Monday, October 8, 2018

September/October Ministry Update

Hello friends and supporters!!

I can't believe it's been eight weeks since I last updated you! It's a testament to how crazy and fast the first two months of the semester is. So much has happened in these weeks, but I'll do my best to tell you a few cool stories that typify the kind of widespread, powerful work God is doing on our campuses.

State of the Union
This picture is from our second Thursday Night Focus. We've been regularly having around 160 students show up each week, ready to worship, hear the word of God preached, and fellowship with one another. It's been so neat to see friendships blossom and a love for God develop among these students. And that's just at Thursday Night! Our small groups have started, around 12 of them in all at all the three Collin campuses. Those have numerous students involved that don't attend TNF and that are developing friendships and community in a more intimate setting. Our one-on-one studies of the Bible have also been going and that's been a bit slower than most years, but our student leaders are really looking for opportunities to meet and befriend new folks.

Fall Camp & Outreach
A huge deal that happened 3 weekends ago was our Fall Camp. We had about 130 students show up to Camp Lebanon for the weekend and it was a blast. I think the highlight for most students was the worship night we did where we sang together and had different worshipful activities that they could do on their own throughout the night. Fall Camp was huge for us because it helps our students build so much momentum in their relationships with God and one another. We talked about community and God's plan to use it to reach the world and bring his kingdom. On another note, our outreach has been really successful so far this semester as well. We've been meeting a ton of new people who are getting involved in Focus and pursuing a relationship with Jesus. Our students have been really faithful to showing up and meeting people, something that's outside of most of their comfort zones. It's been neat to see them get over their fears to do that.

Difficulties & Opportunities
As usual, we face numerous difficulties/opportunities as well that we would appreciate you praying for. We've noticed a growing number of students who are depressed, suicidal, anxious, identity-confused, and mentally unhealthy. We know Jesus is the answer, but it can be hard knowing how to apply that reality in all situations and we need wisdom and grace to be able to do that. An opportunity have is from the school who, annually, decides whether to give Collin Focus money to help send our students to Winter Camp. That's a big deal and we could use your prayer there as well.

It's a Girl!
In other news, Erika and I are expecting our second child in late March! We are insanely happy and feel so blessed to be able to have another little one. She's a girl, which makes me SO CRAZY EXCITED. I have no idea how to raise a girl, though, so your prayers for her safety and my abilities would be much appreciated :)

Thank you so much for your continued love and support, especially your prayers. We are praying for you as well.

Blessings in Christ,
Garrett

Thursday, August 9, 2018

August Ministry Update!

Hey friends!

It's that time again for a brief ministry update and there's plenty to talk about! School is going to be starting in less than 3 weeks and we've already started ramping up for the semester. We just got back from our summer staff retreat up the road in Whitewright, Texas and it was a really fun, meaningful, and purposeful time. With around 40 people on the Focus staff team now, it can be hard to get to know people and also be open with such a large group. That's why it was cool to see our staff and our new apprentices being so vulnerable and open with one another. We were able to connect with one another through sharing our major life events, worship, and conversations. I love being a part of this staff team!

We've also solidified our student leader team for the school year. Through prayerful consideration we chose 26 students to help lead our community at the three Collin campuses, and we're so excited about each one. As a staff we get weekly time with each student leader (called core facilitators or corefas for short), and we're committed to helping them grow in their faith as they help others do the same. I can't wait to work with these folks!

Finally, I'd ask that you be praying about school starting. These next 3 weeks are imperative in campus ministry. We'll start meeting up as a large group, doing welcome week outreach, and developing our leader team. Please pray for us to follow God's guidance, for energy, and for the Gospel to reach our campus!

Thank you so much for your continued love and support. We appreciate you a ton!

Yours on the campus,
Garrett

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Summer Update

Hello friends and supporters!

It's been a while since I last updated you about life and ministry and I'd like to take a moment to do just that! Since I last posted a lot has happened so I'll do a high flyover.

