Greetings IVCF Hamline blog followers!
As many of you know, over the summer I took on the staff responsibilities at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. It's been an exciting (and somewhat anxious) transition, and I'm looking forward to all that God is going to do on campus in the coming year.
With that added responsibility, I think it's appropriate to change my blog address. From here on out, I will be posting here:
deronvaupel.blogspot.com
This blog will have all the same info, updates, and stories, so please update any bookmarks and subscriptions accordingly. And also check out my first post on there...new as of this morning. Thanks -Deron
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Chapter Focus Week Recap
How can I really sum up last week? 6 days of great training, excellent opportunities to connect with students, getting a deeper understanding of what it means to work on campus, solid teaching from Acts, 19 hours in a car....all in all, quite great.
Nick (Hamline student) and I set off on Saturday morning for the drive to Cedarville, Michigan, and 9 1/2 uneventful hours later, we were in the thick of it. Over 200 students from 11 colleges gathered for the week, with 100 of those students ready for some intensive training in how to lead Small Groups on campus in the Fall. I was helping out with this elective, primarily by working with smaller groups of students as they prepared Bible studies and giving feedback to students who led groups at some point during the week. I also got to lead some of the worship for the week. True to InterVarsity's form, there was a solid scriptural basis for everything done during the week, and it was amazing watching students grow in their appreciation for the Bible and all that can be learned from it. That basis also appeared to bring a deeper understanding of God's call to serve on campus...seeing that many lives changed is always a huge encouragement.
All in all, being able to play a small part of what God is doing in the lives of each of those students (and in turn on their campuses) was an amazing blessing. That's probably the best I can do in my attempt to briefly sum up the week...if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you so much for your prayers during the week.
Nick (Hamline student) and I set off on Saturday morning for the drive to Cedarville, Michigan, and 9 1/2 uneventful hours later, we were in the thick of it. Over 200 students from 11 colleges gathered for the week, with 100 of those students ready for some intensive training in how to lead Small Groups on campus in the Fall. I was helping out with this elective, primarily by working with smaller groups of students as they prepared Bible studies and giving feedback to students who led groups at some point during the week. I also got to lead some of the worship for the week. True to InterVarsity's form, there was a solid scriptural basis for everything done during the week, and it was amazing watching students grow in their appreciation for the Bible and all that can be learned from it. That basis also appeared to bring a deeper understanding of God's call to serve on campus...seeing that many lives changed is always a huge encouragement.
All in all, being able to play a small part of what God is doing in the lives of each of those students (and in turn on their campuses) was an amazing blessing. That's probably the best I can do in my attempt to briefly sum up the week...if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you so much for your prayers during the week.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
On the road again.....
Wow...May 17 already. Hamline students are taking finals, moving out of the dorms, making final arrangements for summer jobs. It's a busy time of year, and that goes for the ministry of InterVarsity as well. We've spent the past few weeks finalizing our leadership selection process for next school year, and I'm excited to say that things are shaping up to have students overseeing prayer, service, event planning, general publicity, and several Bible studies starting in September. There is a lot of excitement brewing for what next year has in store, and that means a lot of preparation is needed over the summer. Please be praying for wisdom as we take these next steps.
Also, this coming Saturday, one student and I will be leaving for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for Chapter Focus Week. It is a week of training, teaching, and worship at one of InterVarsity's camps. Students from all over the Midwest will be in attendance, including approximately 100 who will receive training to lead small groups on campus. Please be praying for Nick (Hamline Student) as he takes part in the small group leader training that God would work through that time to prepare him for amazing things back on campus. Please also be in prayer for me as I help out with the Small Group training...there's plenty to get ready and plenty for me to learn.
This summer will be a busy time of traveling for training and meetings, so hopefully I'll be able to sit down with many of you and share stories about how God is at work. If you want to get something on the schedule, I'll be in Wisconsin/Illinois at the end of June/beginning of July, California at the end of July, and randomly throughout Minnesota for the rest of the summer. Let me know if you want to meet up!
