Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 26

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

Day 26:

SO MUCH TO REPORT!!

LET EVERYWHERE YOU WALK BE YOUR PLACE OF MINISTRY...

I will start by saying I had a great day at work today!  The evil one was definitely trying to throw a stick in my spoke so to speak:  I was late getting to work because the train was late.  I was frustrated at first because as a 'punishment' I was given a bad section of tables to serve.  I was frustrated more I think, because I want to be a good example; to be a good steward of the job God has provided.  However, I apologized to the boss and he said "just don't let it happen again", and I confessed to the Father and told Him I want to be a good steward and a light that shines--honoring His name.  ...God in His mercy and grace, used the fact that I was put in a bad/slow section for His glory.  It is amazing how God is sovereign over all and ordains even the minor details.  It never ceases to amaze me.  During the slow time I was able to engage in spiritual conversation with one of my fellow employees. [The training we receive here is definitely worth it and is being implemented almost regularly] God used the tools that I am being equipped with (along with ones that I already had been given, that are being improved) and is speaking through me.  I am merely a vessel, a steward, a child striving to be obedient with the help of the Holy Spirit.  In my conversation with David I was able to give a version of my testimony (see the 3-minute testimony I refer to in earlier posts), and to share the Gospel with Him.  I have been blessed to share the Gospel with many people..and even to lead some to Christ...but this was different.  I did not use the Knowing God Personally guide (I've shared the Gospel without it before), and it was done in a more relational manor as opposed to initiative...it was workplace sharing...done in a more informal manor.  Its had been a blessing from God to have these opportunities and the training.  More important though...it is a blessing to be a vessel for the Holy Spirit...to be equipped with His empowerment and the Truth of God in Christ Jesus.

Something that has also been great about work is its really starting to shape up, to congeal.  I was really questioning "God, why this place, why not a retail store--where I have experience and can bring the acquired experiences back home."  But I really am starting to believe that God has me there specifically for a very detailed and specific reason.  There are people there that God has for me to witness to and He wants me specifically, uniquely me, there for His work.  In addition, it has been both humbling and stretching--getting me out of my comfort zone for sure.  Moreover, because it is on a beach and there are visual temptations, I have been blessed to trust and rely on God for guidance and help there as well.

JUST A TASTE...
Over this past weekend we went to the Taste of Chicago.  The Taste of Chicago spans many city blocks--centralizing around Millennium Park and features over 59 vendors from restaurants all over the city (from large chains to Chicago exclusives, down to mom n pops).  There are also activities and live music. This is one of the few outreaches we do as an entire project.  All 100 + students and staff moved in small pockets to the train station and squeezed into the L trains, pressing the already busy train cars to what seemed like their full capacity.  Once off the L we trekked over to the location of the Taste.  As we approached, the loud sounds of music coated the air.  Foreign smells and some familiar, competed for control of our senses.  The crowd moved in packs like herded cattle, lured by the tantalizing sights, sounds, and smells.  Some straggled off, tarrying as if they were leaves scattered in the wind, distracted by a new excitement for the senses.
Many cultures come together here, many tribes and nations, many walks of life.  As we stepped in to meet the people in their needs, to bring them the truth of life in God through Christ, I was reminded of the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians.  God painted images and a tapestry of information wove into my mind.  This Taste of Chicago, this city of Chicago, is not unlike the city of Corinth in that it is in many ways a hub.  It is a coming together of many diverse cultures.  Many divergent philosophies and faiths.  Belief and unbelief.  Many of the faith, many of a faith and many of no faith.  It is here, like in the city of Corinth, that truth and lies converge.  God walked with us as we brought the one truth with us: the hope of Jesus Christ, the good news of the Gospel of our King Jesus Christ.  There can only be one truth and it does in fact prevail.
We had many great conversations. The men were partnered with ladies to keep the ladies safe.  I was partnered with a staff woman named Linsey.  There is a scale -10 being intense atheist 0 being just accepted Christ and 10 being seasoned Christian.  We had many conversations that took non-believers and moved them up on the scale, potentially closer to accepting Christ.  Seeds were planted.  Seeds were watered.  We talked to a couple who were raised Christian but from two different backgrounds.  They were struggling with the problems of Christianity--historical instances of problems, how Christianity might look, pushing it on others.  It was clear they had both had bad experiences.   They were wrestling with the ideas of 'just being a good person' and 'why doesn't God accept people who don't accept Jesus' and so on.  They made it clear in conversation that they had had one too many bad experiences with Christians that left bad tastes in their mouths (no pun intended).  God used us to shine his light on them...to show them the true love of Christ and to challenge some of their erroneous thinking as well and point them to truth.  We also had a conversation with a couple who were Catholic but looking for a church....they were currently non-practicing.  The boyfriend was clearly not a believer but I don't know about the girl...it was harder to tell.  We talked with them about prayer, a relationship with God through Christ as opposed to just going through the motions of rituals or just pew-sitting in the church.  Authentic faith as opposed to cold religion.  We encouraged them to get involved in a good local congregation and got contact info to hopefully follow-up with them for further and deeper discussion.  Linsey and I also had great conversation with each other.  I learned that she is dealing with many of the same struggles.  It was good to know that I had someone here that was in a similar position.
God is glorious:  we all got together after the outreach to celebrate what He had done through us.  CELEBRATE WITH US:  many people came to Christ through the outreach at the Taste of Chicago!!!!!!! God is bringing His people to Him!!!!  Moreover, many people are steps closer to Him or to accepting Him!!

