So, Campus House, this is my first and last time writing a blurb for the staff blog! I am still reeling a little bit from my amazing trip to Arizona with a wonderful group of women from Campus House. It was pretty special to share so much time with a group of ladies that love Jesus and love to serve other people. I felt so lonely when I got back and the eight girls were not with me 24/7 anymore! I consider myself a introverted person, but for those 10 days I truly enjoyed being with them! It is crazy to me to think about taking one of them out of the mix. Each was vital to our group dynamics and each worked so hard for the mission we served! If any of you girls are reading this- I give you props! O Schnap!- love “Leader”

Along with processing the mission trip, I am also getting ready to move back to West Lafayette, IN in two weeks! I can not believe how fast this year went! And I am truly amazed at how God pursued me during it! Sometimes I feel like I was chased down by Love and wrapped up tight in it’s arms as I spent my year here. I grew so much in how I viewed my fellow believers in Christ, how I loved God, and how I viewed my life and how I can best serve God in it. It has truly been a blessing to be here and to know all of you! You are a great group of wonderful people and I am so happy to know you all! I love you!

Well, part of having one week left, I have many tasks to complete before I am officially done with the internship, so I must get back to them now! Have a wonderful summer and I promise to come visit a lot!

God bless
Rachel

Hey all, Matthew here.

So if you’re reading this I hope you are ready to participate because here is what I want to do. I want this blog, at least this first one starting off, to be a call for topics. So often we as ministers try to discern what the people we shepherd want and need to hear/think about.

So often though, we can’t have this conversation with a lot of people to ask them personally what it is they want to know more about. Well here in this blog we can ask each and every one of you what it is that you want.

I will be teaching a good bit this summer, with Roger and Danah taking sabbaticals, and I’ll be writing in this blog quite a bit and I want to address some of the thoughts you want to hear about.

You can respond to this in a number of ways. My preference would be for you to click on the comment link right below this post and let me know right here on the blog. The good part about doing it this way is that other people can read what you want to hear about, and it may spark some thoughts in their minds as well. You can also e-mail me at matthew@campus-house.com if you want to be a bit more private. And of course you can always stop by my office and talk to me personally; you all know I love a good break from busy-work!

So the call is out. Let me know what we can dialogue about!

Recently while saying goodbye to a group of women, I was overwhelmed with love for them and gratitude from our Father.  By my 2nd year working here I learned this beautiful thing about love and mentoring.  Initially I may expect to connect with different girls easier than others.  I may anticipate liking some more than others*.  I even have been intimidated by some in the past, but after 2 semesters of building relationship, investing in them, and praying for them, I love them all with this special love.  I know them.  I care for them.  They become my friends.  The thing about love and mentoring is the more you invest in people and care for them, the more you love them.  And unlike dating, there is little to no chemistry required.  Sure, chemistry helps with the initial relationship building, but God has proven to me over and over that He is all we need to connect in a very deep and real way with others.

On this same evening a group of students laid their hands on the staff and prayed for us.  As time passed the hands got heavy and the room got warmer.  I couldn’t help but feel LOVE.  I love these people.  They love me.  God, THANK YOU for this way you reveal your love.  God, thank you for this life.   This was a slice of heaven.

I am overwhelmed with love:
For my girls whom I am so blessed to know in a special way.
For our God who loves me through these students.

I am overwhelmed with gratitude:
To my girls for making themselves vulnerable with me and sharing their lives with me.
To my girls for loving me.
To my babysitters who love Stanley and bless Brad and me.
To the rest of you who give Stanley love and smiles.
To the office assistants who make my workdays easier and deal with my sometimes bossy instructions.  J
To the guys and girls I’ve been able to dig into the Word with this year.
To Jesus, who is forever praised, AMEN!
To our Board and all our supporters who make this ministry (and my job!) possible.
To our God who has blessed me with this privilege of serving as a Campus Minister.

This sweet love, between me and my students, and that crazy way God loves us through other people; it’s just a tiny slice of heaven.  Can you IMAGINE the perfect, pure, holy, and truly good relationships and love we are going to share in heaven?  Can you IMAGINE what it will FEEL like to be fully known and to FULLY KNOW the Love of God?  What we have here on earth is just a hint.  I am so grateful for these slices of heaven. 

*Sidenote: I earnestly try to not to show favoritism…which seems to be about treating people differently (i.e. our actions, not our emotions).  However it is natural to connect with people in different ways and to, dare I say, have “favorites.”   Here is a list of my favorites:  Jane, Mary, and JUST KIDDING.  That would totally be showing favoritism!   And btw, I don’t have a list of “favorites,” not even in my mind.