Spring Break Season 2012

That rite of passage time is upon us once again. The time from which stories will be retold for years to come and that is caricatured in countless bad Hollywood B-movies. It's spring break time again!!!
But for a number of students involved in CCO ministries, spring break does not mean hitting the beaches and the booze. They have chosen instead to join a small group of peers to build a community seeking adventure with a purpose (as my friend Ryan Carlson likes to say). They will be heading out to the wilderness to be stretched. In taking a sabbath from classes, they seek deeper connections to each other and to God. All while discovering a new adventure activity that will take them outside their comfort zone. They understand that in leaving the comforts of campus and civilization, one has the opportunity to see life a little more clearly and  the things that really matter come a little more into focus. So please pray for them over the next two weeks and for their CCO instructors who are shepherding them through these potentially life-changing encounters. Pray for the CCO Experiential Designs trips: Westminster College in rock climbing Colorado, Juniata College canoeing in the Everglades, Geneva College and Waynesburg University sea kayaking in the Everglades, Ohio Wesleyan University backpacking in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and on Cumberland Island, Georgia and Georgia Gwinnet College canoeing in Northern Florida. Pray also for the many CCO/ Habitat for Humanity trips that will also be heading out for spring break all over the Southeast.

Jubilee Professional

The Jubilee Conference also offered a track for Pittsburgh professionals. Some of the speakers that students got to hear also presented to 300 business leaders. Table discussions between the speakers gave participant a chance to apply the lessons to their individual context. Here's a photo of Francois facilitating a discussion with CCO president Dan Dupee.

Speakers included Kirk Botula, President of Confluence and Katherine Leary Alsdorf from Redeemer's Center for Faith and Work and Joanna Taft from The Harrison Center. You can find the full speaker list here.

If you are in the Pittsburgh area, keep the Friday afternoon of Jubilee open on your calendar and join us next year.

Jubilee 2012: Everything Matters!

"I am excited about my academics. I am looking for God in my academics."

Desirae, Slippery Rock University student talking about her experience since Jubilee.

Jubilee Conference. Pittsburgh Convention Center. February 17-19th, 2012

Today we had a celebration time for God's faithfulness and work in the Jubilee conference. Desirae spoke about her time at the conference and how inspired she was by her interactions with the workshop speakers. This year's conference theme was Everything Matters. The theme reflects the truth that all of creation is God's and he cares and lays claim to all of it. For many students who compartmentalize their lives, this notion is a radical discovery which energizes their faith and their outreach to fellow students.

During the Jubilee weekend, almost 2,500 students heard the Gospel story from speakers as thoughtful as Gideon Strauss, the director of the Max Depree Leadership Center at Fuller Seminary or as impactful as David Greer, the architect who wrote "a love letter" to Pittsburgh in his design of PNC Park, or as biblically knowledgable as Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary and Pastor Eric Mason, or as influential as David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group or as well known (at least in Pittsburgh!) as Steelers punter, Daniel Sepulvada. And the list goes on and on. You can view the list of Jubilee speakers here.

God was moving powerfully through the weekend and students' lives were changed. If you couldn't be there, here is a gallery of wonderful pictures by Andrew Rush to give you a glimpse of Jubilee or you can check out the Jubilee Facebook page for photos and comments from students.

Thanks for your prayers and support!

Painting made during the Jubilee Restoration talk by experiential worship artist Scott Erickson

Jubilee 2012 is here!!!

February is already well on the way and the excitement has been building.
This weekend is Jubilee, the CCO's annual student conference. Starting tomorrow 2,000 students will descend on the Pittsburgh convention center to spend the weekend with national and local speakers who are sharing what it means to live out your faith in your professional calling. The conference is a life-changing experience for many as they hear a resounding "Yes, God does care about you and what you do with your life and your studies!" For some it might be the first time being confronted openly with God's love and call on their life. For others, Jubilee is like an oasis from the daily classroom where their faith is not taken seriously (at best) or even ridiculed (at worst) by their professors and peers.

Want to see who will be speaking and holding workshops this weekend? Check out the interactive Jubilee program

Open publication - Free publishing

For Joy and I, the weekend is an opportunity to connect with students, staff and speakers as we continue to recruit for our summer programs. On Friday Francois will be facilitating discussions at Jubilee Professional, an event for business leaders and Joy will be interviewing prospective CCO staff. On Saturday, we will meet with visitors and host the CCO Experiential Designs table with other CCO staff. Sunday morning is worship time with speakers Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary and Bob Goff, lawyer and founder to Restore International.

If you are near the Pittsburgh area, consider joining us Sunday morning as the sessions are open to the public.

As we head into Jubilee weekend, we are thankful for your care for college students and your support of our ministry with the CCO. If you remember, please keep Jubilee in your prayers this weekend.