David’s Dialogues

May- Finishing a Semester Like No Other

Dear Friend,
This past month, we finished a semester like no other.  In a lot of ways, it wrapped up one of my most difficult years in the five (going on 6) years I have been in full time campus ministry.  Even amidst the difficulty, we have seen God move.  We typically slow down our normal rhythms when most people leave Blacksburg after graduation in May.  This year was different in that people left Blacksburg for Spring Break in March and didn’t return due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Since we knew that many would be quarantined until early June, we decided to continue our weekly rhythms of online Sunday gatherings, Engage Groups, prayer times, etc. past graduation through June 10.  We wanted to offer as much opportunity for pastoral care to our students as possible during a difficult time.  We will transition to Summer rhythms in a few weeks.

We have continued studying Nehemiah, looking at God’s faithfulness in uncertainty.  I had the chance to preach twice during this series; the first time on Chapter 2.

As the series continued, I preached on Chapter 4 as well, looking at the pattern of response to opposition being a combination of both prayer and wise action.  It has been refreshing to examine this Old Testament book and see how it can encourage us today.

Normally the month of May is full of celebrations: thanking our servant volunteers, sending out our seniors who are graduating, and much more.  This year, however, we did our best to get creative and still show our appreciation to our student leaders, as well as meaningfully celebrate the seniors who have poured so much into our church over the last several years.  We hosted zoom calls and mailed gifts of appreciation in lieu of the normal banquets and celebrations.  

Another celebration that was adapted to online life was the official sending of our Storehouse church plant team.  Five members of our staff team are being sent to start a new church on the campus of Penn State University.  They are packing up their apartments and will move to Pennsylvania within the coming weeks.  

There were a few other personal highlights this past month.  After starting my seminary certificate nearly five years ago, I have completed the requirements for a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies from the John Leland Center for Theological Studies.  Throughout the program, I was able to take a full year on both New Testament as well as Old Testament.  Other classes I took included Greek, Philosophy for Theology, Ethics, Global Church History, and Spiritual Formation.  In addition to this milestone, I performed my first wedding ceremony this past month!  One of the students in mine and Ally’s Hokie Family of Engage Groups asked me to perform his wedding.  Plans shifted due to the pandemic, and we had a small ceremony in Blacksburg this past month.  

I am also thankful to say that prayers have been answered for a new building for our church to call home!  After our rent had been raised 124% over the last two years at our existing downtown location, we felt the Spirit calling us to find another building, and we found a great space just a bit down South Main St.  We will have a larger space, more meeting rooms, and better parking access.  

Going into 2020, we knew that it would be a challenging year: finding a new building, sending a church plant team and losing a large chunk of our staff team, as well as starting a capital campaign.  Little did we know there would be so many additional challenges from COVID-19 and elsewhere.  Seasons like this test our faith, and make me even more thankful for a team of people praying for us continually.  Thank you so much! 

In Christ,
David