Jenn and I are the facilitators of [ fusion ] college ministries at Meadowbrook Community Church (www.meadow.org/ministries/fusion). We have weekly meetings on Tuesday nights where we preach the messages, meet with students over coffee throughout the week and coach them through some of life's biggest decisions (where to work, whom to marry and where to live). I've been involved in ministry really since I was a freshman in college at EIU in '95. In the summer of '99 I applied, was accepted and transferred to ISU (Illinois State University) where I eventually graduated from in '01. I started an RSO called Campus Bible Club as a student there and was President during my 2 year tenure. During those 6 years, I was directly involved in college ministry leadership on 3 different campus (also add in Lakeland College in Mattoon). Ministering to college students has always been in my heart.
After I graduated from ISU, I continued to serve as Director for Campus Bible Club, an inter-denominational Bible study for students, until 2002. When I moved to Champaign that year I left the ministry behind that I started from scratch and joined forces with the CBC at the University of Illinois where I served as Co-Director from 2002-3003. I took a break in 2004 from college ministry to get married, and then in 2005, Jenn and I started Fusion at our our current church. It's definitely evolved over the years, and just this past year, we moved into our brand-new state-of-the-art facility, the Orange Bowl, located in the church.
The decision to leave the States and possibly move to Africa has been weighing heavy on my heart. I know that this is God's ministry, and I'm just a simple servant, but its been my baby from the beginning. I've poured blood, sweat and tears into the ministry and to just walk away is not in my nature. We know that God's timing is perfect and that He provides and that he doesn't need me. But, none the less, I've been asking the Lord what to do.
Along came October 14th. I'm on the prayer team at Meadowbrook and so we go forth after each Sunday message and allow the congregants to come forward for prayer. A dear sister came forward and she's had 3 of her kids come through our ministry. She came forward not to be prayed for, but to pray for me. This was a turn of events. Kinda cool.
Laurie told me that "She is allowing me to let Fusion go. To not worry about it." She was giving me permission to let something go that she knew was very close to my heart. I couldn't believe my ears! This has been on my heart and the prayer I've been praying for several weeks. She literally was the voice of God. I was so relieved, convicted and in awe of my God all at once. The flood gates were opened yet again.
She prayed with me, for me and for Fusion as a whole and returned to her seat. I couldn't wait to tell Jenn about this one. We are still looking for somone to take over Fusion, preferably a strong, young couple with a vision for college ministry. It's definitely a hands-on, get dirty ministry. We know that the students that we love won't be left alone. There will be an awesome couple who will rise up to stand in the gap. Knowing that people are praying for us in this way is a huge relief.
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