Thanks for reading, and many thanks for your prayers.
Deron
Also, this coming Saturday, one student and I will be leaving for the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for Chapter Focus Week. It is a week of training, teaching, and worship at one of InterVarsity's camps. Students from all over the Midwest will be in attendance, including approximately 100 who will receive training to lead small groups on campus. Please be praying for Nick (Hamline Student) as he takes part in the small group leader training that God would work through that time to prepare him for amazing things back on campus. Please also be in prayer for me as I help out with the Small Group training...there's plenty to get ready and plenty for me to learn.
This summer will be a busy time of traveling for training and meetings, so hopefully I'll be able to sit down with many of you and share stories about how God is at work. If you want to get something on the schedule, I'll be in Wisconsin/Illinois at the end of June/beginning of July, California at the end of July, and randomly throughout Minnesota for the rest of the summer. Let me know if you want to meet up!
Thanks for reading, and many thanks for your prayers.
Deron
Monday, April 25, 2011
Greetings Everybody!
I wanted to write quickly on this lovely Monday afternoon with a couple things. There's a few weeks left in the school year, and we're trying to finish up strong here @ Hamline. Just over a week ago, several HU IV students participated in Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research and connecting with other students and organizations from around campus. Our Bible studies are still strong...I'm surrounded by several plant clippings related to a lesson on John 15 as I type this. (I can explain this more if you like...just ask)
We are still on the look-out for fundraising opportunities to help provide scholarships for students for camp experiences. If you know of any yard work, painting, envelope stuffing...really anything you'd like help with, please let me know. Or, if you don't have anything you need help with and still want to help out students who need financial help, that's fine, too. Just ask and we can figure something out.
Please be in prayer as we finish up the year. Students have organized a worship gathering for this Thursday night, we've got a service opportunity coming up next week, and we're already doing a lot of planning for next year. Prayer for wisdom and outreach are greatly appreciated.
As always, thank you so much for your prayers, support, and encouragement. If there's anything more you'd like to know about what's happening at Hamline, please don't hesitate to ask.
-Deron
I wanted to write quickly on this lovely Monday afternoon with a couple things. There's a few weeks left in the school year, and we're trying to finish up strong here @ Hamline. Just over a week ago, several HU IV students participated in Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research and connecting with other students and organizations from around campus. Our Bible studies are still strong...I'm surrounded by several plant clippings related to a lesson on John 15 as I type this. (I can explain this more if you like...just ask)
We are still on the look-out for fundraising opportunities to help provide scholarships for students for camp experiences. If you know of any yard work, painting, envelope stuffing...really anything you'd like help with, please let me know. Or, if you don't have anything you need help with and still want to help out students who need financial help, that's fine, too. Just ask and we can figure something out.
Please be in prayer as we finish up the year. Students have organized a worship gathering for this Thursday night, we've got a service opportunity coming up next week, and we're already doing a lot of planning for next year. Prayer for wisdom and outreach are greatly appreciated.
As always, thank you so much for your prayers, support, and encouragement. If there's anything more you'd like to know about what's happening at Hamline, please don't hesitate to ask.
-Deron
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Well, students are on Spring Break this week. That means I've been filling my schedule with meetings and paperwork and gearing up for the last 2 months of school. We're praying for some pretty amazing things to happen at Hamline by the end of the school year, and here's a few things to be praying for:
-Leadership - There's some opportunities for new Bible studies starting up in the next few weeks and also we'll begin the process of clarifying what responsibilities students will take on next year.
-Outreach - With the nicer weather coming, there will be plenty of opportunities to reach out to the campus. Please pray for wisdom as we decide what the best ways are to do that and also for openness from students as we invite them to participate and see that there are Christians at Hamline.
-Training - Students have the opportunity to attend a week of Chapter Camp the week after school finishes. It's a time where students from all over the Midwest come together for training and worship at a camp in Michigan. Please be in prayer for any students who are considering whether or not to attend.
