GroshLink

Join me in praying for the 20 person PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society's missions team. They are currently serving in the Dominican Republic over PSU's Spring Break. The team is comprised of a graduate student, medical students, nurses, and physicians. Pray for God to be working through them to those whom they minister to/alongside. Pray for safety in travel, the provision of necessary supplies, the healing touch of God in the physical and spiritual body. Pray for grace and insight when they return on Saturday to a variety of schedules and the picking up of daily routine.

Amish Grace & Pop Culture (Tom Grosh, ESN Blog, 3/3/2010) ... Responses?

I was intrigued with Dr. Kraybill for his intellectual insight on his belief on God. I was encouraged that he said his intellect drew him closer to God.  -- Emerging Scholar

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

A few items to pass along:

• March Prayer Calendar
• March 6-13:  PSU-Hershey Medical Center's Christian Medical Society Mission Team, comprised of 20 students (graduate, medical, and nursing) and physicians who will minister in the Dominican Republic. 
  
  • Pray for safe travel, strong health, and the necessary resources for the team to minister. 
  • Pray for the team to demonstrate, provide, and articulate the healing life of Jesus the Christ our Lord & Savior.
• Monday, March 22:  Please join us in spirit or in person for a Day of Prayer for Family & Ministry.  11 am—noon, Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ, 996 High St, Elizabethtown, Lounge.  Prayer requests will be posted on Groshlink.
• Sunday, February 28 -- Positive comments continue to come in from our Day with Donald Kraybill, Sociology Professor, Elizabethtown College. The partnership with Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ has been rich and continues to deepen. 
  • Emerging Scholars And Elizabethtown BIC Team Up To Offer Seminar
• Upcoming ESN Events:
  
  • Wednesday, May 22:  Dessert with Bobby Gross, National Director of InterVarsity’s Christian Fellowship’s Graduate & Faculty Ministry. Location/time tba shortly.
  • Thursday, May 23:  Bobby Gross presents on his new book Living the Christian Year: Time to Inhabit the Story of God (InterVarsity Press, 2009) through a partnership with Hearts & Minds Bookstore . Location/time tba shortly.
• Please continue to contact us if you have interest in and to connect us with those who you think might have interest in the Emerging Scholars Network.  
  • Note:  Tom's regularly posts on the ESN Blog
    • Addressing our Errors
    • What are you picking up this Lent?

Following and Walking in the Light of Christ,

Tom & Theresa Grosh

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Graduate & Faculty Ministry
http://www.groshlink.net
http://blog.emergingscholars.org

Financial support for this strategic ministry should be directed to "InterVarsity Christian Fellowship" P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895.  Please enclose a separate piece of paper indicating that the gift is for the work of "Tom Grosh."  On-line giving available at www.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh

'Students and Faculty Transformed, Campus Renewed, and World Changers Developed.'

Click here for the March 2010 Prayer Calendar. Lord willing, e-prayer letter coming out tomorrow.  Pray for me as I travel to several campuses tomorrow.

Emerging Scholars And Elizabethtown BIC Team Up To Offer Seminar ran in the Elizabethtown-Mount Joy Merchandiser.  The article promoted the upcoming day with Donald B. Kraybill, Distinguished College Professor & Senior Fellow in the Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College.  What a joy to be engaged in this creative ministry pilot between Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Emerging Scholars Network! Note: For event page w/RSVP for lunch, click here.

Note:  Email sent to ministry partners.  If you desire to be part of the email list, please let us know. 

"I think one of the greatest needs today is to help people understand how the situation between reason or understanding and revelation has changed in our time, and specifically to understand that what is in trouble on our campuses today is reason itself. Reason is in big trouble!  The task of the university in the next century is to redeem reason and bring it fully into the camp of God. ... My claim will be that only the body of Christian knowledge and intellectual method can redeem reason." -- Dallas Willard, "The Redemption of Reason" (keynote address at the academic symposium "The Christian University in the Next Millennium," Biola University, La Mirada, California, February 28, 1998, http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=118).

