You Know It’s Fall When Everything Comes In
Pumpkin Flavor
It’s late October, and the weatherman has promised that we will not see temperatures in the 90’s again . . . until April. Ah, Fall in Florida! It’s such an amazing feeling, driving with my windows down and not having to cut our grass once a week. And pumpkin-flavored everything makes my heart happy (and my tummy).
Rachel and Becca are both back at school. Rachel is doing well—transition is never easy but the teachers, volleyball team and coaches have surrounded Rachel with encouragement and care!! She got glowing reviews on Parent-Teacher Conference night, will finish volleyball in the next week and is hoping to go back to working at Chick-Fil-A. That is, until lacrosse season. Becca is quite busy this semester between four literature classes (lots of reading), leading a Bible Study, being mentored and emceeing the Cru weekly meetings. One of the girls in her Bible Study is a former classmate from high school. Cady and Kevin are growing and thriving. It is a joy to walk these first years of marriage with them.
Autumn has brought both Andy and me opportunities to serve others through our positions within Cru, our church and our community. Your prayers and financial support make it possible for us to work with and for others.
Serving Wherever We Are Needed
One place God has given me to serve is on the Women’s Ministry Team at our church. I love to assist women in taking steps closer to God. 
I recently helped orchestrate a Women’s Painting Night. Eme, an artist and church member taught the women painting techniques while we shared sweet time together as ladies. We shared yummy desserts, lots of laughter and encouragement. The paintings were fabulous, no two alike!
Another place God allowed me to serve recently was at the University of Central Florida through a ministry called Ask Mom.
Started by Cru women with college-age children, the Ask Mom ladies stand in the Student Union courtyard, once a week, and hand out cookies. That’s it, give out free cookies. And, if the students are open to it, conversation follows. The ladies consider this “pre-evangelism” — giving the students the chance to meet Christians who don’t have an agenda beyond cookies and being nice. I got to talk to several students who had come to get cookies before. It was a privilege to watch the love these moms had toward these college students. They even have a special relationship with the manager of the campus Subway which sells them the cookies. I got to meet a professor who is from Cameroon, several pre-med majors (UCF just started it’s med. school program), and one student who asked me how to get blood out of his sheets. I guess when you say, “Ask Mom,” all subjects are up for grabs. I didn’t pry too much, but did have an answer for him. What a joy to connect with college students. It reminded me of what St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.”
Serving In The Windy City
Andy recently spent some time serving in Chicago, working with and for the staff of Cru City. I thought it would be fun to present how he served those people in an interview format. (In this part of this letter, “technology” refers to desktop computers, laptop computers, tablets and phones.)
C: Andy, your new department is not only new to you, it’s somewhat new to everyone. How is this new department different? (Digital Strategies—a combination of the former Headquarters Technology Team (ITG), the National Campus Office (NCO) Technology Team and The US Web Communications Team)
A: Thanks for asking honey! In the past (ITG) was very inward working. The work they did was largely focused on the headquarters of our ministry. The NCO team likewise focused on campus ministry needs. Now, we are all working under one heading and we are slowly getting the word out that we want to help our field staff.
C: What type of “help” are you offering?
A: The reality of ministry is that technology is more than just a little part of what we do. And when that technology is broken, not working well, or doesn’t have the tools that the staff member needs, it can be a stumbling block to what God has called them to be doing. Instead of a help, it becomes a hindrance. Our help could be training, fixing a broken screen, helping the staff member work “smarter not harder” with the tools already in their technology, or recommending new software. This ties into a broader goal we have — to be writing software that our field staff will use to do ministry well. This is going beyond reconciling a corporate credit card and checking on donations, to tools that are uniquely target to how our field staff do ministry.
C: Why Chicago?
A: The staff members serving with Cru City were meeting there to gain vision and work on strategy. (Cru City encompasses all of our ministries that focus on our nations cities: from inner city relief work to ministry focused on “millennials” to ministry with businessmen and women.) It was a small gathering of the type of staff we desire to serve who can also help us get the word out that our team is trying to do things in a new way.
C: What were you able to do in at this conference?
A: Teaching and training about software (some software that is required by our ministry and some that is optional but will help expedite work and ministry). Debugging technology. Fixing an Ipad screen. Helping a couple understand their mobile phone contract. Helping connect the eight devices owned by a husband and wife team so all the devices had the same mailbox. Cleaning out hardrives. Consulting about helpful programs, apps and software.
Thank you for helping us be available to serve others. We are grateful for your partnership with us, and grateful we get to do what we love for The Lord.
The Kelloggs 