Growing Together

It has been a challenge to get to know so many new people on a new campus, but students like my Bible Study partner, Alexa, are making it a fun adventure. Alexa is a junior science major that cares deeply about helping freshman students find their way at York. With her heart for the students in the Manor dorms and the Bible study and leadership skills I am sharing with her, she and I are reaching out to a small group of freshman that keep inviting their friends to join us on Tuesday nights. We have 8 students that are weekly seeking God’s guidance in their relationships, choice of majors, how to act with integrity in their work, and how to share the good news with others. I praise God for this growing group!

York College Crew at the area Fall Conference Oct. 21-23

An Answer to Prayer

by Evan Smith, lead staff at InterVarsity at York College

Greetings, faithful pray-ers and supporters. My name is Evan, and for the last 4 years I’ve been asking the Lord to send a staff partner to share in the work and the harvest at York College. Last Spring, when I learned that Megan would be the answer to that prayer, I rejoiced!

What a blessing to students she has been. I don’t think I can overstate the value of her unique contributions to this ministry. From her partnership teaching Mark 1 at Chapter Camp, to her discipleship of the students leading our weekly Large Group meetings, to her love for the freshmen in the small group she co-leads… in all these things, Christ’s love for York College students is made evident.

Part of what I appreciate about her leadership is her humility. At a recent Large Group meeting, Ethan (a student she’s mentored this semester) taught the fellowship about a faith that “lives to be forgotten,” meaning that faithful leadership eschews the spotlight, opting instead to quietly equip the saints for lives of ministry. And Ethan was able to edify that whole room (about 65 students!) because he’s been the recipient of just that kind of leadership in Megan.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to boast in the Lord about the life-changing ministry Megan’s been doing here at York. And I’m grateful too for you who have sent her.

Prayer Requests

• Bible Study: The area spring re-treat, RESTORE, in January will be a great next step for our group. Please pray for the planning and invitations to York students.

• Getting to campus: For wisdom in finding a new car since the brake line is rusted in my car

• Financial and Prayer provision: We’ve raised $16,280 which leaves $3,720 to go as I hope to raise $20,000 this year and in-crease in prayer partners as I build relationships with students

Thank you!

Thanks for your continued prayers and support as I step into leadership with students at York College! Thanks! Megan

Recalculating... recalculating...

Feeling refreshed from our area staff weekend retreat, I hopped in my car more excited than ever to head to work in York today. I'd woken up earlier and enjoyed my breakfast outside. I was glad to be squeezing in all the extra little things because I knew it was going to be a full day. As I left the sun was shining (and wasn't too hot); I'd left with plenty of time; and I'd finally remembered all the extra things I needed that day (I usually forget something small) and was cruising down the highway. Life was good. Then about 40 minutes into my drive, I get a text from my coworker asking if we were having a staff meeting in Elizabethtown.

Bummer... I was headed the wrong direction. Right attitude, wrong location. I'm glad I was able to laugh at myself as I turned around and headed back across the bridge separating York and Lancaster counties. The lovely british voice on my GPS calmly saying "recalculating" as if this was a expected. I was extra thankful I'd remembered to grab the GPS because now I'd be approaching the staff meeting in Etown from unfamiliar roads. I pulled over for gas and put in the address of the coffee shop in Etown all the while wishing I'd checked my calendar before I left my house that day.

It reminded me of the value of checking in with God for the daily plans which is unfortunately too easy to forget. Routines are only helpful if they help you get to where you need to be. Had I spent a little more time reflecting on God's plans instead of my own. I wouldn't have lost an hour of travel time (or seen a new beautiful part of Lancaster county for that matter). As I prepare for new ministry at York I want to remember that God's got the best plans for the ministry and my part in it. I want to be better at starting each day checking in with him to be breaking ground, planting and growing the gospel on campus as he intends. After all in Luke 5, Jesus knew more about where to cast a net than the fishermen that would become his disciples. I want to follow his directions and begin by being in close conversation with God through prayer for my ministry work on campus. Please pray with me for these students and the funds to help me care for these students.

I don't know all of these students yet, but I know God does and I'm certain he will guide me as I begin to connect with these new brothers and sisters and York.

New Beginnings...

Over the river and through the woods (or farmlands) not only takes me to our InterVarsity chapter camp each year but could describe my drive to York Campus in the fall as well. This fall I will still be living in Lancaster and commuting to York several times a week for part-time ministry through InterVarsity. May 7-13 I said a tearful goodbye to my wonderful F&M InterVarsity students, and May 14-20 I was welcomed by the York group for week 2 of camp. We then spent a week together in scripture, worship, and fellowship. I'm so excited get to know these students that are a part of the ministry through InterVarsity at York. I was blessed to spend one week with this awesome bunch of students. They deeply care about their friends and their faith and am excited to walk with them and Evan, the other staff at York, as they discover what it means to actively follow Jesus in college and after.

I will be spending summer Tuesdays in York to get to know this city, the people, the college and the students. Thanks for your prayers for my eyes, ears, mouth and heart to be open to seeing, knowing, and better understanding what it is that God is doing in York for these students and for the role that I will play in his ministry.

In Christ,

Megan

Dirt Dessert No-Hands-Eating contest with a few new friends from York