November!

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 Kingdom IS worth it!! I have to keep growing up in my faith as a disciple, and I love getting to walk alongside many students as they are brought to the same decision.

This month we had our 'Pizza Theology'. I always feel so fed after this event (spiritually and physically lol). This year, we invited in a guest speaker, Dr. Rikk Watts, from Regent College to give a seminar over the book of John. We spent four hours listening to him talk. He is so educated and the text and culture of the Greco-Roman world. As a college ministry, we value learning the Scriptures at a college level. This is one way throughout the year we do that. If you want to listen to him, you can find his lecture on our Spotify playlist (Fellowship of Christian University Students).

The next morning, he talked with our Focus staff for a couple more hours about the New Testaments use of the Old Testament (the scriptures). I found that talk to be quite complex, but in line with a current book I am reading by Iain Provan called "The Reformation and the Right Reading of Scripture". A book that dives deep (and I mean deep) into different approaches to biblical interpretation, with an importance placed upon literal interpretation (interpretating scripture in its applied literary context), compared to an allegorical approach. 

The week before Pizza Theology, I hosted a group reading of the book of John at my house so it could be fresh on our mind. It took us a little over two hours to read out loud. It was many of these student's first time ever reading his Gospel! It was funny to hear people react to some of the stuff Jesus said. He really means business and wasn't playing around with some people!

We finished our 'Focus First Year Leader' class this month. This has been such an encouraging class to help lead. We do this for new students in our ministry who come in really excited about college ministry and want to hit the ground running. We go over topics like how to love people well, asking good questions, and having bold conversations. It lasted all semester up until our little 'graduation' (shown in the photo above). 

Hopefully this is a video above that you can play. After core each week, we end up just hanging out, playing some game, or eating some food. I wanted to give a small glimpse into what that looked like this past week. We made pancakes at my house and just hung out. Our group chat has grown into about 35 people, with a consistent rotation of 25 each week depending on exams/homework. I love seeing these guys form friendships and community with each other, all centered around God and His mission.

I wanted to include a photo of our men's leader team to give a better picture of how our ministry is able to grow at UTD. About 35 guys have volunteered to lead a core this year and study the Bible with their peers. Each Monday, I host them at my house where we have a meeting about our ministry and how to grow in thinking pastorally. These guys have such a heart for God.

As you may have seen, apparently parts of the northern lights were visible as far south as Texas earlier this month. We drove about 30 minutes north of Plano to try and see them, but saw nothing (as expected). I saw some absolutely incredible photos from other places in the United States. It's a huge bucket list item to see them one day.

Alston got baptized this month!! This is a guy who joined my core last year. I met him through one of the guys I was studying Focus on Jesus with at the time. When I invited him to core last year, he shared how he was contemplating transferring from UTD because his days were spent just in class and his dorm. He was invited into community and was shocked at the amount of people he got to know. Through that, we started to be curious about God. And now here we are!! God is so good!

We are approaching the end of our annual Keep Focus Growing fundraiser. These funds help support the less flashy side of campus ministry including our database and accounting software, insurance costs, ministry resources to develop pastors, and the cost of a yearly audit of our finances to ensure transparency. Thank you for blessing me each month with your donations! Please be praying for this fundraiser as well. If you feel led to give, you can go to anyfocus.org/kfg2025

I hope you all find time to enjoy with family and loved ones this thanksgiving! As always, please keep our ministry in your prayers as we start to prep for our own superbowl...ie Winter Retreat in January. Please pray that our students rest well and come back to school ready to tackle finals and finish the semester well.

With love,

Paul M