"Shouldn't you be on a secular campus?"

As campus ministers, this is a question Elliott and I get a lot. And it’s a fair question. With so many colleges in our area, why are we on a campus that is known for its Youth Min department, its Christian activists (ie. Tony Campolo and Shane Claiborne), and its commitment to the Christian faith?

We could give you a slew of different answers based on our own interactions with individual students on Eastern’s campus. We could tell you about how, as alumni of Eastern University, we understand the culture of this particular college. We could also tell you about the many ways God opened doors for us to do ministry specifically at Eastern.

But instead, I thought I would share with you a story.

A true story.

Knowing I needed to get some prep work done for tonight’s Bible study, I left our usual “office” (aka the “Jammin’ Java,” Eastern’s campus coffee shop) and ventured to a local coffee shop in the neighborhood. Tucked away in a corner, I was among other lone customers, clicking away on computers and sipping hot drinks.

In walked three college-aged girls. The coffee shop being so closely located to Cabrini, Eastern, Villanova, Rosemont, and Haverford (among others), this was no surprise. I didn’t think much about their entrance, nor their talk of classes and upcoming finals, until I heard some buzzwords to clue me in: “New Testament Class,” “Youth Min Major,” “Theology,” “church,” “Wednesday chapel.” It didn’t take me long to figure out they were from Eastern, studying for this week of finals.

I never saw these girls on campus, but I was happy for the connection. I mused to myself about how much I loved my job and college students, and continued pouring over the Bible for tonight’s study. My intention was not to listen to their conversation, but the coffee shop being small and quiet, it was impossible for me (and others) to overhear.

It began with them discussing pot—both their views on pot (which was mainly, “I don’t have a problem with it”) and their interactions with pot. It moved to their talk of drinking off campus (I didn’t hear much of this part of the conversation because I was engrossed in my own work at the time, but I vaguely recollect them saying something about how easy it was to have access to alcohol off campus). Then one girl confessed to “not being a strong Christian,” occasionally going to church, but not really seeing it as a big deal. Before finally breaking to study, they spent a good deal of time gossiping about a girl they disliked in one of their classes.

I don’t know if these revelations shock you or not. Personally, I was not shocked. Having gone to Eastern, I have long been aware that the same entrapments and temptations that are widely accessible on a secular campus are just as much prevalent on this Christian one. I also thought about the other patrons overhearing this conversation. These girls, whether or not they want to be, are witnesses of the kingdom. In the same conversation came their interactions with pot and with chapel. I was reminded of James’ warning about the taming of the tongue in chapter 4: “Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?”

I do not condemn these women. I do not know their personal stories. And very unfortunately, I might never get to know these particular individuals. But I realize that they—and all of our students at Eastern—are up against a confusing world—especially confusing at a college where one would expect to find fervent Christians but instead find a lot of lukewarm beliefs.

Very recently, one of the students with whom I work closely confessed that she had been disappointed since coming to Eastern. She came expecting great Christian fellowship, but is walking away this semester experiencing a lot of complacency. “It doesn’t seem to make a difference in my friends’ lives, so I wonder why should it make a difference in mine?” This experience is one that I have heard directly from Elliott’s testimony. Facing a crowd of people who “confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord” and then do what they want the rest of time really causes one to struggle. Deeply. Where can one turn?

The students are trying to turn to their peers for answers, but are still coming up empty handed and tired. Can it really be only up to the students to lift one another up when they are struggling with the same things simultaneously?

These students need more. They need discipleship. They need a reawakening. They need challenges, encouragements, and someone to walk alongside their journey who can say, “I know. I’ve been there, but I’m not there any more. Let me tell you about how Jesus transformed my life, and how he can transform yours.”

And that, my friends, is a brief look into why Elliott and I minister on a Christian campus.

Transforming College Students to Transform the World

Praise the Lord!

Here are the students within our ministry that have already signed up for Jubilee:

Elizabeth "Bif" Cantinlina (a member of our small group)

Christopher Packard (the leader of Transformed!)

Ken Sawyer (a sophomore commuter with many connections to the CCO)

Kendra DiMicco (a member of Transformed!)

Nick Antonelli (a junior Youth Min major who helped out at Manoa's youth group)

Eva Hall (a member of Transformed!)

Eric Mayhew (a junior who comes to our church and is our personal Jubilee mascot)

James "Jim" Nielsen (a member of Transformed!)

Lauren Sell (a recent college graduate who goes to our church and small group)

Jim Chatterton (a junior who goes to our church and is co-leading a service trip with Elliott)

Jeff Sved (a junior who goes to our church)

Please pray that many more students will sign up to go to this life-changing conference. Pray also for funding, as many of these college students will have to support-raise to ensure they have the funds to go!

A word in light of Thanksgiving

Betsy and Kendra, students at Eastern University and members of Transformed!, a student-led drama ministry

Luke 18:27-30

Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”

During a recent Sunday night service, the above passage was read aloud as sort of an aside. It struck me so poignantly though, as one directly called into ministry. I drank in the promises of the Lord, and reflected on how much we have already received in this age.

It didn't take long to start piling on the many things God has given us, both personally and in ministry. I stood beside my husband in church, worshipping alongside my partner in ministry and in life. I looked up as the worship leader lead us through liturgy and song--Zack, a junior at Temple U who has been in our lives for the last two years. His wife, Jocelyn (a junior at Eastern U) kept beat on the drums. She has also been in our lives for two years, and I hope for many more.

