Spiritual Renewal!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." 2 Corinthians 4:16

This Sunday was a very important service for the Austin International Church of Christ. After taking the time to honor and wholeheartedly thank all the mothers who have spent their lives taking care of us, Dave Hooper preached a message entitled "Renewal." During this lesson Dave encouraged the congregation to follow the example of the Israelites in Joshua 8:30-37 and renew our commitment to God. This was a fitting lesson because the 2007 - 2008 school year has been a year of spiritual renewal for the Alpha Omega campus ministry. After going through about a three year period where there wasn't much growth -- a span in which hearts were challenged and pruned, God began to move the campus ministry forward in an exciting and faithful way. This however did not come without its challenges.

The students of Alpha Omega began the fall having to face the challenge of adjusting to new campus ministry leaders. As God began doing miracles in the form of baptisms, Alpha Omega was faced with yet another challenge: one of the new Christians decided to leave two weeks after being baptized. This event brought back painful memories of seeing nine close friends leave God the previous year. Satan wasn't finished attacking however, as three of the students (Michelle Landry, Eric Adan, and Megan Mosher) were dealt the crushing blow of losing a close family member within a month of each other. As these three incredible disciples were fighting valiantly to see Gods' love in their situation, Satan dealt another series of blows as several students were involved in major car accidents that fortunately enough didn't end in injury. Through all this, the students responded to the continued challenge to take it higher for God spiritually in every area. Even with all the challenges the Alpha Omega ministry encountered this year, God has done incredible things: twelve people were baptized into Christ, the Texas Tech campus ministry was planted, and six new dating relationships began.

Last Sunday we honored all the graduating seniors. During this event, graduate after graduate left us with the same message -- that the ministry is moving in the right direction and a fire has been re-ignited in our ministry. Even with all this good news going on, God still wasn't finished. This Sunday God added one more miracle to Gods' Kingdom as Amy Gowarti, Jasmine and Enoch's sister and graduating senior at Texas State University, was baptized into Christ! Let us continue to renew our commitment to God on a daily basis and watch the fruit that comes from it.

To God be all the Glory!