One other note on Chapter Camp: If any of you in the Twin Cities know of any good fundraising opportunities, please let me know. We're looking to raise some money so we can offer some scholarships to students. Even if it's coming over and cleaning up your yard after the snow melts, that's fine. We won't shy away from manual labor.
As always, thank you so much for your prayers and support. It's a real blessing to know that I have so many people joining me in this ministry...aka the coolest job ever.
-Deron
-Leadership - There's some opportunities for new Bible studies starting up in the next few weeks and also we'll begin the process of clarifying what responsibilities students will take on next year.
-Outreach - With the nicer weather coming, there will be plenty of opportunities to reach out to the campus. Please pray for wisdom as we decide what the best ways are to do that and also for openness from students as we invite them to participate and see that there are Christians at Hamline.
-Training - Students have the opportunity to attend a week of Chapter Camp the week after school finishes. It's a time where students from all over the Midwest come together for training and worship at a camp in Michigan. Please be in prayer for any students who are considering whether or not to attend.
One other note on Chapter Camp: If any of you in the Twin Cities know of any good fundraising opportunities, please let me know. We're looking to raise some money so we can offer some scholarships to students. Even if it's coming over and cleaning up your yard after the snow melts, that's fine. We won't shy away from manual labor.
As always, thank you so much for your prayers and support. It's a real blessing to know that I have so many people joining me in this ministry...aka the coolest job ever.
-Deron
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Grill-A-Christian Recap
This past Thursday night, Hamline's InterVarsity chapter hosted their annual Grill-A-Christian forum. We had 5 panelists who were willing to get peppered with questions from students dealing with many aspects of Christianity.
For a week leading up to the event, some InterVarsity students had a table set up outside the cafeteria asking students to submit questions. A lot of great questions were turned in, and I got to sort through them all and present them to the panelists on Thursday night.
There were about 50 people there (a lot less than hoped, but many new faces), and the discussion went on for about 90 minutes. The questions dealt with the reality of God, sexuality, God's justice, and many other topics. The panelists were able to respond to these questions with wisdom and grace, frequently touching on the deeper emotions that might cause someone to ask questions like these. Through it all, God's love and his desire to be in relationship with all of creation was on display.
It was an exciting event to be a part of, but in reality, this discussion was another step in our process of reaching the campus. In the coming weeks, there will be many opportunities to begin new conversations with students. It is my prayer that each of us at Hamline, the students and myself, would be able to engage others in valuable and meaningful conversations, continuing to share this message of God's love. I ask that you also join in prayer for more opportunities to connect and share with others. Hopefully many more stories are yet to come.
Deron
For a week leading up to the event, some InterVarsity students had a table set up outside the cafeteria asking students to submit questions. A lot of great questions were turned in, and I got to sort through them all and present them to the panelists on Thursday night.
There were about 50 people there (a lot less than hoped, but many new faces), and the discussion went on for about 90 minutes. The questions dealt with the reality of God, sexuality, God's justice, and many other topics. The panelists were able to respond to these questions with wisdom and grace, frequently touching on the deeper emotions that might cause someone to ask questions like these. Through it all, God's love and his desire to be in relationship with all of creation was on display.
It was an exciting event to be a part of, but in reality, this discussion was another step in our process of reaching the campus. In the coming weeks, there will be many opportunities to begin new conversations with students. It is my prayer that each of us at Hamline, the students and myself, would be able to engage others in valuable and meaningful conversations, continuing to share this message of God's love. I ask that you also join in prayer for more opportunities to connect and share with others. Hopefully many more stories are yet to come.
Deron
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Well, I wasn't able to track down the pictures I hoped to from Breakaway, but I do have this:
It's the 12 students from Hamline (along with our volunteer Richard and myself) who attended Breakaway. In the few weeks since the event, I've heard great reports from students about God challenging them to grow in new ways. Many of the stories deal with personal growth, but there's also a growing desire for prayer on campus...part of which can be attributed to experiences at the retreat. Students are seeing the importance of prayer in personally growing closer to Christ and also when it comes to reaching the campus.