The students filling the pews came from neighboring schools-- West Chester, Eastern, Haverford-- and each week we cherish the time we have driving them back and forth from college to church and back again. The pews are also filled with generations of believers-- the Mells, who have been attending the church since its near beginning, and the Chandlers, who recently moved here from Texas a few years ago but have taught us so much about the importance of genuine relationships with church members.

I think about the groups we are involved with on campus-- Precious Movements, the girls who pour heart, soul, and body into their dance-mime ministry; Transformed!, the eight college thespians who are committed to sharing the love of Christ through honest drama; our small group, a collection of people who gather on Monday nights to go deeper in their relationship with Christ-- and I think, "Yes. God has blessed us much in this life."

And when we finally return to our South Philly home at night, we are greeted by the joyful shouts of our 2-year-old nephews, and the kindness of my brother and sister-in-law.

We are surrounded by the church of Christ--by people who are transformed by the Living God and encourage the same transformation through their relationships. We are sustained by the financial sacrifices of the saints--by the prayers of so many people. In our every step of life, we are in relationships with believers, and this has blessed us abundantly.

At this time of Thanksgiving, we pray that you too can reflect on the many things God has given to you in this life.

Praise and Honor and Glory be unto Him!!

-Rachel

Calling out "calling"

Anthropology, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Cultural Studies, Drama, Dance, Economics, Education, Environmentalism, Geology, Fashion, Horticulture...the list goes on and on.

The sum total of the academic experience leads to one question for most students: What am I supposed to do with my life?

As each field becomes more and more specialized--and subsequently births new fields--it seems the monolithic list of possible futures for students is only becoming more endless and foreboding by the minute. As several studies have shown, too many options actually are bad for us. In fact when given more than three options in any situation a human being is more likely to be indecisive for longer, and ultimately to be less happy with their decision after making it. An easy example is the cereal isle at your local grocery store; how many mom's spend over 5 minutes deliberating over which box of cereal to take home to make their kids happy? With students the stakes are a bit higher; whatever field they choose they will be stuck in for the rest of their life--in essence their choice of major is an identity claim of the highest order.

The problem is further complicated for Christian students, who not only need to make a life-changing (or rather life-making) decision, but are often under the added pressure to discern their "God-ordained" vocation, otherwise known as their "calling." This terminology is well-known in Christian circles, and it's popularity is perhaps only surpassed by its ambiguity. I can't count how many Christians I've met (students and non-students alike) who are absolutely convinced they have a calling before they fully understand what that calling is, or even what the word "calling" means.

For the longest time the overuse and misunderstanding around this term has nagged at me. Some Christians, it seems, can't make a decision of any significance before determining whether God has called them to do it. Forget majors for a moment, I'm talking about buying a car, taking a job, dating a person, even down to minuscule decisions like sending e-mails or setting up a facebook account. Please don't misinterpret me, I don't mean to be irreverent at all, and certainly desire to always find my choices in line with the will of God. But what happens for many people now when they seek to discern God's calling on their life is comparable to checking the horoscopes. Rather than seeking wisdom in decision-making, many of us end up seeking some external force to make decisions for us.

By now some of you must be wondering if I have any authority to back these claims up with; I'm going to pull a LeVar Burton here and tell you, "don't take my word for it," check out the bible. The term "calling" is never really used until the NT, at which point it is mostly used by Paul, and almost always used to refer to the Call we believers have received to follow Christ. Check out these verses to see for yourself: Rom 8:28, Rom 11:29, 1 Cor 1:26, Gal 5:13, Eph 1:18, Eph 4:1, etc...

From a biblical standpoint there are no grounds for interpreting a vocational path as a "call." So where did this idea come from? During medieval times clergy and "men of the cloth" were said to have recieved a call to do the work of the Lord. This "call" ended up creating a clear distinction between men in ministerial positions, and men of more earthly careers such as farming, masonry, or welding. Over time this distinction perpetuated the Hellenistic idea that earthly work was less important and less holy than ministerial work. During the reformation people such as John Calvin saw the awful dualism such thinking had caused in God's people, and sought to help workers in all varieties of professions recognize their labor as equally called upon by God, linking their earthly work to humanity's initial (pre-fall) function as cultivators of Creation (see Gen 1:28).

If you aren't confused or frustrated enough already, I'm going to admit that I agree with John Calvin in this instance. I do believe that the farmer is "called" to farm, the doctor is "called" to heal, and the writer is "called" to write. The difference is that the "call" we have received is a general one that applies to all of God's children, the same as Paul explains it, not necessarily a specific voice we are meant to discern through some Christian version of a Ouija Board. All of us have been called to be good stewards of creation, and since the proclamation of the gospel, we followers of Christ have been called to join Christ in the restoration of Creation. Within this call there is great liberty afforded to us, as Paul describes in Romans, "Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him...One person esteems one day better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind." And then again in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "So whether you drink or eat, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

These verses seem to intimate that it is not what we do (assuming what we are doing is not in contradiction to God's character) but whether what we are doing is done unto the glory of God; that is the important part; that is what God has "called" us to do. If I am farming unto the glory of God, then I am fulfilling the call of a farmer; if I am doctoring unto the glory of God then I am fulfilling my call as a doctor; if I am writing unto the glory of God then I am fulfilling my call as a writer; and if I am ministering unto the glory of God then I am fulfilling my call as a minister. Likewise, if I pursue any of these fields, including ministering, while not seeking the glory of God, then I am not fulfilling my call in that profession.

