Passion

Attending the Passion Conference was like going to a spiritual spa. It was so encouraging to see and hear thousands of college students singing praises to “beautiful Jesus . . . brilliant creator . .”. We were lead in that worship by Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman. In one of the main sessions Louie Giglio spoke about facing troubles. The text for his talk was John 16: 33 – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
Louie made the point that the light of Jesus shines most brightly through us when we experience and respond with hope and His peace in our troubles. Have you seen or experienced this?

You can read/hear many of Louie's talks at www.268generation.com

Mark Your Calendars

On Fridays at 6 p.m. beginning September 14th we have planned a supper meal for you (yes, home cooking!) and afterwards we will have a time around The Word. Please grab a friend and join us at Mitchel and Sarah Lee's home. Here is how to find their house - from the corner of North Ave and Bloomingdale Roads go south to the traffic light at Shorewood Road. Turn left (east) and go to the 3rd street which will be Shorewood Court. Turn left again and go straight ahead to # 1169.

The Passion Conference is coming Oct. 19 and 20 to the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates. This is a conference that is specifically for college students. Let's go together.
The Passion movement desires
to see spiritual awakening come to college campuses,
to seek the face of God, and
to ignite a passionate pursuit of God.
Speakers will be Louie Giglio and John Piper
with music by Matt Redman and Chris Tomlin.
Let Diane know by 0ct. 1st if you plan to attend and register online before Oct. 12th.
www.268generation.com The registration fee is $79.

Summer ending

This Saturday evening is the last of the Summer Saturday Services at CF. I have seen many of you there at different times. Your feedback regarding it would be very helpful. You are welcome to post any feedback here or email me at desgt@sbcglobal.net.
Since this is our last Saturday, let's go out afterwards and spend some time talking. I am thinking ice cream.

What have you done with your summer? I had an awesome experience in the Czech Republic. I know some of you also went on missions trips. I would love to hear about your experiences or work or play.

Diane

Worship

Have you been to the new Summer Saturday Worship Service?
What do you think of it? Does it feel like it has been designed for you?
What are you doing this summer to grow spiritually? If you would like to serve at the Sat. worship, you can contact myself or Mitchel or Kevin Sampson.

Here is my prayer for you this summer. It comes from Col 1: 9-12

"We have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strenthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified yu to share in teh inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."

Blessings,
Diane

VA Tech

Today a shooter went on a rampage in a dorm and an academic building at VA Tech. The casualties and fatalities are still being discovered. We feel very vulnerable and violated when violence of this magnitude occurs within the U.S. Has your personal world been shaken by this?
What are you doing to cope? How can we support others at this time?
Diane

Service & Worship

On Saturday, April 28th, CF is participating in CareFest with three other Wheaton churches. This is an opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community. Wheather you have specific skills such as painting or just a willing spirit, you can volunteer to give your time to help an individual or a non-profit organization for one day or even half a day. Please contact Renee Pollino - rlpollino@yahoo.com to volunteer or inquire. Or double your fun by volunteering with a friend.

Beginning Saturday, June 9th, CF will be offering a new 3rd worship service designed and targeted for college students and young adults. This interactive service will be held in the CF lobby at 5:00 - 6:30 p.m on Saturdays. The staff, elders and myself are very excited about this new ministry. Will you partner with us in prayer for the planning and implementation of this new 3rd service? Kevin Sampson and Pastor Dave will be the primary teachers with Mitchel Lee leading the music.