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

A few items to pass along:

1. February Prayer Calendar
2. 2010 Ministry Summary half sheet -- attached. Note:  The original half sheet was created to share with members of Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ, our local congregation.  It has received a slight edit for wider distribution.  If you are a member of a fellowship which supports us (e.g., fellowship group, local congregation, missions committee, small group) and have an opportunity to distribute, please print and do such. 
3. Sunday, February 28 -- Partnership with Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ in hosting Donald Kraybill, Distinguished College Professor & Senior Fellow in the Young Center for Anabaptist & Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College.  If you're in the area, please join us for all or part of the day (Note: he'll preach on "Jesus' Upside Down Kingdom," teach adult Sunday school on "The Riddle of the Amish," and share "The Sociology of Faith: An Autobiographical Study" over lunch.  Info/RSVP available at http://www.etownbic.org/kraybill/.
4. Ministry and family updates continue to be posted at http://www.groshlink.net/, also regular posts on higher education at http://blog.emergingscholars.org/.
5. Weather update:  Preparations for the Mid-Atlantic Graduate Student Winter Retreat took much of Tom's time over the course of the past week.  Due to the snow storm it was canceled.  Pray for discernment regarding next steps for area training.  Tom's currently snowed in, but working on posts such as http://blog.emergingscholars.org/2010/02/lost-in-a-blizzard-of-hidden-persuaders/.  All four kids are running around the house and will soon venture into the snow drifts when Tom turns attention to digging out.

Following and Walking in the Light of Christ,

Tom & Theresa Grosh

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Graduate & Faculty Ministry
http://www.groshlink.net/
http://blog.emergingscholars.org/

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."

Due to the snow storm coming through the Mid-Atlantic, we've cancelled this weekend's Mid-Atlantic Graduate Student Winter Retreat.  Pray for discernment for the staff team as we prayerfully consider rescheduling the retreat for March 12-14.  Check back for updates.

February Prayer Calendar available here.

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

A quick note to

1. pass along a link to a piece, with pictures, which Tom wrote on the joys of serving with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry/Emerging Scholars Network at Urbana 2009, http://blog.emergingscholars.org/2010/01/more-on-esn-at-urbana-09/.   Note:  If you're interested in video of the main Urbana sessions, visit http://www.vimeo.com/urbana09. 
2. highlight a few prayer requests. 
   • Praise:  Theresa's feeling much better.  The lump on her thyroid was benign and her neck is nearly healed.  The prayers and gifts of food/childcare provided by many have been a great blessing and expression of the people of God in shared life/ministry.  What a testimony to our family, friends, and acquaintances.  To God be the glory!  On Monday, Tom picked up ministry responsibilities beyond limited emailing, posting, and teleconferencing.  
   • Praise/Request:  God provides.  In December, over half of our $10,000 shortfall was addressed  and several partners have stepped up to the increased giving match as we enter 2010.  If you or a ministry with which you are connected desire learn how to partner with us in our pioneering work, please contact us by phone/email.  Note:  On-line giving available here.
   • Praise/Request:  Pray for the over 100 participants in this weekend's Christian Medical & Dental Association (CMDA) Northeast Regional Retreat to be challenged by material based upon Luke 9:23-25.  Pray for the retreat to provide insight regarding my developing relationship with CMDA, particularly PSU-Hershey Medical Center's Christian Medical Society (CMS). Pray for safe travel as Theresa and Tom carpool with three students (two from PSU-Hershey and a pre-med student from Messiah College). Pray for us to find some time of rest, even though we're in a ministry setting.  Pray for our families as they care for our four girls.

Following and Walking in the Light of Christ,

Tom & Theresa Grosh

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Graduate & Faculty Ministry
http://www.groshlink.net/
http://blog.emergingscholars.org/

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."

Note:  Modified form of our partner team email.  If you'd like to be added to the e-list, please let us know.

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

A quick note to

1. pass along our January Prayer Calendar
2. highlight a few prayer requests. 
   • Praise:  On Friday, Tom returned from Urbana Student Missions Convention 2009.  As part of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry/Emerging Scholars Network team, Tom's days were rich with conversations exploring the call for academics to follow Jesus through the whole university journey. And by God's grace the family was well cared for as he served. God is good! If you're interested in video of the main Urbana sessions, then click here.  If you're on Facebook, swing by Tom's page for more pictures than those included in the prayer calendar.
   • Request: Pray for Theresa. A lump was recently discovered on her thyroid and we've decided to have it surgically removed on Monday, January 4. Pray for the kids to be well cared for as Theresa heals and for a favorable pathology report.
   • Praise/Request: God has been gracious through the people of God in many ways as we've sought his direction in addressing our funding concerns. Pray for continued discernment. An update will come in mid-January.

