New SLO Crusade Housing Board!

We are really excited to announce that the SLO Crusade housing board is up and running to help you get connected.  We have completely redesigned the site to make it easier than ever to find a roommate or a place to live.  Once you go to the site just create an account and you will be able to create new posts and comment on listings. So if you, or someone you know is looking for a place to live check out the housing board.

The housing board can be found by clicking on the link at the top of this site, or at slocrusade.com/housing

What is Slo Crusade doing at Cuesta College?

I  have really been enjoying working with the Cuesta Community College. Four years ago our only presence on that campus was a men’s bible study, now we have about 60 students involved. It was so fun to be part of a recent planning time with a leadership team of 15 students for the up coming semester of how to reach Cuesta for Christ. We started the semester off last week serving free hot chocolate and a crusade flier taped to the cup while it was pouring rain. This made the hot chocolate very popular. Please continue to pray with us, as our students really feel God is telling us to focus less on socials and more on reaching the campus with the Gospel and prayer.

If you want to get involved join the CUESTA SLO CRUSADE Facebook Group

Post by Kevin Lamb 5th year Sr. Slo Crusade Staff

Haiti Response

There is still so much help needed.

Put together a Crisis Care Kit and drop it off at Slo Crusade’s weekly meeting.

Each Crisis Care Kit includes the following new items in a 2-gallon ziploc bag:

• 1 medium sized bottle of shampoo (12-18 oz)
• 2 bars of soap
• 1 medium toothpaste (4-6 oz)
• 3 toothbrushes
• 1 box of bandaids (30 or more)
• 1 fingernail clipper
• 1 sturdy hair comb
• 2 hand towels (no wash cloths)
• 4 pocket-sized packages of facial tissue
• 1 small stuffed toy (beanie baby sized)
• $2 for shipping

If you’d like to give, simply go to http://www.gainusa.org

Loving God First

It is difficult sometimes when ministry becomes a full time occupation to put ministry second. It is after all the will, and command of God that we seek to save the lost. But there are so many things that pass me by, that I miss, that I mess up, or that I wish I did better. It is so easy for me to attempt to make up for my mistakes by doing more, or trying to make up on my own. But in my attempts to do better I make more mistakes, and this cycle could continue on forever. On my own, ministry fails, and becomes a heavy burden, and many times it even pulls me away from my relationship with God. This is a struggle that I have been especially wrestling with lately.

So as I was going through John 14, a few verses really stood out and summarize what God has been teaching me these past few months. The first was John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” It’s so easy to place burdens ourselves, to try to commit to doing better, to have strength and courage on our own. But this isn’t the way we are suppose to be living. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus responded in Mat 22:37-40

‘And He said to him, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND. “This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”‘

If we just follow that one command, loving God, everything else that we should be doing, how we should be living, a heart for lost students on campus, it will all follow. And so our call to share the Gospel with the lost, to feed the hungry and protect the weak become not burdens, but our joy, as we come closer to God and allow His love to change us. As Jesus tells us in Mat 11:28-30

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

It is still so amazing to me that Jesus wouldn’t just come and save me from all my sin, but would then care about the comfort of my soul. I have been so thankful for this renewed perspective that God has been teaching me recently. That as He calls me out to worship and serve Him, it is with joy and praise, returning the love that He first showed me. Knowing that He is doing the work through me, and it is my privilege to be a part of His plan.
I hope this gives some of you encouragement as it has me, in loving God first, and through love following his commandments and design for your life.

Sedric Mart, First year intern

Belief of vs. Followers of

Jamey’s talk last night at the weekly meeting on faith and works really coincides with what God has been teaching me in my life this past month. I’ve listened to a number of sermons by Matt Chandler, Mark Driscoll, JR Vassar, and John Piper on various topics, but the relationship between works and faith/why we do good works if we are saved by grace through faith, has presented itself as the common theme. The topic of faith and works is widely discussed among the countless world religions including Christianity. In Christianity and the gospel of grace, we believe that we cannot work our way to heaven; it is a free gift from God through faith in Jesus Christ (Eph 2:8-9). As mentioned at the weekly meeting, in James 2 it discusses faith and works by saying, ”…The demons believe and tremble… ” and “…faith without works is useless” (some translations say dead). Jamey Pappas explained to us that these verses aren’t contradictory; in fact, they support the same message of true belief in Jesus. He explained that there is a difference in the belief IN something and the belief OF something.