Another bit of exciting news from the weekend. Two somewhat reluctant students approached me at the retreat with an idea about a Bible study. Over the next several days we met to process through their idea and see what it would look like in action, and I'm happy to report that the group is up and running...and there's a lot of excitement about it. I'm excited to see these two students growing in their leadership skills and their willingness to take on new challenges.
Speaking of leadership, I've spent the past 2 Sunday afternoons with students doing some Small Group Leader training. It's been a good time of sharing about fundamentals of leadership and Bible study preparation, and moving forward it seems this training is a good starting point for many new leadership opportunities this school year and next.
This coming Thursday (the 24th), InterVarsity at Hamline is hosting their annual Grill-A-Christian event. It's an opportunity for people to come and ask pastors and well-educated believers difficult questions about Christianity. Our panel this year consists of Richard (the above mentioned and pictured volunteer), Hamline U's Chaplain Nancy, Pastor Peter from Hamline Church (across the street from campus) and Pastor Mark from Substance Church (just up the road in Roseville). In the past, the event has been well-received by the campus community, and we expect the same this year. We have already been out asking students around campus what questions they might have, and based on those responses alone, the discussion will be quite exciting.
Prayer Requests:
This Thursday night - Pray that students would come eager to learn and with good questions to ask. Also be praying for the follow-up process as we look to provide opportunities for students to approach these questions in a Bible study setting.
Prayer on campus
This semester's Bible study leaders
As always, thank you for your prayers, and if there's any more you'd like to know, don't hesitate to ask.
-Deron
It's the 12 students from Hamline (along with our volunteer Richard and myself) who attended Breakaway. In the few weeks since the event, I've heard great reports from students about God challenging them to grow in new ways. Many of the stories deal with personal growth, but there's also a growing desire for prayer on campus...part of which can be attributed to experiences at the retreat. Students are seeing the importance of prayer in personally growing closer to Christ and also when it comes to reaching the campus.
Another bit of exciting news from the weekend. Two somewhat reluctant students approached me at the retreat with an idea about a Bible study. Over the next several days we met to process through their idea and see what it would look like in action, and I'm happy to report that the group is up and running...and there's a lot of excitement about it. I'm excited to see these two students growing in their leadership skills and their willingness to take on new challenges.
Speaking of leadership, I've spent the past 2 Sunday afternoons with students doing some Small Group Leader training. It's been a good time of sharing about fundamentals of leadership and Bible study preparation, and moving forward it seems this training is a good starting point for many new leadership opportunities this school year and next.
This coming Thursday (the 24th), InterVarsity at Hamline is hosting their annual Grill-A-Christian event. It's an opportunity for people to come and ask pastors and well-educated believers difficult questions about Christianity. Our panel this year consists of Richard (the above mentioned and pictured volunteer), Hamline U's Chaplain Nancy, Pastor Peter from Hamline Church (across the street from campus) and Pastor Mark from Substance Church (just up the road in Roseville). In the past, the event has been well-received by the campus community, and we expect the same this year. We have already been out asking students around campus what questions they might have, and based on those responses alone, the discussion will be quite exciting.
Prayer Requests:
This Thursday night - Pray that students would come eager to learn and with good questions to ask. Also be praying for the follow-up process as we look to provide opportunities for students to approach these questions in a Bible study setting.
Prayer on campus
This semester's Bible study leaders
As always, thank you for your prayers, and if there's any more you'd like to know, don't hesitate to ask.
-Deron
Monday, January 31, 2011
Story time....
