Vol. 4 Issue 1 | Spring 2021 INSIDE CV Figuring Out Life and Faith

MINISTRY SPOTLIGHT: CV NEXT Dave Hughes

Many of you have heard about it in our prayer requests, but I wanted to officially introduce CVNext. After directing campus ministry for over 20 years, the board of Campus Ventures asked me to start a new branch of ministry focused on helping graduates as they leave Campus Ventures and enter the work force.

Years ago, God brought to mind Acts 15:36 when thinking about our former students: “Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’” As I started contacting alumni it was obvious that many were not doing well in their faith walk. There are many factors for this, but the reality was that they needed encouragement to press on. Our desire in Campus Ventures is to see generations of faithful followers of Jesus, and so we want to make sure the work we do while our alumni are still students is not in vain. Dave & Crystal Hughes.

So CVNext will come alongside the Campus Ventures ministries, meeting with college seniors and graduates to assist them in their transition. Some need help finding a like-hearted community, some need help in connecting the dots from college evangelism and discipleship to work-world evangelism and discipleship, and some just need a little life coaching. As I have met with graduates from the last few years I find that they are elated just to meet a familiar face and encouraging word. Sometimes those of us who have been out of college for a while forget it can be a tough and lonely transition. It is a drastically different world out there!

These graduates who were discipled in college have great potential to advance the kingdom and to be a vital part of the Church. One of the major obstacles for them is finding a like-hearted Church family in the same area as they work and live. One of my biggest roles currently is to help them connect with those of like heart and to encourage them to keep active in their pursuit of God. There are many other things I would like to see as CVNext grows: webinars, post- grad training, life coaching, retreats, short mission trips, etc… but this past year has shown me (and all of us) that we sometimes get ahead of God and lose sight of Him. Pray with us as we navigate new waters, and a different pace.

IN THIS ISSUE CVNext ● Stories from Our Campuses ● Prayer Requests NORTHWEST COLLEGE by Seth Carter: Bearing Fruit Recently, a friend visiting town asked, “Do you have a minute? I would like you to meet your spiritual grandson.” My first response was simply a chuckle and then I was humbled as the implication of his introduction settled in my mind. It took me back to my start at college and the men that were obedient to reach out to me and Seth (2nd from left) pictured in his spiritual lineage. train me to follow Jesus as a student and then a young staffer. My friend in this story was once on our team at North- west College and then planted a new CV ministry at another campus. The young man he was introducing me to is the fruit of the men that discipled me in college... and the fruit of the mentor that got them going when they were in college… and the fruit of the men that had invested in this mentor thousands of miles and several decades distant, at a college campus in Texas. It fills me with awe that God allows us, invites us — yes, commands us! — to be part of His ministry. Have you ever thought about who might be the grandchildren of your spiritual heritage? I will pray for you to “be fruitful and multiply,” and to have a great spiritual lineage. I would ask you to pray for our staff team at NWC to do the same, as they invest in students. “And He was saying to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the NWC college staff team: harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Luke 10:2. The Christners, Carters and the Owens.

UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING by Heath Dancy: Faith Getting Real Faith Getting Real has been our heart cry for our students this semester! We have been walking through the book of James at CV and looking at how to have joy in the midst of trials, how to triumph during temptations and how to develop an “ACTIVE” relationship with God’s Word. One huge effect of this is seeing an explosion in students that want to be discipled. Please pray for God’s wisdom in how to provide in this area. Another exciting aspect of ministry so far has been our leadership team members pairing up and teaching the 7 Heart Attitudes. It has been encouraging and convicting to see our leaders not just participate, but lead out and set the pace with these Attitudes. Luke 10:2 says, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers of the harvest.” It is so great to see this verse being answered at UW and beyond. It has been amazing having the Harveys on staff this year. And it has also been sad, yet encouraging to have Jeff, Jolene, and their family decide to leave UW and expand Campus Ventures to new ground at Chadron State College. Please pray as they transition to sow the Gospel at this new campus. They will be missed dearly!

Pictured Top Right: CV leaders enjoying being back on campus!

Pictured Right: Jeff and Jolene Gouldie with kids Caroline, Anna, Beth, Josiah, and Joshua.