To some people this sounds like bad news, because it can seem like there is less meaning and purpose in our work when it hasn't already been decided for us beforehand--let's not get into predestination today--on the other hand, I think it's actually "good news" because we never have to wonder whether we are fulfilling God's Call on our lives as long as we are indeed living according to his word, and seeking to glorify God. The liberty to choose what to do within those parameters is actually a beautiful gift, not a curse. Whether we are writing, farming, engineering, plumbing, coaching, or whatever, we can always be fulfilling God's call.

This is one of the messages Rachel and I seek to help our students understand: that if they are striving to be true stewards, and if they are truly seeking to glorify God with their work, then whatever major or career path they decide to pursue has value in God's kingdom. But being a true steward and glorifying God both need to be defined before we can begin attempting either. Namely, they both need to be understood in the light of the gospel, and in the light of the life Christ has called us to walk in.

Please pray for us, as Rachel and I challenge college students to understand the call God has made on their life, and in particular how their particular major is part of the ongoing work of "joining Christ in the restoration of Creation."

In His Arms,
Elliott

PS. Just to clarify, I do believe there are some people who receive a direct clear "call" from God to act or live in a specific way. However, as was the case with Jonah, John the Baptist, and Christ, I believe this type of "call" is unmistakable when it comes to us, and we should be proactive and functional as Christians, seeking with wisdom to use the gifts we have to participate in gospel work always, fulfilling the greater common Call with diligence as a default, so if perchance we should find ourselves to be one of those special few we will not be found idle and wanting in spiritual maturity when that unique "call" comes.

Does Love Suck?

Does real love exist, or do we create the meaning of love through our experiences?

This question is the central theme to the movie (500) Days of Summer; a film that is marketed as part of the chick-flick and romantic comedy vein, but actually contains many elements that decontruct the cliches usually prevelant in the genre.

I'm bringing up this film because after watching it I realized how extraordinarily relevant the main dilemma of the films two main characters is to this generation of young adults and college students.

Anyone who thinks students go to college just to learn or to get a degree is wrong, or at least only half right. The other half of the reason: relationships.

Students today, guy or gal, want to explore relationships. They want to have a vibrant social network of friends and acquaintances, and at the non-platonic end of the spectrum many of them want to find love and romance with that special "someone." Next to time in front of the computer or text messaging you can bet relationships comes in at a close second on how students spend their time...school work is usually in fourth or fifth...sleep is maybe at number eight.

This should come as no surprise. Ever since they were in diapers the media and culture have told this generation that not only is "true love" out there, but that it is something everyone deserves and eventually finds--you need only confer with the plot of the nearest Disney movie, Twilight novel, or superhero film to confirm this point. At the same time, this generation has also been told that truth is relative, and that abstract things, like love, hope, and faith are socially constructed. Herein lies the current existential dilemma: is love real, or is love just an illusion? Can love be found, or are we left to find our own way?

The answer is yes and no. Love isn't the googly-eyed infatuation we find in the Edward Cullen's of the world, or the commitment-free-evening-rendezvous-lifestyle we find in shows like Sex in the City or Desperate Housewives. Love is not just the gushing and fawning exasperation of our hormone-laden youth. Love is real. But the "love" many of us look for is not; it's plain fiction.

Real love is not found, it finds us...to put it better it has found us.

"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." --1 John 4:9-11

To understand real love students need to encounter real love: the love of God. We're being fed a fictional tale of "real" love in the world because much of the world still lives with a "fictional" understanding of history. The real story of history--involving the manifestation of God in the person Jesus Christ, who died and was raised to save us from our sin, so that we might live with Him forever--is the only way through which any of us can come to know what love really is or what it really means. Because, at the end of the day, if love wasn't knit into the fabric of humanity purposefully, if it isn't a blessing endowed to us by a creator of the same nature, if love isn't necessary and vital to our identity, then what's the point? At some point even a bloodthirsty sex-crazed vampire teen would have to pause and ask what love is all about.

That's one of the reason's why Rachel and I are going through the "Transformed Student Document" with students. The TSD is a helpful tool that breaks down the fundamental attributes of a transformed disciple into five categories.

1. Loving Christ Intimately
2. Viewing the World Biblically
3. Living Obediently
   
4. Joining Christ in the Restoration of Creation
5. Inviting Others to do Likewise

Every Monday night Rachel I meet with 7-8 students at Eastern University to walk through these five marks and talk about what real love looks like. Please pray for us as we lead a discussion tonight on what it means to love Christ intimately.

Mule + Chihuahua = College Student

Over-commitment and burn-out.

To the average college student these two words encapsulate daily reality. In the consumerist driven marketplace of events, clubs, student activities, classwork, homework, internships, social life, social networking, e-mailing, and facebooking that sum up modern "Campus Life" most students who Rachel and I meet are scrambling desperately do at least two things: to take advantage of every opportunity that comes their way, and to do something truly meaningful and significant with their time. Together these two things seem almost impossible to accomplish.

I don't mean to be cynical at all here. It's really mathematical. Doing something significant and meaningful requires us to devote hours upon hours of our focus and energy toward one goal or purpose; while, on the other hand, taking advantage of every opportunity means juggling dozens of things at once, and giving each thing a superficial amount of attention.