MEANWHILE...BACK AT THE UNIVERSITY...
We continue to have many great, deep, and very intellectual spiritual conversations of the campus of the University of Chicago.  I have at times, I confess, struggled to know why God has me here...but the great training and teaching we've received here along with opportunities to use past experience and the current training as well as the great and challenging conversations of campus and at work show me why I am here.  Moreover, God is challenging me, growing me, and shaping me here.  Teaching me.
We had a conversation with a guy --ironically named Chris-- who was a scientist:  physics and biology.  I expected him to bring many great challenges or to be antagonistic.  He actually was very eager to discuss God and theology and claimed to be a believer.  Something he said that struck me was "From a scientific standpoint, something does or does not exist and is not changed--is not dependent on--whether I believe something to be true or not."  He was saying that as a scientist.  Then he applied it to faith..."God exists and Christ is who He says He is...whether I believe it or not." ...The difficult thing was determining if he actually believed it or not...because that is so crucial. Faith.

An update on some other things...

Bacho shared with us that he was accepted to Oxford University.  He shared that he was struck by the Holy Spirit and he was given a vision of the Schott basketball stadium full of students converted--entered into relationship with God through Christ.  He felt like he was at a crossroads...he could do what the world told him...the success of attaining a Doctorate from Oxford...or he could do what was more eternally significant...to strive for this Schott Center goal.  He turned down Oxford!!!!  He pursued the Lord and this goal and God blessed him...he was approached by Durham University/Seminary for his Doctorate and this program would allow for him to continue in his campus ministry AND attend the University. AND...Durham is actually now considered a more credible seminary now.  HOW AWESOME!?

We started our new talk series with Nancy Bartolick leading off...our new talk series is Magnificent Community.  We are discussing the theological and spiritual aspects of community and the body of Christ as well as what causes problems therein.

PRAISES:
New brothers and sisters in Christ!! ...Blessings from the Taste of Chicago
Great conversations at work and on Campus
Great quiet times
Deep connections growing within the community here

PRAYER REQUESTS:
For continued growth in strong biblical community
That I would lay down any expectations
Pray for continued conversations with my co-workers DREW, MIKE, CHRIS, and DAVID
Pray for evangelism on campus and that we can get follow-up conversations
Pray as the staff are leaving soon that we will remain strong and grown stronger in community

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 17

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

DAY 17

MANY THINGS TO REPORT ON:

Just want to catch you all up to speed on things I've learned here:  about the project in general and from God through teaching here.  Moreover, I want to catch you all up on things God is doing here.

Still so much to learn...

