Greetings from Kent, Ohio! It is hard for me to believe that school is soon to commence at Kent State and even harder to believe that I will no longer be attending classes as an undergraduate. That ship has sailed, my friends. I am excited and yet slightly discouraged as this fall semester unfolds because I know that I will not be able to have the same involvement in ministry until I have completed this season of support raising. I will be helping out some, but most of my time will indeed be given to continuing to raise support full-time.
Our 3-day staff retreat is just a few days away. Please be praying for me and our staff on the 13th-15th of August. We will take time to reconnect as a team, cast vision, and pray for the fall semester that is upon us! We would really appreciate your thoughts and prayers.
Also, our annual LEAD retreat is the week after next and we have 30+ students attending. The Lead retreat will be composed of further vision casting, prayer, and time for our students and staff to reconnect and gear up for the 4,000+ freshman that will arrive on campus the day we arrive back from LEAD retreat. Would you partner with us in prayer for our community and our student leaders this upcoming school year?
One of the most important times of year for us consists of five days known as “Blitz Week”. This week precedes the beginning of the fall semester and is an initiation for the new freshman to campus. We are very busy during this week in attempts to meet new students. Please pray for this week during the end of August that God would grant us divine appointments through which He might reveal Himself. Pray this for our church and other ministries on campus as well!
I, along with my two roommates, Kyle and Andrew, are still getting settled in at our new place on Crain Avenue and are very much enjoying it! I am also still recovering from two trips that I went on in July that left me feeling somewhat discombobulated. Even so, I am extremely thankful that God has still worked on my behalf despite my lack of effort. I received a few new ministry partners this month. I am so thankful as I recall those moments of God’s faithfulness.
Two verses that have encouraged me greatly in the recent weeks has been Ecclesiastes 11:5&6:
As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good
Two things I have taken from these verses and started to mull over: First, I can trust that God is working, but I cannot expect to understand why or how. Second, I must learn to be a faithful steward in light of that mystery to plant seeds in myself and in others. Thankful for this reminder and glad to share it with you.
I still have much to raise and unfortunately I am not in a significantly better place than when I wrote you last. Currently, I have raised 43% of my goal. I will continue to thank you for being with me in this process and praying for me. I need your prayers and your support. If the Lord leads you, please consider connecting me with other likeminded people. This is my greatest need as of late. Also, please consider increasing your support if you feel led! Thank you for all you do!
In Christ, Anthony
Poiema 