Xavier Baptized

I spent a portion of my day yesterday at the Baptism of Xavier. He accepted Jesus at Open Bible church a week ago. I have worked with Xavier since he was a freshman. This month's newsletter is about Stacey, who accepted Jesus last year. Stacey and Xavier are best friends, and Stacey introduced Xavier to that church. I am excited to see God continuing to move through the work He has started with Campus Life! The Kingdom is being advanced.

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I got my YFC Credentials, which means I am a licensed minister again. Which is good for my volunteer Erica Fox, because I am slated to do her wedding in a few weeks. This will mean a housing allowance and other benefits that help ministers. God is good!

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 Had a great day of playing soccer with the Campus Life Kids today. Got a nice sunburn and sore legs. It was a group of kids I think that can radically changed the campus if they boldly profess Jesus.

Skycamp 2013

  What an amazing week at Camp. When the Spirit of God moves it is amazing to witness. 3 Elmira students made commitments to follow Jesus Christ. Taylor, Samantha, and Jesse. Many others made commitments to seek Christ in some way, whether they were already believers or were still seekers looking to find Him. It was an amazing week to watch God move.
  I am hoping that I can share Jesse's story with you either in the newsletter next month or here. The Holy Spirit answered his genuine prayer for Christ to have his life. It came on him so powerfully he was shaking, scared, and at peace all at the same time.
  Jesse's new faith is so encouraging! I had the opportunity to fill in for Pastor Gangle at Fern Ridge Faith Center this past Sunday. Jesse showed up to the service with his uncle. It was amazing to know he is a brother in Christ and actually in church. Jesse had not stepped foot inside a church, and said he couldn't after his father passed away. On Sunday he had no problem coming to grow in his faith and seek the life God has for him.
  May you too be encouraged by what God is going, and always look forward to what he does next.
In Christ,
Skyeler Lewkowicz

Summer Transition

As things transition into summer I get the opportunity to transition myself and the students into new activities. Boating, Pool days, Paintballing and Kickball. Raising money for camp and organizing work parties for 12 of the up to 20 students who are going to camp.

I also have an opportunity to work as a driver for Fed Ex. This will help pay off some student loan debt and help make up the difference in my Campus Life salary. Providing for my chief ministry, my family, will always come first. How can I best model behavior for my students. While my schedule will become a bit more hectic I am excited to see how God continues to shape my family and the Campus Life ministry. He is so good!

I also have finished YFC Bible Academy (good training), which means I am one paper away from being a fully credentialed minister for YFC. Besides being a benefit for tax purposes, I get a pretty awesome certificate. 

Quick update

  Sorry for the inconsistent update. Crazy and exciting times for Elmira Campus Life. Our spaghetti dinner is next week and will be featured in the Fern Ridge Review.
  Two students accepted Jesus at club. Dale and Haylee responded to the gospel message and stayed after to pray and discuss what the journey with Jesus looks like. Haylee got plugged in with one of my volunteers going to church youth group and Dale has been reading scripture, coming to bible study, and is attending church.
  We will be making some modifications to our clubhouse at the Moose. We will be adding lights and decor soon. Below is a picture of us playing a game at club at the Moose. In the middle is a picture from the girls retreat. On the bottom is Ruben falling asleep at the Middle School All Nighter with me taking advantage of him.

Meeting with students

  Had a spring break that focused on our upcoming Auction.

  While I collected Auction items, and called my regular donors. I also took the spring break to connect with a few students over lunch. You will be encouraged to know that one of these students is making strides in his Christian journey, as he meets with another one of my students for Bible study. I love both of these guys and tried to encourage them to keep growing in Jesus. I ask that you be praying for them as-well.
  With so many distractions, I love camps and retreats, because the opportunity they afford to get away from those distractions, and allow Jesus to actually speak to them. I pray that these students will both attend camp  and have the breakthrough that takes Jesus from Savior to Lord of their life.

Facing a fear

I love watching my volunteer staff grow as they serve. This last week at Club Erica gave her testimony. She was scared and afraid of public speaking. Last year she attempted to give her testimony and had some difficulties. This time, with some encouragement, she had the students full attention. She even broke down and cried once, not because of fear for speaking, but because she was deeply sharing the pains that Christ had taken her through. When it was done the kids applauded. I can't tell you how happy that made me, but how much more so when Erica said, "I have never got applause for my testimony before." I am so happy for Erica, for the kids that got to hear her story, and for God who gets all the glory.


  I am blessed to have amazing donors and sponsors for Campus Life. For the last week I let one of our donors and supporter of Elmira Campus Life Dodgeball, The Farmstore (Vicky and Travis Soverns) hold the championship trophy for the week. It is partnerships like this I am looking to expand in the near future. 

Winter Retreat

  What happens when you have a winter weather advisory and one chain for your bus that is a link to short? The winter retreat was looking doomed. After two hours of trying to make a chain fit on a bus we realized it was a futile effort. A few weeks prior new tires were put on the bus and the chain no longer fit with the increased tread depth. Problems with a previous mechanic at the bus barn and numerous other small errors led to us not having the correct safety gear. We could not proceed safely (and the time we lost trying to put chains on made it a lot darker and more dangerous to proceed.) So our trip looked doomed.
  Many times in life we get to that point where we feel a link short and doomed. I turned the bus around and headed back to Eugene, only being just under an hour away from our destination of Black Butte Ranch. With some quick thinking Shaun and I got permission to crash at Fairfield Baptist Church. If we would have let the kids go home ,and pick them up the next day, to try again the logistical nightmare would not prove worthwhile. I am grateful for Fairfield for helping us try again. The next day we got a new bus with correct chains and headed up the pass again. We waited an hour for weather to clear and arrived at Black Butte Ranch without incident.
  The kids were relatively unfazed. Leaders however, especially Shaun and myself, were a little more drained. Staying up late and waking up early to make sure we did everything to keep kids safe and make this trip happen. When we are a link short God fills in for our (and others) shortcomings.