PRAYER REQUESTS: Join in the Work!

 Pray for Dave & Crystal Hughes as they connect with alumni and as the CVNext ministry continues to build and take shape.

 Pray for the Gouldie family as they make the move from Laramie, WY to Chadron, NE and start the process of planting a new Leadership Team discussing Core Value #1: CV ministry at Chadron State College. Having an Experiential Walk with Jesus.  Praise for an increase in students’ desire to SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOL OF MINES know God and to pursue Him during the & TECHNOLOGY fall semester. by Justin Gwinn: Life on Mission This semester a theme has been developing with many of the  Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel students we are investing in. For a lot of them, this is their 3rd year and to have more spiritual conversations being involved with CV and that means they are very close to during these stressful times. graduating. With graduation quickly approaching, the question that dominates many of the students’ thoughts is, “What am I going to  Overseas summer mission: Pray for open do with my life after I graduate?” doors for the team to serve overseas and As I field this question, I’m reminded of an exercise I went for God to prepare their hearts and the through before planting the new ministry at SD Mines. I was given hearts of the people they will meet. Pray the prompt: What is my mission? that their support needs would be met in It was so helpful for me to grapple with what I really value and why as I clarified the mission for my life. As the years have gone the next 3 months ($5000 per person). by, this mission has helped me to stay focused on what is important  Project Impact: Pray for the 8-week and has framed the direction for the ministry. Although the foundation of the mission remains the same, time discipleship training program in Denver reveals aspects that need to be shifted. These adjustments help us to where students will live in community and meet Jesus where He is working today. learn how to live missionally outside of So, the graduating students are asking this question. How about college. you? What is your mission? Have you drifted from your calling or are you rooted in the purpose Jesus created you for?

BLACK HILLS STATE UNIVERSITY by Mandi Keyworth: An Unlimited Pursuit According to her African classmates and the usual “international student” qualifications, Eden shouldn’t be here. She doesn’t come from money, and she wasn’t the top of her class academically. During her high school graduation, God made available a scholarship to the two top leaders of her class. Eden unexpectedly had a scholarship to any university in the world. God led her from Africa to Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota. Growing up, Eden had heard this story about a boy who knew Jesus: When a burglar broke into his home and demanded to know where the boy’s parents were, the boy lied in order to protect his parents. The burglar killed the boy, and the story ended with the boy in hell for lying and not being able to get right with God before his death. When Eden got plugged in with Campus Ventures, she heard for the first time the salvation message. Instead of being fearful of not doing enough for salvation, she learned through Bible studies and many conversations that salvation is by grace through Eden introduced me to Jollof rice. It’s been fun faith in Christ alone. It is a gift that can’t be earned (Eph. 2:8-9). learning about African culture. God is not limited by finances, academic standings, or distance. God’s pursuit of Eden to help her understand the gift of salvation spanned an ocean. I’m thankful for God’s pursuit of us. CASPER COLLEGE by Janelle Weeks: The Power of Multiplication I picture Paul in a coffee shop, talking to Timothy, whom he’s been discipling for quite awhile now: Listen, Tim, you know all these things I’ve been telling and showing you? Go find some reliable guys and pour into them, sharing what you’ve learned from me. Teach them till they’re ready and qualified to disciple others the same way. Let’s multiply the truth of the gospel and make an impact in this world! Okay, the last line was obviously my addition, but it certainly aligns with Paul’s message in II Timothy 2:2. Several years ago, I began discipling Rebecca. Already wise for her young age, she still grew, learned and eagerly studied every topic we Janelle with (from left to right) Rebecca, Kodi , Laura, and Izzy, covered. The next summer, she texted me, working on pottery art for Christmas. “I’m excited to start the school year and get a chance to disciple some girls!” As I continued to mentor Rebecca, she started working with a couple of freshmen. One of them is named Kodie. This past August, at CV large group, I was discussing possible discipleship match-ups and Kodie asked, “Can I disciple someone?” And she has. Kodie meets with two girls every week. I am her co-leader for now, but mostly I just sit back and watch her entrust the things she’s heard from Rebecca to these reliable girls, qualifying them to reach others.

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For More Information about Campus Ventures:

Check out our website at www.campusventures.org