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