Trying to explain this to most students is like trying to tell a smoker that cigarettes are bad for them. Most of them will nod in agreement, agree they should live differently, but honestly they don't have the motivation or know-how to actually change course. I don't blame them; the drug of over-commitment and hyper-involvement has been pushed on them ever since middle school. This is how they have been taught to live. This is what they are being told life is all about...and we wonder why most college students struggle with anxiety and depression.

Several of the students Rachel and I meet with on a regular basis confess they are tired, strung-out, exhausted, and overworked. Actually, it is not uncommon for students to constantly ask to reschedule our meetings, or to miss church on a regular basis because of how busy they are.

I wish I could say churches are a refuge from this type of over-committed existence, but Rachel and I have recently been counseling two young adults from a local church who feel so heavy-laden with ministry responsibilities that they dream of coming home just to rock in the fetal position for a few hours before sleep. A slight exaggeration, but you get the point; and I don't believe their experience is an exception to the rule.

The lofty expectations of college students and young adults in our culture to be as hyper-active as chihuahuas and laborious as mules needs to be done away with. Students don't know what rest is anymore. I don't know a single college student who actually has a solid day off outside of fall breaks and holidays. There is no Sabbath rest for the college students. I asked a Chemistry student and Intervarsity small group leader at Haverford College the other day when he rests and he said on Thursday mornings before class, and sometimes in the afternoon when he is working for the tech group on campus. Similarly I spoke with a student from Eastern a few weeks ago who was taking 21 hours of class a week, working 25 hours a week (that's already a 46 hour work-week not including homework and the student club she is involved with) when she rested, and she said "when I sleep, which is about 3-4 hours a night."

The question is no longer whether students will experience burn-out, but when.

As you pray this week, ask God that he would provide rest and rejuvination for Ben Thompson of Haverford, Betsy of EU, Zack Groff of Temple, Jocelyn Groff of EU, Ben and Jess Mell of Manoa Presbyterian, Hannah Maclean of EU, Rachel Lim or Haverford, John Bridges of VFMC, Brandi of Uarts, and many, many others.

Pray that as we disciple these students and young adults God provides us with the words and wisdom to teach the discipline of rest to each of them, and that they would learn to begin making time to experience the gift of Sabbath each week.

Thank you for your prayers, love, encouragement, and support.

In Him,
Elliott and Rachel

Eastern Small Group

During our second week of the Monday night Eastern small group, we went deep into Ephesians 2:1-10 and Romans 12. We discussed why it's so important to be transformed.

The conversation really stirred my heart. These students are remarkably thirsty to know more about God, and to live their lives unto Him. I wrote a little bit about it in my personal blog, so please check it out here.

Thank you for reading, and please pray for the students in our small group.

An Overflow

Hello, faithful friends!

The first few weeks of the school year are certainly busy. We've been booked with student meetings, class meetings, and various activities fairs. God has given us incredible opportunities, and we're trying to jump through each door that opens!

Recently at our church, we have responded to the feedback from the young adults for a more focused night service. Sitting down with young adults Zack (Temple student) and Jocelyn (Eastern student), we have been able to re-think what the night service should look like. How can it better serve the church community as a whole? How can it better serve the college students? How can we remain relevant to cultural issues while staying grounded in the true doctrine of the Gospel?

Zack has encouraged us to re-introduce a Reformed liturgy into the service, and Pastor Brown has encouraged us to incorporate more of the arts. We have started sharing more personal testimonies. We have been charged during a "Moment for Missions" in the service. Personally, Elliott and I have been encouraged by Zack's leadership in the night service, and many were blessed last week by a thoughtful, Holy-Spirit-centered, liturgical night service. Praise the Lord for Zack's leadership, and please pray for him as he continues to grow in this role.

We have also seen a great influx of students coming to the service. They have been inviting their friends, and our e-mail and text inboxes have been overflowing with students asking for rides. Please pray that we continue to find rides for every single student wishing to go--that we never have to turn away even one student. Pray that we continue to minister effectively in the night service, and that above all God's name will be glorified and we will continue to do His will.

Blessing and honor, glory and power be unto the Ancient of Days.

Because of Him,

Rachel

Viewing the World Biblically

The CCO sees a transformed student as one who loves Jesus intimately, views the world Biblically, lives obediently, joins Christ in the restoration of creation, and invites other to do likewise.

How does one view the world Biblically if one does not even know how to read the Bible?

The following is a quote from this poignant Christianity Today article:

"Even weekly churchgoers who know the names and places struggle to put it all together and understand the Bible as a single story of redemption."

-Collin Hansen, emphasis mine

One of our focuses in discipling students is helping them see that the Bible is not a mere collection of stories, but an overarching story of the world -- one in which they are still taking an active part. Through inductive Bible study and related books, we want to help them see the Bible in a greater context so that they may read and understand it themselves.

"Disciples of Christ do not merely pursue Bible knowledge for its own sake... It changes the way they live, but not by merely offering them tips for parenting or financial freedom. Rather, the Bible gets them in touch with the Holy Spirit, who conforms them to Christ's image."

-Chris Hansen, emphasis mine

For more insight, please click the link above for the article, or go here for a previous post on my other blog.

-Rachel

So It Begins

Yes, we are still here.

Well, the school year has begun, and we're feeling it! The past two weeks have challenged us to use (or find) our multitasking skills, and each day has been an event of schedule-juggling and meeting-hopping. Let's give you the highlights:

Move-in Days: Elliott and I spent last Thursday moving in Cabrini College freshman, and the better part of Saturday moving in Eastern University freshman. We felt that we had the opportunity to really connect with some of the Eastern students. Please pray that those connections won't be lost, and that we'll be able to form relationships with those we met!

