Playing Catch Up

 I’m so sorry that it’s been so long since you’ve heard from us.  The start of the spring semester is always a busy time of year and this one has been busier than most!  We still feel like we’re catching up in work and life.  We’ve traveled for training conferences, traveled to see family when my grandmother went home to be with the Lord, worked our men’s and women’s retreats, hosted Slovak friends as we took part in our church’s Global Missions conference, and now we are getting ready to head to Charleston for spring break.  And a much needed break it is!  Even though we haven't had much down time to rest, the Lord has blessed us so much through each of these events and so many more!  I will do my best to catch you up on what is going on in the lives of us Sharps.

Learning to Live in Babylon

 This past semester we have been doing a study of Daniel living in Babylon with our students.  Daniel did not choose to be in Babylon, yet he could choose how he responded to the situation he was in.  In the same way, we often do not choose the things in our lives.  We have been challenging students to engage with their respective Babylon.  We have been challenging them to take steps of faith and to seek out the prosperity of their city (Jer. 29:7), to invest in the university and not to just attend it.  We have been challenging them to get involved in student government, to become RA’s in the dorms and to make a difference wherever they are.  And it has been so exciting watching them respond.  During the past few weeks we have seen how dark Babylon can be, yet we have been so encouraged to see the light of the gospel in students lives and their desire and obedience in sharing it.  We have also been challenging them to think about how this will go beyond their time in college and striving to prepare them to walk with God for a lifetime.  The college campus is changing and we are finding ourselves deeper and deeper in Babylon.  But we are so thankful that God is raising up a generation of Daniels.

Update

You may remember that in the fall, I shared that a senior named Audrey started attending my  Bible study and shortly thereafter accepted Christ into her life!  She has grown so much and even shared her story at our women’s retreat.  She is also spending the summer with us on   summer project.  She started inviting her     sister Bridget, a sophomore at UT, to Cru and she got plugged into a Bible study and accepted Christ just a few weeks ago! 

Upcoming Events

 Sex Week @ UT  April 7 –13

Many of you may have already heard about Sex Week at UT because it made not only national but international news.  It is a week devoted to sexual education and awareness.  While a few of the events are trying to help stop abuse, most of the week’s events encourage exploration.  We have been praying that God would show us how to engage and share truth in the midst of this.  Students are searching and need to see God’s love for them.  We are hosting three events that will address true, unfailing love and hope found in Jesus.  Britton is also taking part in one of Sex Week’s events.  It’s a religion and sexuality panel and he will be the only conservative/evangelical voice on the panel.  Please pray for wisdom, direction and truth to heard.  Pray that students would not see a God who withholds from them, but a God of love and grace.

Charleston Summer Project

 We will be leading our first stateside project in Charleston, South Carolina this summer.  We are so excited to see how God is working and raising up a team of students and staff to reach out to the Charleston area. 

It has been so encouraging to read students applications and see their desire to grow in their walk with the Lord and learn how to reach those around them.  God has raised up such a diverse    project with so many different backgrounds and  races coming together to serve Him.  We feel very blessed to be able to be a part of it.

We would love your prayers for wisdom and direction in leading the students and staff.  We would also love your prayers for our outreach to the community this summer.

Annaleigh’s Corner

Annaleigh is doing well and still bringing so much joy to everyone she’s around.  And the little stinker is walking already!  I don’t know why she’s in a hurry to grow up.  We will celebrate her first birthday this month and it’s hard to believe that this time last year, we were anxiously awaiting her arrival.  Time does fly!  Here she is getting ready for Easter. :)