GroshLink

Another glimpse into the unique nature of serving with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. . . .

Every now then, I receive a box of free books. Why? They're new titles which "my employer" thinks are of value to me as a whole person engaging the whole campus with the whole Gospel. Last week I received:

• Practicing the Way of Jesus: Life Together in the Kingdom of Love By Mark Scandrette
• God Behaving Badly: Is the God of the Old Testament Angry, Sexist and Racist? By David T. Lamb
• Are You Waiting for "The One"? Cultivating Realistic, Positive Expectations for Christian Marriage By Margaret Kim Peterson and Dwight N. Peterson
• God in a Brothel: An Undercover Journey into Sex Trafficking and Rescue By Daniel Walker
• The Parable of the Unexpected Guest (IVP Booklet) By D. A. Zimmerman

I guess it helps that "my employer," i.e., InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, understands a significant aspect of it's call to be in the Word and share the Word through publishing, i.e., InterVarsity Press (IVP), not only Bible study/commentary material, but also broader application pieces (culture, family, higher education).

If you haven't heard of InterVarsity Press, take a few minutes to look at

• a few of their award winning books
• top sellers
• titles which I blog about (Note: I'll return to the above titles, in the mean time check out the Biblical Seminary interview with David T. Lamb)
• a memorial to John Stott -- an author who shared the Word with people around the world. A great blessing to the  International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), which includes InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA.

Note: In memory of John Robert Walmsley Stott (1921 - 2011), http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tD6JW-RnBQQ#at=23 (LanghamPartnership on Jul 27, 2011). Second memorial video can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_apQBnUrfTE.

Shortly after posting on the Bridgemans in Honduras and the Nelsons in Kijabe, Kenya, I received word that Samaritan's Purse did a survey of all their Post Residency Mission Program trainees.

One of the questions was

"What was #1 thing that has motivated you to choose a career serving God in medical missions?"

What do you think the answer was? (More)

As you noticed over the course of this week, I've been attempting to share more about what I do and why.

In addition to these posts, I've begun to update the Groshlink about page, which includes a variety of material helpful for 'new partners' and missions committees, e.g., brief bio, family picture, links to partners in ministry, ministry updates, prayer calendar, presentation topics, etc.

If these materials are of interest, please swing by and take a look at our about page. If you have recommendations regarding how to better present/share this information (on the web and in other contexts), please drop me an email.

Check out the fresh, 'hot off the press' Graduate & Faculty Ministry's Campus Resources from IVP (2011-2012 Academic Year Edition). I love working on projects like this, where I have the opportunity to share resources with those seeking to love God with head, heart & hands.

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As I mentioned in What type of Missionary Work you are presently performing? I've been doing a lot of self-evaluation. Below is a draft of ministry goals for 2010-2012. It's probably more than most of you are interested in reading, as such I gave you the headers in bold ;) Please pray through the list. Feel free to give feedback. For more of what it's like on 'the ground,' read alongside:

• a prayer calendar, e.g., August 2011
• Graduate & Faculty Ministries Position Description
• stories of alumni/partners in ministry
  • Alum speak on the continuing value of Tom & Theresa's ministry: Stephanie (Pitt)
  • Alum speak on the continuing value of Tom & Theresa's ministry: Peter (CMU)
  • Why do you do what you do? - Medical Missionaries
  • Why do you do what you do? - Medical Missionaries Part II

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What's the value of investing in the lives of college students? I liken the campus minister's role to that of the Sower of the seeds. One faithfully casts the Gospel through (and to) head, heart and hands via a variety of special conversations, moments, and activities, but does not know the fruit of one's labors for years to come. One prays through the process of offering one's best, waiting upon the Lord and the response of those who receive.

In 2001, Bill graduated with a Biology degree from Carnegie Mellon University. He had been blessed by rich set of interwoven relationships across campus fellowships while maintaining an active role in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's undergraduate chapter, an acapella singing group (Joyful Noise), and a men's fellowship/ministry house. As with many alumni, I lost track of Bill after graduation and periodically wondered about/prayed regarding what next steps he took in faith and vocation. By God's grace, we recently reconnected via Facebook and I found out he was back in Pittsburgh for residency. Our relationships and journeys in Christ once again overlap. Although I'm no longer in Pittsburgh, I'm actively a part of Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) AND his family is too.