Haiti Reverse: There's been so much planning and so many meetings surrounding this trip, but we still have a loooong way to go. We met with the President and some faculty at Cabrini College and have yet to hear back if they're on board with the project. The Haitian churches in North Philly have been really responsive to the project, and we were able to invite them into the trip this past Sunday at one of their youth worship services. Please pray that the details to make this trip happen will fall into place, and that we will have at least 8 students from Eastern/Cabrini and the Haitian-American community on the trip.

Manoa Life: Manoa Life is the young adult program at Manoa Presbyterian Church, headed by Elliott. We met with some people to talk about the past two years, and challenged ourselves on how to go deeper with the Lord in the coming year. We had a lot of feedback about changing the Sunday night service by introducing more testimonies, dance, art, and drama (among other things). Please pray for the desire of the young adults to see the Lord transform their lives through this program will be fruitful, and that the Sunday night service would honor Him and draw others closer to Him.

Meeting Students: At the beginning of the year, we like to meet with as many students as possible. Although everyone's schedule is still up in the air, Elliott and I have both been successful in meeting with and praying with students and young adults. Please keep the following people in your prayers: Brandi, Amy, Hannah, Zack, Jocelyn, Jeff, Jim, Jonathan, Kristin, Maggie, Ben, Megan, Jess, Ben, Mike. Pray that Elliott and I would be able to discern whom to really pour into for the next year.

Norristown Community House: Peter and Becky Bowersox, fellow coworkers of ours at the CCO, have pioneered an intentional community in Norristown for students. We were honored to be asked to come in and lead team-building games/exercises before their Open House Party. We connected with so many amazing people at the party, and were so thankful that God has brought such people into our lives. Praise the Lord for the conversations and relationships formed through this community!

So that's just a brief look at the last two weeks for the Simkos!

in Him -

Rachel

Jesus Changes People's Lives

"Jesus Changes People's Lives" is CCO Core Value #2.

It's important to remember daily because it's why we're here in the first place. Jesus changed our lives, and now has called each of us to serve.

It's important to remember daily because it's not the program or Bible study or church service or Elliott or Rachel that changes people's lives -- it's Jesus.

We're just available for whatever way He wants to use us.

During New Staff Training this summer, we were asked to share so many testimonies -- the larger ones ("How did you come to know the Lord?"), as well as the small ones ("How has God worked in your life this past week?"). We were all so eager to share, and hear. Who doesn't want to hear about the mighty work of God? But what was striking was how thirsty we were to hear -- because, quite honestly, we don't talk about the daily work of our Father nearly as much as we should.

We should talk about the Lord every day, because every day He is doing mighty things in our lives. Our excitement and awe should bubble over and salt our every day conversation.

So why doesn't it?

Elliott and I, along with a number of young adults, have been asking this question. Why don't we talk more about the Jesus who changed our lives? Why aren't we always sharing testimony after testimony? Instead of just asking those questions, we decided to do something about it.

Last night, we joined two other young adults from the Manoa Life Project (the young adult program at Manoa Presbyterian Church - Elliott's CCO partnership) for a night of worship and testimonies. We offered ourselves to the Holy Spirit, and before we knew it, an hour of prayer and worship had flown by. Two people shared their testimonies. We praised the Lord for the ways He has saved, and also prayed over the individuals -- that God would continue to release them from old-formed habits. It was powerful and moving, albeit very simple.

Young adults and college students are thirsty for transformation. And sometimes, ministries can get caught up in flashiness and show -- believing that they need over-the-top-compelling programs to transform and bring people to Christ.

But all it takes is the simple (awesome) account of Jesus changing your life.

Please share your testimonies.

Please ask others to share their testimonies.

Talk about Jesus.

And pray for true transformation to come onto Eastern and Cabrini's campuses.

What's in Store? - Haiti Reverse Mission Trip

Hello friends,

Since it's the summer, it would seem that we don't have a lot to update in terms of student encounters, but we wanted to give you a taste of what we're currently working on in preparation for this year. If you received our most recent newsletter, you might have read about our plans briefly.

So let's start with our biggest project this year: it's a transformational experience, and we call it the...

Haiti Reverse Mission Trip

What: Haiti Reverse Mission Trip

• REVERSE mission trip
• We receive and learn more than we provide
• We affirm culture rather than foster dependency
• We work alongside rather than “work for”
• We travel a short distance rather than a long distance
• Going to Philly, NOT Haiti
• We encourage long-term deep relationships
• We empower and encourage Haitian natives to help their own nation, as they are more equipped then we will ever be
• Fundraiser
• Cost of traveling to Haiti, avg. $2000 per person
• Avg. annual Haitian income = $500
• We will ask participants to raise $1800 in order to attend
• Benefit Gala will raise money
• Money raised will be given to
• Haiti Relief
• Long-term sustainable missions
• Ethnographic Study
• CCTI’s Justin Poole will be assisting in the interviewing of many of the people involved in order to create a play that will be produced in Philly

When: Friday Dec 31^st—Sunday Jan 9^th

Where: In Haitian-American houses, churches, and communities in North Philly

Who is already involved:

• World Vision and World Vision Act:s
• Beyond Borders
• Eastern University Missions Department
• The Coalition (Board of Haitian Churches in Philly)
• Equitas Group
• CCTI
• CCO’s Cross Cultural Ministry

How you can help:

• For our friends and supporters reading this blog, please keep this trip in your prayers. Pray that the Lord provides at least one other person to step up and help us plan. We have a lot to do in a short amount of time. And yet, we've received confirmation from the Lord and fellow believers "not to be discouraged" in these efforts, but to keep going.
• Please keep the prayer as a whole in your trip - the students going, the leaders going, the churches involved, the connections and relationships established, the money raised, and that above all, we would remain in the center of God's will.

