January 2025 Ministry Update

 

Arianna’s January Ministry Update! The Spring Semester is Underway! Happy New Year! Here is a very belated update on January- you all will be receiving an update on February soon! I hope that this first month into 2025 has been good! It feels like every year I can’t believe that the beginning of the year is flying by already, and yet here we are. Lots has already happened this year and I’m excited to update you! Winter Retreat 2025 happened this month. We had over 700 people come! It blows my mind what God is doing in the lives of these college students (from over 11 different campuses). Can you spot me?? This January we had our annual Winter Retreat! Our FOCUS pastors gave sermons on discipleship and the serious call to follow Jesus. I had great conversations with so many students during and after retreat where they shared how much they were taking away from the talks and worship. Some of our pastors did a Q&R (question and response) about how to think biblically about LGBTQ. Our pastors did such a great job of sharing about a topic that is often emotionally charged and has become a vital talking point in this generation. Here’s some more pictures from Winter Retreat! Here are the girls from my core who came to Winter Retreat. It was so sweet to spend a weekend with them and get to worship God with them! My roommates and I also moved houses this month! God really answered our prayers- after having to leave our old house because of disturbed asbestos, we finally found a new place to live (and for the right lease term!) So many of our students, coworkers, and friends came out to help us move all of our things, and I really don’t know what we would have done without them. Our students love and serve each other (and us!) like Jesus does, and we are so blessed! A small portion of the people who came out to help us move! We are so blessed!!

One of my friends organized a “cultural appreciation day” at church a few weeks ago. I wore a borrowed outfit that I had for a totally different event, but it was fun to see everyone dress up and get to share about where their clothes were from! I love getting to be in community with these people. I’m consistently blown away by how good God is- even when there are parts of campus ministry that are difficult or stressful, God is still consistent and faithful. I’m so thankful for your generous support that allows me to be on campus and work with these college students. It means the world to me! I’m very sorry about this belated update, and I look forward to updating you again soon! Love, Arianna