Picking up the story of more families in medical missions ...

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A significant amount of self-evaluation and confirmation regarding the center (the Evangel, i.e., the Good News of Jesus the Christ) and next steps for ministry in 2011-2012 has result from he combination of prayerfully walking through

• Filling out a Missionary Support Request Form for local assembly which has partnered with us from the beginning of our campus ministry (1996).
• Writing a personal perspective paper (8 to 10 pages, double spaced) for Leadership & Structure within the Brethren in Christ Church Core Course:
  • The place of God in your life and ministry
  • Your vision and dreams for your ministry
  • Assessment of yourself as a leader
  • How you communicate and relate with people
  • Why you choose to be in the Brethren in Christ family
  • What you learned in this course about life and order in the Brethren in Christ Church, North America
• Submitting Ministry Goals for my labors with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry not only in South Central PA, but regionally and nationally.
• Reading Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard (Chip and Dan Heath. New York: Broadway Books, 2010), based on the recommendation of my supervisor. No doubt recommended to assist in the area of fund development :)
• Preparing material for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Regional Staff Conference on avenues to benefit from the resources of the local and national initiatives of the Emerging Scholars Network.

I'll post materials from these various endeavors over the course of the coming days. I'll begin with the paragraph used to address the question, "What type of Missionary Work you are presently performing?" from the Missionary Support Request Form.

By the call of God and prayerful offering of His good gifts to reach out to the University with the whole Gospel to whole people, I work with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministries. I serve graduate students and faculty locally in South Central PA and nationally by writing for and sharing the resources of the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN). ESN seeks to identify, encourage, and equip Christian scholars to be redeeming influences in higher education. This is accomplished on campus and through a growing online presence (ESN blog, Facebook Wall, and email correspondence).

 

In addition to these responsibilities, I am a resource person for graduate, medical, and nursing students (in partnership with the Christian Medical & Dental Associations/CMDA) at Penn State University - Hershey Medical Center/College of Medicine. PSU-Hershey's Christian Medical Society (CMS) hosts about fifty students and health care professionals per week at their lunchtime outreach gatherings. CMS also offers Bible studies, prayer meetings, retreats, socials, and a number of outreaches throughout the year.

 

In partnership with the local assembly of which I am a member (Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ Church) and the local library, I developed a Christian Scholar Series for the campus, the church, and the community. The Christian Scholar Series provides the members of a growing Central PA Christian Scholars Network a periodic opportunity to gather, discuss and reach out.

 

Finally, I am a consultant with InterVarsity Press (IVP), influencing decisions regarding which books and resources would be most helpful to students, members of the academic community, and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staff.

 

For regular updates on the missionary work and our family visit http://www.groshlink.net.

Click here to open/download our July 2011 Prayer Calendar in PDF.

Along the lines of what we posted July 1, your prayers has been a great blessing and encouragement to us.

Although we're waiting for the year end financial numbers, we know God has carried us through a challenging financial time. Honestly, whether or not we reach budget, we have sensed the Presence and Power of God in our home, our neighborhood, the local congregation of which we are members, and on the campuses we serve. God has provided bountifully through the people of God for His work with the Christian Scholar Series and Health Care Professionals (focused on Penn State Hershey) -- & beyond through the Emerging Scholars Network in too many ways to count and in ways too complex to easily share through words.* To God be the glory!

*None-the-less, we will try to keep sharing stories in the coming days, weeks, months, years :)

For Christ’s love compels us… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 5:14—6:2).

Click here to open/download our June 2011 Prayer Calendar in PDF.  Some quotes to whet your appetite.

