A New Face On Campus - Finding Campus Support
Over the years we have taken on various initiatives to support students from campus food bank, to meals, and wellness resources. We are taking on a bigger step than we have ever before by bringing on a part-time associate chaplain! As a small charity we don't have the ability to just save up funds and then hire them with a salary, it requires that they reach into their own spheres and raise support, a daunting task. This may be the biggest challenge and hurdle we have had finding the support since almost no one wants to take this on. When I began GraceFinder this was certainly a difficult task for me too (Bryan). When Julia walked up to our table and asked what it would take to be a chaplain, we knew we needed to find a way to help her join us and not let that support challenge hinder her helping students.
So we are making a bigger ask than we ever have before and maybe it seems beyond what is possible (goal is 10000). Yet we believe the cause is great as she has already shown her support in our bridge building to reach out with hot chocolate and muffins (lead to so many discussions), week of welcome lemonade and cookies, drop in conversations where students are struggling, and energy to help us remember how much it helps to mentor a new generation to join our mission.
Thanks so much for your support. Any gift matters - $25 - $100 helps with her expenses in taking out students and group snacks; $100 - $200 provides training resources; $500 covers half a month salary; $1000 covers a basic month of support. Beyond that will cover her for up to a semester. While she plans to be bi-vocational, we know that the work on campus is certainly available with over 40000 students, a small city.
Here are Julia's words requesting your prayers and support:
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There are so many different areas and opportunities for me to serve at the university. Please pray that I would have discernment in determining where God wants me and in how to manage my time and not commit to too many things.
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Please pray for connections to be made with students! Specifically, please pray for the students who signed up for our book club! Pray that they would feel compelled to come, their hearts would be prepared and open to discuss faith, and that they would bring a friend or two. Please also pray for Lisa and I as we meet with them and decide what book to read.
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Please also pray for support. While I am more than happy to volunteer, I would love to be able to spend more time on campus and working with students. As it stands, I still need to work 30-35 hours/week off campus to get by. I would love for 10 of these hours each week to be at the University; financial support is necessary to make this happen.