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
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
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
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
...and now it begins
As I write this, I'm looking out over Hamline's campus, watching people make their way to and from their first classes of the Fall semester. It's Wednesday, September 8, and Hamline University is now officially in session. This day has come with a great deal of excitement, lots of planning, conversations, prayer, processing, and a little bit of anxiety. There has been a barrage of communication between myself and the student leaders on campus trying to figure out the last details for what we're trying to do to let people know who we are and what we're about. For the most part, it's gone well, but there's still more work to do.
There was an event last night meant to welcome students back to campus. Different organizations were able to set up table and offer games in a carnival-esque atmosphere. Many students came by our table to take a chance at knocking down pop cans, some were simply attracted by the chance to get some candy, and others simply wanted to find out more about who we are. We passed out information about the Bible studies going on this semester and about different events that are happening.
Next week is the annual organization fair where different student groups have informational tables set up. We will be there trying to reach as many students as possible, again getting the info out about all we're doing to reach the campus through discipleship and relationships. There's also a BBQ coming up, a worship event that we're working on for the end of the month, and plenty of other things in the preliminary stages of planning. Sounds like a lot, but praise God for student leaders who are willing to jump in wherever they can. Without them, I would be a lot more anxious and nothing would be coming together.
While I'm typing about student leaders, I might as well pass along this bit of info: this semester, 3 students who have been very involved in IV at Hamline are studying in the United Kingdom. Two of them have already arrived while one is leaving this weekend. Their absence will definitely be noticed, but this will be a great experience for them. If you could please be in prayer for Evie, Zach, and Rachel, that God would challenge them in amazing ways in the coming months and that they would build some great relationships.
As far as prayers for ministry on campus, please be in prayer for the students as they get back in to the routine of classes. For those that feel the need to connect, pray that we might be able to point them towards God. For those looking for a Christian community, pray that they are able to sort through all the different things vying for their attention and find InterVarsity or another local Christian organization. For IV, pray for wisdom for the leadership in getting the last details figured out for these first few weeks and also for planning out the rest of the semester.
Praise God for those he has brought around me, from the students to supporters, providing logistics, prayer, finances, a voice of reason, an ear to listen, and baked goods. You are all awesome. I look forward to sharing more specific stories about what God is doing in the lives of students in the coming months.
There was an event last night meant to welcome students back to campus. Different organizations were able to set up table and offer games in a carnival-esque atmosphere. Many students came by our table to take a chance at knocking down pop cans, some were simply attracted by the chance to get some candy, and others simply wanted to find out more about who we are. We passed out information about the Bible studies going on this semester and about different events that are happening.
Next week is the annual organization fair where different student groups have informational tables set up. We will be there trying to reach as many students as possible, again getting the info out about all we're doing to reach the campus through discipleship and relationships. There's also a BBQ coming up, a worship event that we're working on for the end of the month, and plenty of other things in the preliminary stages of planning. Sounds like a lot, but praise God for student leaders who are willing to jump in wherever they can. Without them, I would be a lot more anxious and nothing would be coming together.
While I'm typing about student leaders, I might as well pass along this bit of info: this semester, 3 students who have been very involved in IV at Hamline are studying in the United Kingdom. Two of them have already arrived while one is leaving this weekend. Their absence will definitely be noticed, but this will be a great experience for them. If you could please be in prayer for Evie, Zach, and Rachel, that God would challenge them in amazing ways in the coming months and that they would build some great relationships.
As far as prayers for ministry on campus, please be in prayer for the students as they get back in to the routine of classes. For those that feel the need to connect, pray that we might be able to point them towards God. For those looking for a Christian community, pray that they are able to sort through all the different things vying for their attention and find InterVarsity or another local Christian organization. For IV, pray for wisdom for the leadership in getting the last details figured out for these first few weeks and also for planning out the rest of the semester.
Praise God for those he has brought around me, from the students to supporters, providing logistics, prayer, finances, a voice of reason, an ear to listen, and baked goods. You are all awesome. I look forward to sharing more specific stories about what God is doing in the lives of students in the coming months.