• Testimony from Mary Poplin, Professor of Education, Claremont Graduate University & author of Finding Calcutta: What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service
  • “Tom, I am amazed at the breadth and depth of your ministry from working with the various campus ministries, student leaders and faculty across so many different campuses in your region as well as working alongside other leaders in similar positions and even the local public library, local churches, not to mention raising your own salary.  I was so blessed by your spirit in accomplishing all these things and your energy. I wonder when you ever sleep. Thank you so much for the blessing of working with you in all the venues you so carefully planned.” – Personal correspondence after her Emerging Scholars Network speaking tour of Pittsburgh, South Central PA (at PSU-Hershey in above picture), and Baltimore. Permission given to share.
• Testimony from a member of the Emerging Scholars Network (ESN)
  • In our recent national ESN member survey, members told us that our local gatherings have been a great addition to ESN's ministry.  We pioneered this work in South Central PA. One member shared:
    
    "It was very helpful to meet Mary Poplin [at the Central Pennsylvania events]. We spoke for about an hour, and she was an encouragement to both my spiritual life and my academic calling."

If you desire to partner in this growing work through donating time, resources, food (for outreach events, socials, special events), hosting, skills, or financial gifts, please be in touch with us so we can discuss various opportunities. At present we’ve received $75,399 of our $93,340 ministry budget. Pray for God’s full provision for work through the investment of His people by fiscal year end (6/30). Note:  Online giving available at https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh.

You may remember a few days ago I wrote, Praise God for $2,500 gift toward $7,500 gap followed by Praise God for $1,500 gift toward $5,000 gap. This evening I checked the gifts which have been processed and we've received $1,100 in new gifts, decreasing the gap to $2,400.*

What do these gifts, which address a budget just over $93,000, provide? As you know, it's hard to put Kingdom work into words, but here's what Kelly [PSU-Hershey (PhD), Messiah College (BS)] has to share ...

I remember the first day I met Tom and learned about IVCF grad ministries – I thought “Wow, I had no idea they did grad ministries too”. The more I became involved the more I was encouraged by meeting fellow grad students who were just as committed to Christ as they were to their calling. It was very refreshing to be encouraged in the pursuit of academic excellence and in using those talents for the glory of God. The time I spent interacting with IVCF and the ESN in central PA gave me a springboard for new relationships in Durham, NC, where I am now involved with the IVCF Graduate Christian Fellowship at Duke University. -- Kelly, Postdoc, Duke University Human Vaccine Institute

After our family hosted Kelly for dinner, I joined another packed out Christian Medical Society/CMS social at PSU-Hershey Medical Center (20+ in attendence). Great conversation over ice cream and games. Below are some pictures of those of us who played iMAgiNiff. As many of you know this is not typically my type of game, but I played with a partner, enjoyed the laugh filled interactions, and won!

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Last Tuesday in the midst of academic year end and the beginning of board preparation, 20+ students packed out a student's apartment to give praise to God. What did they sing?

• Open the Eyes of My Heart
• You Never Let Go
• What Can I Do
• I Stand in Awe of You
• Beautiful One
• My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
• Sing to the Lord
• Draw Me Close to You

Imagine the joy of encountering one health care professional/researchers after another with these songs on their lips/incarnated in their lives as they prepare and deliver care to you, your family, your friends, our "neighbor" in need. To God be the glory!

Take a few minutes with me to soak in "You Never Let Go," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB1NJV3rG6k and pray for those who are facing difficult health concerns and/or have recently lost someone close to them. Note: Bible Verses in Matt Redman's "You Never Let Go"

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What guides the current student leaders we minister with through PSU-Hershey CMS/CMDA?

A glimpse: As we wrapped up the spring term, the President framed fall planning of community/social, discipleship, mission, and outreach endeavors with these Scriptural encouragments.

