Taking a Look Around

I tend to be one of those people who stays busy. If I'm truly honest, I really like it that way best, I suppose. I do recognize, however, that there are times in the year that I'm too busy. These last 6 weeks definitely fit that scenario. School starting involves all of the excitement, emotion, and stress of setting an inert machine into motion. The potential for great power is there, but so is the potential for numerous malfunctions. But by now, we are up and moving. The rust has worn off, the new pieces have been broken in, and we're moving.

And so, I stop. Yes, I stop and take a look around. I look back to these last 40 days and see that lots of great things have happened:

• I participated in a prayer effort that started on August 10 and finishes up tomorrow (Friday, September 25) that intentionally lifted United Methodist Campus Ministries in prayer. There were days when I felt like I was a hamster running on a wheel and when I prayed these prayers, I sensed camraderie, understanding, and provision in a significant way. There were some days when these prayers were the substance of my static prayer time, but even in those days, I was surrounded by prayers.
• We've initiated a new group of leaders for campus ministry at Southwestern. Both the Shepherd Team of Discipleship (affectionately known as the Disciple-Sheep) and the leaders for our Campus Ministries are leading others in ministry! There truly is nothing more exciting than when students that you love are ministering to others! Love it!
• Chapel at SC. Wow! I have been blown away by the chapel services this year so far! Each preacher (all from within the SC community so far--and I'm counting Steve Rankin as still being from within the SC community) has spoken words of challenge, comfort, and truth to our campus. The worship teams are learning what it means to lead their peers, and the support ministries are creatively engaging the community in worship. I can hardly wait to get to chapel each week.
• I've had a couple of conversations with current students and alumni this fall that have been incredibly affirming...not necessarily of me, but of what I sense that God is doing and wants to do in our midst. Many seeds have been planted in years past here at SC and things are coming together for fruit to be borne. It's exciting.

From reading this little glance around, it would seem that Southwestern is heaven on earth. Well, it is pretty great, but we have our own struggles, too. But through it all, we know that God's presence is guiding, sustaining, and empowering us to meet those challenges. As I look around, I see places where God is asking me to trust and keep going, places where I need to ask forgiveness, and even places where I may need to just stop what we've been doing. So whether we move forward, or stop, we trust all of it for God's glory alone! And that's actually the best place of all to be.

Posted by Ashlee Alley

Facebook Friends?

Discipleship SC

Create Your Badge

Were you in Discipleship? If so, please friend Discipleship on Facebook! www.facebook.com/DiscipleshipSC. Take a look and see what we're up to these days. We're posting some pics from our mission trip, homecoming activities, covenant group, celebrations, and other events throughout the year!

Some Changes at SC

Well, it has often been said that change is inevitable, and we find that to be true at Southwestern College. After 14 wonderful years as the Campus Minister and Chair of the Philosophy and Religion department, Steve Rankin has felt the call of God to minister in another community. As of July 1, he has accepted an invitation to become the Chaplain at Southern Methodist University in Dallas. We are certainly sad to see him leave Southwestern, as his ministry is keenly felt on campus at this time. I was a sophomore the year that Steve started at SC, which means that during my freshmen year we were absent a Campus Minister. The impact that he made, even in the next 3 years, was significant. He redesigned chapel involving student worship teams. He started Discipleship Southwestern, a program that has now involved over 150 students (and of which I am currently the director). He nurtured the call to ministry in a number of students (including myself). And he poured his life into his students. In the 11 years since, he has continued on that initial impact in incredible ways. I have been honored to join him in the work at SC during the last four years. Keeping up with him is at times dizzying, but always significant. I cannot begin to express the impact that Steve has made on my own life and on the lives of many other students in the last 14 years.

Steve will be significantly missed on campus, but, as has been his goal, he is about the work of the Kingdom of God. He has simply chosen to be obedient to that goal through another arm of the United Methodist Church. While I'm sad for us at SC, I'm very excited for him and for SMU! I believe that he will make an impact for Christ in that community as well! Here is his take on the move. Please join me in praying for Steve and his family as they all adjust to life outside of Winfield.

hey everyone

Good morning good morning!

I trust this finds you well.

I'm still a student at Southwestern College, nearing the foreboding graduation (God willing, to be  within a year).  In my time here, I've gotten to meet various builders who are active in ministry, and are very willing to share with me their wonderful experiences from their recollections of years past (in the recent and not too recent years past).

Meeting other builders (especially those in ministry) has been an encouragement to me (and other students), especially in person (as opposed to just meeting online, like here, but it's all good too=).

Anyway, the students atSouthwestern College are still kept plenty busy being involved (or overcommitted, as professors would sometimes comment that they are). There is always a artsy fartsy performance by one of the various musically talented groups (e.g. A Capella choir, orchestra, jazz combos, theatre), just this week, the theatre produced a spectacularly dramatic production called "Urinetown" (supposedly a pun on 'You're in Town').

But yet, there is also a lot of service done for the community by the school. Both leadership and discipleship students serve the community here in the various activities/events they plan both on and off campus.

Our campus is also striving to go green, along with the national effort across universities and colleges all across the US, in the country's attempt to Go Green!!!

There’s been numerous small groups set up in the past few semesters, as well as the established groups like The One Thing (TOT) and prayer group who are also growing from strength to strength. Just recently, a new group for guys, known as Manistry (it was picked over some other not as good choices) has been set up.

With all the fellowship that’s going on in Southwestern College, we would be glad if anyone came to visit with us to learn and grow together, from one another.

 

Yours truly,

Albert O. II