Our project is new.  I've learned that the Chicago summer project is only in its 3rd year and is still in the process of forming in many ways.  The challenging thing about that is that many things are still up in the air or are on a trail and error basis--so in a true sense it is indeed not unlike a church plant.  The great thing about it is that we get to help shape the future of this project.  We get to 'decode' the campuses we are working on:  interviewing, investigating, and learning where the hot-spots are, when the busy times are, what events happen on campus, what organizations are present, and what the demographics are.  To varying degrees we are even learning which campus are hot.  The beauty is that we get to build on the last 3 years and take it so much further.  Further still, the fact that we are here so long provides a good chunk of time to get things moving and its good to know that when we leave, there are staff here that can do additional follow-ups. 

Learning by being led...

God is so good.  Through hard times, tough and discouraging situations, and the intensity of a city in desperate need of Jesus...God is working.  He is on the move and He is equipping his children.  The staff here are so solid and we have the privilege of receiving a massive amount of training in God's word through bible studies, personal time with Jesus (we affectionately call dates with Jesus or quiet times), quiet time and bible study methods training, weekly meetings (including worship), leadership training, personal testimony training ('your testimony in 3 minutes) and exhaustive evangelism training.  We also have Chi-Time, which is a time of worship:  sharing stories, songs (for which I am blessed to play guitar), and fellowship.  Additionally, during Chi-Time we hear another talk (sermon) and receive--you guessed it--more training.  Thursdays are nights when we have 'Impact Team' when a men's Action Group (bible study group) gets together with a lady's study group and discusses evangelism and their assigned campus(es).  This group consists of 6 guys and 6 girls and 3 staff.  Our assigned campuses are University of Chicago and Malcolm X.

God teaches in many languages...

Sundays we go to Willow Chicago:  a satellite church lead by Bill Hybels, in the inner-city of Chicago.  Church is held in an old opera house theatre.  The church is involved in teaching bible studies to the homeless, 'end-hunger' campaigns and many other inner-city focused ministries.

With this past sunday being Father's Day...the topic of teaching was biblical Fatherhood. The scriptures were Luke 3

Psalm 68:5

Psalm 103:8

...he also preached on the Father/Son separation Jesus experienced with the death of Joseph but the first true Father/Son separation Jesus truly experienced:  the cross.

We also heard from a famous Chicago Bears football player about being a father. 

Bacho, our project director is from Georgia in former Soviet Union.  Though he speaks it beautifully and articulately, English is his 3rd language.  He is about to finish his doctorate/PHD in theology from Oxford University in England--and no thats not online, he travels to England to study. INTENSE!!  This guy is super knowledgeable and its such a blessing!!

Some interesting things I've been learning:

We have themes of study/teaching.  So far there's been 'Magnificent Faith' and 'Magnificent Identity'.  

Bacho said "you should live a life that would make no sense at all if it wasn't true that Christ died for your sin and resurrected."  So challenging.  Moreover, he taught from Galatians and talked about how rather than living to gain eternity, living a life that reflects that we are citizens of eternity with God now.  How that should shape our attitudes and help us love...because Christ has made us citizens of eternity with God.  He talks about how Paul reversed the idea of striving for eternity to striving BECAUSE of eternity in the book of Galatians. It was so solid.

We moved into the 'Identity' talks...we discussed how the world fights to define us but that our identities are only true in Christ.  So much of what I'm learning is fresh...so much of what I am learning is a refresher...and so good.

Bacho also gave a talk on 'How to Choose a Church'...that was very interesting.

We've gotten more campus sharing times which is awesome...I'd like to share a few stories with you from that...

My friend Adam went out sharing...he's from California.  He ran into someone from Asia who had moved to the states but not Chicago...he just happened to be visiting a friend in Chicago and was waiting.  As Adam mentioned to me...it was nothing short of miraculous that God brought these two travelers together...and why? So that Adam could share a truth with him that he had never heard:  the good news of salvation through Christ Jesus.

