October Prayers and Praises

Praises:

• Don decided to follow Jesus!
• 18 UVU students attended Fall Conference
• 25 Dixie students showed interest in a Bible study by giving us their contact information and 15 students came to an event to hear more about InterVarsity! Also, during this time, we met one of the new deans at the school and found out that he was involved with InterVarsity and wants to help us!

Prayers:

• Pray that God would call one of the ten interns who visited to go on staff at Dixie State and/or that God would call someone else to this campus with no other Christians clubs/organizations.
• Pray that students who heard from God at Fall Conference that they would continue to be obedient to Him and that those who committed or recomitted lives to Christ would grow in Him.
• Pray that student leaders continue to persevere in inviting students and discipling students. We have been teaching on faithfulness, time management, and Sabbath. Please pray for them in these key areas.
• Small group leadership training Nov. 4-6th in Orem. Pray that students would recognize this as an investment in their spiritual growth and come. Pray that they would learn well and be able to go back and lead good small groups on their campuses. 

September Praises and Prayers

Praises

• Chris got baptized this month!
• We have had 30 students at UVU consistently attending both Bible studies and game nights
• We have had many non-Christian students involved this semester
• We have 15 students registered for fall conference!

Prayer Requests

• Sept. 30-Oct. 2nd Fall Conference: We would love to see more students register for fall conference in the next week.  Also, prayers that students would make decisions of faith (first time or recommitment) and that all of our students would experience God during this time. You can be lifting up our speakers (Brad, Amy, and Mac) as well.
• Dixie State: Please pray for Justin as he continues to go to Dixie even when the soil seems hard. He has had around 5 students interested in InterVarsity. Also, we have an InterVarsity intern team visiting Dixie in October. Please pray that one of these interns would LOVE and be CALLED to do full time ministry at Dixie State. 
• Continued Bible study attendance: As the semester goes on, Bible study seems to be less of a priority for students. Please pray that students would continue to place Jesus at the forefront of their lives.
• Non-Christian students: We are working with many non-Christians right now both one on one and through Bible studies. Please pray that as we study passages about God's mercy and grace (our Bible study focus this semester) that these students would recognize their need for Him and place their faith in Him. 

Picture Fun

Some of our wonderful friends have been helping us by praying for students on campus (Adventure Church American Fork) and loving international students (CenterPoint Church).  

Minute to win it. Find 5 gummy bears with only your mouth in a plate full of whipped cream!

This year we decided to do a fantasy football draft with our students! Justin and Samantha and 8 students are participating.

Minute to win it. Eat the donut on a string using only your mouth
.

August & Early September Prayers and Praises

Praises:

• We have a new faculty advisor! Her name is Jia and she is a Christian, Chinese American mathematics professor. Praise God that we have this new partner in the gospel!
• Our regional staff conference was incredible and inspiring. We learned about the power of the Holy Spirit and we hope to see that power on our campuses this semester!
• The planning for the fall is complete! After spending a lot of time listening, we really feel excited about what we have heard from the LORD and what we have planned.

Prayer Requests:

August 19th is the first day of our fall leadership retreat and Monday, August 22nd is the first day of classes! Would you commit to praying for us one day this weekend and at least one weekday? Here are some specific prayer requests:

*Pray that at the retreat our student leaders would get excited about this year and about what God wants to do on their campuses.
*Pray that at the retreat all of us would hear from the Spirit this weekend as we listen to God for His direction. And that we would be obedient to what we hear.
*Pray that we would meet missional Christian students on campuses THIS NEXT WEEK that want to be involved with InterVarsity.
*Pray that MANY new friendships would be formed in the next 4 weeks.
*Pray that we meet many non-Christians who are curious or seeking.
*Pray that students from Dixie State would be faithful in coming to small group and bringing their friends.
*Pray that we would fill each of the three small groups at UVU.
*We will have an info table at UVU Monday-Friday. Please pray that this table attracts many students and that we can cast vision for why they should check out InterVarsity.
*Pray that we would meet International students and dancers from UVU. (We are specifically trying to reach these two groups)

*The first Bible studies will begin the second week of school (week of Aug. 29th) at both Dixie and UVU. Pray that many students would come to hear the Gospel - we will be teaching on the parable of the prodigal son and inviting people to respond. 

