Fall 2020 Semester is coming to a close!

Psalm 46

One evening I was hanging out with some students by a bonfire and we were lamenting the brokenness in our world and how we have tangibly experienced it this year. Specifically, the pandemic and the political unrest in our country has made it a difficult semester. A lot of students are confused or saddened. Many have had difficult semesters with the social isolation that has inevitably been part of this pandemic.
In this moment by the bonfire as we lamented together, one of our students quoted Psalm 46 from memory.

God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Large Group

By God's grace, we have been able to have large group every Wednesday this semester. At the beginning of the fall, the prediction was that we would only stay in school for about a month before Covid cases would once again shut down the university. However, we have been able to stay in school the entire semester.
This has been such a blessing as we have been able to have 11 large groups with 3 more to go. We have had the privilege to hear from some wonderful preachers who have graciously offered their time to come speak to the RUF at MSU.

One of the 6:30 large groups about midway through the semester. We have split into two large group events to safely seat all the students.

Freshmen Bible Study

Our freshmen Bible study has been awesome this year. I (Grant) have gotten the opportunity to lead this semester since we have not had a campus minister. Getting to lead discussion with the freshmen has been such a privilege and blessing in my life. We have been studying key theological topics such as justification and sanctification.
Anne Michal and I have been able to see massive growth amongst our freshmen class this year. We have been hosting two Bible studies to accommodate space so we can safely meet on campus.

Freshmen Bible Study a few weeks ago. On this day we studied a passage in John 15.

Birthday Picnic Dinner

Due to Covid regulations, our students who plan parties have had to get very creative to host events that are fun and safe. Our students came up with the brilliant idea to split our RUF group into their birthday months and have a picnic with Chick-Fil-A catered. By splitting our group into smaller portions, we were able to eat together one Friday night. During this time we also played trivia (it was very fun and full of laughs).
We wanted to give a special thank you to our donors. With your support we were able to have Chick-Fil-A cater this event. It truly was a blessing.

One of the many birthday groups decided to make a Chick-Fil-A tower during trivia night.

Community Groups

Community groups have been one of our main avenues of ministry this semester. In the past, we have had 3-4 community groups a semester. This semester we have 12! Our hope was with a large number of groups meeting on different days and at different times, a student could find a time and day that worked with their schedule. Our student leaders have done such a good job this year facilitating community and spiritual growth in these groups.
The groups are studying Galatians this semester and as I (Anne Michal) meet with the leaders weekly, it has been a joy to watch them tackle a challenging book and also go out of their way to invite people to their community groups. I have also talked with multiple students who have found Christian community through these groups and, in a semester that is majority online, are so thankful to have a found a group to study the Word with in person.

Many of the community group leaders are in this picture.

Special Thanks

It has truly been an amazing semester, despite the difficulties of the pandemic and not having a campus minister this fall. We have seen the Lord work tremendously in our hearts and the hearts of the students here at Mississippi State. We have been able to host a lot of events and seen plenty of new faces at large group.
We have specifically seen the Lord work in bringing freshmen to RUF. It has been especially hard for this group as their senior years' of high school were drastically altered by Covid. Likewise, their fall semester has been much different than expected. Your support has enabled us to speak the Gospel and meet college students in their loneliness in a very isolated season of life. Because of you there are countless freshmen who have found friends and a community within RUF. It has been a joy to witness.
Thank you again.

Prayer Requests

Clarity as we look toward the future. We are considering staying on for a third year of the internship (more to come on this in the next newsletter).
Energy for the rest of the semester. There has been more work than usual since we have not had a campus minister.
The students as they finish up the semester. Many are tired and ready to be home for winter break.
Our new campus minister, Joe Johnson, and his family. They are moving into town soon and he will officially start on January 1st.

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