As I mentioned yesterday, Bob Ives* shared two analogies at our December dessert regarding the value of our work with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and encouraged participants to prayerfully consider supporting us.  He gave me permission to share these analogies with a wider audience as we seek to address our current operating shortfall of ~$10,000.  Below's the second analogy.  

The other analogy is of a soccer team. A group of 11 players need a good coach, or everyone will want to play his game. A good coach helps the forwards, the midfield, the defense and the goalie work with one another. Good passing, support when another player is being pressured by the other team. Tom's ministry is like being a soccer coach who helps a team come together, pass to one another, share the work of bringing the ball downfield. But the coach doesn't play. Soccer isn't like football where the coach calls the plays from the sidelines. Soccer is a game of playing the ball together, having had help during practice on how to do that.

Click here to read our newsletter and learn about a match grant for new and/or increased giving. Note:  Information on giving and the opporutnity for on-line giving is available here, be sure to designate for "Tom Grosh."

*Bob's an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship alumnus who served as senior pastor of Grantham Brethren in Christ (PA) for 30 years and an adjunct professor at Messiah College for 34 years. While at the College, he taught a class on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other Oxford Christian Writers.

At our December dessert, Bob Ives* shared two analogies regarding the value of our work with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and encouraged participants to prayerfully consider supporting us.  He gave me permission to share these analogies with a wider audience as we seek to address our current operating shortfall of ~$10,000. Below's one analogy, another coming tomorrow.

There is an analogy in Colossians 2:7 that pictures the ministry of Tom Grosh. It describes the growth of Christians. "Rooted and being built up in him" (Jesus). Rooted is a perfect verb form, begun in the past with on going implications. But "being built up" is a present passive form. It's what is ongoing. How do people get built up? They need a builder to help them, the sort of ministry Tom Grosh carries on. When a builder is working on constructing a house, he has the architect's plans laid out on a table. These plans are God's Word. The builder needs to constantly refer to the architect plans or the building may look strange. And a builder often has other construction people to help him, people he brings together in a community of workers to keep building the structure. That's the ministry Tom Grosh has with Intervarsity.

Click here to read our newsletter and learn about a match grant for new and/or increased giving. Note:  Information on giving and the opporutnity for on-line giving is available here, be sure to designate for "Tom Grosh."

*Bob's an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship alumnus who served as senior pastor of Grantham Brethren in Christ (PA) for 30 years and an adjunct professor at Messiah College for 34 years. While at the College, he taught a class on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other Oxford Christian Writers.

Note:  Modified form of our partner team email.  If you'd like to be added to the e-list, please let us know.

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness — on them light has shined. — Isaiah 9:2

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our year end newsletter can be found online at

http://groshlink.net/gallery/1/09_12_NS.pdf

Please take a few minutes to prayerfully consider whether you (or some in the networks or congregations of which you are a member) have the ability to address our current operating shortfall of just over $10,000. If you are able to increase (or begin) regular giving, your gifts are eligible to be matched. For more information on this opportunity read the attachment and/or drop us an email. A special thank-you to the several individual, families and local congregations who have already increased their giving and/or will be begin to do such in 2010.

In mid-January, we'll send an up-to-date on our financial situation. Note: on-line giving available at http://www.intervarsity.org/donate/.

Following and Walking in the Light of Christ,

Tom & Theresa Grosh

InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Graduate & Faculty Ministry
http://www.groshlink.net/
http://blog.emergingscholars.org/

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."

Praise God for a night of great fellowship with 45+ at the PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society Christmas party. I had the opportunity to connect with graduate students, medical students, nurses, physicians, and their families. And I met a prospective medical student from Grove City College!  Great to chat w/her about the campus and how it's developed over the years.  I would have stayed more than 2.5 hours, but the girls which joined me (Ellen & Hayley) were finished.

Ellen & Hayley enjoyed the Christmas carols, the food, playing with one of the other girls, holding the puppy dogs, and the white elephant gift exchange. Our white elephant gift haul: a mug with lifesavers/candy (Hayley), jar of honey (Ellen), and a Christmas Cheerios book with 1 serving Cheerios (Tom). Note: We contributed 3 well received InterVarsity Press devotionals & I made an after game trade of a study lamp with light bulb for the 'Cheerios package.'