Another way to put it, and what God has been teaching me this past month is that we (Christians) are called to be FOLLOWERS of Christ not just believers of Christ. If we have a belief OF Christ, then it is an acknowledgement of Christ’s existence and nothing more. If we are followers of Christ than we believe IN Him and are compelled to live a life that follows Christ’s example (to the best of our abilities). And if we live a life that follows Christ’s example we will be a unified body of action, serving one another, spreading the gospel, and seeing God move in big ways.  The Church, or the body, needs Followers of Christ, not believers Of Christ. God is continually teaching me how to be a follower of Christ.

I leave you with a passage from C.H. Spurgeon’s Lectures to My Students:

“Of all I wish to say this is the sum; my brethren, preach Christ, always and evermore. He is the whole gospel. His person, offices, and work must be our one great, all-comprehending theme. The world needs still to be told of its Saviour, and of the way to reach him. Justification by faith should be far more than it is the daily testimony of Protestant pulpits; and if with this master-truth there should be more generally associated the other great doctrines of grace, the better for our churches and our age.”  (Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, pg.89)

Steve Cairns, First year intern

San Salvador Spring Break 2010!!!

Come join us for the San Salvador Spring Break 2010. In a nutshell the trip is a Fun Cross-Cultural Ministry Opportunity. It is going to look something like a cross between a missions trip, vision trip, Stinter support trip and a regular old Spring Break fun time.

This will be an opportunity to get first hand experience at cross-cultural ministry alongside our STINTers in San Salvador. It is our desire that this trip would connect our heads, hands and hearts to the many aspects of doing ministry in San Salvador.

We will be learning a new culture and bringing the Gospel to Salvadorian College students as we step out in faith and trust the Lord to do amazing things.  We will also be showing love and compassion through community service opportunities which will be done in partnership with GAIN (Global Aid Network) and alongside Salvadorian college students.

All this isn’t enough. Here are some more reasons to get you thinking…

1) El Salvador is beautiful and warm and tropical

2) The STINT team would love the encouragement from you.

3) Many Salvadorian students are lost and need to hear the gospel.

4) If money is an issue, you can raise support for it. God is fully able to meet the needs of those who step out in faith. Don’t ever let money be an excuse to not do something for God

5) The surf is world class

6)It is an awesome trip and you will be bummed if you miss out.

The dates are March 19th through the 27th. There will be an informational meeting on Tuesday following the weekly meeting in the lobby.

If you have any questions feel free to email Jacob Douglas. jacob.douglas@uscm.org

24/7 Prayer Week (Week O’ Prayer)

This next week at the Swanson Center (CLICK HERE FOR MAP) we’re gathering as a movement for five straight days of uninterrupted prayer.  There will be different areas of the Swanson Center sectioned to guide in you prayer for your family, friends, campus and world.  We’d love for you stop by anytime you’re free next week and take some time to encounter God through prayer.

Log into google using the login and password bellow to sign up for a time to be there so we can truly have a week of uninterrupted prayer!  If you have trouble managing the google calendar, just e-mail us at 247prayerwk@gmail.com and we’ll put your name on the calendar for you!

login: 247prayerwk
password: prayer10

Veritas Talks Online

If you were unable to make it to last weeks Veritas discussions, or just want to listen again, the talks are now online.  You can find them here.