THANK YOU!

July Prayer Requests

Praises: Just check out all of the stories from our newsletter!!!

• Additionally, even though we ended the year in a deficit, God provided. Our generous team provided the extra we needed to end the year without debt!

Prayer Requests:

• Our current faculty advisor (necessary to be registered as a club on campus) is pregnant with twins and will not be on staff at UVU for a while. Please pray we find a new advisor before the fall semester. We currently have a few leads but we aren't sure yet if they will work out.
• Justin and Samantha will be participating in both a regional conference and area meeting July 29th-August 4th. Please pray this time is encouraging for them, that the training would be just what they need, and that God would give them a vision for the fall semester at UVU and DSU.
• We lost several financial supporters over the summer but because of Mexico, have had little time to fundraise. Please pray that God would make up for these losses and provide new people to participate in the work we are doing in Utah.
• During the next month, we will be doing most of the planning for the fall semester (leadership retreat, fall conference, new student outreach).  Please be praying that we would have ears to hear what God is saying, that we would be obedient to His guiding, and that God would bless our decisions. 
• We hope to meet with many of our prayer and financial partners in the next month. Pray that our schedules would work out for us to meet with many of you! And pray that in these times we would be able to share the stories of what God has done to His glory. 

Susan and Jane's Story (names changed for privacy)

On the project, we met two Mexican sisters, Jane and Susan. Their family is Catholic but not practicing. They were in Stella and Abby's small group. During the last week, God told Stella to buy each of them a Bible. She gave them these Bibles on the last day of class. The next day, Jane gave Stella a note that said her family only owned one giant Bible that they never read. Because Jane said her faith until now had depended on her parents, she had never read the Bible for herself. She was glad to have a personal Bible and to begin to explore faith for herself. By the time we left Mexico, Jane had already started reading her Bible. :

Laura's Story (name changed for privacy)

We met a student named Laura (name changed for privacy) who was in Rilla and Katie's small group. She is so sweet and by the third week had opened up to us about some significant hardships in her life. During the last week, Katie and Rilla wanted to share the Gospel with her, but so far she hadn't seemed interested in spiritual things. They had no idea how to start the conversation, so they prayed. One day after class, Laura, Katie and Rilla were hanging out and were going to go downtown. On the way, they saw a museum and decided to stop in. At that time, the museum happened to be exhibiting a piece that was a cross with mud smeared on it. As they talked about the meaning of the piece, the girls were able to share that the mud is like our sins and about the beauty of what Christ has done for us. Although Laura did not make the choice to follow Jesus during our time in Mexico, we are incredibly hopeful that God used His Gospel to start something new in her. 

Sandy's Story

Sandy with our supervisor, Brad Bertelsen.

During the project we met a student named Sandy. At the time, she was wandering from her faith as a Christian (& not sure she wanted to be a Christian anymore). After interacting with us for 3 weeks during the project, she has recommitted to following Jesus because of seeing our love for Him, has decided to be involved with COMPA, and has committed to going to COMPA's regional leadership training!!! She even sold pies to fundraise all of the money for the training conference and is fully funded to attend. This is a huge praise and we are so thankful.  After the 3 week English course ended, she posted this to her Facebook Page (apologies for the grammar, it was originally in Spanish):

 God, I thank you for what immensely good you are with me, in the last few months I've filled with blessings and beautiful changes in my life, given me so much longed for in the best way, you have brought peace and love to my heart, Friendships, experiences, opportunities to get closer to you and fill me with what I'm gonna bring blessing and allow me to follow my path according to your rules, I appreciate that you put such good people in my path when I needed it the most and now you I am grateful for this adventure that tomorrow I'm going to embark on. There is no doubt that for the children of the Lord are willing the best things of the world.