PS.  Next Thursday, I'll be following up with the graduate students over dinner.  Pray for fruitful conversation.

Dear Friends in South Central PA, If you're planning to come to our December 3 Dessert please RSVP to us by email/phone.  We'd love to have a close count by Wednesday and a final count by the end of Thanksgiving weekend.  Thank-you.  In Christ, Tom & Theresa

Celebrating Christ on Campus

Featured Speaker:

Bob Ives, an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship alumnus who served as senior pastor of Grantham Brethren in Christ (PA) for 30 years and an adjunct professor at Messiah College for 34 years. While at the College, he taught a class on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and other Oxford Christian Writers.

Thursday, December 3, 7pm

The dessert will be hosted by Acorn Farms, 1/2 mile south of 283, Exit Rt 772, Manheim/Mount Joy
RSVP by November 25.

Church partners include Brethren in Christ World Missions, Elizabethtown Brethren-in-Christ, and Manheim Brethren-in-Christ.

Note:  If you know of some people which we may not currently be in touch with which would have interest in coming to the dessert or if your local congregation would be willing to share information regarding this event, please let us know.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

A quick note to

• pass along the November 2009 Prayer Calendar. We rejoice in your standing with us in prayer. If you desire to join our prayer team and have not already responded to our previous email, please do so at this time.  At present we have 15 who replied with the intention of weekly intercession.  Note:  Page 2 of the November 2009 Prayer Calendar has a general calendar of activities for the 2009-2010 Campus Mission.
• alert friends in South Central PA.
  • We'll gather for prayer, praise, and updates on Thursday, December 3, 7pm, Acorn Farms (1/2 mile south of 283, Exit Rt 772, Manheim/Mount Joy).  The dessert will feature Bob Ives, retired pastor of Grantham Brethren in Christ.  Bob will reflect upon the value of InterVarsity's campus ministry in his own life and the value he sees in the "coaching" of followers of Christ in which Tom's engaged both locally and nationally.  Hope you can join us.  Also, please extend an invitation to friends who may desire to learn more about the campus mission.  RSVP to us by November 25.

Day-by-Day by His Grace,

Tom & Theresa Grosh
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Graduate & Faculty Ministry
http://www.groshlink.net
http://blog.emergingscholars.org

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."

Praise God for his palpable Presence & work at the PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS) retreat. The retreat appeared to go off without a hitch. Tom had the strength and attention to fully engage in a number of conversations, including several which provided discernment regarding direction for his growing involvement w/CMS. The speaker connected well with the graduate students, medical students, & nurses as he shared about his call to ministry as a physician through a missions experience & challenged those present to place Christ above all else. This same physician committed to serve alongside students during CMS's spring break medical missions trip to the Dominican Republic. To God be the glory!

Pray for logistics of this weekend's PSU-Hershey Christian Medical Society (CMS) Retreat to come together well. Pray for me to have the strength, energy, attentiveness, and discernment to offer my gifts of service well during this weekend. Praise God that we've had the opportunity to work out a schedule to serve Theresa and the girls well while I'm away.

*At last count 35 were registered for rest, unwinding, spiritual renewal, and two teaching sessions by a Christian physician on "Using your medical skills as a ministry: Should I? Why and How?" The second teaching session will focus on "Short term medical missions" and has particular pertinence as 20+ medical students are considering short term medical missions over spring and/or summer break. Note: several faculty mentor couples are not only involved in short term medical missions but are considering long term creative access medical missions opportunities in 'closed countries.' Pray for discernment in conversations between faculty and students.

As I mentioned the other day, Eden's been digging into God and Me: 365 Daily Devotions (Penny Boshoff, Authentic Media, 2005) over breakfast.  We've explored God and Me: 365 Daily Devotions several times before, but looks like we might give it a try to work through it.  I've found it exciting how she wants to read, discuss, and pray through at least two a day ... so we'll be finished with this book in half the time if not less ;-)

The October 17 devotional is about The doctor.  The piece briefly notes the training involved in preparing to become a doctor, rejoices in/prays for earthly doctors, and then points to Jesus as the best doctor (see Matthew 4:23-24).