The school year wrapped up in great fashion. Our leader team was able to spend some good quality time together reflecting on the year and thinking about the years to come. We had our annual banquet and were able to enjoy food and dancing while celebrating what God has done this year, which is way more than we could've imagined. Speaking of that, this is probably a good place to mention some of what he's done. Firstly, our ministry was a light at Collin College calling broken people into community and to Jesus. They made friendships, pursued Christ, and grew as people. Secondly, we started Focus at the Central Park Campus and have seen a small community of devoted and fired-up students develop there. Third, our student leader team grew so much and learned how to better serve, follow Jesus, and lead their peers. Our staff team did the same. Lastly (for time, not because it's everything), we were faithful with what we were given. God has blessed us with our campus and the people he's sent our way. We reached out every week, praised God in corporate assembly every week, pursued God every week, lived together and grew together every week, and we stayed plugged into the mission of making and maturing disciples every week. We're so thankful that God has given us this ministry and the desire and ability to undertake it. He's so good!

At this point we're doing something called Summer One on One Training (lovingly referred to as SOOT). We've asked around 40 students who we think will have an impact on our community next year to come learn how to do one on one ministry and get to know one another. We're halfway through the 4 week training and it's been so cool to get to know them and see them grow.
As far as other news goes, Jack is growing quickly. He's 8 months old and he's a complete joy. He's saying "dada"...constantly, he's crawling everywhere, and running around in his little walker grabbing everything he finds. It's such a privilege and a blessing to get to be his dad and it's been so cool to get to see my students love him and take care of him.






Jack was able to accompany us on his first plane ride ever to North Carolina where we met up with a campus ministry team from Orlando. A good friend of mine runs the campus ministries through a church in Orlando and he asked if we'd like to come spend a few days with his staff talking about what Focus does and how we do it. It was a neat experience full of great conversation and it was incredibly encouraging to see the way God has been working through this young ministry full of young, faithful staff.


Finally, I'd just like to thank you all again for your continued support and generosity. You make all of this possible and I'm so deeply appreciative of all you do. Thank you!!

In Christ,
Garrett

Thursday, February 1, 2018

January Update!

Hello friends and supporters!

     It's a been a bit since my last post; I can't wait to tell you everything thats going on! I'll start by talking about our annual Winter Camp that we have at Sky Ranch in Van, Tx. On MLK weekend from Friday to Monday, we had around 700 students at campuses across the metroplex join us for worship, learning, and fellowship. We flew in some great campus ministers from Washington state who we have known for years and who have helped enrich our ministry in countless ways. They spoke about what it mean to be sent by Jesus, and what it should look like to live outwardly focused lives as disciples. They knocked it out of the park. Our students were challenged and encouraged, leaving camp with a newfound desire to reach their campuses and get outside of their normal habits in order to love people well. It was a great weekend! Below is a picture of the Collin students we took to Winter camp. We had around 150 go this year!


     Our Spring meetings and small groups have kicked off as of two weeks ago and they're full-steam ahead! The last two weeks at Thursday Night Focus have been full of new students who are eager to make new friends and find out more about Jesus. We started a sermon series last week on the Word of God which is aimed at helping our students learn more about Scripture and considering his words to us. The students have responded in a big way and are eager to learn more about where we got the Bible from, who wrote it, and how we should interact with it. Exciting stuff! Outreach continues to go well at all of our three campuses, especially at Central Park in Mckinney. We just started at this campus last semester and we've seen some immediate fruit. God's certainly working there. We have a co-ed small group thats seen some new folks who have had an immediate impact on our community. It's been so cool to see God work there, and Cody McCarty has done an awesome job heading that up.

     On a personal note, being a full-time minister, part-time professor, and new dad has had its challenges but it's been overwhelmingly positive. Erika is back at work part time and I have Jack with me for about 18-20 hours a week. He comes with me to meetings, one-on-ones, and other ministry events and he's been so good. What a sweet blessing that I get to do God's work with this little guy. Please continue to pray for our communities, for us as ministers, and for my family as we do our very best to bring the Gospel wherever we go. I pray for you all often and I can't tell you how thankful I am for your love and support in this mission. Thank you!

