Where in the world is God?

Last month, Joy and I attended a mission conference held by a church that supports our ministry. Speaking to the congregation about what we do with the CCO, we were impressed with the effort the church made to welcome its missionaries and maximize face-to-face time with church members. This church has a global view of its mission and wants to hear about what God is doing through the folks whose work it supports.
It was such a mutually encouraging weekend. We were able to share that God is on college campuses and God is in the wilderness where college students go on spring break trips or summer discipleship programs. Others shared about how God is at work in other parts of the US and around the world.
I think this is how it is supposed to work. We are not all called to the ends of the earth. Some students are called to build God’s kingdom in offices, schools, laboratories, and courtrooms while others will be called to use their skills in places far, far away. Like the mission conference last month, the service-learning and wilderness trips offered by the CCO seek to expose students to new ways of seeing themselves, the world, and where God is at work so they might more clearly discern the call for their lives.
Thanks for being people who make it possible for us to be out there with students.

The Freshmen are here.

Yesterday, Joy and I went down to Seneca Rocks, WV to help out with Ohio Wesleyan University's Fresh X program, a 3 day pre-orientation trip for 50 first-year students run by CCO staff. Through hiking, rock climbing, canoeing and rafting, the students get a chance to build relationships with their new classmates and together reflect on some key issues involved in a successful transition to college.

In case, you don't have a high schooler near you, here is Benoit's annual list to introduce you to the class 2013, also known as the on-demand generation because they've never had to wait for anything including Saturdays to watch cartoons!

Ministry is on the Rocks, literally!

As first year students move into college life for the first time, our staff take them out on various experiences to get oriented to a new way of life and meet the people with whom they are starting that journey.
Francois and I had the chance to join them for a day at Seneca Rocks, WV where we led 9 first year students in rock climbing and rappelling. The theme question for the day was, "Why am I here?" Many students expressed excitement to meet new friends and start taking classes that really interested them. We were glad to be a part of setting the stage through rock climbing to enter college with similar gusto. Some needed to face fears, others to explore their options, and we encouraged all to ask for help and support from those around them.
Check out Francois in action:

Joy's work at Westminster stuck!

The CCO is doing a series of stories about how it is transforming college students to transform the world. Check out the story by Allison, where Joy's work at Westminster is mentioned.

(Picture: Allison climbing at Joshua Tree National Park, CA. Spring Break '02)

New Staff Training 2009

I saw a billboard yesterday that said, "Face time is better than Facebook". I was driving too fast to see what it was promoting, but it was catchy... and true. That is why I am driving an hour to Grove City and back - spending each Tuesday and Wednesday with our new staff... face to face.
The Outdoor Leadership Team is bringing on five new staff this year at various outdoor program sites! I am partnering with the New Staff Training Team to help in the on-boarding process as it directly relates to adventure activities. I'll be setting up these five staff with mentors who will help them get certified to lead activities, training them in the ever-important paperwork trail, and developing their professional development plan for the upcoming year.
Please welcome William, Amanda, Matt, Dan and Tom!

LDW WYOMING IS OFF AND RUNNING!

Leadership and Discipleship in the Wilderness (LDW) Wyoming, a six-week expedition to the Wind River mountains, left the CCO equipment room yesterday. Seven students and four staff will spend the next 40 days in the wilderness learning about leadership, outdoor skills and having their character shaped by God as He reveals, in the midst of his creation and this tight knit community, what was in each of their hearts (Deuteronomy 8:2).


Hat tip to Phil M. in the CCO's communication department for creating a wonderful interactive map of the LDW itinerary. Check it out. It's got pictures and everything. Also The students will be tweeting weekly updates via satellite phone that will be posted here.
You got to love technology.
Joy and I have led this trip several times and it holds a special place in our hearts and in our ministry. It's good to see the next generation of CCO staff take over this amazing opportunity for students to be transformed in the wilderness.

Undercover at an evangelical university

I heard about this during the semester when the author reported on an evangelistic spring break trip to Daytona Beach. I appreciate the commitment to learning by experience. In its own way it echoes the findings of the Murdock report on the state of campus ministry (more about that in a post to come): off campus experiences are what make faith development stick beyond the college years.
A story about a student showing a commitment to learning.

I LOVE COLLEGE!

This comes to us from Good News Messaging
Hat tip to our friend Chris Cooke for his great argument for CCO's raison d'etre.

Click Here
to view the
MTV music video


Chorus:
That party last night was awfully crazy (i wish we taped it)
I danced my (face) off and had this one girl completely naked
Drink my beer and smoke my (stuff) but my good friends is all I need
Pass out at 3, wake up at 10, go out to eat then do it again
Man, I love college, ay!
I love drinking, ay!
I love women, ay!
I love college, ay!

Asher Roth is a 23 year-old "rapper" from Morrisville, PA. His single, "I Love College" hit the charts a couple months ago (currently at #15 on the Billboards) and has been downloaded (purchased) over ONE MILLION times. The music video is set at a fraternity house party and features numerous college students binge drinking, playing strip poker and beer pong and hooking up. Drinking, Women, Staying up Late and Partying...is that really all there is to life? Unfortunately, for many students the answer is yes.

The reality is that there are thousands of "Ashers" on college campuses across the country. Quite a few of them are even student athletes at Pitt. Our work with the CCO is to share an alternative vision of college, and of life, to students during their four years in college. This vision is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ. It is exciting and challenging work, but students are "getting it", coming to faith and growing in their relationship with Jesus.