I feel so happy and blessed for what I expected, so I do understand, and I thank you for those people who hurt me, because thanks to them I'm discovering how immensely strong that I am and what I can to be better every day, If I'm going to be alone it will be because you're preparing me for something better, and so i accept it, but I also don't forget the people who are always there and I thank you for them, I am grateful for the picture that you offer me also for my profession because of you There is no doubt that I will be more humane and I will give the best of me to make a better world. Thank you for all my family, even those who are not here.

Finally, I would like to ask you to touch the heart of the people who are far away from you, for you to find and change their way of seeing the world and to act on it. They don't keep any grudges. I would also like to ask you not to let go of my loved ones, to my family and me.

I love you,

Amen.

Currently, Sandy is at COMPA's regional leadership camp with other students and staff from COMPA.

Summer Prayer Requests and Praises

Praises:

• God worked in incredible ways this year! We ended the year with over 45 students; we saw 4 students decide to follow Jesus and we had over 10 separate investigative Bible studies with non-Christians. Praise the LORD!
• God met us and carried us through an incredibly challenging year. He taught us more about who He created us to be and how He has gifted us. 
• Our supervisor, Brad, is now back from Sabbatical and will be launching our new area in the upcoming year!
• We have had a fair amount of success with our Air B and B room this year. God has used this very small business as a way of helping provide for our needs. 

Prayer Requests:

• Our summer Bible study begins May 17th and will be held every Tuesday night. We will be studying the book of Exodus. Please pray for our student leaders who will be leading the study most of the summer (since we will be in Mexico). We anticipate around 15-20 students attending and expect non-Christians to come as well. 
• The Mexico GP begins on June 14th. Here are some ways for you to pray:
• We have over 75% of our budget left to raise as a team. Please pray that God would provide for this need.
• We are still finishing the curriculum for the English conversation course.  Please pray for Brad, Samantha, and Justin as we finish putting together this material.
• Pray for our US students that God would be preparing them to make good friendships and to share the Good News. Pray that they would be soft-hearted and ready to engage in another culture.
• Pray for COMPA students and staff as they prepare their end of the project (arranging where students will stay, hiring people to cook for us, arranging the class location and students, etc.). Also, pray that this project would be a blessing to them and not a hassle. We want to leave them with new students who are interested in participating in their ministry. 
• Pray for us as we make the preparations for the class, the orientation, the flights, etc. And as we lead students, teach them about leadership and cross-cultural engagement, and handle conflict and adversity. 
• Help us by praying in advance for the upcoming school year. During the summer, we spend time thinking strategically about the next school year, dreaming of what could happen, listening to God, and planning some of the key trainings and events. 

March Praises and Prayer Requests

Praises:

• One of our students made a commitment to following Jesus at camp!
• Two of our students made commitments to repent from specific sin at camp.
• God met students at camp and changed their stories.
• We finalized our student team for the Mexico Global Project.
• Samantha's Lasik surgery went well.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for all of the students from UVU who made commitments at camp to continue in these commitments, even as they face spiritual warfare and temptation.
• Pray specifically for one female student who is incredibly close to making a first time decision to follow Jesus. She was on the fence at camp; she said she wanted to stand up but she wanted to make sure she could follow through on following Jesus. 
• Pray that students would finish well. Students are still meeting one on one with non-Christians, meeting for small group Bible studies, and meeting for prayer. There is still time for God to work in all of these areas in the next three weeks. 
• Pray for our two graduating student leaders - Jessica and Alyssa - as they make decisions regarding their futures. We will be meeting with them over the course of the next month to talk about how they can transition into the "real world" and continue in the way of Jesus.
• Pray for the Mexico GP. Justin and Samantha will be raising $2600 and each of the students will raise $2800. The next two months will be critical in this process. Also, please pray for Brad, Justin and Samantha as they plan the curriculum for the English classes they will be teaching. Names of US team members: Katie, Shanan, Blake, Ben, Abby, Crystal, Stella, Alyssa, Rilla, Brad, Justin and Samantha. 
• Continue to pray that God would send more staff to Southern Utah so that we can be more fully present on each of our campuses. 