My discipler, a couple other students, and I all went to University of Chicago and did sharing there.  I talked with and international student there (which is what I had been hopeful for and been praying about--thats another story all together).  His name is 'I.G.'...(he told me, "just write down I.G.") and he began the conversation with "I am an atheist"...through the conversation I learned that his mother had just recently become a Christian but that she never talked to him about it.  I also learned a lot about his scientific approach to understanding the world.  I simply asked, "do you believe there is any place for the spiritual and that science and spiritual can co-exist?" He agreed and we discussed further.  God ordained and guided that conversation...it was so amazing.  You have to understand the nature of the campus:  they are almost all grad students and are ALL highly intellectual...valuing the debate above all.  Through this conversation I was able to tell him about who Jesus is (because he confessed he really knew very little about Jesus-who he was, what he said, etc), the claims, and so forth.  Through our conversation I shared the gospel with him.  He had said that his issue was primarily with the resurrection...but as I explained who Jesus claimed to be and that, as CS Lewis says, Jesus left no room for the 'only a moral teacher' route--He either is who He claimed to be or was evil--and when we see his character, and other evidences (outside books, etc) that Jesus must have been telling the truth, I.G. began to secede that many of the things we discussed he hadn't heard before and/or didn't know.  It was so powerful that God took I.G. from being an atheist who had no idea about Jesus but had only made assumptions, etc, to a person who is [prayerfully/hopefully] thinking about God and has learned truth he had never heard before.  Afterwards, we exchanged e-mails and parted ways.  I prayerfully hope that I get to talk with him again soon.

I talked with another gentleman...who said he was post-Christian...meaning he was a Christian but was no longer.  He said that he viewed the Bible and Jesus as simply moral teaching--a Jeffersonian view of Jesus and Scripture--he, like Jefferson, felt there was no place for miracles or the divine...simply moral teachings.  He said, however, that he based his morals on Christian teachings.  Again I brought up the point the CS Lewis makes that Jesus is either Lord, Lunatic, or Liar...and no that there is no room for any other possibility.  He then said, "I think Jesus was just a charlatan and a that some people will fall for anything if it sounds good enough to believe."  He failed to see the hypocrisy in his logic...that he bases his morals on someone who is--in his eyes--a charlatan.  It made no sense...other than he was lost and in great need of prayer.

Lastly, I shared with a grad-student named Greg.  Greg is a socialist and again deemed himself "only a Catholic because my family is".  He saw Christianity as more of a means of enslavement and that most "evangelical and even some Catholic Christians only help to stop the problems of the world with ulterior motives."  I brought up many pieces of scripture and also statistic information in the form of questions.  It dawned on me that many of the topics of discussion came back to world problems...and I discussed with him the root of all of it:  sin.  I told him that many of the topics we discussed were contained in the book 'Mere Christianity' by CS Lewis...and on the bright side, he actually wanted a copy of the book (which I had).  He took the book, saying that he would indeed read it. 

I found myself in tears for the people and in tears of joy for the work God is doing on hearts there. 

This weekend we are going to the taste of Chicago to do some evangelism there.  I am excited for that.

Praises:

Great conversations on campus and at work

A great deal of wisdom is being poured out here

Building community

Prayer Requests:

Pray for I.G.--that God would use our conversation to work on his heart...and that I get to have a second/follow-up conversation/meeting with him.

Pray for Greg, that God would use our conversation to work on his heart as well...and that God would use the book 'Mere Christianity' to speak to Greg and reveal truth to him.

That either my current job works out or I find a solid one

For the Taste of Chicago ministry

For everyone to find jobs

That we continue to get contacts for ministry opportunities and events

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 9

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

DAY 9

My apologies for the delay in posting.  Things have been crazy busy.  We have been job hunting (as I am sorry to report the job I locked in may be sketchy), having evangelism meetings, having sermon meetings, training, and so on.  We did a prayer event where we broke into groups, took the EL all the way to the edge of the city, and made stops to at key locations all the way and prayed for specific things:  the local ministries, local struggles, and so on.

Today:  Sunday, we went to a local church:  Willow Chicago.  Willow Chicago is Bill Hybels' satellite church.  Their worship band was beautiful.  A coming together of African American, Asian, and Caucasian peoples.  The band features kids dancing and before the songs, children read scripture.  It was amazing.  The congregation is made up of people from all walks of life:  inner-city, suburbs, and all races.  We heard a message from Chuck Coleson and his daughter.

In the evening we had 'Impact group' which is our men's action group meeting with a women's action group (leaders bible study groups) to discuss evangelism planning, tactics, results, and so on.  Then all the men on project and all the women on project broke off and had men's and women's times.  In our men's time, we discussed what our roles are as men--leading and setting the tone--on this trip.  Then we played line soccer.  There's a lot of accountability and vulnerability here which is solid.

