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April 2006
Sojourn Prayer Update
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To know that there are many people across the country (and other countries) praying for God's will to be done through college ministry in Boston is an amazing comfort.
If I've learned anything in the past nine months, it's that I desperately need to know God and His heart in order for His love to move through me to others. I'm learning that I can probably plant orgnanizations, but God has to build the house and direct our steps.
We are in special need of your prayers in the next few months as we transition staff at CMSU, begin our fundraising for full-time work in Boston and continue our meetings with chaplains and leaders at Boston University.
Love and Peace,
Tim & Stephanie Hawkins
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Staying in Boston
Our Journey Continues
 After months of prayer and consideration we have made the decision to stay in Boston. We will continue the work alongside our team and the Boston Partnership church plant.
The campus ministry at CMSU has hired a new director, Jon Ralls, and we will work together this summer to transition the ministry into his capable hands. I will remain as a part-time consultant to the CCH at CMSU as the New Fields Director. We will return to Boston at the end of July to help students in Boston find their way back to God and be part of the core group for the first Independent Christian Church plant in Boston.
There are HUGE things that we are asking you to pray with us about:
1. Praise...CCH will be keeping us on as New Fields Director, but we will need to replace most of our salary, about $2500 a month by the end of the year.
2. We will need to rent out our home in Warrensburg. Please pray that God raises up the right people to care for our home and neighbors.
3. We also need to make decisions about school for our kids next year. Homeschool? Public School? Cambridge or Somerville? Park Street School?
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Board of Directors Set
First Board Meeting June 8, 2006
 In June we will have our inaugural meeting of the Board of Directors for the Sojourn Collegiate Ministry. This will coincide with our local incorporation and filing as a 501c3 in MA.
I could not be more excited about the guys who will help guide us through the next three years. Their wisdom, sensitivity to God's leading and pioneering spirits will be a great value as we build stability for future ministry. Would you be in prayer for wisdom and direction for each of these guys and for our staff:
Joe Belzer - Campus Minister, Truman State; Kirksville, MO Matt Bormess - Lead Pastor, Harbor of Hope Christian Church; Lowell, MA Dr. Dan Curtis - Retired Professor, Central MO State Univ., Warrensburg, MO Bruce Hensley - Manager of Government and Business Relations, North Central Missouri Electric Coop; Milan, MO Ron Kastens - Senior Minister, Crossway Christian Church; Salem, NH Mark Nelson - Associate Minister, West Town Christian Church; Knoxville, TN Bruce Southerland - Community Pastor, Manchester Christian Church; Manchester, NH.
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Narrowing in...
Location, Location, Location
 At the front door of Boston Univeristy and the back door of Northeastern University sits Kenmore Square...surrouded by the colleges of the Fens and close to 80,000 students.
We are exploring office space and gathering space in the heart of Kenmore Square with the Boston Partnership, our church planting partners.
We have submitted an initial proposal for gathering space for the church launch this fall, please continue to pray that God opens the doors and that we are looking and listening for God's leading.
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Small Groups & Registration
Planning for the Fall
 The academic year has ended for most of the schools here in Boston. We hope that we have built some positive momentum to head into the next school year.
We have decided to continue to focus our efforts at Boston University. Later today I meet with one of the Chaplains at the University to share about our dreams for campus ministry. This will be an important meeting that could open the door for having an information table on campus at the beginning of the academic year this September.
All of our staff continued to meet with students one- on-one and in small groups through the semester. And though we could not get everyone together for any large group meetings, we were very excited about the number of students that we continued to meet with and were interested in helping us registered next year.
At various points this summer our staff will be traveling and solidifying their salaries. Currently all of our staff are bi-vocational, by choice, and next year will also be taking classes at Boston University, Harvard, or other places. It is our way of moving into the community. Please pray for that God would provide abundantly for their needs, for our office funding and general operating expenses.
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Stephanie and Quinton...
thoughts on the journey
 What was your favorite part about your first year in Boston?
Stephanie: I enjoyed living in such a historically significant area. There are the big things like being close to Plymouth and the sites of the Freedom trail, but there are also other things as well, like the site of the first Sunday School, the beginnings of the abolitionist movement and the first subway in the US. Quinton: Getting to go to the museum of science to see the Star Wars exhibit.
What has been the most challenging part of your life transition?
Stephanie: Adjusting to a more vocally aggressive and rude nature of people in public spaces. It is still hard to get used to sharing such a small amount of space with so many people and so little green space. I have come to see cows as beautiful! Quinton: Getting used to the noise and litter. At night I can sometimes hear people talking out my window.
Favorite memory of the year?
Stephanie: The first time I was able to go out with Karen and Julie, the other church planters' wives, and know we had this connection. Quinton: Making friends with kids at youth group at Park Street Church downtown. We like a lot of the same things.
What has your spiritual journey been like?
Stephanie: It has been a process of learning that I really had no idea what it meant to "take up your cross and follow" Jesus. Not, that I understand it yet, but learning to take steps in faith, not becuase it makes sense or improves our life, but simply because God asks. Quinton: Going places and knowing that most people are not Christians. Everybody has a different standpoint. And it is sad to hear so many people use the Lord's name in vain.
So, how do you feel about staying in Boston?
Stephanie: I know it is the right thing to do, and I am at peace with that. The journey of the past year has brought us to a place to know that choosing anything else would be for our own comfort. Quinton: I look forward to seeing my friends in Warrensburg this summer, but I have made a lot of friends here. So, if that is what we need to do, that is fine with me.
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We value our prayer partners as essential players on our planting team. Thanks for your encouragement and ministry to our family and team.
Sincerely,
Tim Hawkins
Sojourn Collegiate Ministry
email: tim@sojourn-ne.org
phone: 660-441-0434
web: http://www.sojourn-ne.org
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Click <here> to return to the Sojourn Collegiate Ministry page.
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