Seeking Peace.

Now that the letters are out and the decision has been made, the nerves are setting in.

I'm terrified. I'm terrified about receiving the financial means to go, about the trip itself, about the internship, about the people I am going to meet and serve. None of these things are in my control; they are all in God's. Which everything always is, but usually I at least feel at leas a little more on top of things. Letting every aspect of control go is new to me, and definitely not something that sets my nerves at ease.

But that's the point, isn't it? In our own ways, He calls us out of our comfort zones into a place where we literally cannot do anything without Him. And He has been SO faithful already.

Our Father calls us to live in His peace and for His purpose, not our own. I was listening to a podcast by Louie Giglio this morning, and He was speaking on using our passions for Christ's purpose. This struck a chord for me because this is exactly what I am trying to do, as I pursue my degree in graphic design. I'm not sure where I'll end up yet, but I want to be serving in ministry to some capacity, whether in a secular field or in an office for a Christian organization. Or something else entirely.

Colossians 3:15, 17: "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you... 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." 

With that in mind, I'm repenting of my flesh and letting the Father handle this one. Everything in His perfect timing, and everything according to His plan. If I let go and let Him, He will and CAN do so much more than we expect. So good! 

Support Letter

Here is my official support letter for this summer. If anyone would like to support me, send me an email and I will be happy to send you the information!

Dear Family and Friends,

                   I hope this letter is finding everyone well! Formany of you, this is not the first letter you have received from me regarding amission trip. I want to thank you so much for all of your love and support overthe years. I could not have gone without you!

                   I am now a sophomore at Appalachian State University in North Carolina with a major ingraphic design and minor in communications. Since fall 2011 I have beeninvolved with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ), and I now co-lead a freshman small group and serve frequently on my campus. I am also employed byAppalachian as a graphic designer for the school’s webpages. These are allsources of blessing and challenge, and I know that God has placed me here atschool with a greater purpose in mind. That being said, as I have pursued thegraphic arts, God has given me a passion and desire to serve using my gifts andtalents. There is a huge gap in the art world between believers andnonbelievers, and I feel called to pursue ministry in this capacity. Lastsummer I went on a summer project (though Cru) to NYC to learn how to use artas a ministry tool, specifically in a secular environment. I have been able touse what I learned in my art classes this year, and He has been so faithful.God is bringing together a community of Christian artists who share the samepassions as I do, and we are beginning to see change on our campus.

                  When I was praying about ways to serve this summer,I looked at many options, specifically internships in graphic design. But theone I kept coming back to was Crossroads in Chicago, a 10 week summer projectthat is both an internship and mission field. As much as I desire to serveoverseas, I also want to be faithful to where God has placed me now, in theU.S., and Chicago is a city with great diversity and need. 9-5 Monday-Friday Iwill work with a team of students for an organization called Zero Canvas,designing for Cru and partnering organizations. In the evenings and weekends, Iwill be doing ministry and serving in Chicago and surrounding areas, and workingwith Here’s Life Inner City, the same organization that I worked with in NYClast summer. We are staying at the Automatic Lofts, near the University of Chicago. This is going to be an incredible opportunity to use my gifts to serveand do outreach with like-minded students, as well as be discipled andstretched in my faith.

Withall costs included, I need to raise $5000. Believe me when I say I did not makethis decision lightly. This money is going towards housing, equipment, food,transportation, and giving towards our partnering ministries. I ask first foryour prayers for this trip, as we cannot do this without prayer or God’sprovision. And second, if you are able to support me financially at this time,there are two ways to do so.  Remember that all donations are tax deductible.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter and supporting me as I ste pout in faith to serve! If you would like more information about the trip or totalk to me personally, email me at beckerme1@appstate.edu or follow my summer project blog, jarsofclayandstepsoffaith.blogspot.com. Zerocanvas.com and hlic.org are also good websites to check out. Blessings to you all!

Greetings.

Hey everyone! I made this blog primarily to document my summer project to Chicago, but who knows where it will go after this. To start, the story of how I got here. It's a long one!

I've always known that I wanted to go into the arts, but I didn't know how or why or any details. Junior and Senior years of high school I took a graphic design/journalism course, and fell in love - I was actually Editor in charge of the Senior Book and other publications my senior year. When I decided on Appalachian, it was primarily because of the art school, and the excellent graphic design instruction I could receive there. The natural beauty and mountains didn't hurt either. Little did I know God had so much more in store.

As I went to my introductory art classes as a freshman, the brokenness and hurting of my classmates began to unsettle my heart. These people, these artists, were creating dark and confused artwork, mirror images to what they were feeling. Many of them were lost, and many of them had not been reached out to by a Christian in a way that they could understand. By the time summer approached that year, I was certain that God had placed the passions for people, art, and ministry in my heart for a reason, and I was just starting to see how and why. That summer I went to NYC on Cru summer project with a group of artists, where we learned how to incorporate art and our faith, to use as a ministry tool. We also served a poor community in Brooklyn and put on an art show during those few weeks.

As I came back to school as a sophomore, I experienced a period of waiting and formation. I was unsure how God wanted me to use this calling, and the wait was almost unbearable... but it was worth it. During that time I took a break from art courses and began co-leading a freshman small group. This spring I started graphic design courses, was hired by Electronic Student Services on campus, and met several Christian artists in my classes who shared the same heart I did. We are currently working on a gospel-based art show to display next spring in an on-campus gallery, and are building relationships with our classmates.

And this summer, the reason most of you are reading this, I am again going on an inner city summer project with Cru. I was set on going somewhere in the UK this summer, to explore another country and be a light there. But a whisper in my heart from my Savior changed all that. He pointed me to this internship in Chicago, this opportunity to serve in my field, in my country, to reach the nations in a diverse city. He humbled me and showed me how much better His plan is than mine. After much internal struggle, God answered every concern I had about the trip. After taking a leap of faith, I am confident this is where I am supposed to be.

All that to say, God is so faithful, and I can't wait to see what He has in store. And thank YOU for joining me on this journey! Much, much more to come.