided to join me in prayer and donations to follow God's direction on college campuses. Feel free to reach out to me at any time for anything or go back and read any of my previous posts. I'll be keeping in touch with you as well! 

So, you may be asking, what does college ministry in the summer look like? Are classes in session? Well, it definitely is a different pace than during the school year. Part of this slower pace is intentional though as it allows us to thoroughly prepare for August when almost 5,000 brand new students step on campus for the first time. Since UT Dallas is such a large commuter school, many students are still around in the DFW metroplex. A big difference is that I am no longer an apprentice! Although a lot of my role will look the same, I will only be taking one Christian history class this upcoming year compared to the dozen classes I took last Fall and Spring. So much more of my time will be spent on campus. I still have some one on one discipleship studies going on each week. I also look to spend unhurried time with students to help build relationships throughout our community. This could look like playing volleyball, spikeball, going swimming, watching a movie - all kinds of fun!

Photo at our Thursday night fellowship. We always go do something after, like going out to eat, board games, or a movie. And see the Hawaiian Falls Day on the screen? Another example of a fun thing to do that also helps keep students in community!

One of the largest events each week is our Summer Focus Thursday fellowship night. Every Thursday, all of our campuses come together to worship, learn, and spend time in community at a local church that hosts us. This is very similar to an event that many of you have read about previously called "The Grove", which is UTD's fellowship night on Friday's during the school year. 

A big part of our ministry's vision is that we grow as an intellectual, Jesus loving community. One that loves to ask questions and dig deeper into scripture and God's character. To continue this learning over the summer, we have been leading groups that follow along a deep dive into Ephesians through a course offered by 'Bible Project'. We watch videos each week and then meet together to talk about them and learn more. There are different groups of students that meet in each city across the metroplex, Dallas, Garland, Arlington, Denton, and Ft. Worth.

My friend group has been hosting a Coed bible study on Friday's as well, and we all take turns leading it. Again, this is very similar to our small groups during the school year called "Core", but those usually are not coed and they happen on campus.

 I just had to include this photo of my good friend Asher, who is a student that I have been meeting with all year. I am very excited that he is deciding to lead his own small group this year!

One thing we spend a lot of time talking and praying about over the summer is over building our student leader team this next school year. We have a lot of conversations with students to see if they are interested and able to lead their own small group and disciple other students one on one. It is really encouraging to see so many students want to lead and make time in an already very busy schedule that balances school, different relationships, and other commitments all together. Would you please pray for our team to have wisdom and be discerning in these decisions?

Equally, a lot of staff members right now are in the middle of their fundraising season to keep doing campus ministry this next school year full time. Thank you for being so generous to me so that I can be on campus. I am grateful that God led your heart to choose to support young adults in DFW.

Now because it is summer, we are able to take a vacation to relax! With the passing of my grandpa this past year, my dad and his sister decided to use the money that he left them to take us to Cozumel, Mexico on a family vacation. It was a very sweet time to get to spend with my parents, siblings, and other family members. Almost a decade ago, my siblings and I all got scuba certified with my parents. We got to go diving almost every morning this trip. It was quite exciting.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post! T-minus one month until we hit the ground running hard in August.

Prayer Requests

• For wisdom in building our leader team next year
• For all of our staff members to be fully fundraised for another year of ministry
• That we will see a rich harvest in the Fall for all of the planning and conversations that we are having now!
• And that our students can excel in school: that they make good grades, build good friendships, and over it all, build a stronger relationship with Jesus while they are at UTD.

With love,

Paul