Yours in Christ, 
Garrett

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

November/December Update!!

Hello friends and supporters! 

It’s been a little longer than normal since my last post, and for that I apologize! One small part of that may be because BABY JACK HAS JOINED US IN THE WORLD!!! 

Jack Ryan Davis was born 8 pounds 13 ounces on October 19th at 5:20am. He and Erika were and are both healthy and happy with no complications. What an amazing experience watching my first child come into the world. I couldn’t be prouder of Erika and her patience, strength, and perseverance throughout the whole process. Needless to say, I’ve been disabused of the notion of the weaker sex being women...it’s clearly men. Jack is now 6 weeks old and he’s HUGE: over 13 pounds to be exact. He’s a big fan of hugs, kisses, eating, and sleeping all day. I have nothing but praise to give to God and my thankfulness overflows on account of his provision for us. Thank you for your prayers, God answered every one! 

Ok, ok, enough about Jack. What about ministry?! Well, that’s been great too! I was unsure of what to expect heading into this semester. I wondered how I would begin to balance ministry with having my first child. Would I be a sleepless zombie with no relational energy to offer? Turns out God answered my prayer there too. I took a week off once Jack was born, and in my absence the Collin staff team stepped up in a big way. Their faithfulness, hard work, and growth has been a sustained encouragement to me and I love working with them. After my week off I went back in swinging and haven’t stopped since. I feel well-rested, energetic, encouraged, and thankful once again for God’s gracious provision. The Collin staff team has been great. They’ve served our students and leaders well and this semester has been a resounding success. New students continue to pour in and their lives continue to be shaped by the Gospel. 

Our student leaders are in a great place and they seem encouraged by the growth they’ve seen in their own lives as well as the lives of those they serve in our community. For our last leader meeting of the semester we did an activity that required each of the to come having written out what they desire to see God do in their lives for the next 20 years. Having them take the time to see the vision God has for their lives as disciples long-term was a way to get them thinking about what God is moving them away from and what he’s moving them towards. We shared them at our leader meeting and it was incredibly impactful. As we worshipped God in song we also worshipped him by acknowledging his ridiculously good vision for our lives. It will be something we remember and cherish for many years to come and it was a great way to end the semester. I totally didn’t cry, so don’t ask. 

On a different note, it’s the time of year for our annual Keep Focus Growing Initiative. We raise money during this time of year that pays for outreach material, Bible study booklets, expansion on to new campuses and more. I’d ask that you consider giving in this way during this season. Just go to www.anyfocus.org/kfg and you can read more! 

Finally, we’re wrapping up the semester and heading in to Christmas break. We only have one meeting left tomorrow, and our Christmas party next week. It’s a fun and sweet time of year, but with the break usually comes some dangers for our students. “Idle hands are the Devil’s playground” as the old saying goes. Many students struggle with cyclical sin over the break, they isolate, they droop, and it can be a really rough time for them if they aren’t purposeful and proactive in their walks with God. I’d ask that you pray for them in all these things. I trust God will help them grow and develop during that time if they’ll pursue him. So please join us in praying that that is exactly what happens.

Friends, thank you so much for your prayers and support. Without them I could not do this most important work of bringing the Gospel to the college campus. Your support means you are as responsible for the fruit of our ministry as we are, and I’m so happy we get to share that together. Thank you so much! 

Yours in Christ,

Garrett 


Monday, September 18, 2017

Fall Update (First few weeks of school!)

Hello friends and supporters!

It's been about a month since I last updated you and it would be a dramatic understatement to say a lot has happened since then. God has been working in some powerful ways at Collin, and I can't wait to tell you about it. 

I'll start by describing the first two weeks of school from August 28th to September 8th: crazy. 
We spent the first two weeks as a community reaching out to our campuses on a daily basis. Every single day we were meeting new people, inviting people to the different events we were hosting, and getting to develop friendships. So many of our existing students from last year and incoming freshmen already tied to Focus made time to be on campus meeting new people and inviting them into friendship and community. It was such a cool experience getting to see so many young believers living out their faith and having a blast doing it. On Wednesday and Sunday night of the first week of school we hosted volleyball and tons of students showed up. Our students really walk the walk and it's a testimony to everyone who witnesses them that they truly love Jesus and people well.

