August 2025 Ministry Update: Students are back!

 

Arianna’s August Ministry Update Students are back in town and God is really moving on campus! Hello friends! I hope you all have had a wonderful summer and are ready for fall! This summer has been a sweet season: full of rest, meaningful time with students who were in town, and fundraising in preparation for the school year ahead. To all the new supporters who joined my team this year, and to those who have faithfully continued walking with me, thank you so much. I’m continually humbled and in awe of God’s goodness in surrounding me with people like you who pray for me, encourage me, and invest in this ministry. I hope this newsletter gives you a glimpse into the incredible things God is doing on campus- and that it encourages your heart as much as it does mine. We kicked off August with our annual staff retreat! It was a rich time of refocusing on the mission and vision of our ministry across the different campuses we serve. It was such a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. God is actively moving in the hearts of students, and we have the joy and privilege of joining Him in that work. Here's a photo of our entire staff team, we’ve grown so much over the past couple of years! The school year is officially underway! The first couple of weeks in August were packed with preparations for UTD’s Weeks of Welcome, including freshman move-in and the first week of classes. This season is one of the most important times of the year for us. We go all in during the first month because students are typically the most open to making new friends and getting connected. A single conversation with a freshman during these early weeks can truly shift the trajectory of their college experience and even the course of their life. It’s an incredible opportunity to be part of the work God is doing right from the very beginning of their journey. The Weeks of Welcome at UTD have been incredible! This year we have over 70 student leaders committed to leading cores (small groups). These leaders have devoted themselves to meeting students on campus, building relationships, and inviting them into both friendship and ministry. Our students are so full of love, joy, and hospitality. I’ve had countless conversations with freshmen who have expressed how grateful they are that someone reached out to them and showed them kindness during their first few days on campus. It’s such a powerful reminder of how important what we are doing on campus is.

We also kicked off the semester with our first Grove, our large group fellowship gathering. Over 330 students came together to worship, hear a teaching from Mark, and fellowship with one another. That’s nearly 100 more students than our first Grove last year! It's clear that God is moving through our student leaders and their willingness to step out, love well, and extend invitations. All that to say, it’s been an incredibly fun and equally exhausting month! I’m so expectant for all that God has in store this year, and I’m also looking forward to settling into a more consistent rhythm (as consistent as campus ministry allows). Please be praying for the students that we are meeting and for continued energy for our staff and student leaders! Thank you all so much for your continued support, prayers, and encouragement. I couldn’t be on campus meeting students and doing this work without you and I truly can’t express how much it means to me. With gratitude, Arianna