Praises:
-Solid teaching and ministry
-God's work in Chicago

Prayer Requests:
-That I would be open to what God has to teach me here.
-That God would make clear what He is surfacing from within me and deal with it miraculously
-For opportunities to pour into men here
-That I would continually be renewed
-Prayers against the lies of the evil one and his tactics
-Strong community

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 7

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

DAY 7

First off I apologize for not posting yesterday...but I really didn't have anything to report.  I do want to say that I had a great conversation with my 'home-discipler' Royce.  We talked about some of my hard heart issues and we cried together and prayed together.  I have been struggling with sin and feeling distant from God.  I felt I had been putting myself on the selfish throne of my heart.  Moreover, like a fool--not unlike the Israelites of  the Old Testament, I had traded the glory of God for self-indulgence and for the approval of others.  I already struggle to feel loved, excepted, listened to, and wanted. The evil one had used those insecurities to entice me to seek the things of this world:  respect, approval, etc in a selfish, sinful way.  It left me drained and empty, and paranoid.  As I confessed these things out I was reminded of the Israelites and of the words of Jesus...how when we run from God, He disciplines us...but He seeks us and welcomes us back with open arms.  I could feel the power of the confession, of the welcoming arms of Christ.  What I would say  to come away with is this:  you can never run too far...Christ will welcome you with open arms.

So today was special because it was mine and my action group's first day on campus doing ministry.  We went to the prestigious University of Chicago.  The old architecture is picturesque.  The gargoyles and angel statues watch over you as you navigate the winding halls--which inspire imaginations and I'm sure have been captured on film.  The ivy climbs the stone walls and the pressure rises as we step onto the dark ivy-league campus.  The wind pushed and the rain fell, but we pushed on in the spirit of Christ.

We did surveys and engaged in spiritual conversations with students and even staff.  The conversation with the staff was difficult:  UoC boasts 83+ Nobel Laureates and an overwhelming percentage of grad students.  The conversations went well however.  The objective was to get to the gospel but also to gauge the campus and learn even more about the demographics (which have already been researched--but with the ever-changing campus--it is important to keep a feel on things.  Also, it helps US to take responsibility to learn it ourselves).

We got to discuss God, the bible, and Christ with an Oxford-trained math teacher, a math student, a linguistics student, and 3 med graduates.  We conveyed the gospel to the med students and conversed on the nature of God and the validity of the bible with a French Linguistics student.

Once we got back to the campus we had another weekly meeting.  Bacho lead a teaching on the first 10 verses of Galatians.  A teaching that brought me to tears.  Never leave your post.  Gospel:  evangellion, was a political term which referred to the new way of life under a new ruler. The good news.  Paul adapts it to refer to the good news of salvation through Christ.  Does the Gospel mean enough to you to devote EVERY part of your life to.  It was for John and Betty Stamm...the family Bacho talked about that was killed for their faith. Will it convert, change, shape, and permeate your life as it did the Apostle Paul's....who lived for the Gospel of Christ.  Doulos!! To become a slave of Christ....will we be enslaved by the things of the world or enslaved to the glory and love of Christ who's burden and yoke is light.

In Christ, for Christ,
Christopher

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 5

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

DAY 5:

VICTORY:

So I had really been struggling before coming on project.  School was hard this past semester and there was drama at work before I left.  I had basically allowed all those things to pull my focus off of Christ.  I had become lazy and self-indulgent and pretty selfish in general.  I was counting on God to use Project to revitalize me...but I came in drained.  I already struggle with feeling loved, excepted, listened to, and wanted.  I hadn't struggled with it in years but for some reason had been struggling with that again.  In addition, I had been struggling with feeling like a failure.  In those weak moments you can be filled by Christ's spirit or you begin to believe lies.  I had become angry and was questioning if it was all worth it.  Therefore...when I came on Project my nerves were exposed, so to speak.  I think thats part of some of the tension...on top of being the only one from NKU not on staff here and being the oldest here.  BUT I hope and believe that God will use that unique circumstance to really speak to some people here (including other students on the project) and in some ways He already is.  There's a real increase in vulnerability and accountability.  There is an obvious element of spiritual warfare but God simply and affectively uses it to grow us.

