2013 calendar

 

These are the prayer calendars I developed for 2013! What better New Years Resolution to make than to pray more?! If you'd like a copy, please email me at Allison.Gortney@gmail.com.  They are from Shutterfly.com for $22 + shipping. I'd also be happy to email you the file for you to print on your own computer. 

students on the frontlines: molly

There's something about Molly that is simply...pure. Maybe it's the memory I have of her from that spring afternoon; she sat river-side in a dainty, pleated yellow skirt. The sun's rays danced across her face and through her hair (much like the picture to the right). We were meeting for a discipleship appointment, as we have done bi-weekly for the past year or so, & I remember thinking, "everyone especially radiates some aspect of the Lord's character. Molly... she radiates His peace." 
This last semester has been quite a roller coaster for Molly, to say the least. After returning from a 10 week summer project at our East Asia partnership, she has encountered one relational challenge after another.  To top it all off, one of her best friends died suddenly just a few weeks ago. The Lord has stripped & refined her in so many ways these past few months. & yet what has shown most brightly in Molly's life has undoubtedly been her unwavering faith in Christ. Molly is a junior at The University of Alabama, one of my dear friends, and one of the students I've had the pleasure of teaching.She is an amazing photographer. She is an Alpha Chi, intimately involved in our ministry for International Students and, as we speak is prayerfully hauling a car full of unbelievers to a conference in Daytona. Molly views Christ as supremely valuable. She sees Him as totally trustworthy. And for that, I ^{truly adore Molly. I recently asked her to put into her own words what the Lord has been teaching her. This is what she said:} 

This semester the Lord has been teaching me that I must cling to what I know to be true of the gospel, despite any circumstance or amount of suffering in my life. The truth is that even amidst refinement, my heart is sinful, but through the lens of Jesus, the Lord sees me as blameless and holy. I've learned that God’s love is something that I must accept daily. If I don’t take the time to soak in my Maker’s sacrificial and perfect love, everything else that springs from my life is meaningless, even my “good works”. Truth also takes the form of a body (the body of Christ). Community is a necessity for believers in all stages of life. I have learned that I grow most when I have sisters beside me, lending me their eyes to see my sin that I am so often blinded from. In addition, understanding and loving the truth leads to a deeper trust in the Lord. If I believe that God is who He says He is in His Word, then my faith is strengthened. A strengthened faith leads to obedience, and obedience to joy. Loving the truth leads to a life in the light, where all of the Lord’s spiritual blessings sing and dance, because there we become who we were created to be.

1 Peter 1:3-9

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, ⁵ who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶ In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, ⁹ obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

bridges: chopsticks + jesus

In just a few days, a hand full of our Cru students will be filling a huge 15 passenger van along with a couple of their own cars to transport more than 20 Alabama International students to a BRIDGES conference in Daytona Florida. BRIDGES, a sector of Cru which focuses on university international students, was launched on our campus several years ago by staff member, Christie Smith. When Christie moved to Atlanta for a new administrative role in 2011, she prayed that the Lord would use our traditional students to help this ministry to continue growing. Without staff leadership, it could have easily died. However, a small group of dedicated students refused to back down. They have since grown this sector of Cru at Bama into a thriving ministry.  After 17 of our students visited our partnership overseas this past summer, they began to see the vitality of international ministry on our campus. Three of our May 2012 graduates moved to our partnership overseas for a year and many of them have committed to do the same beginning in the fall of 2013. In the meantime, these faithful students continue to meet new internationals at Bama & introduce them to a relationship with the Lord. The photo directly below was taken at Thanksgiving. Our student leaders organized an opportunity for international students to engage in a true American Thanksgiving, followed by a student testimony of why they are thankful for Jesus. 

These studetns are so strategic because....

Please pray for our students as they lead these internationals to the New Years BRIDGES conference. One of the girls I disciple, Molly, is praying that she'll be able to lead five international girls into a relationship with Christ before the Spring semester ends. We're praying big prayers! Please join with us! 

 

christmas card 2012

november newsletter

 

Higher Ground
Text: Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1898
 

1. I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I'm onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."
Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven's table land,
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.

2. My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where those abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
Refrain

3. I want to live above the world,
Though Satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
Refrain

4. I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till heav'n I've found,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."
Refrain

before the throne of God above

october newsletter

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us^[b] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known^[c] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee^[d] of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,^[e] to the praise of his glory.
¹⁵ For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love^[f] toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, ¹⁸ having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might ²⁰ that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. ²² And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 

2 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins ² in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— ³ among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body^[a] and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.^{[b] 4} But^[c] God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, ⁵ even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ⁷ so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

¹¹ Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— ¹² remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷ And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,^[d] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by^[e] the Spirit. -Ephesians chapters 1 & 2 

september newsletter

 
“[I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3 ESV

staff team additions: brooke pilot

 
Brooke (Flemming) Pilot might just be the sweetest, most positive person I've ever met. She is an absolute delight, 2012 Bama grad & the new wife of Brandon (as of last month!). Both Brooke & Brandon were extremely involved in our ministry throughout their college careers, were instrumental in bringing dozens to know the Lord throughout their time here &, now, our staff is THRILLED to keep them around for two more years. While Brandon pursues a graduate degree at the University, Brooke will work hand-in-hand with Bama Cru as one of three new interns. Brooke is administratively minded but very excited to build relationships with sororities throughout the University. She is also ecstatic to work alongside one of her best friends, bridesmaids & Chi O sorority sisters Mary Kate Hinton on our team!