• Hebrews 10:23-25: Remind each other of our hope for the next year.
• Colossians 2:6-7: Continue to live our lives in Him and sharing & journeying with one another. Share our joy - be thankful for the things in your life.
• Philippians 2:14-16: Share the scriptures together. Be like lights - shine bright and don't hide. Don't question what God is calling you to do.
• Galatians 6:2: Prayer - continue to lift one another up, rejoice with those who are rejoicing
• John 13:34: Showing our identity to classmates is by showing our love to one another. Many people don't understand the language we use to explain our relationship - everyone understands the language of love (how we love one another and love “them”).
• 2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 20: Reason we are compelled to reach our to classmates - because of Christ's love for us. We are Christ's ambassadors - we are His representives here [Note: The foundational text for our ministry].
• Matthew 25:40: By serving and loving classmates we are serving and loving Christ [Note: A focus of Mother Teresa's ministry, highlighted by Mary Poplin].

Thank-you for your prayer and partnership in ministry as we seek to raise up a new generation of health care professionals/researchers who will walk health care facilities as the salt, light, and leaven of Christ! You are a great blessing and encouragement.  Gifts toward our ministry may be given at https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh.*  To volunteer in other ways (e.g., assist with special events such as retreats and the Christian Scholar Series, collate mailings, provide food for our weekly PSU-Hershey CMS/CMDA Tuesday lunch lectures), drop us an email or give us a call.  To read Tom's spiritual autobiography, entitled One more day when you can live your life, click here.

For Christ’s love compels us… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 5:14—6:2).

*Praying for God's provision of our $93,340 ministry budget. At present we have received $71,867 (5/16/2011). Our fiscal year closes on June 30. Based on past giving cycles we estimate our gap consists of ~$3,500.

You may remember a few days ago I wrote, Praise God for $2,500 gift toward $7,500 gap. This evening I received an email that a donation of $1,500 was on the way to https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh. It is humbling how many ways God has provided for us over the course of the past week: tax refunds, books, 'our little farm,' opportunities for Theresa to do Naptime Inspirations commissions, clothing. To God be the glory!

Pray for tomorrow's 6:30 am brainstorming fund development breakfast which will focus on how to draw together a regional support base which will release to more time on campus to

• Bless Students ....

• Alum speak on the continuing value of Tom & Theresa's ministry: Peter (CMU)
• Alum speak on the continuing value of Tom & Theresa's ministry: Stephanie (Pitt)
• Bryan Hollinger, M.D., Medical Director of Esperanza Health Center on the importance of a Christian Medical & Dental Associations staff such as myself at PSU-Hershey Medical Center
• “Why invest time, money & resources?”
• Commissioning PSU-Hershey Medical School Graduates

• Bless Faculty, Professionals, and Emerging Scholars ... more on that coming. Must run to share the good news with the family and tuck in the girls.

For Christ’s love compels us… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 5:14—6:2).

*Praying for God's provision of our $93,340 ministry budget. At present we have received $70,367 (5/14/2011) + $1,500 (to be processed). Our fiscal year closes on June 30. Based on past giving cycles we estimate our gap consists of ~$5,000 ~$3,500.

As I mentioned in Alum speak on the continuing value of Tom & Theresa's ministry: Peter (CMU), several donors have expressed desire to hear from alumni as to the long term value of our labors on campus. Stephanie (Ph.D., U. of Pittsburgh) and Bo (PharmD, Duquesne) were involved with InterVarsity’s CMU/Pitt grad group from 2000-2005. They overlapped with Peter (CMU) & Kelly (GCC).

My husband, Bo, and I were involved with InterVarsity’s CMU/Pitt grad group from 2000-2005, attending various large and small group gatherings, book discussion groups, outreach events, and retreats. One of the most important things I’ve taken away from this time is the importance of putting God in the center of everything I do.

Time and time again, Tom steered the group’s focus back to fundamental questions of faith and vocation: What does God have to do with my field of study? And how do I honor God through my work?  Now that I’m outside of academia, I’m still asking myself these questions though they sound slightly different: What does God have to do with parenting or my volunteer work? And how do I honor him?

This habit of self-reflection has drawn me towards volunteer opportunities with InterVarsity’s grad group at OSU. In the last few years, I’ve helped out with special events on campus, led book discussions for a post-grad woman’s group, and mentored a graduate student.  I truly believe that my experience with the CMU/Pitt group and Tom’s leadership of this group has prepared me for this current phase of my life when I’ve been able to challenge others to grow closer to God and glorify Him.

