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Houston
This month we’re heading on over to Houston! Be sure to visit our opportunities page for more information about serving with us in the “Space City.”
News from the Houston Director
Changes are happening here in Houston – heart changes, life changes, and ministry changes…
Over Spring Break, two college students in particular experienced Jesus with a new, deep, authenticity through serving others with CSM. One girl, Tina, played basketball on the street with kids at one of our ministry sites – a community center at a Section 8 apartment complex. The last night of their trip, she came to me and said, “I used to say I won’t believe unless God writes it across the sky: ‘I am real.’ Yesterday I saw it all over those kids’ faces at Ujima, I saw it all over the homeless man’s face at the Waystation. God said to me, ‘Tina, I am real!’”
Another girl in her group encountered Jesus in a new and powerful way and said, “I don’t know what it is – it must be God, but I just realized that God is for me, not just for my family.” Their college ministry group joyfully celebrated these epiphanies and surrounded these ladies with rich community.
Tina came to me overflowing with thanks for hosting their group and for putting their group’s experience together. What is so beautiful is that I don’t feel like we have done anything – the movement of the Spirit of God in her heart is way beyond anything we could have programmed. We pray for this kind of impact, that participants will come away changed, but getting to see and hear of the change is a tremendous blessing.
Another blessing in this season comes with change and mixed emotions. Megan Breed, our Associate City Director here in Houston for the last four and half years, wrapped up her time with us in March. She is moving to Chile, where she has visited several times and built many connections with a church family. Having journeyed with her for so long, I am thrilled for her opportunity to have this great adventure and begin this next chapter of her life. At the same time, it is very hard to let her go – we have built a close friendship from which flowed smooth teamwork and a lot of beautiful ministry. She has been a tremendous asset for me in decision–making, hiring our interns, and many other facets of our ministry at CSM. She will be missed, but we send her off with joyful anticipation of all that the Lord has for her.
Stepping into her shoes is Britani Wade, who interned (“hosted”) for us here in Houston three summers ago. She also hosted for CSM-LA last fall and the beginning of this year. She began March 1, and is fitting in well with our team. Thankfully, she knew most of our ministry sites and restaurants, so we did not need to begin from scratch in training. However, the learning curve for her is on the complex matrix of scheduling all the groups’ itineraries. Megan has trained her well, but it will take Britani some time to get the scheduling process down. We have a great connection from her previous time with us, and I am excited to work with her again. We both would appreciate your prayers though this transition.
Our mission effort in the city of Houston, and all 10 of our urban centers, is sustained through the prayers, encouragement, and support of people like you who care enough to read this far! Thank you for coming alongside us to love and serve in the inner city. On this note, our Home Office is tracking our prayer partners in a new way. Over the years many of you have notified us that you are supporting us with your prayers. Even if you have done this in the past, please take a minute to remind us by visiting http://www.csm.org/prayerpartner.php. Thanks!!
Rejoicing in our Risen Lord,
Paul Randall, CSM Houston City Director
Local Resources
Local News Links
- Source of refuge, and separation April 12, 2009
- Trafficking victims try to remake lives April 12, 2009
- Homeless Students Rate Increases at Schools April 7, 2009
- Vile trade: Houston’s a hub for the pimping of children April 2, 2009
CSM Urban Updates
CSM now has its own blog! Find out what’s happening in urban centers throughout North America, make comments and dialogue with others involved in urban missions.
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