Eden has met a lot of doctors and health care professionals through the years.  Her question for the morning was Do doctors ever get sick?  Great question!  I tried to share how doctors and health care professionals try their best not to get ill in order to serve their patients and that one day, in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no sickness.  I wonder if this is part of what led into our conversation regarding the care for Elise Faith, which occurred later in the morning as we paged through photo albums.

BTW, today I'll bring lunch for the PSU-Hershey Medical Center's Christian Medical Society (CMS) and help provide some food for their dinner outreach for first years who will be taking their 4th Anatomy & Physiology exam on Friday.  Praise God for the resources provided by followers of Christ committed to this mission which enable me to serve this meal.  Pray for the students (graduate, medical, and nursing) to be little Christs in their classes/exams/rotations/labs, for the number of students attending this weekend's retreat to continue to climb (last count I heard was 34), and for the Word and Spirit to guide activities sponsored by CMS in such a manner to impart a stronger clarity in the call to follow Christ in all aspects of their life.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

What a joy to hear back from so many of you after our 9/21 update. Your encouragement, prayer, and support in so many aspects of our mission remind us that we are not alone as we seek to extend the Word of Life on campus.

Four items to highlight:

1. October Prayer Calendar: Includes 2009-2010 Ministry Calendar (p2 of PDF). Note: Up-to-date prayer calendars can always be downloaded at http://groshlink.net/static/about. Please open/print for personal use and share with prayer meetings, small groups, mission committees, local congregations, etc. If you desire a personal update/visit, drop us an email so we can arrange a time to connect.
2. Finances: If you have not already done so, prayerfully begin considering how you might support us financially at year end and/or in 2010. As you'll remember, God provided through His people at the close of last fiscal year. Although we've been tightening on ministry and household expenses, we are 20% behind on our budget for the new fiscal year.
   
   • Financial support for this strategic ministry should be directed to "InterVarsity Christian Fellowship," P.O. Box 7895, Madison, WI 53707-7895. Please enclose a separate piece of paper indicating that the gift is for the work of "Tom Grosh." On-line giving available at http://www.intervarsity.org/donate/to/Tom_Grosh
3. October 7: visit http://blog.emergingscholars.org/ for ...
   •  ESN Book Club: The Outrageous Idea of Christian Scholarship, http://blog.emergingscholars.org/2009/09/esn-book-club-the-outrageous-idea-of-christian-scholarship/
4. October 11: 2nd Central PA Christian Scholars Network Lunch, Elizabethtown Brethren in Christ, Elizabethtown, PA. Interested in learning more about the Central PA Christian Scholars Network? Let us know. ...
   
   • Topic: Jesus for the Academy: Freeing Christ from our Agendas, Stephen Nichols, professor of theology and church history at Lancaster Bible College, author of InterVarsity Press' Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to "The Passion of the Christ. For more visit http://www.intervarsity.org/gfm/esn/event/jesus-for-the-academy
   • [T]here is something peculiar about the tendency to contemporize in American evangelicalism. American evangelicals reflexively harbor suspicions of tradition. In fact, most tend toward being(rabidly) anti-tradition. Consequently, the past is overlooked as a significant source of direction. This leaves American evangelicals more vulnerable than most when it comes to cultural pressures and influences. In the absence of tradition, one tends to make up a new one, one not tested by time and one more or less constructed by individuals or by a limited community. This anti-tradition animus arises from what Sidney Mead once labeled historylessness, and what I have elsewhere called ahistoricism. This is the tendency of Americans in general to be not only amnesiacs of the past, but to be amnesiacs who aren’t necessarily looking to be cured. -- Excerpt from Stephen J. Nichols, Jesus Made in America: A Cultural History from the Puritans to 'The Passion of Christ,' posted at http://www.ivpress.com/title/ata/2849-x.pdf.

One more day by the grace of God alone,

Tom & Theresa Grosh
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Mid-Atlantic Faculty Ministry Catalyst
Brethren in Christ World Missions Affiliate
http://www.groshlink.net
http://blog.emergingscholars.org/author/tomg/

Students and Faculty Transformed, Campus Renewed, and World Changers Developed.

