Wow....where to begin when it comes to sharing about the past 4 weeks. I'll start with a quick recap of January.
Leading in to the month, plans were in place to spend a lot of time focusing on prayer...prayer times, Bible studies, the works. Students ended up being a lot busier than we all thought they would be. Fortunately, I wasn't the only one planning on emphasizing prayer. God was at work through the church that several students attend, and a great deal of time was spent fasting and praying. It was very exciting to hear so many students sharing about how God was challenging to take action through prayer. One story that stands out:
Ethan (a sophomore) was sitting in the Klas Center one afternoon reading his Bible, and he was getting some strange looks from some members of the baseball team. After he packed up, he stopped by their table to ask a simple question: "Do any of you have anything I can be praying for?" His question was met with some more strange looks, but after processing the question, one of the players responded "Yeah. Could you pray for my family?" Ethan was very excited about the response, and as he continues in prayer for this student, please be praying for Ethan and others that they would have boldness in prayer and in talking with others.
This past weekend was a great way to cap off J-Term and prepare for the Spring semester. 12 students from Hamline converged on Brainerd from Friday-Sunday for Breakaway 2011, the North Central region's annual winter retreat. Here it is by the numbers:
250 students
30 staff/volunteers
11 hours of sleep (unscientific average)
7 random karoke songs
2 new ice skaters
1 frosting fight
...and the really exciting number:
2 new Christians
2 students from schools in South Dakota came to faith in Christ this past weekend, and I've heard reports of several other students who are in the process of wrestling with the idea of becoming a Christian. This weekend was a great time for them to get more answers and to be challenged by the Spirit. Students from Hamline are still resting and processing the weekend, so in a couple days I'll post a story or 2 and get some pictures up as well.
This Thursday night, I'll be speaking at a worship gathering on campus. As part of my message, I will be introducing the idea of Christ's death for sin. Please be praying that many students respond to invitations from their friends and are there to hear this message.
Thank you so much for your prayers for this past weekend and for your continued prayers for students at Hamline.
Deron
Monday, January 31, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
A Quick Post...
Greetings. Just wanted to put up a quick prayer request. This weekend, approximately 250 students from campuses in the Dakotoas and Minnesota (as well as UW Superior) will be gathering in Brainerd for InterVarsity's annual Winter Conference. Breakaway is a time where students come together to worship and learn more about God's purpose for their life and work on campus. Elective teaching times cover topics ranging from the practice of prayer to the art of apologetics.
There are a dozen students from Hamline attending, and they are all quite excited about how God will use that time in their lives. Please be in prayer for the following:
--Safe travel for students
--Open hearts and minds for the Spirit to work
--Many opportunities to grow as a community
I will write again next week, hopefully with stories about this conference and from J-Term.
-Deron
There are a dozen students from Hamline attending, and they are all quite excited about how God will use that time in their lives. Please be in prayer for the following:
--Safe travel for students
--Open hearts and minds for the Spirit to work
--Many opportunities to grow as a community
I will write again next week, hopefully with stories about this conference and from J-Term.
-Deron
Saturday, December 11, 2010
A bit too much snow on the ground to do anything, and it’s been too long since my last post…
It’s amazing how the end of the semester comes out of nowhere. Next week, students start their finals, so they are (mostly) in study mode already, and we’ve been wrapping up our Bible studies in anticipation of the Christmas break. Looking back on the semester, it was a great time to grow in relationships with each other and with Christ, and I have big expectations for this coming semester. More on that in a little bit…
I personally have kept very busy the past several weeks. Towards the end of November, all InterVarsity staff from Minnesota and the Dakotas gathered for our regional staff conference. I hadn’t realized it, but I really needed that time together with other people that God has called to this ministry. Campus work can be quite lonely at times, but our 4 days of training provided some good opportunities for me to get to know other staff members and be reminded of why we do this. It’s all about the students and seeing God work in their lives.
I’ve also spent a lot of time meeting with students. This is my favorite part of the job, and I have seen God working in amazing ways in their lives. One particular passage that resonates with several of the students is Romans 5:3-5:
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Each students’ story is different, but God is walking with them through difficult circumstances, and the hope and expectation that is evident in their lives gets me excited for the rest of this school year.