Ways you can help with the needs in Haiti now

I’m sure you’re following the sad news regarding the earthquake that hit Haiti Tuesday evening.  Many of you, are asking what can be done to demonstrate the love of Christ in response to this terrible tragedy.  Obviously praying is crucial as they deal with great loss and devastation around them.  Another way you can tangibly be involved would be to give financially.  Slo Crusade is partnering with Global Aid Network (GAiN), the relief and development arm of Campus Crusade for Christ. GAiN already has containers with 1 million meals in it in Haiti and eight more containers of food and critically needed supplies ready to ship to Haiti.  GAiN’s primary need at the moment is financial resources to distribute the goods they have to the people of Haiti.  If you’d like to give, simply go to http://www.gainusa.org

Also, you can put together Crisis Care Kits to be sent over. Each kit  should include the following new items in a 2 gallon ziploc bag:

• 1 medium sized bottle of shampoo (12-18 oz)
• 2 bars of soap
• 1 medium toothpaste (4-6 oz)
• 3 toothbrushes
• 1 box of bandaids (30 or more)
• 1 fingernail clipper
• 1 sturdy hair comb
• 2 hand towels (no wash cloths)
• 4 pocket-sized packages of facial tissue
• 1 small stuffed toy (beanie baby sized)
• $2 for shipping

There will be a table at the weekly meeting to drop them off each week.

If you are having questions where God is in the midst of this tragedy check out the excellent article  “Where is God in the Midst of Tragedy?”

Old wine. New skins.

Not sure if you can relate, but when I don’t have a set book to read through… I find it hard to get into God’s Word on a regular basis.  As such, I chose Luke.  Though I have spent some time here before… the Lord is revealing new things through scripture that I often pass by!  Even still, there are certain passages that I have to read through several times because I do not understand what they are saying!  Is that meant literally?  Figuratively?  And even after the fifth read through… I am thinking, “I still don’t get it.”

Instead of skimming over the passage, I chose to do a little research!  I was told about the website—blueletterbible.com a while ago but never took full advantage of it.  The times I have used it, I can’t seem to choose a commentator out of the 20 listed!  But.  Good news people.  I found one I like!  David Guzik!

I want to share what I learned in Luke 5:33-39.  The passage reads:

“The religious leaders complained that Jesus’ disciples were feasting instead of fasting. “John the Baptist’s disciples always fast and pray,” they declared, “and so do the disciples of the Pharisees. Why are yours always feasting?”  Jesus asked, “Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom?  Someday he will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.”  Then Jesus gave them this illustration: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to patch an old garment. For then the new garment would be torn, and the patch wouldn’t even match the old garment.  And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. The new wine would burst the old skins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins.  New wine must be put into new wineskins.  But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new. `The old is better,’ they say.”

So of course… the questions began.  What does He mean by the clothing?  And the new and old wineskins?  Read through it again… still didn’t get it.  But I found answers!  This passage is between the religious leaders and Jesus.  The first part of the passage has some significance which I could explain, but for our purposes, not important right now.  Let’s discuss the parables of the clothing and the wineskins.  If you have a new piece of clothing, you would not cut a patch out and sew it on the old piece of clothing.  Why?  For obvious reasons—but because the new one is now tainted and the old appears even more aged than before!  Because there is a new, non-faded, refreshed piece of fabric to compare it to.  What He was trying to communicate to the Pharisees is “You can’t fit my new life into the old forms.  I haven’t come to patch up your old practices.  I come with an entirely new set of clothes.”  They were trying to fit Jesus in a “box” if you will—of the old law.  But that is not why He came!  He did not come to put the new wine into the old wineskins.  The new wine (Him) must be put into fresh wineskins, as it would burst through the seams of the old wineskins.  At the end he says “But no one who drinks the old wine seems to want the fresh and the new.  They say, “The old is better.”  The Pharisees did not want the new—they were convinced the old was better.

I think we do this some times!  Jesus tells us:

“… To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” –Ephesians 4:22-24

So why, at times, do we choose to walk in old ways?  We in our sin believe that other ways besides the new ways will satisfy and this will never be true.  Don’t try to fit your old life into the new.  It will not work.  Jesus makes it clear that the fresh and the new are far better.  His wise words are trustworthy and true.  May we do everything we can to cling to the moments we realize the new IS INDEED far better.  And do everything in our power; even to the point of shedding blood (like Jesus did) to flee what is old in our fleshly desires to obey what He is telling us in Ephesians 4.

Passed on to you with the help of blueletterbible.com by: Alyssa Nixon, first year intern.