Stephanie

As with Peter's comments, Stephanie's ministry affirmation is humbling. We offer her reflections to the glory of God and for your consideration as you prayerfully invest in strategic Kingdom of God endeavors, https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh.

Please be in touch with us, if you have availability to volunteer in lives of students/families such as Bo & Stephanie and Peter & Kelly by

• assisting with special events such as retreats, funding events, and the Christian Scholar Series
•  collating mailings and preparing various communications materials
• providing food for PSU-Hershey CMS/CMDA's weekly Tuesday lunch lectures.

Note: For more on Tom & Theresa, we encourage you to read Tom's One more day when you can live your life and Theresa's God at Work Testimony (6/19/2011).

For Christ’s love compels us… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 5:14—6:2).

Updated:  7/2/2011. 5:06 pm EST.

Last night, we received word of a $2,500 gift to assist in addressing our $7,500 gap (in a ministry budget of $93,340). To God be the glory! Lord willing, only $5,000 in new gifts, i.e., if our regular giving remains steady, required to finish the year in the black.

As you know we've been writing a series of posts to share the value of investing in our Kingdom ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA: Central PA Christian Scholars Network (which includes the Christian Scholar Series), the Emerging Scholars Network blog, and PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA.

Prayer requests regarding fund development:

• Insights regarding how to continue to expand the awareness of and deepen the understanding of the importance of investing in our Kingdom ministry with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA -- Toward that end we're having a brainstorming breakfast on Monday. Pray for those in attendence to come up with good ideas. Note: We'd like to have a "Celebrating 15 Years of Ministry" Communication and Event Theme in 2011-2012.
• Good conversations with 1 significant donor and 3 others who have expressed desire to invest more deeply. -- Tom will have some of these conversations on Monday.
• Development of a fiscal year end mailing. -- Tom will begin the process next week.
• Opportunity to connect with donor congregations to request a fiscal year end gift to help close the gap. If you serve on a mission committee or as the pastor of a local AND desire to assist us in this task, please contact us.

Thank-you for your prayer and partnership in ministry! You are a great blessing and encouragement. To help address this gap, gifts may be given at https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh.* To volunteer in other ways (e.g., assist with special events such as retreats and the Christian Scholar Series, collate mailings, provide food for our weekly PSU-Hershey CMS/CMDA Tuesday lunch lectures), drop us an email or give us a call.  To read Tom's spiritual autobiography, entitled One more day when you can live your life, click here.

For Christ’s love compels us… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 5:14—6:2).

*Praying for God's provision of our $93,340 ministry budget. At present we have received $68,917 (5/11/2011). Our fiscal year closes on June 30. Based on past giving cycles we estimate our gap consists of ~$7,500 ~$5,000. God provides through his people for his work!

Several donors have expressed interest in hearing from alumni as to the long term value of our campus ministry. Peter (Ph.D., Carnegie Mellon University), married to Kelly (a Grove City College alumnus), kicks off a periodic series of posts. Peter and Kelly have been connected with our ministry in some form since "the early days" and have been a great joy to grow with "in Christ" through the years. Conversations from the decade at Carnegie Mellon inspire not only some of the topics, but also some of the style of my posts on the Emerging Scholars Network blog. Currently Peter serves as a software engineer with Logos Bible Software.

It's easy for me to say that InterVarsity changed my life, because I met the girl of my dreams at an InterVarsity conference, now happily married.  While that's hard to beat, it's also true that the ideas and relationships I encountered through InterVarsity have had a profound long-term effect on my professional and spiritual life.  For example, as a Ph.D. student in computer science I grappled with questions of vocation and work; it was important for me to understand how my work (and not just that of pastors and missionaries) is of value to God in itself.  

Tom and the InterVarsity community were instrumental in encouraging me through the challenges of graduate school and facilitating the discussions and deep thinking needed to navigate this and other questions of meaning and purpose, and to sustain my spiritual life through prayer, worship, study, outreach, and celebration.  The training and experience gained through InterVarsity have stayed with me as I continue to lead others in Bible study, to grapple with big questions, and to serve the Lord by working in my field.

