It’s June which can only mean one thing within the ROC community… it’s camp season! Yes, we absolutely love camp. For the past several years ROC has sent camp teams to Ohio Valley Christian (just about 20 minutes south of Athens for those unfamiliar) to serve and love the students who attend there. This year was no exception. ROC’s year-long intern Maggie Hoover teamed up with another former ROC intern Evan Lynch, and our Rio Grande Minister Josh Beck to help lead Senior High Week. Additionally several ROC students including Noah Crihfield, Caden Mayle, and Trey Vaughan have been serving as faculty at the camp throughout the summer.
One of the reasons we love camp is the opportunity to see students respond to Christ and take their first steps in faith. This year was particularly special for me as I was able to witness my son baptize one of the campers during middle school week of camp. Please join me in praying that God would continue to bless the efforts of all our ROC students and staff as they continue serving the remainder of the month.
June also saw our student leaders come together from all across the country via Zoom meeting to plan out fall semester. As I’ve said before ROC isn’t just a ministry TO college students, it’s a ministry OF college students. Our student leaders are an essential part of what makes ROC such an incredible place to “Belong, Become, and Be Sent.” For 90 minutes our leaders laughed, made fun of my poor grasp of technology, and planned out an exciting fall calendar aimed at reaching new students, helping them plug into the ROC community, and grow in their relationship with Jesus.
With July just around the corner we are getting very excited to once again return to New Orleans to serve with Crossroads Missions. This trip will mark my 11th year leading teams to the Crescent City to serve and love others in Jesus’ name. Our team will be departing Ohio on July 8th and will return on the 16th. Once again, we would covet your prayers for our team as we travel there and back, that God would not only watch over us, but work in and through us during our time there as well.
Finally, I know August may seem like a long way off, but don’t forget that ROC’s annual Cookie Outreach will be here before you know it. For those unfamiliar, ROC has for many years (long before my tenure as campus minister) handed out free cookies during move-in. Our friends, supporters, and local churches have been such an amazing partner in this ministry. We absolutely could not pull this off without you. (Plus if you’d ever try the cookies I bake you wouldn’t want me to try!) Please look for more details in next month’s update about how you or your church can get involved in this incredible outreach!
As always, please know how much we love and appreciate each one of you who continually lift our staff, students, and volunteers up in prayer.
Blessings,
– Dodger