The spring semester is more than half over. Continue to be diligent and persistant in your studies. All your hard work will pay off. Remember to keep your relationship with God a priority. He is our Hope and our Purpose.
Blessings,
Diane

missions opportunity

Are you looking for a missions opportunity for this summer? CF is returning to the Czech Republic July 8 -26, 2007. We are looking for some college students to join the team of high school upper classmen that will be going.
Perhaps you went on a missions trip when you were in high school. Do you remember the impact it had on you? Did you see God's hand at work on your behalf as He provided the funding and support for you to go? Were you aware of God working in you and through you as you served in His name? Of course, God can and does do all these things for us every day right where we are, but for some reason when we are in a new situation we find ourselves depending on Him even more. That was my experience when I served at Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. I learned a lot about the Native American culture and about myself.
Have you got a missions experience story to share with us? There is a link for the Czech trip application. If you are interested, let me know ASAP. The deadline for high school student apps is tomorrow, but college students have a few more weeks. BTW, I am going to the Czech!

A Devastating Truth

I received this article in a World Vision newsletter. So sad... Check it out. What does it make you feel?



An's Story

new study

The book of Acts will be our focus as we consider the topics of
Relationships, Community, and Cultural Impact.
We will be meeting on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. starting this week, Jan. 31st through March 7th at Jess Hollingsworth's home, 1107 Shady Lane, in Wheaton.
I look forward to seeing you at Jess'. Come with a friend.

Directions: From the corner of Geneva Rd. and President Street in Wheaton. Go south on President. Turn left onto Prairie, then right onto Stoddard and right onto Shady Lane.

Do you need a ride?

Please also pray for this ministry as we pray and think ahead to this summer and service opportunities.

The Power of Media

Hey everyone,

I'm thinking through some ways to expose our church and students to the plight of the world's poor and sick. What better way than through movies?

Can you help me compile a list of "must-see" movies that increase our awareness and move our hearts? They don't necessarily have to be social justice movies, nor do they need to be documentaries. I'm looking for movies that expand our perspective on the world.

Here's what I've put down:

• Blood Diamond - great movie about diamond trafficking, human enslavement, and child soldiers
• Hotel Rwanda - movie about fighting between tribes in Rwanda
• Born into Brothels - documentary about children in prostitution district of India
• Tears of the Sun - action movie about genocide in Africa

Anything else that anyone can add?

URBANA Reflections...

Well, I've had a whole day and a half to reflect on Urbana, and I wanted to give you a glimpse of this life-changing event.

I had the privilege and honor (THANK YOU, CF Mission team) to join 10 other people from CF and 22,000 other college-aged, missions-minded, people from 144 nations! We sang in English, Spanish, French, Korean, and even Haitian creole. Most of the mornings were spent studying the book of Ephesians together, and our guys happened into a morning Bible study on the theme of urban poverty and slums.

To make a long story short, I don't know how I can go back to status quo ministry. I've been waiting, praying, and seeking the Lord for a vision for our college ministry. I wanted our fellowship to be more than just a bunch of students coming together and reliving their youth ministry experiences or just being a meat-market to meet some people. I was stuck for a while as I thought about what the Lord has specifically for CF college students. And now, I believe that the Lord is beginning to reveal the unique opportunity we have before us.

I can't go back to ministry about t-shirts and thoughtful Bible studies intended to increase our head knowledge - not when there is a world out there dying of AIDS, living on nothing, living for nothing. I don't think I could live with ministry that just seeks to help college students avoid having sex; not party; get a good job; and make the most of the American dream.

I believe more than ever that God has specially positioned this generation of college students and particularly this generation of CF college students to make a mark on the world by fighting for justice, amplifying the voices of the oppressed, and living out faith in compassion and mercy. I truly believe what I have always said: "True COMPASSION for people can only flow from PASSION for God."

James says it best, "Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."

To that end, I'd like to suggest we alter the purpose of this blog. I'd like you to post via comments your ideas, your passions, your dreams, your prayers. How can we as a fellowship of college-minded Christians humbly work to raise awareness in the generation above us (our parents), and the generation already coming behind us (junior highers, senior highers)?

How can we mobilize ourselves and our generation to respond!? What are the opportunities we have right herein Chicagoland? What have you seen on your campuses? Report in and let's actively pray and see what God brings to our eyes.

So let the new chapter begin...