SummerLINK Reunion Weekend/Homecoming

Last weekend was homecoming at Clemson and the much-anticipated SummerLINK reunion weekend!!! Admittedly, I wasn't as good as I should have been with the camera this trip! Thankfully, Liz and Brandy were a bit better about documenting our time together. Activities began on Friday evening with dinner at Jeremy and Liz's house. The CP group I attended during my senior year was held in their home so its quite familiar and enjoyable to be back particularly surrounded by such cherished brothers and sisters. Jeremy and Liz were the SummerLINK Director and Assistant Director for the first half of the summer before the staff left the program to the students. It was wonderful to also have the Gainors with us. Gray is the Connections Pastor at Crosspoint Bluffton. He and Brandy practically adopted all of the students especially helping providing oversight to the program after the staff left. Our student leadership were awesome in keeping things running so smoothly! They really did handle everything very well. It was great though to still have Gray and Brandy there to give guidance. They were such a blessing in their obvious eagerness to make us feel welcome in the church and with their family. Gray's interns were given the added blessing of spending a bit more time with Gray, Brandy and their children. I've learned so much from them about public ministry and the ministry of a Godly home. All the Linkers greatly enjoyed our time getting to know them more and being reunited with them over the weekend.
Saturday was Homecoming so we gathered for a tailgate with BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministry) and the game against Duke. I ended up taking all my pictures at the tailgate and game. It was a good thing though as I was distracted visiting with everyone :)

Myself, Meredith and Ashley

Two of my disciplers :) Becca (Summer) and Tara (Sr yr)

Myself, Ashley and Becca

My and Laura's girls picture with a special appearance by Jon haha

SummerLINK Roommies!!! I miss sharing a room with this sweet sister!

31-7 Go Tigers!! :)

One of my favorites haha Heath is making a joker face and Emily is trying to give him
distance bunny ears. (I was distracting Jason and Nick from watching the game haha )

Two of our Generation Link staff guys: David (youth) and Jon (college)

Our University President, James Barker, carrying the Clemson flag!
He ran it down the stands right to the student section!!

Saturday evening, we all had dinner at Just More Barbecue. Its definitely a Clemson experience. I never went as a student (I know....bad tiger! :( ) so it was also a new one for me. Here's Brandy's pictures and thoughts on the evening :)
On Sunday, we had a luncheon after church to invite college students to hear about SummerLINK (summer missions opportunities) and GenerationLINK (year-long opportunities). There was a great turnout! We're so excited to watch God bring together next year's team of student staff to serve with Crosspoint Bluffton and Crosspoint Clemson.
I got the opportunity to stay a couple of extra days in Clemson to meet with my discipler, Amy and attend my old CP group. It's always a treat to get more time with my church family. I leave the time so refreshed. The visit went by quickly but it was wonderful to see so many wonderful friends.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. God Bless!

Fireproof

It doesn't mean the fire wont come, just that you'll be able to stand up against it when it does....

Mom and I went to see FireProof today. This has to be one of the best movies I've seen in awhile! To me, it was a visual depiction of so many things I've been learning about relationships in the last year. Crosspoint has been such an amazing blessing in providing theologically sound counsel on what God-honoring relationships should look like. I've also been blessed to spend time with some of the married women in the church. They and their husbands exemplify these God-honoring relationships. I'm so thankful that the church loves its members enough to make the spiritual health of couples and families a priority.Another great resource that's been a blessing to me recently is a sermon series from Mark Driscoll at Mars Hill church. Peasant Princess has been a blessing of incite into what individuals who desire a God-glorifying relationship should be striving for.
I've heard on a couple of occasions that the characteristics and attributes of a Godly wife and mother arent granted at the end of the aisle or in the delivery room- they must be cultivated over time. So even though the movie is focused on a marriage and the sermon series does mainly address married couples, there is so much so singles to learn as well. Relationship strains are so often caused by some sort of sin or selfishness. God's been so gracious in working on me in this area. My boyfriend, Matt, and I have been learning so much about what it means to glorify God and serve one another in a relationship. Of course, I'm in no way saying we have it figured out! Growing closer to the Lord as we learn together has been such a humbling blessing. I'm looking forward to how He'll continue to grow us as He reveals more of Himself and His plan for our sanctification.

Staff Retreat

Last week, I had the opportunity to join the Generation LINK Staff for the fall retreat. We went to Columbia to hear Dr. Robert Coleman speak about his book, The Master Plan of Evangelism. The book discusses Jesus' ministry on earth and how we should be following His example of evangelism now. The staff very much enjoyed the opportunity to hear Dr. Coleman speak and discussing the topic as a staff as well.
Something that stood out to me relates to the importance of Evangelism. Dr. Coleman said that without Evangelism (which cannot be entirely separated from Discipleship), the church does not exist in future generations. The Master Plan of Evangelism concludes with an also convicting truth: our aim as disciples turned disciplers and evangelists should be that those we disciple would also take on this great responsibility. "The criteria on which a church should measure its success is not how many new names are added to the role nor how much the budget is increased, but rather how many Christians are actively winning souls and training them to win the multitudes."
"Note, it is not enough to rescue the perishing, though this is imperative; nor is it sufficient to build up newborn babes in the faith of Christ, although this, too, is necessary if the firstfruit is to endure; in fact, it is not sufficient to just get them out winning souls, as commendable as this work may be. What really counts in the ultimate perpetuation of our work is the faithfulness
with which our converts go and make leaders out of their converts, not simply more followers."
Even though it is good to share with others and help bring them into a life-changing relationship with Christ, it should not stop here. We should strive to train disciples so that they are equipped and desire to do the same ensuring that the message does not stop but spreads through the nations.

Here are a few pictures of the staff's time together.

This was Davids car after driving through the Kneece's farm. We had a great time touring the farm and wooded property nearby. We even got to pick some wild cotton. The boys really enjoyed seeing some of the large farm equipment. The girls did well on our mini outdoors adventure taking in the beautiful surroundings.

We took a few group pictures as its not often we're all able to be together. Annie is now working in Bluffton and a couple of the Clemson staff members are still support raising.

Generation LINK Staff 2008-2009

Generation Link Men:
Associate and College Pastor, Jeremy
Ronnie- Worship Leader, Tanner- Music Ministry
Jon- College Ministry
David- Youth Ministry
Matt- College Ministry, Pastoral Assistant
Generation LINK Ladies:
Tracey- Women's Ministry, College Ministry
Ashley- Preschool, Media
Annie- Children's Ministry, Crosspoint Bluffton
Tara- College Ministry
Amy- Mercy Ministry and Children

I'm so thankful for such a wonderful staff team! Each member clearly seeks to serve the Lord out of an overflow of their hearts. I've learned so much from them and I'm greatly looking forward to serving with them.