In summary, the two things necessary to thrive in school and after graduation:  read/query the Word of God AND have fellowship with the people of God no matter the work load.  If you can’t do the two above, then quit school.  Don’t become narrow and seek accolades.  Before moving for your job, make sure there is a good match with a local congregation.  Don’t focus on making money, limit your hours to be involved with community, church, family.  Take time to interact with your patients -- From Tom's notes on Keys of Thriving (Not Just Surviving!), http://blog.emergingscholars.org/2009/09/keys-of-thriving-not-just-surviving/, a PSU-Hershey’s Christian Medical Society lunch outreach lecture by Dr. Joe Kearns, MD, Emergency Medicine.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We rejoice in your continued intercession! The LORD has sustained our family through a full August followed by the launch of the new academic year for our kids & those with whom I minister on campus. In addition to weekly visits to PSU-Hershey Medical Center (Tuesday lunch outreach, evening leadership team meeting, men's Bible study; Thursday noon time prayer) and Millersville (Wednesday faculty/staff lunch discussion of The Truth Project), I have the following on my plate:

Join us in prayer for the fall mission by visiting our September Prayer Calendar.

Today (9/1/2009):

I'm attending the Lunch Lecture sponsored by PSU-Hershey's Christian Medical Society. Pray for solid new student connections to be formed as fall term rolls along. In addition pray for a clear and challenging talk by Dr. Joe Kearns, MD, Emergency Medicine.  Note:  Joe will present on Keys of Thriving (Not Just Surviving!) in Medical School and Beyond.

In addition, pray for the C. S. Lewis Seminar, a faculty/staff group at PSU-Harrisburg. They're beginning a series of conversations based upon the debate Is God A Human Invention? -- sponsored by the Free Thought Society at Tufts University.  The debate was between Dinesh D'Souza, author of What's So Great About Christianity, and Daniel Dennett, Tufts philosophy professor and author. The debate can be found on Youtube in 15 episodes of about 10 minutes each. I'll get you started, let me know what you think of the debate....

We rejoice in your prayers for our family during last week's Mid-Atlantic Undergrad RSC.

1. Theresa pressed through with caring for the four girls and preparing for our road trip, we leave tomorrow.
2. My supervisor and I received a hearty reception from Dakota, the regional director, and a number of the other staff at the Mid-Atlantic Undergrad Regional Staff Conference. I must comment that it is so exciting to witness and be a part of the growing alignment of vision with the desire to 'get practical.' God the Father is bringing greater unity and shared purpose as we invest in the call of being used by God on campus in extending the call of the Gospel to the whole campus. Students and Faculty Transformed.  Campuses Renewed.  World Changers Developed. 
3. For those of you interested in more of the details:  I had a number of good conversations over meals, in the hall, and at the ESN/Faculty Ministry Table during which I passed along helpful resource materials in how to connect well with faculty/emerging scholars.  In addition, I explored the possibility of visiting several new campuses in the fall. In September, we'll seek to identify several 'pilot' ministry partnership campuses.  Can't wait to get this initiative going.  Hoping to build off of and replicate developing ESN opportunities such as Jesus for the Academy: Freeing Christ from our Agendas (Sunday, October 11) and last spring's How to Be a Culture Maker with Andy Crouch.

Note: Sent to our Partners in Ministry e-list.  If you're not on the list and would like to be added, then drop us a line.

Take time. Give God time to reveal Himself to you. Give yourself time to be silent and quiet before Him, waiting to receive, through the Spirit, the assurance of His presence with you, His power working in you.  Take time to read His Word as in His presence, that from it you may know what He asks of you and what He promises you. Let the Word create around you, create within you a holy atmosphere, a holy heavenly light, in which your soul will be refreshed and strengthened for the work of daily life. -- Andrew Murray. The Secret of Adoration. Quoted in They Found the Secret by V. Raymond Edman (Grand Rapids, MI:  Zondervan, 1984), p. 118. Posted on http://www.groshlink.net at They Found the Secret -- Andrew Murray on waiting upon the Word/Spirit*

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Pray that above quote will be true for our family and those with whom we connect on campus as we prepare for and journey through the fall term. 

With regard to the summer, it has been full!  Full with family, friends, and financial provision.  As in our last email, we encourage you to visit our family blog http://www.groshlink.net, keep up with our posts on Facebook (if you'd like to be friends, let us know!), and pray through our August prayer calendar (click here. Tom's recent posts at http://blog.emergingscholars.org include Academics Coming to Faith, A Land Full of Mystery, Danger, and Wonder, and Dumbledore as a model admin?   Lots of good comments on a variety of posts.  Would anyone have something to add in response to Quote: Simone Weil on Studying?