We are officially moved and settled in Jackson, Mississippi! We love our duplex and the neighborhood; it is great for our evening walks. Grant jumped right into his new job at First Pres Jackson. He is enjoying the pace of youth ministry like dressing up as Bigfoot to take middle schoolers out to breakfast, leading worship at their weekly large groups, and taking kids to get coffee or lunch.

I just got back from RUF orientation with the new interns, campus staff, and campus ministers. It was a good week of learning more about the role of campus staff, being equipped to fundraise with individuals and churches, and hearing how RUF is growing through planting new RUFs here in the US and in different countries as well. 

One of the most encouraging moments from training was hearing where everyone came from. There were so many people who were new campus staff or campus ministers who have passed through Mississippi State and Texas A&M. One of RUF’s favorite responses when someone asks how RUF is going is, “Ask me in 10 years”. I was encouraged about the future of RUF to see so many people who have passed through those two schools within the last ten years, now in ministry and seeking to reach college students on various campuses.

Jackson Summer RUF

The main part of my job this summer is fundraising so I can be fully funded when school starts in the fall. However, since I have already moved to Jackson, I am part of the Jackson Summer RUF group! Every week, we gather for dinner at someone’s house and then have a speaker (usually a Mississippi campus minister) bring us the Word. This summer, we are going through the I AM statements of Jesus. It has been fun to connect with students from MC but also from around the southeast as their summer jobs have brought them to Jackson. The majority of the group goes to Mississippi schools but I have met students from UVA, Alabama, and Florida Gulf Coast University. It is a good opportunity for students to realize that there are others like them around the country who gather with their RUF every week to learn about the Lord just like they do!

Fundraising Update!

Now for some exciting fundraising news! At orientation, all new campus staff found out that a generous RUF donor had given each of us a $5,000 matching gift! This means that every new one time gift up will be doubled up to that amount. This also is true for new and/or increased recurring gifts: the total will be matched for the entire first year!

Currently, I am about 50% funded for my first year on staff! This is very exciting and encouraging! As a reminder, I need to raise $61,400. Below is a pie chart that breaks down my budget so you can see what all my budget covers. 

I still am in need of new people to partner with me in the ministry of RUF at Mississippi College. If you are interested, please reach out and I would love to talk to you more specifically about what I will be doing! I am also looking for referrals so if you know of anyone who loves campus ministry or women in full time ministry, please pass along their contact info to me and I would love to chat with them! I created a chart below to highlight the different kinds of gifts that I need.

Prayer Requests

I am so thankful for the way you have already supported me over the past three years and have encouraged, prayed, and supported me thus far as campus staff. I am excited to see how the Lord is going to work on campus at MC this fall and I can’t wait to share that with you!