Summer Missions '09

Today, Crosspoint Church Clemson held its student appreciation service commissioning seniors, students serving this summer across the nation and the world and Crosspoint SummerLINK teams. (yes, teamS! SummerLink, just in its second year, is expanding! God is GOOD!)

I couldn't be more excited for this years' teams! The largest will be returning to Hilton Head/Bluffton on May 28! Here are excerpts from a friends' support letter sharing what SummerLINK 09 will entail (he is one of the 2 returning students and there will be a number of returning staff!)

Crosspoint is a church committed to making disciples in Clemson, the state of South Carolina, and abroad. Over the last year, Crosspoint commissioned a team of church-planters to move to the lowcountry of South Carolina to plant a new church, Crosspoint Bluffton, located across the river from Hilton Head Island, and they are in the process of sending out another church planter this May as well as developing an international partnership with church planting in South Asia. This summer I have the opportunity to partner with Crosspoint Clemson and two church plants in the Lowcountry of South Carolina to take part in a missions project called Summer LINK that will allow me to put my faith into action. I will accompany a team of 40 other college students to the Hilton Head/ Bluffton area of South Carolina. You may be asking why Hilton Head/Bluffton? The Hilton Head/Bluffton area is one of the fastest growing areas in South Carolina and approximately 70% of the area is unchurched and continuously more people are moving in. As the area grows and diversifies, there will be a great opportunity to reach many for the Gospel of Christ. The purpose of our ten-week missions project is to help these church plants build relationships in the community and impact the Kingdom for God’s glory. While we are there, we will get jobs in the community so that we may influence our co-workers for Christ. As people begin a personal relationship with Christ, we will be able to connect them to a church body so that they can continue to grow to spiritual maturity. The relationships that we build within the community will be a great catalyst for helping the church plants to continue to gain momentum. It is our hope and prayer to see a thriving, biblically sound church that is having a tremendous impact in the community. During Summer LINK, I will also participate in a small group Bible study and be discipled each week by a staff member. On the weekends, we will do outreaches in the community to serve the local church plants. It is exciting to think about how I will return to Clemson in the fall equipped to impact my campus and serve my local church. I feel that this summer will be a great investment of my time, energy, and resources as God uses us to touch peoples’ lives for eternity.


The second team is SummerLINK Clemson. This group will have a similar structure to SL HH but will be working with the staff in Clemson. This team will be an incredible blessing to Crosspoint as the church will move locations over the summer! The team will also be blessed, though, as they also participate in discipleship, study, and serve together. Its so exciting to see this amazing outreach grow! The Generation LINK website has more information on both programs!

The third team will be going on a short-term (about 10 days) vision trip to INDIA!!! Several '08 SummerLINKers will be going on the trip! A couple who served with Crosspoint Bluffton and the S'LINK team last year, will be moving to India as full time workers in the field in the next year. They will continue to be a blessing to Crosspoint as the church as a whole has chosen to pursue South Asia (particularly India) in overseas outreach. It is hopeful that in years to come there will be an overseas SummerLINK! This trip is the culmination of a great deal of seeking the Lord on His direction for Crosspoint. The church staff has been so faithful in encouraging the church body to cultivate hearts for the lost all over the world. Next year's staff team will include an intern in international ministry.

I've been so blessed to learn from brothers and sisters with incredible hearts for the Lord and for making disciples in all nations. I've learned that Clemson is God's campus-- we have just been entrusted as stewards.
As many of my friends prepare for the coming weeks of concentrated (as we should be ministering daily!) ministry, I wanted to share these great praises as well as ask that you lift up my sweet brothers and sisters in prayer. SummerLINK was a very faith stretching and strengthening experience. It will be an amazing summer for them but also one of trusting the Lord from support raising through relationship building and learning of areas the Lord wants to grow them.
**Pray for their support raising (all 3 teams as well as GenerationLINK interns!) to
provide for the summer but also to prepare their hearts
**Pray for their job searchs to lead them to the right place of ministry for the
summer
**Pray for prepared hearts of both the teams and those they will be ministering to
**Pray for strength in trusting the Lord and obedience following His instruction
**Pray for unity in the teams and transperency in Bible Studies as they grow
together
**Pray for safety in travels especially for the India team
**Pray as the Lord leads! He knows the needs of these teams better than even they
do!