We are wrapping up another sophomore summer and have enjoyed getting to focus on just the ’19’s class for these past few months.
There are a few highlights from the summer, including a 4th of July picnic, which turned out to be a beautiful day for grilling out and playing volleyball, a welcome break from studying for the students. We also led a weekly book discussion on the book You Are What You Love, The Spiritual Power of Habit, by James K. A. Smith, which turned out to be a wonderful tool to discuss spiritual disciplines and how to train our hearts to love the right things.
Ministry Fellow Chase Carlisle assembled his second small theological reading group to discuss, Dominion and Dynasty. This book looks at the narrative of the Old Testament by tracing the themes of dominion and dynasty throughout. It was a perfect study for those students who wanted to be challenged a little more in their study of scripture.
As the summer approaches an end, the reality of the freshmen (’21s) arriving soon is setting in. Our student gatherers have been working hard to reach out to each ’21 via Facebook. Please pray for us as we equip our student gatherers to welcome the freshmen class and invite them to be a part of this community. We’d appreciate prayer specifically for our Pre-retreat, September 4-6.
This is where the gatherers receive training as well as encouragement as they prepare to pour their lives into the ’21s for several weeks. Many of them will be coming into Pre-retreat discouraged by their summer and feeling distant from the Lord, so pray that this time is restorative in their relationship with God and encouraging to them in their calling to reach the freshmen. Please join us in praying for a great harvest among the ’21s and that no one would fall through the cracks. Pray for God to fill our Bible courses to the brim with students eager to learn about our great Savior and Lord and to know His Word more.
We also ask for you to pray fervently that this long process of seeking recognition as a student organization would come to a positive end. We have received opposition along the way, but we are now closer than we have ever been. Please pray that we would be recognized by orientation. We would appreciate prayer for a good relationship with the other campus ministers who have been involved in this process and that our recognition would also open doors to having a meaningful relationship with Dartmouth as a whole.
Lastly, please keep the Dartmouth team in your prayers, that we would be unified, humble and reliant on the Lord. That He would give us wisdom as we seek to love these students with the truth of the gospel.
Please note: if you would like to receive regular updates on how to pray for Christian Union's work at Dartmouth, please email prayer@christianunion.org.