So we went job hunting today and searched all over again.  One of the places we went to:  Tuscany, recommended we go to Castaways near the Navy Pier.  Well we went every where but there (Jordan, Bekah and I)...but as we wound up our search--on the hottest day so far--God put it on my heart to persist on Castaways.  Jordan was exhausted by the heat and headed back...Bekah agreed to go to Castaways with me...We got there and the manager asked us to fill out apps (Bekah and I) and said "then we'll talk".  After we turned them in he asked a few simple questions then said:  "come back friday to start orientation"...it was great!! Praise God!

We had our first Action Group tonight as well:  leader's studies.  We discussed Galatians and a paradigm method of 'on-the-job evangelism' called Cojourners...there was some great vulnerability there.

Great day!!

Praises:
-JOB!!!!!
-Vulnerability and connections forming

Prayer requests:
-That God would use me there at work

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 4

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

Chicago Job Hunt--1 Christopher Montgomery--0 ...There will be Another Day Chicago...Another Day:

Today we were in the lobby by 8am to go out and job hunt.  We had a lot of good prospects...many of the people even got jobs on the spot!!

After 8 hrs of job hunting we came back for food and then our first weekly meeting at a church in inner-city Chicago.  Myself and some of the guys took a wrong turn and got into an even worse part of town.  We did make it however, and we got to learn more about the campuses we'll be working on.  Moreover, we learned more about putting together ethnic bible studies and forming movements on campuses in the area.  Pretty exciting.

However, I am still struggling to make connections with the people here.  I am perplexed...I don't feel like myself or even human sometimes.  I'm genuinely concerned.  I wonder what this means for the ministry BUT I am hopeful for where it will go.

Praises:

-Good job prospects

-Good first meeting

Prayer Requests:

-For a job

-For the ministry

-For community

-For my faith/relationship with Christ to grow

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 3

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

DAY 3:  Training Day (the sequel)


We started today by making our own breakfast in the rooms then reported down to the lobby and had another devotional (an extended one because it's Sunday).  Then it was right into evangelism training.  The session was roughly an hour or two long...which felt much longer because the lobby reduced to a claustrophobic nature because of all the staff and students.  And have I mentioned it gets hot in there?  In case not:  "IT GETS HOT IN THERE."

The training was exceptional--as per usual--and God used some of the wisdom and experience He has so graciously given me over the years, to help a younger student in learning evangelism techniques and some of the heart behind that.  Evangelism techniques and purpose has been a big topic of discussion amongst us guys (and I'm sure the ladies too).

After lunch we broke into teams, which consisted of two to three staff then 4 to 5 students, and went on a scavenger hunt.  The heart behind this was to essentially--in a manner of speaking--throw us into the deep end!  To really immerse us in Chicago, giving us a crash course in navigating the city using the trains and buses.

The temperatures and humidity ran high, as did the tension.  People are still learning each other and adjusting to the fast pace and packed schedules.  Adding to the stress level:  nervousness about finding jobs, as only a few people have jobs so far.  Furthermore, the evil one is putting the pressure on as he knows we are prepping to storm the campuses and the city for Christ.

I confess I have found myself succumbing to the frustrations at times.  I'm finding it hard to be my normal, outgoing, never-met-a-stranger self.  I confess to I've been a bit too concerned about how people will perceive me and if they will like me etc etc. While I think these are normal insecurities when first stepping into a new environment, I fear I've stressed a bit too much on it.  I'm too critical of myself and put on too much pressure.  However as our project director Bacho B said:  "Eventually the fine china gets put away and the chipped dishes come out."

On a positive I have had some great conversations today and we got to do some job hunting: a team member got a job on the spot!!

Praises:
-Annie getting a job today
-Great devotional today

Prayer Requests:
-That God would release the tension and continue to build relations.
-Pray that the chipped dishes would come out
-That I would find my security and identity in Christ ALONE
-For a JOB
-That I would surrender to Christ and the sweet Holy Spirit daily

thank you all...