Peter

Peter's ministry affirmation is humbling. We offer his reflections to the glory of God and for your consideration as you prayerfully invest in strategic Kingdom of God endeavors, https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh.

Please be in touch with us, if you have availability to volunteer in lives of students/families such as Peter and Kelly by

• assisting with special events such as retreats, funding events, and the Christian Scholar Series
•  collating mailings and preparing various communications materials
• providing food for PSU-Hershey CMS/CMDA's weekly Tuesday lunch lectures.

Note: To get to know Tom & Theresa better, we encourage you to read Tom's One more day when you can live your life and Theresa's God at Work Testimony (6/19/2011).

For Christ’s love compels us… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 5:14—6:2).

Updated:  7/2/2011. 5:01 pm EST.

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's new donation web pages are up and running. Wow! In case you'd like to check out (even try out) the system, here's my personal page :-)  I love the opportunity to provide a ministry description!

https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh

Our Mission: "To establish and advance at colleges and universities witnessing communities that follow Jesus"

Our Vision: "To see students and faculty transformed. Campuses renewed. World changers developed."

For Christ’s love compels us… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 5:14—6:2)

Click here for a copy of the May Prayer Calendar. We rejoice in your partnership in prayer. The answers to prayer even extends to the ministry on the internet with a tremendous spike in Emerging Scholars Network blog traffic (Remember the targeted prayer request for the final week of April? Be sure to check out my colleague Mike's post Jesus Didn’t Choose Scholars… after we finish Lent and celebrate Easter strong). More ministry update coming ...

To support financially visit https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh.* To volunteer in other ways (e.g., assist with special events such as retreats and the Christian Scholar Series, collate mailings, provide food for our weekly PSU-Hershey CMS/CMDA Tuesday lunch lectures), drop us an email or give us a call.  To read more about my spiritual autobiography, entitled One more day when you can live your life, click here.

For Christ’s love compels us… I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation (II Cor. 5:14—6:2).

*Praying for God's provision of our $93,340 ministry budget. At present we have received $68,592. Our fiscal year closes on June 30. Based on past giving cycles we estimate our gap consists of ~$7,500.

Just have the time to post the link to PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA Spring Retreat Photos on Facebook, click here. A local physician spoke to about 20 members on "not missing God in all aspects of life, especially work." Loved having several physicians hanging out with us on Saturday, two even brought along their kids :-) Our twins had a blast with the students, the other kids, and the physicians. What a joy to have the opportunity to encourage followers of Christ (and those seeking to know Christ) to dwell in the Presence of God throughout the day. To God be the glory!

To support financially visit https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh. To volunteer in other ways (e.g., assist with special events such as retreats and the Christian Scholar Series, collate mailings, provide food for our weekly PSU-Hershey CMS/CMDA Tuesday lunch lectures), drop us an email or give us a call.  To read Tom's spiritual autobiography, entitled One more day when you can live your life, click here.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. — Colossians 3:17

Our work among Emerging Scholars and the creation of the Central PA Christian Scholars Network with Christian Scholar Series is motivated by the longing to be part of the process in which more members of the community of higher education are raised up with and encouraged in a sense of calling like Intervarsity Alumni Lendol Calder, history professor at Augustana College. Calder was recently named the 2010 Illinois Professor of the Year, an award recognizing professors who excel in undergraduate teaching and mentoring. To God be the glory!

InterVarsity Alum: Lendol Calder on "Uncoverage" from InterVarsity-twentyonehundred on Vimeo.

More on this topic coming ...

To support financially visit https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh. To volunteer in other ways (e.g., assist with special events such as retreats and the Christian Scholar Series, collate mailings, provide food for our weekly PSU-Hershey CMS/CMDA Tuesday lunch lectures), drop us an email or give us a call.  To read Tom's spiritual autobiography, entitled One more day when you can live your life, click here.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. — Colossians 3:17

Currently the twins are hanging out with me at Roxbury Holiness Camp. We're walking alongside budding health care professionals from PSU-Hershey (in partnership with the Christian Medical & Dental Association). 