Looking ahead to next semester, there are some great things ahead. In January, students have intensive classes that actually open their schedules up a bit, so we will spend a decent amount of time in the study and practice of prayer. Through this, we hope to develop a greater understanding of the role prayer plays in reaching the campus for Christ. We are also hosting an event at the end of February to share Christ with many students. More details on that in January. Please be in prayer for these two things, and also be praying that new students would be introduced to the ministry of InterVarsity.
On the financial side of the ministry, things are still good. Praise God for that. If anybody is considering year-end giving opportunities, please think about InterVarsity as an option. If you have any questions in that regard, please contact me. Thanks for reading!
It’s amazing how the end of the semester comes out of nowhere. Next week, students start their finals, so they are (mostly) in study mode already, and we’ve been wrapping up our Bible studies in anticipation of the Christmas break. Looking back on the semester, it was a great time to grow in relationships with each other and with Christ, and I have big expectations for this coming semester. More on that in a little bit…
I personally have kept very busy the past several weeks. Towards the end of November, all InterVarsity staff from Minnesota and the Dakotas gathered for our regional staff conference. I hadn’t realized it, but I really needed that time together with other people that God has called to this ministry. Campus work can be quite lonely at times, but our 4 days of training provided some good opportunities for me to get to know other staff members and be reminded of why we do this. It’s all about the students and seeing God work in their lives.
I’ve also spent a lot of time meeting with students. This is my favorite part of the job, and I have seen God working in amazing ways in their lives. One particular passage that resonates with several of the students is Romans 5:3-5:
And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Each students’ story is different, but God is walking with them through difficult circumstances, and the hope and expectation that is evident in their lives gets me excited for the rest of this school year.
Looking ahead to next semester, there are some great things ahead. In January, students have intensive classes that actually open their schedules up a bit, so we will spend a decent amount of time in the study and practice of prayer. Through this, we hope to develop a greater understanding of the role prayer plays in reaching the campus for Christ. We are also hosting an event at the end of February to share Christ with many students. More details on that in January. Please be in prayer for these two things, and also be praying that new students would be introduced to the ministry of InterVarsity.
On the financial side of the ministry, things are still good. Praise God for that. If anybody is considering year-end giving opportunities, please think about InterVarsity as an option. If you have any questions in that regard, please contact me. Thanks for reading!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Fall Retreat Recap
"This place is really nice!" It was always said with a mixture of shock and awe, and it's something I heard several times this past weekend from the students who came on our Fall Retreat.
13 students and I ventured to a farm south of the Cities on Saturday, and until Sunday afternoon, we spent our time connecting with God and each other through personal devotions, small group discussions, food, games, and a spontaneous dance party aided by blaring car stereos. Our main topic of discussion for the weekend was Transformation...what it is, what it looks like, how it happens, and how all these ideas come together for God to work through us to transform Hamline's campus. Also tied up in those discussions was the idea of why we do what we do on campus. Basically, it's all about how God works through the transformation that's happening in our own lives to transform others. It's a message that resonated with the students and will influence how we approach much of what we do for the rest of the year.
Our time also provided some relief from the responsibilities of school and a chance to get out of the city and admire the beauty of God's creation. Several of the students spent some of their personal time on Saturday afternoon wandering around the pastures enjoying the beautiful October afternoon.
Moving forward, my work now turns to integrating the discussion from this past weekend into the day-to-day ministry on campus. That will mostly involve discipleship of students, encouraging deeper relationships, and planning new opportunities for new students to engage in the InterVarsity community. This coming Friday, we are hosting a movie night with an opportunity afterwards for a discussion on how faith is portrayed in the film. Plans are also coming together for at least one service opportunity this semester and a couple outreach events in the Spring. Please keep all of this in your prayers.
Thank you so much for all your prayers that went in to this weekend. It came together quite rapidly, and that unfortunately added a bit of stress to the planning and preparation. However, God definitely was at work, and because of it, the students are even more excited for what is ahead this year. Actually, I am, too. It's going to be a great rest of the year.