In Christ, for Christ,
Christopher

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 2

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project

DAY 2:  Orientation/Training

Sleep was rough last night:  tossing and turning on small bed, back stiff and expectant thoughts overflowing my mind.  I was so tired, yet my synapses and curiosities seemed to awake to peek efficiency then.  Moreover, the evil one had decided it time to heap every deception and negative speak on to me.  Something big is going to go down here in Chicago ladies and gentlemen.  As the saying goes:  I can feel it in my bones.  The evil one is nervous.  And so, I prayed until I fell asleep.

Preparation of the Team --Gettin' PUMPED:
The day started with a provided breakfast and fellowship, followed by a solid devotional in Psalms led by our project director.  Then the lengthy orientation, training, and overview began.  I compare it to the info-dump for all you English/Writing/Lit -savvy folks out there.

This is can be exciting or drag on.  The former was the case for us today:  Even though the 60-something men and women packed into the small lobby generated enough heat to run an engine, we were all sitting with eager faces, just happy to learn the ins and outs of the project.

Our loft is situated between three of the the biggest and most key college campuses in Chicago.  In Illinois for that matter.  It is on these campuses we will take the Message--the good news of salvation through Christ Jesus our King.

What followed was the handing out of our 200 + page bible reading and studying book.  Here on this project, maybe even more so than on other projects, we receive in-depth, very thorough training on the Bible:  study method(s) and meanings.  We will also engage in Action Groups (leaders Bible studies), decipleship, and evangelism training.

After all the orientation, including the do's and don't's of living in Chicago, we were taken out to lunch in the local area, which sits at the intersection of Italian-town and Greek-town.  After eating some Gyros, we went grocery and supply shopping--because you never grocery shop on an empty stomach.

Next was dinner with roommates and some great fellowship.  Our room--the music room we call it--(there are myself and another guy named Alex who are musicians) has become like the central hub and hang out.

We closed the evening with 'Something Fun'...we played several name-game and personal orientation events to really get to know each other.

The struggles are there: just some insecurities and such--many of which haven't bothered me in years.  I talked with my discipler about them.  Just the struggle to feel loved, accepted, and valued.  But I'm trusting the Lord to rock it this summer!!

Praises:
-A great day of training!!

Prayer Requests:
-For God to continue to build me up in Him
-That we can all get jobs locked in quickly!
-The mission as a whole

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog: DAY 1

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

DAY 1:

Friends, Family, Loved-Ones:

We arrived safely today at 1pm.  Many of the students had already arrived however, many students will not get here until the 9th.  The men in my dorm and for that matter all of the students, are already connecting.  This my friends, is like a glimpse of Heaven.  This is the fellowship of the Body of Christ.  Christ is on everyone's lips and men are already being vulnerable and transparent, bold and engaging in each other's lives as God intended.  The Holy Spirit is abound and the air is buzzing.  We are all pumped!!

Praises:
-God's working on my heart
-The amazing fellowship and community here from the start

Prayer Requests:
-That myself and the other people on the Project would find jobs quickly
-That God would work through us in powerful ways
-God's continued work on my heart and others here as well
-For God to break open the hearts of those we will encounter here

Christopher Montgomery's Summer Project/Missions Blog Opener

Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project 2011

Hello everyone,

I've started this blog as an online journal to document the events of this year's mission trip:  Campus Crusade for Christ's Chicago Summer Project.  My hope is to keep all you updated on the work God is doing through us this summer.  Here you will find prayers, praise reports, prayer requests, and other cool stories.  Please keep in touch.

I will be departing at 6am on Friday June 3rd and arriving in Chicago at roughly 12pm to report for CSP'11.

Here are some things you can be in prayer for:
-Safe/efficient travel
-My girlfriend Becky's car to be fixed and ready to go upon our arrival
-That God would provide a good job quickly
-That I would consistently be an open and willing vessel for the Lord's work in Chicago
-An efficient and God-honoring move-in
-First time meeting much of the staff and all of the fellow non-staff participants

Praise God for:
-Support goal being met and EXCEEDED!!
-Doors opening
-His calming my heart and His reassurance


In Christ, for Christ,
Christopher Montgomery