What does the PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society/CMDA provide?

The Christian Medical Society is a fellowship of believers centered in the Milton Hershey Hospital and focused on the development of good Christian physicians. Medical students are given the opportunity to hear weekly talks by Christian health care professionals, attend Bible studies, and develop close relationships with many people. It is an invaluable group that supplements the academic side of medical school with considerations of spiritual issues.  What really makes this group successful is the immense involvement of many physicians, churches, and supporters to supply what a group of students are lacking, such as wisdom, experience, and perspective. It is a community that provides support for medical students and encourages growth into balanced physicians. — Oliver, 2nd Year PSU-Hershey Medical Student. CMS Leadership Team Member. Grove City College ('09).

More on PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society/CMDA and my relationship to it coming. ... Be sure to check back on Monday to learn about the retreat.

Note: The picture is of a weekly lunch lecture. In partnership with local congregations, physicians, and alumni, we serve 45 - 65 a given week. Please let me know if you'd like to help out with a lunch in the fall, a picnic in the summer, or a dessert for a summer of fall Bible study.  The speaker is Kirk Belmont of Hershey Evangelical Free Church. He shared about his family's health struggles, how family health concerns affects one's relationship with God, and extending holistic care.

To support financially visit www.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh. To volunteer in other ways (e.g., assist with special events such as retreats and the Christian Scholar Series, collate mailings, provide food for an upcoming event), drop us an email or give us a call.  To read more about my spiritual autobiography, entitled One more day when you can live your life, click here.

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” -- Matthew 9:35-38

Often I'm asked by word (or questioning facial response), "Why do you do what you do?"

As we approach the end of the fiscal year (June 30) with

• a projected need of $7500 - 10,000 in new financial support to address an annual ministry budget between $90,000 - $100,000
• a desire to establish a funding base which will enable us focus on coming along students, health care professionals, and teachers, instead of fundraising

I will seek to give a series of specific responses.

First thoughts on "Why walk alongside budding health care professionals at PSU-Hershey (in partnership with the Christian Medical & Dental Association, 2010 fall retreat picture below), blog for the Emerging Scholars Network, and create the Central PA Christian Scholars Network with Christian Scholar Series?"

Christ compels!

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We rejoice in your continued prayer and partnership with the work to which God has called us.  Please click here for our March 2011 Prayer Calendar, which includes praises regarding our February ministry.  Please don't forget to review/pray for upcoming spring events on page 2.

Brief Update:  February has been rich and full.  In addition to the regular campus visits to Penn State Hershey's Christian Medical Society (CMS)/CMDA, ESN Blog Posts, and campus connections with the growing members of the Central PA Christian Scholars Network, Tom

• Directed the Mid-Atlantic Graduate Student Winter Retreat (30 participants)
• Made several strong connections for future speakers and ESN blog posts at Jubilee
• Coordinated Mary Poplin's, Education Professor, Claremont Graduate University, & author of Finding Calcutta:  What Mother Teresa Taught Me About Meaningful Work and Service speaking tour through Pittsburgh (2/25-26), South Central PA (2/27-3/1), and Baltimore (3/2). Above are pictures of the Veritas Forum at Carnegie Mellon University. She spoke with 150 on 2/25 and another 30 at a focused seminar for academics on 2/26.  What a joy to be back in 'da Burgh and partner with Amy, Chloe, Mike, and Robin!  In South Central PA, Mary spoke with hundreds through a combination of engagements at Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ (2/27), Elizabethtown Public Library (2/28), F&M (3/1), Messiah College (2/28), and Penn State Hershey Medical Center (3/1).  To God be the glory!  More specifics/pictures in future posts.

We rejoice in your continued prayer and partnership with the work to which God has called us.  Click here for our February 2011 Prayer Calendar.  Please don't forget to review/pray for upcoming spring events on page 2.