13 students and I ventured to a farm south of the Cities on Saturday, and until Sunday afternoon, we spent our time connecting with God and each other through personal devotions, small group discussions, food, games, and a spontaneous dance party aided by blaring car stereos. Our main topic of discussion for the weekend was Transformation...what it is, what it looks like, how it happens, and how all these ideas come together for God to work through us to transform Hamline's campus. Also tied up in those discussions was the idea of why we do what we do on campus. Basically, it's all about how God works through the transformation that's happening in our own lives to transform others. It's a message that resonated with the students and will influence how we approach much of what we do for the rest of the year.
Our time also provided some relief from the responsibilities of school and a chance to get out of the city and admire the beauty of God's creation. Several of the students spent some of their personal time on Saturday afternoon wandering around the pastures enjoying the beautiful October afternoon.
Moving forward, my work now turns to integrating the discussion from this past weekend into the day-to-day ministry on campus. That will mostly involve discipleship of students, encouraging deeper relationships, and planning new opportunities for new students to engage in the InterVarsity community. This coming Friday, we are hosting a movie night with an opportunity afterwards for a discussion on how faith is portrayed in the film. Plans are also coming together for at least one service opportunity this semester and a couple outreach events in the Spring. Please keep all of this in your prayers.
Thank you so much for all your prayers that went in to this weekend. It came together quite rapidly, and that unfortunately added a bit of stress to the planning and preparation. However, God definitely was at work, and because of it, the students are even more excited for what is ahead this year. Actually, I am, too. It's going to be a great rest of the year.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Retreat Update
Hey all....
Just wanted to post a quick update. Our Fall Retreat is this weekend. Final registrations are due tomorrow, and it's looking like we could have 15 students coming together for a time of relaxation, fellowship, and teaching. I'm very excited, still have a bit of work to do, and have big expectations about how this weekend will turn out.
There are still a couple needs heading in to this weekend:
-I'm still looking for somebody who would be willing to help out with dinner on Saturday night. Anybody out there in the Twin Cities metro feel like flipping some burgers and hanging out with some college students? Call me if that sounds appealing.
-Have any interest in providing some financial support? With any retreat, there are needs that come up in planning, usually in the form of scholarships for students who otherwise wouldn't be able to go. If you're interested in knowing more, please let me know.
If you want more information on either of these, give me a call. My cell is (815) 793-3523.
Above all, prayer for this weekend is greatly appreciated. Please be praying for the weather, for safety, and for God to be at work in the lives of all of us there as we grow closer to each other and to God.
I think that's it for today. Now to figure out what's for dinner.
-Deron
Just wanted to post a quick update. Our Fall Retreat is this weekend. Final registrations are due tomorrow, and it's looking like we could have 15 students coming together for a time of relaxation, fellowship, and teaching. I'm very excited, still have a bit of work to do, and have big expectations about how this weekend will turn out.
There are still a couple needs heading in to this weekend:
-I'm still looking for somebody who would be willing to help out with dinner on Saturday night. Anybody out there in the Twin Cities metro feel like flipping some burgers and hanging out with some college students? Call me if that sounds appealing.
-Have any interest in providing some financial support? With any retreat, there are needs that come up in planning, usually in the form of scholarships for students who otherwise wouldn't be able to go. If you're interested in knowing more, please let me know.
If you want more information on either of these, give me a call. My cell is (815) 793-3523.
Above all, prayer for this weekend is greatly appreciated. Please be praying for the weather, for safety, and for God to be at work in the lives of all of us there as we grow closer to each other and to God.
I think that's it for today. Now to figure out what's for dinner.
-Deron
Friday, October 8, 2010
Volunteers?
Wanted to pass along a quick update...
Things are still rolling along on campus, and in the past week, plans have come together for us to hold a Fall retreat October 23-24. There's a good amount of excitement already and I know it will be a good weekend for students to get away from campus, connect with each other in a new setting, and grow in their understanding of God and ministry on campus.
In preparing for this weekend, I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to volunteer with some meal preparation. The retreat is at a farm south of the Twin Cities, so most prep would take place there. We are looking for help with dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. If you have any questions about it or are interested in helping out, e-mail me at deron.vaupel@gmail.com.
I think that's all for today...for those of you in the Twin Cities, enjoy the beautiful day. Thanks for reading.
