Maci Bryant
Let me start with a bit of a back story. I came to Tarleton kicking and screaming. I swore up and down that I would never be caught wearing purple and attending the campus that I so loathed. Why in the world would I want to go there? There was nothing to be offered for me, or so I thought. You see, when I transferred in at the beginning of the Spring 2016 semester, I was acting like anything but a Christian. I was caught in a relationship that was so undoubtedly disappointing to the Lord and all of the people that knew about it. I moved out of my house, which is about an hour away, having burned so many bridges that I felt completely alone....That is when it happened. My cousin, who was and still is a part of the BSM, invited me to come. Actually, he told me I was going, and looking back at that moment, I am so glad he did. You see, when I walked in, I felt dirty. My sin had begun to encompass and overtake my life, leaving me in complete darkness, unable to see any way out of the pit I was in. But let me tell you what I walked into when I walked in to the doors of the BSM that first Thursday night of the semester. I walked into what would soon become my family. I walked into a room of believers that spoke grace, truth, life, and love into my being. I walked into a room where I would meet a girl who would mentor me and love me for the rest of my time in Stephenville. I walked into a room where I could call any number of people at any time of the day if I needed anything. I walked into a room of people who would grab my hand and begin pulling me out of the deep, dark pit I was in. I walked into a room of people who would help me pick up the pieces of my life that I had so recently shattered due to my poor decisions. I walked into a room of people that would help connect me so that I could serve in Peru, which was a trip in which God really molded my heart. I walked into a room of people who I would soon call some of my very best friends.
Allen Day
Century, Florida
*update from GoNow Missions "Snapshots from the Field" newsletter
Allen is working with a prison ministry in Florida this summer.
"God has used me to minister in a very powerful way to Latino inmates at the prison in Century, Florida. I work closely with the chaplain, but most of my interaction is with inmates. There is almost no Hispanic culture in our area of west Florida, so these men often feel isolated and marginalized. All of them were from south Florida, Orlando, or even as far away as South America.
"God has used me to minister in a very powerful way to Latino inmates at the prison in Century, Florida. I work closely with the chaplain, but most of my interaction is with inmates. There is almost no Hispanic culture in our area of west Florida, so these men often feel isolated and marginalized. All of them were from south Florida, Orlando, or even as far away as South America.
The chapel hosts a Spanish service but had no one from the outside to preach or participate. I was worried that my broken Spanish wouldn't be good enough but I agreed to preach. I also learned that these men never hear new music from the outside, so I taught them some new Spanish worship songs. The first was called 'Hay Libertad.' It means 'there's freedom.' These 30 or so guys were just glad that I was there. It meant even more that I took time to teach them from the Bible and sing about freedom through faith in Jesus that no circumstances can take away. I'm learning what's truly possible when I write a blank check to God with my life. I might wind up in a prison in the Deep South ministering to Latinos. I wouldn't have it any other way. 'Home' is wherever I can make disciples."
P.J. Prewitt
Eugene, Oregon
*update from GoNow Missions "Snapshots from the Field" newsletter
P.J. is a recent graduate who is in the middle of doing Collegiate Ministry in Oregon for a year.
"I have found the word 'work' to be one of the hardest words to define when speaking about ministry here in the Northwest. In the American context, most define work as space to complete a task or an hourly fulfilment. However, these examples are constructed with a beginning and an ending. Work is merely the time in between.
The work I'm part of here redefines and challenges the concept because I am always on the clock with my students. I travel, eat, I feel pain and live life with them every day. The international students who I minister to are in need of a friend who can answer the awkward cultural questions, give advice about relationships and all around help them succeed while they are here. Throughout these conversations I am able to share what is most important to me, faith in Christ. I am, but not limited to, being a travel agent, counselor, friend, etiquette coach and spiritual advisor and I love every minute of it."
Eugene, Oregon
*update from GoNow Missions "Snapshots from the Field" newsletter
P.J. is a recent graduate who is in the middle of doing Collegiate Ministry in Oregon for a year.
"I have found the word 'work' to be one of the hardest words to define when speaking about ministry here in the Northwest. In the American context, most define work as space to complete a task or an hourly fulfilment. However, these examples are constructed with a beginning and an ending. Work is merely the time in between.
The work I'm part of here redefines and challenges the concept because I am always on the clock with my students. I travel, eat, I feel pain and live life with them every day. The international students who I minister to are in need of a friend who can answer the awkward cultural questions, give advice about relationships and all around help them succeed while they are here. Throughout these conversations I am able to share what is most important to me, faith in Christ. I am, but not limited to, being a travel agent, counselor, friend, etiquette coach and spiritual advisor and I love every minute of it."
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