CCO Spotlight: Elliott Simko!

Check it out - Elliott is in the CCO Spotlight this month on the website:

Just wanted to share!

-Rachel

Living in community

Hello friends and supporters,

I'm writing to you from my apartment-style dorm room on the campus of Robert Morris University, just outside Pittsburgh. The mouth-watering aroma of simmering vegetables and chicken wafting from our crockpot has been filling the walls of our room for the past 8 hours. Mason Stumpf, the 10-year-old son of one of the new staff just stopped by to see where the smell was coming from. Before him three different people came knocking at our door almost exactly 5 minutes apart. Before that I was in a meeting with four other trainers trying to plan an intricate event just a couple days away. All this is to say Rachel and I are in one of the most unique and trying forms of training ever conceived of by human beings. All our time is tapped with learning, reading, applying our learning, and rediscovering what it means to love and be loved in the context of community.

It's an important lesson to learn (and re-learn) as a campus minister. Our students will be living under similar conditions almost the entire time they are in college...with the exception of the 10-year-old kids stopping by...and oh yeah, I got to pick my roommate, and we are best friends...the coolness of that never wears off :)

In a few minutes seven new staff will come through my dorm room door to chow down the stewing crockpot meal. It seems our periods of rest here are mostly filled with preparation for whatever is coming next. But, it only goes on like this for another two weeks. On July 23rd Rachel and I get to return to the comfort of our third-story apartment town-home in Philly--a luxury the typical college student will not have.

I'm realizing more and more through this time at RMU the constant pressure students feel as a result of living in community. You must be wondering to yourself, "wait a minute, wasn't Elliott in college just two years ago?" Yes, I was. There's a certain wisdom that is gained when you get to stand on the outside of an experience. When I was inside the college community I felt a pressure and stress, but couldn't fully comprehend it's origin or affects. Looking back, I realize now that community is both a beautiful thing...and a very intense thing.

Community has a way of both creating support and unity (when done correctly) and also a way of amplifying our brokenness. After all, anyone who is married knows that the longer you are with a person the more their hidden brokenness comes to light. I don't think that bringing brokenness to light is a bad thing, but I do realize now that it's helpful to have people around you who are attentive to the angst and internal struggles often caused by living in community who can help you process through these things. I'm really looking forward to being that attentive person for some of my college students in the fall.

A quick happy note: I just found out a student I ministered to in High School, Hannah McLean, will be coming to Eastern University in the fall. I'm looking forward to reconnecting with her , and hearing how Jesus has been working in her life since the last time we talked. Pray that the Lord will provide Hannah with discipleship opportunities at Eastern, and that she matures in her faith when she gets there in the fall.

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

In Him,
Elliott

Support-Raising Mondays!

It's "Support-Raising Monday!" Please keep us in prayer throughout the day for the following matters:

-that the Lord would provide full support by the end of August

This request is really important to us. Many missionaries and friends/families of missionaries think that 80% of support is "enough to get by on," and that 100% of support is impossible. This shortchanges the power and call of the Lord. We know we have been called to this ministry by the Lord; He has directed our every step to this place. There is no reason we should not reach 100% of support. However, it is our job and part of our calling to invite people into the ministry. We have to keep working to spread the good news of the gospel working in college students' lives. We cannot cease our efforts, and we cannot wait to see how miraculously the Lord will provide!

Also, we would like to reach full support so that we may spend more of our support-raising time on current donors. We have promised them a partnership, and we long to fulfill that partnership by calling, visiting, and praying more consistently. The sooner we reach full support, the sooner we can strengthen those already a part of this mission.

-appointments for our SR trip in August

We have a support-raising trip schedule for August 2-7. We currently have no appointments and people have been difficult to reach. This has been discouraging. Pray that we receive word from the Lord today on how best to utilize that time and our time now in preparation for it. Pray that we receive appointments or find a better way to use that time. If you know of anyone who would be willing to have a conversation with us about our ministry, please e-mail us - chellysimko@gmail.com.

-continued grace to rely solely on the Lord

It can be easy to get discouraged, frustrated, and confused when support-raising. We try to rely solely on the Lord, but sometimes we rely too much on our own efforts. Pray that grace abounds--that God would renew us and encourage us today and this week. Pray that we absolutely trust in the Lord for our support.

-direction

Every Monday we are faced with a multitude of choices: Whom should we call? Should we write thank you cards? Should we send out our next newsletter? Whom should Elliott call and whom should Rachel call? What should we do with this time? How does God want us to use it? Pray that we use our time wisely and lean on God's direction.

Thank you for your prayers, friends! We are so grateful to be a part of this work and praise the Lord that you have joined us!

Leading Bible study at The Well

Every Tuesday, the entire CCO New Staff makes the trek over to Orchard Hill Church to lead Bible studies at The Well. This event is a four-week Bible study lead by CCO staff on the book of James. It's really exciting to be a part of this event because although we a learning a TON here at New Staff Training, it's much better to put what we're learning into practice.