-Deron
Things are still rolling along on campus, and in the past week, plans have come together for us to hold a Fall retreat October 23-24. There's a good amount of excitement already and I know it will be a good weekend for students to get away from campus, connect with each other in a new setting, and grow in their understanding of God and ministry on campus.
In preparing for this weekend, I'm wondering if any of you would be willing to volunteer with some meal preparation. The retreat is at a farm south of the Twin Cities, so most prep would take place there. We are looking for help with dinner on Saturday and lunch on Sunday. If you have any questions about it or are interested in helping out, e-mail me at deron.vaupel@gmail.com.
I think that's all for today...for those of you in the Twin Cities, enjoy the beautiful day. Thanks for reading.
-Deron
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Well, students are just finishing up their third full week of classes, and I'm happy to say that things are rolling right along with ministry on campus this school year. There are 4 small groups meeting each week with students coming to study topics such as love and Jesus' examples of crossing cultural borders. There has been a lot of positive feedback from those involved in the different groups, and I know as the year moves on, the leaders will grow in their abilities to engage students in discussion and really dig in to scripture.
A few weeks ago, we had a table at the annual Organization Fair, a chance for students to check out the different orgs on campus. We had a table with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and had several students sign up for e-mail updates and take information about the small groups. There have been several new additions to the Facebook group (57 members and counting)...now we're just praying for more opportunities to connect with these new students.
Speaking of opportunities to connect, tonight we're having a BBQ (free food) and a worship gathering. It should be a good opportunity for getting to know new people, especially freshmen who are wanting to get involved with something on campus. Hopefully I'll have a few stories to share in the next week or two from tonight...also, we are in process of planning out the rest of the semester. As details come together, I'll pass along info to you all.
One other fun bit, this past Sunday evening Lisa and I hosted several students for dessert and games. Lots of laughter, plenty of conversation, and overall good times. We'll have them over several more times between now and the end of the semester.
Time to wrap things up, so here's some prayer requests:
For the students, please be praying that they will all be finding new ways to connect with friends, classmates, roommates, coworkers, and, most importantly, Christ. Also, being a few weeks in to the semester, they are starting to get in to routines for classes, work, and activities. Please be in prayer for those involved as they balance all the different requirements in their lives. Also, remember Zach, Evie, and Rachel who are studying in the UK.
Personally, I could use prayer for a deeper understanding of the many different aspects of campus...there's a lot to learn (building names, best places to hang out, how to navigate the different leadership structures on campus). Also, please pray for more connections with students. So far, so good, but there's still plenty more that I want to do in that area.
Thanks for reading, thanks for your prayers, and just thank you for being you.
-Deron
A few weeks ago, we had a table at the annual Organization Fair, a chance for students to check out the different orgs on campus. We had a table with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and had several students sign up for e-mail updates and take information about the small groups. There have been several new additions to the Facebook group (57 members and counting)...now we're just praying for more opportunities to connect with these new students.
Speaking of opportunities to connect, tonight we're having a BBQ (free food) and a worship gathering. It should be a good opportunity for getting to know new people, especially freshmen who are wanting to get involved with something on campus. Hopefully I'll have a few stories to share in the next week or two from tonight...also, we are in process of planning out the rest of the semester. As details come together, I'll pass along info to you all.
One other fun bit, this past Sunday evening Lisa and I hosted several students for dessert and games. Lots of laughter, plenty of conversation, and overall good times. We'll have them over several more times between now and the end of the semester.
Time to wrap things up, so here's some prayer requests:
For the students, please be praying that they will all be finding new ways to connect with friends, classmates, roommates, coworkers, and, most importantly, Christ. Also, being a few weeks in to the semester, they are starting to get in to routines for classes, work, and activities. Please be in prayer for those involved as they balance all the different requirements in their lives. Also, remember Zach, Evie, and Rachel who are studying in the UK.
Personally, I could use prayer for a deeper understanding of the many different aspects of campus...there's a lot to learn (building names, best places to hang out, how to navigate the different leadership structures on campus). Also, please pray for more connections with students. So far, so good, but there's still plenty more that I want to do in that area.
Thanks for reading, thanks for your prayers, and just thank you for being you.
-Deron
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