Friday, July 16, 2010
July Update
It's hard to believe that the school year starts in less than 2 months. The past month has been full of planning and meeting with students, spending time on campus in the IV office, tracking down people in coffee shops throughout the Twin Cities, and a lot of time spent with open Word documents and papers scrawled with marginally understandable notes outlining a semester's worth of programming, outreach, and discipleship. It's all building up to the first week of September when we try to tell as many students as possible about the opportunities available through InterVarsity's ministry on campus. It's all starting to come together into a comprehensible form, but there's still plenty of work left to do.
I have been able to meet with most of the student leaders for this coming year. They're an exciting group (to say the least), and I'm starting to understand what they're passionate about and how they are preparing to contribute to God's work at Hamline. The specific roles they will take on in the coming year are pretty much all figured out, so please be in prayer for them as God works to prepare them over the next couple months.
On the funding front, over 90% of my initial goal has been committed! Quite exciting, I know...it's been a real blessing to not only have so many people coming alongside this ministry, but also to share what God has called me to for the coming years. To all of you, thank you so much for all your support.
Over the next few weeks, a few things that can be prayed for:
-Continued guidance in the planning process. I am brainstorming with the student leaders about many different topics for this coming year. Small group structure, Vision for ministry, Events, Scheduling, all that stuff.
-New students. We're still a few months away from school starting, but I believe God is right now preparing students for ministry on campus at Hamline.
-Funding. Prayer is always appreciated for this aspect of ministry. Just a few more percentage points to go right now, and I'm always looking for new opportunities to share about this ministry with others.
Think that's it for now. Hope you all have a beautiful weekend.
-Deron
I have been able to meet with most of the student leaders for this coming year. They're an exciting group (to say the least), and I'm starting to understand what they're passionate about and how they are preparing to contribute to God's work at Hamline. The specific roles they will take on in the coming year are pretty much all figured out, so please be in prayer for them as God works to prepare them over the next couple months.
On the funding front, over 90% of my initial goal has been committed! Quite exciting, I know...it's been a real blessing to not only have so many people coming alongside this ministry, but also to share what God has called me to for the coming years. To all of you, thank you so much for all your support.
Over the next few weeks, a few things that can be prayed for:
-Continued guidance in the planning process. I am brainstorming with the student leaders about many different topics for this coming year. Small group structure, Vision for ministry, Events, Scheduling, all that stuff.
-New students. We're still a few months away from school starting, but I believe God is right now preparing students for ministry on campus at Hamline.
-Funding. Prayer is always appreciated for this aspect of ministry. Just a few more percentage points to go right now, and I'm always looking for new opportunities to share about this ministry with others.
Think that's it for now. Hope you all have a beautiful weekend.
-Deron
Friday, May 21, 2010
*unable to think of catchy title for today
Well, that time of year has come again. Dorm rooms are packed up, finals are winding down, fancy hats and long flowing robes are being worn, flocks of young adults are being released on the summer job market...to the delight of many, the school year is over!
For the students at Hamline, that means unwinding from the stress of finals, freedom from homework for a few months, and another year of ministry on campus has come to an end. For me, next school year has (in ways) already begun. This summer will be spent planning, reading, brainstorming, trying to meet with as many student leaders as I can (who's available next week?), basically doing whatever is possible to hit the ground running when students come back to campus in August.
Over the past several weeks, I have had a few opportunities to get on campus and meet with some of the student leaders. They are a fun group, excited to see God work on campus, and anxious to be used in that work. There are already plans in place for at least 5 Bible studies, with some of the students taking their first foray into the exciting world of small group leadership. As they head back to families, summer jobs, camps, and wherever else they might be going, please be in prayer that God would use many opportunities to prepare them for serving in the upcoming school year and that they would be always growing in their understanding of how they can be used on campus.
The end of the school year did come with a bit of sadness. Dan Stirratt, Hamline's InterVarsity staff worker for the past couple years, announced that he will be leaving his position as of May 31. Dan has worked with InterVarsity for the past 15 years, and his ability to engage with students will be greatly missed on campus. He has helped me quite a bit as I transition into the role of campus staff member, and I know his work at Hamline has paved the way for some amazing transformation in the coming years.