In the past, I think The Well was a lot larger, and numbers have been dwindling slightly throughout the years. Although this could be discouraging, I think we can see the opportunity in it. We have the fantastic chance to connect one-on-one with the students that are coming. For instance, Zeke and I (Rachel) are leading a Bible study together, and we only had two students the first night. The students were incredibly engaged and thoughtful, and really added to our understanding of James and how it effects college students. Afterwards, I sent them an e-mail asking how we could pray for them throughout the week. One student, I'll call him "Derek," asked for specific prayer. This week, Derek told me in detail how God had answered his prayer! I told him to keep sending us prayer requests--even beyond the summer--and to tell us how and when God answers. It's absolutely beautiful to see God working in these lives, and it's a blessing to be even a small part of it.

All that being said, please keep The Well in your prayers. Pray that more students come out, that we prepare solid Bible studies that help students see Jesus, and that each staff member connects in depth with at least one student.

Thanks, friends! I don't have pictures yet of this event, so I'll share with you a shot of a bunch of us staffers going up the incline in Pittsburgh.

New Staff Training 2010: What We're Studying

Hello from Robert Morris University! Elliott and I have been here for the last week, and still have four weeks ahead of us. We've been keeping very busy--our days are filled with study, prayer, and fellowship. To follow some of the revelations God has been showing me, you can always catch up on my personal faith blog here.

Still, we'd love to give you a brief look at what we've been studying. We'll be reading through the following books in five weeks (in addition to several articles and countless seminars):

The True Story of the Whole World: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Drama

by Craig G. Bartholomew and Michael W. Goheen

(Re)Thinking Worldview: Learning to Think, Live, and Speak in this World

by J. Mark Bertrand

The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

by Timothy Keller

The Outrageous Idea of Academic Faithfulness

by Donald Opitz and Derek Melleby

Leaving for Summer Training

Today we officially relocate to Pittsburgh in order to attend training. For Rachel, this will be a five-week intensive training session required for all new staff. For Elliott, he will be returning in order to train.

As we leave our students, our church, and our home for the summer, please join with us in prayer for the following things.

- For training to be a place of fellowship and growth -- with others and with the Lord.

- That Rachel would learn a lot of practical things!

- That Elliott would teach thoroughly and well.

- That God would prepare their minds for the work He has in store in the fall.

- That we would grow in prayer, Bible study, and discipleship.

- For our campuses and students.

- For full financial support; also, that we would discern with whom God would want us to share our ministry.

- Praises for God's amazing provision so far!

There are so many ways to pray for us and the ministry, so wherever the Lord takes you in prayer, Amen! :)

Thank you, friends, for all of your continued support and love.

Pictures from the Young Adult Summer Cookout

Hi friends! We just wanted to share some pictures with you from our

Young Adult Summer Cookout!

Enjoy!

We ended up playing a LOT of games. The first one we played was called "Happy Family." As you can tell, Jason, Pat, Zack, and Beth were all having a great time.

Elliott, Mike, and Jack have a fun time!

The game took a lot of thinking and strategizing!

...and even more strategizing...

The results wowed the crowd! It seems like Jocelyn, Zack, and Lauren really got a kick out of the end of the game.

Of course, we also had the old basic games. Our young adult group loves Boggle!

Hurray for the young adults!!!

Stepping into Clear Air

“I thank God, whom I serve, as my forefathers did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers.”

2 Timothy 1:3

Working in ministry together means that we always need to be grounded in the One who brought us here in the first place. It’s very easy for us to get consumed with e-mails and phone calls indoors, and so today we deliberately went out, into God’s nature, and spent time with our King. Together.

It was really healthy to get outside—to experience the clear air in order to, in a sense, “clear the air.” The thing is, as much as it is a joy and blessing to work together, it’s still an adjustment. We’ve been used to spending at least 8 hours per day apart from each other. Being together 24/7 takes extra-special care in our use of words, our reactions to frustrations, and in learning how to carefully encourage one another.

So we got to confess to one another, to pray for one another, and to worship the Lord beside a brook. We also started working our way through our “Supporter Prayer-Request Notebook.” Yes, we’ve got you all written down in a book with specific prayer requests next to each name, and just as we committed to you in our meetings, we are praying for you. If we have not yet gotten a chance to call you or contact you about specific needs, please feel free to leave a comment or send us an email so that we may lift you up in prayer sooner.

Thank you all for being a part of this ministry—a vital part of the work the Lord is doing in us, through us, and for us.

-Rachel

Why support Elliott and Rachel's college ministry?

Andy Crouch, author of Culture-Making: Recovering our Creative Calling, and a senior editor of Christianity Today International, has the following to say about why he and his wife, Catherine, decided to support us:

"In our giving Catherine and I want to support causes that matter,

organizations that are innovative and effective, and leaders who have

deep and broad potential. Campus ministry, especially among students

in the arts, is one of the most important mission fields in North

America. The CCO is a model of theological depth and integrity, and

particularly outstanding for its partnership with local churches. And

Elliott and Rachel are young leaders whom any organization would be

thrilled to have on board. That's why we're supporting their ministry

to students in Philadelphia through CCO."

Thanks, Andy!

Support-Raising, or Dwelling in the Periphery

Well, hello there, elusive blog followers!