staff team additions: brant waddell

Oh Brant Waddell. If Bama Cru had a poster child, it would be Brant. In my opinion, he is the single most dedicated student I've ever known in my time at The University. He was also my first real friend when I moved to Alabama (a HUGE deal for a lonely college grad in a brand new town.) He is kind, he is witty (not to mention hilarious), and he cares about the guys he disciples with an impressively humble strength. He has served our ministry faithfully since his freshman year, sat in more staff meetings than I have, & now, through a smattering of events, has decided to spend this year interning with our ministry. When I found out Tuesday that Brant is working with us this year, I literally erupted into dance. I'm so PUMPED that my good friend Kate (who is also his girlfriend) will be in town this fall as she raises support to work for Cru in Atlanta. Honestly, an answered prayer.... two good friends and one I get to see nearly every day at work. What a great God we serve.

Our first weekly meeting was a blast! We're in a new building this fall which seats 700+ students. Can you believe it?? I think somewhere around 500 showed up this past Tuesday night! (Many of our faithful Kitchen folks brought their entire new pledge classes! Alpha Gam had 98 girls there!) Jeff did a fantastic job explaining the Gospel & explaining who we are as a ministry. It was a bold message, to say the least, but I think we'll have a big turn out again next week. 

Check out these pictures! The weather was per-fect. Normally I can't post pictures of our weekly meetings because, as a general rule, it rains every. single. Tuesday. Every year. Like clockwork. Praise the Lord this first night that we had favor from the Lord and many heard about the authentic Jesus.  (All photography below by Trinity Stennfeld)

Our new, beautiful venue! Calvary Baptist on Bryant

Brooke's so excited! Her first weekly meeting as staff!

Sara passing out flyers, nervous we were going to ask her to read Scripture in front of everyone! haha

Meet our newest MC, Terch!

"Welcome to Bama Cru!"

Hey gentlemen, how do you like our new Bama Cru Frat T-shirts??

Packed in! The goal is to always have room for unbelievers to attend. In our new bldg, we can!

Jeff teaching out of Matthew

first weekly meeting of 2012-13

Our first weekly meeting was a blast! We're in a new building this fall which seats 700+ students. Can you believe it?? I think somewhere around 500 showed up this past Tuesday night! (Many of our faithful Kitchen folks brought their entire new pledge classes! Alpha Gam had 98 girls there!) Jeff did a fantastic job explaining the Gospel & explaining who we are as a ministry. It was a bold message, to say the least, but I think we'll have a big turn out again next week. 

Our new, beautiful venue! Calvary Baptist on Bryant

Check out these pictures! The weather was per-fect. Normally I can't post pictures of our weekly meetings because, as a general rule, it rains every. single. Tuesday. Every year. Like clockwork. Praise the Lord this first night that we had favor from the Lord and many heard about the authentic Jesus.  (All photography below by Trinity Stennfeld)

Brooke's so excited! Her first weekly meeting as staff!

Sara passing out flyers!

Meet our newest MC, Terch!

"Welcome to Bama Cru!"

Hey gentlemen, how do you like our new Bama Cru Frat T-shirts??

Jeff teaching out of Matthew

Newest Band addition: David rockin the keys...

 

staff team additions: mary kate hinton

 It was only 4 months ago that Mary Kate Hinton was walking Bama's campus as a student. And now, much to our staff's delight, she is one of three FABULOUS interns at Bama Cru. She is a Mobile native passionate about the Jewish community, India, & reaching her Chi O sisters on the UA campus. Mary Kate attended Cru's weekly meetings throughout her college career and was close friends with many of our involved students but was actually involved in many other ministries throughout her time at Bama. Interning on our staff team was somewhat of a last minute decision for Mary Kate but, as far as I can tell, she's really enjoying it. 

At Bama Cru we consider interns equal with staff (the only difference is that she has committed to one year rather than long term). So, her weekly schedule will look much like mine. She is responsible for doing evangalism, discipling key leaders on campus, outreach to unreached students on campus & will attend all regular staff meetings/ministry activities. 

Mary Kate is such a fabulous addition to our team & has a joy that is almost overwhelming. I've really enjoyed getting to know her over this past week through ministry work & time hanging out afterwards. On behalf of our staff team, we look forward to seeing what the Lord is going to do through her. 

kitchen retreat

Kitchen (our cheeky, strategic name for leadership) has grown from 25 to 45 to, now, 71 members! I am so encouraged to see the quality of Jesus-loving students I get to work with each week. Each student not only has a genuine desire for the campus to know Jesus, but is doing something about it. From Greek houses to the theater department, dorms to classrooms, these 71 are stirring spiritual conversation and bringing as many as possible into relationship with Christ. 

This year's Kitchen Retreat was a HUGE success! Students stayed overnight at Grand's Plantation where we held two meetings, one Monday night and one Tuesday morning. During these sessions staff reiterated our Bama Cru mission statement (Helping students & faculty break through cultural barriers to see & experience the authentic Jesus), introduced our new Kitchen mission statement (Christ-centered leaders raising up Christ-centered leaders), casted vision for this next school year & helped students think through practical strategy to reach the campus for Christ. 
I absolutely adored the opportunity to throw the football, stargaze & catch up on the lives of our students before the chaos of school began. So many of them learned a TON this summer and are more in love with Jesus than ever.