Spending the Summer in Ministry

We have quite a few students who are spending their summers doing ministry. I wanted to draw attention to a couple of blogs that will be updated frequently as well as mention a few of the students by names, so that you can lift them in prayer!

Nicole Guthrie, alumnus from '07, will be spending most of the summer in Africa. She blogs here.

Audra Mann, current junior, is heading to Myanmar and India for the summer to teach English and help out the local churches there. She blogs here.

John Badley, current junior, is also going to Myanmar and then will go to Malaysia. He blogs here.

As you are able, please check in on these blogs, send them an encouraging note, and above all else, pray for them! We also have a number of other students who are working in ministry this summer as camp counselors, staff at Project Transformation, church interns, working at A Christian Ministry in the National Parks, etc. Here are the names of some of them...please forgive me if I leave anyone out! Albert, Alyssa, Andi, Anna, Chad, Claudina, Eric, Kayla, Kyle, Kylie, Michelle, Molly, Russ Sarah Jane, and Tricia.

We even have a recent alumnus who is starting a new position in youth ministry: Jenny.

It is exciting to see the many ways that God is using Moundbuilders in ministry! If you know of other current students who are serving in ministry this summer, please add them in the comments section!

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.

Jubilee

A house is not a home......

Visit our progress in building our new home.

www.jubileeparkconstruction.blogspot.com

Youth Pastor Job Opening in Goddard, KS

Youth pastor, 20-30 hours per week, salary and health insurance, work with middle and senior high students. Musical ability would be an asset. Position opens July 1. Send resume with references to lisa@goddardumc.com at Goddard UMC.

Faith vs. Religion

There has been an on - going debate within my conscience regarding faith and religion. These are two subject matters that I have never really given much recognition to until about six months ago. Since then, however, it has been like a non - stop ping pong match inside my head and quite frankly, my brain is a little tired (not to mention, bruised).

That is way I am reaching out to you, my fellow compadres in Christ. Is there truly a difference between faith and religion?? Are people who attend church doing so out of faith or merely out of habit?? To elaborate even further, is going to church absolutely imperative to living a Christian lifestyle or can a person still maintain a strong relationship with God despite not going every Sunday?? More than anything, however, can faith exist without religion and vice versa??

Please give thoughtful consideration to each of these questions as well as to the following : what do you feel are necessary components to maintaining a healthy and maturing relationship with the Lord?? Also, how does someone truly immerse themselves in culture while continuing to embrace who he or she is as a child of God??

Here's how to Get Mapped on the Builders in Ministry - Around the World map!

Hey Builders in Ministry!

Here’s how to stake your claim on a piece of our Builders in Ministry – Around the World map!!

1) Follow this link to our map: <http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=100327673646283010015.0004678556b61c391b386&ll=39.96028,-91.494141&spn=8.452293,19.6875&z=6>

2) The Google search bar is located at the top of the page. Type in your address (ex. 100 College St, Winfield, KS 67156) then click “Search Maps”. This will bring up a map with your location.

3) In the box, below your address is “Save to My Maps”, click here and save to Builders in Ministry – Around the World.

4) Once you are plotted on the BIM Map, edit your window in the following ways:

a. Replace your address with your name, then put your address, phone, website, or other contact information in the window below;

b. Replace the blue teardrop icon with a purple teardrop for your home address or;

c. Replace the blue teardrop icon with a purple BIM logo (located in My Icons) for your place of ministry;

d. Replace the stock photo with your own photo of your church, youth group, home, or family – what ever you’d like.

e. Add any additional information you think might be useful to other Builders in Ministry – what you do, focus of your ministry, etc.

5) Save your work and then check to see who else is mapped! If you don’t see some of your fellow Builders in Ministry, share the link and have them get mapped!

Greetings from Haysville

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Hola fellow builders,
I think i am supposed to be working right now but as i was reading some of the posts i got very intrigued, so i decided to do my contribution. I would like to give some updates about what is going on with me and the ministry i am right now. Since February of this i have been working for the Haysville United Methodist Church as the new Ministry Development Youth Director. Since then everything has been a challenging experience. Being involved in ministry is an awesome thing, but when you get involved in ministry with a leadership position is a double awesome-ness. When i entered the ministry i did not have much "field experience" which it made a little bit rough to get things together. I have realized that God is the one who equips you do to whatever ministry He has prepared for you (Ephesians 2:10).
One integral part of my faith formation was the Discipleship program at Southwestern College and it faith community or i should say my SC family. I have a lot of respect for the program that taught me and prepared me with the tools and resources i am using in ministry right now. I have never thought i would end up being a youth director but i guess God has mysterious ways and places He will take you. Like i said, I haven't been in this church for that long, but the long i have been in here, i already have experienced feels of joy, challenge, frustration, love, pain, admiration, etc, that ministry has within its realm. I must say that my perspective of the church has totally changed and now more than ever feel that tremendous, driven feeling of seeking the one true God.
Since my first day here i have been blessed with the opportunity of being coached or helped by a man (Todd Guinn)that i have a lot of respect for and for his ministry. We have a responsibility to care and pray for each other not only because we are fellow Builders but because we are ONE body that share ONE vision and ONE common goal, therefore i encourage you to pray for your brothers and sisters that they may find rest and strength to proceed to the end of the race

In His Name
Elohei Avraham Elohei Yitschak velohei Ya'akov.
Joel Alejandre