February Praises and Prayers

Praises:

• My trip to Mexico City was amazing and incredibly helpful in preparing to lead our trip this summer and being motivated for the trip. 
• God blessed the outreach at UVU and we were able to start several new GIGs out of this.
• We have around 15 students committed to camp so far. 
• We were able to take some much needed time off to go camping.
• An intern team has committed to doing a training at Dixie State next fall (we hope that out of this experience one of these interns might be called by God to go on staff there). 
• Our faith dialogue went incredibly well and we are planning a follow-up event!

Prayer Requests

• Dixie State: we have had a difficult semester at Dixie.  It has been a struggle to get students to meet with us (because of their schedules). Please pray that God would raise up Christian leaders who are gatherers and who are missional.
• USU Eastern: Even after two days of tabling on campus, we have not found any other Christian students.  Please pray God would send us a Christian student to lead the Bible study or that one of the current Bible study members would decide to follow Jesus and be willing to take over the study. 
• CAMP:  Pray for Justin and Samantha as they prepare to teach students for 8 hours a day.  Also pray that more students would commit to coming and that any barriers (including finances) would be torn down. We are also seeking a church to spend the night at on our way to camp (our usual church is unavailable); please pray that we would find a willing host. 
• Samantha's Prayer for camp: That my Old Testament class would come away with a picture of the whole story of Scripture.  Also, that they would have new confidence that God is unchanging, that He has always had a plan to restore us to Himself, that the Old Testament is vital to our understanding of the New Testament, and that it's okay to engage with the parts of Scripture we don't like or don't understand.
• Justin's Prayers for camp: Please pray that the Mark 1 class would grow in their understanding of who Jesus is and what He has to offer.  Also, that they would grow a new love for the Bible, learn how to study the Bible for themselves, be healed in areas God wants to heal, and grow in community with one another. 
• GIGs - Please pray for Rilla, Vianney, Jessica and Shanan as they lead GIGs with non-Christian students.  Please pray for Alyssa, Zach, and our other student leaders who are trying to start a GIG with a friend that they have. Every single person who has come to faith in our UVU chapter has been involved in a GIG.  Pray that these students choose to follow Jesus as they study Scripture with our leaders!

January 2016 Prayers and Praises!

Praises

• 681 people made a first time decision or recommitment to follow Christ at Urbana!
• God truly used Urbana to give us the refreshment and vision we needed to start a new year of ministry in Utah.
• We were able to raise the money we needed in December to make up for our deficit.

Prayer Requests

• Jan. 11-14th we will have a table at UVU to share InterVarsity's vision with students and invite them to study the Bible with us. Our students want to get 70 new contacts to follow up with. Please pray with us for these 70 people!
• January 16th we will have a day retreat for our UVU students. We will be training students in small group leading, how to lead a one on one Bible study, and casting vision for the new semester. Please pray that many of our Christian students who are not yet leaders would choose to attend. 
• January 19th-20th we will have information tables at Dixie State and Utah State Eastern. Please pray that we would meet Christian students who are willing to help plant these chapters, lead Bible studies, and invite their friends. 
• January 26th - Samantha and Brad go to Mexico city for the Global Program director training. Pray for their travel and that they would listen for how God would like us to use this training for our program this summer. 
• We would love to see more students at all of our campuses involved in regular, weekly prayer. Please pray God would give more students the vision and perseverance to pray for their campus and their peers. 

Thank you for your prayers!