I will also continue the process of raising support over the summer. As of yesterday 65% of my initial funding goal has been committed. That means I have a further $6600 dollars to raise for this coming year of ministry. However, with the staffing changes on campus, if more funding comes in, I will be able to put in more hours. That is an unanticipated development that I'll know more about in the coming months.
I think that's all I have for updates right now. I have posted an updated copy of the ministry overview here:
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B2S8P4fnqrcfYzhkOWY1OGYtMmM5Ny00YmIxLThiMDMtZjFmM2EwM2E5YTQw&hl=en
As always, if you have any questions, post in the comments or contact me directly. Thanks for reading.
-Deron
For the students at Hamline, that means unwinding from the stress of finals, freedom from homework for a few months, and another year of ministry on campus has come to an end. For me, next school year has (in ways) already begun. This summer will be spent planning, reading, brainstorming, trying to meet with as many student leaders as I can (who's available next week?), basically doing whatever is possible to hit the ground running when students come back to campus in August.
Over the past several weeks, I have had a few opportunities to get on campus and meet with some of the student leaders. They are a fun group, excited to see God work on campus, and anxious to be used in that work. There are already plans in place for at least 5 Bible studies, with some of the students taking their first foray into the exciting world of small group leadership. As they head back to families, summer jobs, camps, and wherever else they might be going, please be in prayer that God would use many opportunities to prepare them for serving in the upcoming school year and that they would be always growing in their understanding of how they can be used on campus.
The end of the school year did come with a bit of sadness. Dan Stirratt, Hamline's InterVarsity staff worker for the past couple years, announced that he will be leaving his position as of May 31. Dan has worked with InterVarsity for the past 15 years, and his ability to engage with students will be greatly missed on campus. He has helped me quite a bit as I transition into the role of campus staff member, and I know his work at Hamline has paved the way for some amazing transformation in the coming years.
I will also continue the process of raising support over the summer. As of yesterday 65% of my initial funding goal has been committed. That means I have a further $6600 dollars to raise for this coming year of ministry. However, with the staffing changes on campus, if more funding comes in, I will be able to put in more hours. That is an unanticipated development that I'll know more about in the coming months.
I think that's all I have for updates right now. I have posted an updated copy of the ministry overview here:
https://docs.google.com/
As always, if you have any questions, post in the comments or contact me directly. Thanks for reading.
-Deron
Monday, April 26, 2010
Greetings All!
Not knowing who all will come across this blog in their random perusing of the web...I figure I should introduce myself for those who may not already know me.
So...I'm Deron. Born and raised in a small farm town outside DeKalb, Illinois, completed a good deal of schooling in the area which included a degree from Northern Illinois University. While there, I was quite active in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter on campus, serving with small groups, worship, and the student leadership team. Through these experiences, God was building in me a passion for ministry, so after graduation I joined up with a ministry called Youth Encounter. Over the next two years, I traveled throughout the United States and spent time serving abroad in Peru, Bolivia, and Australia. Most of the ministry involved music in various forms, but I also had the chance to share through puppets, testimonies, drama, and home stays. God stretched me in many ways during this time (plenty of stories to share!), but after it was finished I felt a call to pursue a bit more training. So, I was off to the Twin Cities to enroll at Bethel Seminary. I spent a few years there taking a variety of classes all towards finding a position as an associate pastor or in a para-church ministry, leading to graduation in May 2009. While in school, I worked as an intern at a local church primarily with the junior and senior high students and had plenty of chances for other ministry experiences as well.
Along the way I met Lisa, and we got married in early 2008. Born and raised in the Twin Cities, she did a brief stint at Wheaton for her undergrad then eventually made her way back to Minnesota to study Marriage and Family Therapy at Bethel Seminary. She's currently working as the mental health professional at an elementary school on the South side of the cities, and she also has quite a bit of ministry experience including young adult ministry. Lisa and I don't have any kids right now...we get the experience vicariously through the children of friends scattered throughout the Twin Cities.
