this little light of mine: August 2012

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 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.