And we’re back!!! It’s barely the middle of the second week of the semester, but God has already been hard at work doing some incredible things within our community. After a well-deserved break, our students came back recharged for the semester, and are hard at work investing in the ministry of ROC. This semester they will continue to love, serve, and disciple through retreats, podcasts, Bible studies, outreach, mission trips, and more, and they couldn’t be more excited.
Speaking of serving, I’d be remiss if I didn’t share a few thoughts about our recent trip to the Mountain Mission School. In case you weren’t aware, we led a team of 27 people to MMS over OU’s Winter Break. Our team ranged in age from 8 years old (my daughter Ella joined us on her first mission trip) to age… well let’s just say senior adults. Hahaha. This actually marks our third trip to MMS during my tenure as Campus Minister. Each time we go the relationships and bonds we form grow a little deeper, and every time is an absolute blessing. Our students served in a variety of ways from leading dorm devotions for students, to working in the school’s greenhouse to prepare it for spring, to organizing a dodge ball tournament (and subsequently losing to the middle school boys dorm), to digging a ditch and burying electrical conduit, it really seems like we did it all (and had a blast doing it).
Serving is actually a huge part of the culture of ROC. Our students have embraced the idea that serving is a natural response to following Jesus. With that in mind, one of the ways our students will be serving soon will be at the OVCA Jr/Sr High retreat. This coming weekend ROC Students will be teaching workshops, leading small groups, running games and recreation for the annual retreat at camp. Additionally, our worship team will be leading the students in worship during each of the main sessions. I love the connection our ROC students have with local high school and middle school students.
Finally, I wanted to mention that this semester we have been blessed with a ROC intern. Evan Lynch is a member of Pinehurst Christian Church in Marietta, Ohio and is a student at Ohio Valley University. Evan will be assisting with Crosswalk, leading Bible studies, and working alongside our student leaders this semester. We are excited to have Evan with us for the semester. Please join us in praying that Evan is both blessed by, and is a blessing to our community!
As I close, I just want to say that I am excited by the prospect of another year of ministry at ROC! I can’t believe that I am actually closing in on the end of my 6th year here. As I reflect on the past 5 ½ years, I am overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness that has been demonstrated over and over again by ministry partners just like you! Thank you for the crucial role you play in making the ministry of ROC possible… not just for college students, but for high school and middle school students, local churches, students at MMS, and mission fields and ministry partners all around the world. Your support truly impacts the lives of so many. For that I am eternally grateful.
Many Blessings,
-Dodger