Core groups have started up and so have the one on one studies we call Focus on Jesus (FOJ). This is a 10 week study of Jesus that two people go through together as they develop a friendship predicated on following Jesus together. These groups and studies have seen a ton of new people showing up and developing community! Speaking of community, Thursday Night Focus has been downright insane these past few weeks. We have reached capacity in the back of the cafeteria due to all the new students showing up to try out Focus for the first time. We hope they'll get plugged in to one of our core groups, start a one on one study with a student leader or member of our community and engage in life-changing friendship that will bring them closer to Jesus. God has been faithful to bring seeking people to our community and we want to be faithful with them. Here's a pic of Focus a few weeks ago!



Fall Camp is just around the corner for Collin (this weekend to be exact!) and it's a great opportunity for new people to make friends and for our whole group to become more tight knit. We'll be at Camp Copass in Denton having fun, learning together, worshipping God, and developing friendships that will hopefully last forever. If you would be praying about all the people showing up to Focus, for our faithfulness with them, and for Fall camp and them getting plugged in that would mean so much to us!

Thank you so much for making this ministry happen. Without your support we simply couldn't be here having the impact we are on the Collin campuses. Thank you!

P.s. Jack is due T-minus four weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Crunch time.

Yours on the campus, 
Garrett

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Fall Semester Beginning!


Hello friends and supporters! It feels like it was just yesterday that I was updating you on student leader selection and the coming of the school year. This time of year moves so fast in campus ministry!

Student leaders:
For those of you that are new to my blog, "corefa" stands for core facilitator and refers to our student leaders who study the Bible with other students and lead the small groups (core groups) that are so pivotal to our community. We have selected our corefas for the year and paired them up with a peer to lead their core with. It's an exciting time for us as we have 2 cores that will be at the Preston Ridge Campus, 8 at the Spring Creek Campus, and the Central Park Campus will have 1 core (our very first foray into this campus!) We love the student leaders we picked and as a staff we're looking forward to spending a lot of time with them. We'll get weekly one-on-one time with them discipling and training them in serving their peers. We have 22 student leaders at Collin this year and we'd love for you to be in prayer for them!

Back to school:
This Saturday we have our Corefa Prep Day. With the group mentioned above we'll spend the whole day together Saturday getting them ready for the school year. We introduce them to key aspects of doing campus ministry, and as they get excited about reaching the campus they also get to know one another and build the team dynamic. We'll have a few more training kind of days but this one is aimed at the all-important Welcome Week.

Welcome Week:
Campus ministers know the most important week of the year for a campus ministry is the first week of school. What we do and don't do that week will have lasting consequences on the whole year and years to come. Our Welcome Week is from August 28th to September 1st this year. We have events planned at all the campuses for every day of the week that are aimed at drawing new students in. Our staff runs the events so that we can give our existing students a chance to reach out to and befriend their peers. It's such an exciting week as we see a ton of new faces and people being invited into loving community and authentic friendships. I'd ask that you also be praying for this week and our students!

Jack:
As Welcome Week draws closer, so does the arrival of our newest family member, Jack. His due date is October 17th and we feel such a diversity of emotions, mostly excitement. As he is our first, we have very little idea what to expect. We simply know it will be will be a great joy and a great challenge. We ask that you be praying for us as we discover what ministry with a child can and should look like and we also welcome any advice you have to offer! I look forward to seeing my students love up on Jack and if I'm sure of anything I'm sure he won't lack many older brothers and sisters in the faith.


 I know I say it often, but I hope you don't think it's rote repetition on my part. I feel extremely blessed to be supported by you all; I'm greatly encouraged by your generosity and partnership with us on the campus. Your prayer, help, and financial support are pivotal to reaching the Collin College campus. I'm so grateful for you and pray for you often! Thank you!

In Christ,
Garrett