It’s Rachel here, Elliott’s wife. I figured it was about time God figured it was about time to switch things up a bit.

As Elliott pointed out, I will now be joining alongside him in ministry to college students. I have to admit, it was a huge step of faith, but God takes seriously the “Here-am-I” prayer. Although I was initially fearful of support-raising and our unknown finances, God suddenly showed up with the “peace that surpasses understanding.” You can read more about this “jump of foolishness” here, at my personal blog.

So what’s on the schedule this week? Support-raising! I have been so nourished by the encouragement of the saints! Although not everyone has been able to pledge to give monthly, we have been supported through prayer and love. The thing I love the most about support raising is the opportunity to connect and reconnect with people we would not normally have the time to see.

Our culture is a very independent, task-centered society. Our lives revolve around the immediate, and leaves no time to dwell in the periphery. Well, support-raising allows us to dwell and linger in the periphery. I love the relationships we are forming and maintaining, and look forward to see how God will provide for us in miraculous ways that point directly to His power!

Waiting upon the Lord,
Rachel

Where in the world is Elliott Simko?

Dear friends!

I couldn't help but title this entry with the question that I am sure is on all of your minds.

Well, after a few weeks of hiatus from blog-world (due in large part to the general busyness of the end of the semester)I am happy to say that I am back and will be keeping you updated again on a more regular basis.

I hope some of you took the opportunity to follow my side-project during the Lenten season, which was a blog based on a study of The Hole in Our Gospel. Many of the young adults and college students in my ministry chose to go through the study and follow the blog. The study was a small part of the ongoing theme I chose for this year of "Poverty and Justice." During the summer we will gather in people's homes on Friday evenings to watch films that deal with these themes, and then discuss them afterward.

The weekend after Easter I directed an art retreat called IGINTE along with several young art professionals including my wife Rachel. We had over 30 people in attendance; most of them were between 18-28, but we also had several people well into their middle years come as well. Overall the entire retreat was a great success. Teresa Moyer, a professor at Eastern University, was our keynote speaker and she introduced the topics of the weekend with a beautiful balance of academic fervor, personal story sharing, and Spiritual leading.

The retreat itself was intentionally modeled in a way that would be conducive to the creativity of artists. The basic layout was familiar to typical retreats: we all gathered together for main room sessions, which included worship time, a 20 minute topical conversation introduced by Teresa, and a 30 minute panel discussion with panelists representing four prominent fields of art: music, visual art, theater, and creative writing. After the panel discussion the audience broke into four groups based on the four art forms listed above, and the panelists became their group leaders. For two hours the groups delved further into the topics discussed through their art. Collaboratively they created artwork together that flowed directly out of what they were experiencing and discussing. On Saturday all the groups met for four hours in order to develop pieces of art that they would share with the other groups on Sunday.

In my opinion the sharing time on Sunday was one of the most powerful parts of the retreat. Each person was able to share something very meaningful, vulnerable, and spiritual with the rest of the group. For example, each member of the visual artist group created a small piece of art which they called a "vessel." Inside the vessel they placed something that represented either a broken area in their life which they wanted God to take away, or a part of their life where God had worked and they were grateful for. After each person had a chance to share the meaning of their vessel and what it contained we walked to the beach in quiet solemnity and watched as each person threw the contents of their vessel into a fire pit as an "offering" to God. Each vessel contained something personally connected with the individual's relationship with God, and the power of visually witnessing these individuals completely handing over that area of their life to God was incredibly moving. Many of us were choked to tears.

The theater arts and music arts groups were equally touching in their own ways. The theater group walked the other three groups through a theatrical and unique retelling of the creation, fall, redemption meta-narrative of the bible. At one point they used beach water to retell the amazing beauty of Christ's redeeming work over all His children. The music group did something unexpected by not specifically sharing their artistic gifts, but rather a vivid picture of the spiritual struggle that happens as a result of their artistic giving. They explained to us that as singers their art is almost the most personal expression of art that is out there. Rather than "perform" for us they chose to share some of the "self-talk" they often speak to themselves. As most artists can relate to, their self-talk was less than flattering, and honestly downright abusive. After sharing their self-talk they shared some "God-talk." God-talk is basically what we know God actually says is true about us, that we are adored and loved by Him, that we are worth something, that we have a purpose. It was extremely moving to hear the self-talk juxtaposed with the God-talk. The truth of God draws a stark contrast to the lies of this world and of the evil one.

I was in the creative writing group, so it's hard to say what our sharing was like from an outside perspective, but from an insider's perspective it was one of the best weekends of my life!

I encourage you to read my monthly newsletter to see a few quotes from some of the participants so you know what their experience was like first hand. Everyone enjoyed the experience so much that the leaders are currently discussing plans to begin a Christian arts collective in Philly for young adults and college students. We are having our first meeting to discuss these plans this coming Sunday.

Please take time this week to pray for art students, both for those who have no relationship with Christ, and those who struggle to live in the art world without being "of" the art world.

I will write more about this in my next entry, but please also be praying for me and my wife Rachel. Rachel recently joined the CCO, praise God! We will be working together starting in the second half of May. We will be spending the next year reaching out to art students at Eastern University and in the city. Before that we need to raise an extra $2200.00 a month. We know all things are possible through Christ, and that God will always provide for all of our needs. Please pray with us and watch and see our Father in heaven miraculously provide.

In Him,
Your humble co-worker in ministry,
Elliott