I guess that's the quick version. I'm really excited about student ministry at Hamline. If you want to know more specifics about InterVarsity at Hamline and some goals for the coming year, please check this document:
https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B2S8P4fnqrcfNGVmNTFhMjAtODEwNy00NDlhLWJmY2UtYzhhYzY1NzQxMmU0&hl=en
Sorry for the long link. Hope that method of hosting and posting works out for people...if not, please leave a comment and I can try to get it resolved. That document will be revised over the summer as more planning starts to happen for next school year. I'll post when it's updated.
Guess that's all for now. Spending a bit of time on campus this week, so maybe some storied will come out of that. Thanks for reading.
-Deron
So...I'm Deron. Born and raised in a small farm town outside DeKalb, Illinois, completed a good deal of schooling in the area which included a degree from Northern Illinois University. While there, I was quite active in the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship chapter on campus, serving with small groups, worship, and the student leadership team. Through these experiences, God was building in me a passion for ministry, so after graduation I joined up with a ministry called Youth Encounter. Over the next two years, I traveled throughout the United States and spent time serving abroad in Peru, Bolivia, and Australia. Most of the ministry involved music in various forms, but I also had the chance to share through puppets, testimonies, drama, and home stays. God stretched me in many ways during this time (plenty of stories to share!), but after it was finished I felt a call to pursue a bit more training. So, I was off to the Twin Cities to enroll at Bethel Seminary. I spent a few years there taking a variety of classes all towards finding a position as an associate pastor or in a para-church ministry, leading to graduation in May 2009. While in school, I worked as an intern at a local church primarily with the junior and senior high students and had plenty of chances for other ministry experiences as well.
Along the way I met Lisa, and we got married in early 2008. Born and raised in the Twin Cities, she did a brief stint at Wheaton for her undergrad then eventually made her way back to Minnesota to study Marriage and Family Therapy at Bethel Seminary. She's currently working as the mental health professional at an elementary school on the South side of the cities, and she also has quite a bit of ministry experience including young adult ministry. Lisa and I don't have any kids right now...we get the experience vicariously through the children of friends scattered throughout the Twin Cities.
I guess that's the quick version. I'm really excited about student ministry at Hamline. If you want to know more specifics about InterVarsity at Hamline and some goals for the coming year, please check this document:
https://docs.google.com/
Sorry for the long link. Hope that method of hosting and posting works out for people...if not, please leave a comment and I can try to get it resolved. That document will be revised over the summer as more planning starts to happen for next school year. I'll post when it's updated.
Guess that's all for now. Spending a bit of time on campus this week, so maybe some storied will come out of that. Thanks for reading.
-Deron
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Off and Running
Just wanted to put up a quick post to christen the blog for all that I'll be doing on campus @ Hamline University with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. I've been hard at work with fundraising for the past 6 weeks and have roughly 40% of my goal for this coming year committed from many awesome partners. Many more meetings to come, lots of phone calls to make, letters to send, and plenty of opportunities to share with others what God has called me to for this coming year.
A quick word about the title of this blog. From the first time I attended a staff meeting for IV in the Twin Cities Metro region, the desire to see Christ's transforming work in every student we work with has been clearly expressed. It is without a doubt the overarching vision for ministry in this area, and it's a constant reminder of why I am called to work with college students. We want to see Every Student Transformed.
More formal introduction soon to come...
A quick word about the title of this blog. From the first time I attended a staff meeting for IV in the Twin Cities Metro region, the desire to see Christ's transforming work in every student we work with has been clearly expressed. It is without a doubt the overarching vision for ministry in this area, and it's a constant reminder of why I am called to work with college students. We want to see Every Student Transformed.
More formal introduction soon to come...
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