David’s Dialogues

December- Christmas Recap

Dear Friend,

It is crazy to think that the holiday season has already come and gone!  December is always a roller coaster month in campus ministry.  It starts off with a busy week or two of year-end celebrations and last meetings of various groups.  Then, a majority of the students leave town for Christmas break, and Blacksburg gets very quiet.

After Thanksgiving, we had an abbreviated 3-week Advent series taking place during our 707p Sunday Gatherings.  It was called, “Collide” and we took a closer look at the “collision” between heaven and earth that took place when Jesus was born.  Since we were only able to have 1 on-campus 11a service after Thanksgiving, we used that Sunday to host a special Advent service.  We invited New Life to join us, and we took some extra time planning a special and unique worship experience.  We changed the atmosphere, decorations, lighting, and more, in order to draw people into the celebration of Advent.  There were special readings, scripture recitations, worship songs, and more.  It turned into a very meaningful time for all who attended!  As usual on Sunday mornings, I played a big role in the audio-visual and setup processes.

Just before exams started for the students, Ally and I wanted to bless our Hokie Family by inviting them over for a night of hot chocolate and a Christmas movie.  We packed out our little living room, and even had some new folks join us!

The following Saturday, NLCF hosted the annual Christmas Party.  This was another opportunity to gather for fellowship and outreach.  For the students, it was a chance to relax and socialize during a very stressful time of final projects, assignments, and exams.  We were able to exercise hospitality and meaningfully bless our people with snacks, decorations, and more.

While I am no longer a Virginia Tech student, I am still taking seminary classes through the John Leland Center for Theological Studies.  Last fall, I was taking a class on Global Church History with several of my coworkers on staff.  That class finished up in December with a final paper where we all picked a part of the globe to research.  I chose Latin America, and was encouraged and challenged by the history of the church there.  I found it very helpful to understand the long historical context of what we interact with each year on our Honduras Mission trips.

The last week or two of December were spent visiting my and Ally’s families, making our usual route around Virginia.  We also got the chance to celebrate my mom’s retirement at a surprise party at her office.  It’s amazing to think that both of my parents are retired now!  After Christmas, Ally and I spent a few days together in Blacksburg before getting back to work.  This slower time has given me the chance to do more reading, reflecting, and preparation for the semester ahead.  I’ve also been busy working on year-end financial statements since I am the primary overseer of NLCF’s finances.

It has been a blessing to take time for celebration and rest this past month.  I pray you were able to celebrate and rest as well!  May 2019 be a tremendous blessing to you and your family.  I hope you are still going strong with those New Year’s resolutions!

In Christ,
David

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