Archive for October, 2011

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Retirement Center Ministries

Karen Rouggly Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

A great place to serve through the Office of Ministry and Service is with our Retirement Center Ministries! Our Student Ministry Coordinator, Tiffany Lemke shares her story with RCM and how it’s changed her life.

“One of the people who has had a huge influence in my life is my grandma. Growing up, she would care for my younger sister and I when my parents were working. She was not only ‘grandma’ but teacher, comforter, playmate, baker, and an example of a faith-filled lifestyle as well. Now that I am a sophmore in college, the roles are more reversed and I am able to provide for and help her. She has become my friend, and the impact of talking with her, hearing stories about her life, and simply being with her is the second reason that led me to seek out APU’s Retirement Center Ministry. God was the first reason.

I started volunteering during the first semester of my freshman year, and I can honestly say that it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I fell in love with the residents and was able to make friends of the Ministry Coordinator and other volunteers as we were all united in our passion for the elderly. Being a first generation college student and as this was my first time away from home, that first semester was also filled with challenges. I had a lot to figure out about college life, fitting in, and adapting to the academically rigorous courses and anxiety of being a pre-nursing major in a very competitive field. This ministry was my constant, a place of respite from everything where I could be myself, let go of my personal issues, and fully invest in the lives of the residents. When second semester rolled around, I decided to apply for a Lead Volunteer Position. I know this desire was from God because I did not feel ready or qualified to take on the responsibilities of this position, yet by stepping out in faith God used me to assist the coordinator, help plan out the weekly activities, and get to know the residents and volunteers on a different level. The Student Ministry Coordinator at the time was preparing to graduate, and after talking with her and praying a lot I felt God really puitting it on my heart to apply for the Coordinator position. Despite my own reservations, here I am today coordinating the ministry and preparing for a new year with the residents and volunteers. Although I am nervous about some things, God has used this entire experience to draw me into deeper relationship with Him. When I first came to APU, my heart was farther from God than it had ever been before. Yet through His love, patience, and grace, God used this service opportunity and the people in the ministry to soften my heart and bring me back to Him.
I am so grateful for the investment made in my life and how God used the residents, who I intended to bless, to bless me even more. At the end of each semester we put on a dance to celebrate our time together. Normally a wallflower in public, I was hesitant to participate until a resident named Kay, who happens to have the same name as my grandma, invited me to dance with her. She was so graceful and passionate, and I was honored at the opportunity. To quote Barbara de Angelis, ’the journey between who you once were and who you are now becoming is where the dance of life really takes place’. For me, this transformational process occurred through my time volunteering, leading, and when I again stepped out of my comfort zone by dancing with Kay. I am so excited for the opportunity I have as Coordinator of this ministry to see what God has planned for the residents and volunteers. Our theme verse is Leviticus 19:32 which says ‘Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly’ which is something I believe, desire to live out daily, and try to encourage others to do.”
We hope Tiffany’s story touched you as much as it did us in the MAS office! If you want to help out with Retirement Center Ministries – come into our office and we’ll get you connected with Tiffany and the other volunteers! Be blessed!

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Our Neighborhood Homework House

Karen Rouggly Friday, October 7th, 2011

Part of what we do in the Office of Ministry and Service is to mobilize students to serve in the local community. We offer 13 different ways for students to become directly connected to Azusa and Los Angeles through our office and each ministry as a Student Coordinator that works as a liason between MAS and the community partner to support them and students on campus. I’ve asked each Student Ministry Coordinator to write about their ministry sometime throughout the year to give us a picture of what each ministry is like.

This week – Tatiana Balcazar wants to share about her experience at Our Neighborhood Homework House. Tatiana is a Senior this year and majoring in International Business. She has been working at the Neighborhood Homework House as a volunteer for two years and is excited to be coordinating the ministry on campus this year. Some of her tutors have had a life-changing experience working at the Homework House and here’s one:

“One of my teens was beginning her senior year of high school when I stepped in as SMC [Student Ministry Coordinator]. I watched her struggle and stress over college applications and scholarship opportunities, and watched her cry when she was rejected by APU. But she never gave up. She retook the exams that she needed to get in, and she continued pushing and applying and working. I told her that if I could afford it, she could, and if I could get in, she could get in. To remember that tear-stained face breaks my heart, but I am pleased to say she was accepted to APU and accepted as an Azusa Scholar. Encouraging her and loving her through her pain and hard times was a privilege, and I will never be able to express how amazing it felt to witness her journey.” – Chelsea Burdick

 

To read about the Homework House and Brittany Fregoso, another tutor, click Our Neighborhood Homework House

The MAS office currently sends around 20 students each week to serve with the Homework House, but there is a need for more volunteers. If this story grabbed your attention and you want to partner with the Homework House – feel free to stop by our office and come see me or Tatiana and we’ll get you hooked up with a time to serve!

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Ministry Madness!

Karen Rouggly Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

Hello! I am so excited to be a part of the Azusa Pacific family as a blogger this year! I graduated from APU with a degree in Theatre Arts and Communication studies in 2005. Since then, I’ve completed a Masters Degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and spent the past three years working as a full-time missionary for an organization based in South Africa. This summer, I was hired as the Program Coordinator in the Office of Ministry and Service and it’s been a blast being back! It definitely feels like coming home!

Part of my job involves mobilizing our students through social media – and mobilizing I hope to do. Throughout the year, I’ll be posting different things about the MAS office and the ministries we work with, as well as the different perspectives of our students in the office.

One of the funnest things we do each year is the Orientation Fair, which was held on September 14th. It was a chance for students, mostly Freshman and Transfers, to get to know our office and the different ministries we work with. Breanne Lamphere, one of our Administrative Assistants wanted to share her perspective on the day with you all. Here goes:

“Dear Readers,

This previous week, APU welcomed over 1,000 first year, transfers and new students alike, to initiate them into the APU family. I had the opportunity to watch this whole process unfold when the ministry fair was prepared. I was able to pass out information on the Ministry and Service Office for students to unveil their passions for others. After the session, the students were invited on the walk to sign up for opportunities on campus and begin to develop their journey at APU. I stood at the MAS information table where I answered many questions regarding service credit requirements, ministry opportunities, and how to get involved. Even though the temperature that day was in the 100’s and just breathing took loads of energy, the students were still walking past the tables and signing their names to gain more information. This is my second year helping at this event and the intentionality of the students to follow their passions gets me excited. It’s that feeling I get when I see other people reveal how they want to serve God that keeps me motivated to do the same. After students started dwindling down, all the flyers were passed out, and sign in sheets were overflowing with signatures, the day ended. This day was just the beginning of my job. Every day I work, students come in with these questions about how to become involved. Countless e-mails are answered, reflections read, and experiences shared that impacted these students throughout the year. I am so blessed to be a part of this process.

Sincerely, MAS student Worker”

 

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Building Blocks for Sustainability: the Community Scholars Program

Catherine Wade Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

The Community Scholars Program, spearheaded by Dr. Judy Hutchinson, Executive Director for the Center for Academic Service-Learning and Research, and other key Service-Learning staff, marks a groundbreaking effort to introduce a collaborative model of community-based scholarship focused on improving the overall health of the City of Azusa.   The program united a range of city institutions: the Azusa Police Department, Our Neighborhood Homework House, the Azusa City Library, St. Frances of Rome Church, the Neighborhood Wellness Center, the Azusa Chamber of Commerce, the Azusa Unified School District, and Azusa Pacific University.

 

Above: Scholars receiving their “Community Builder” awards.

From left: Nancy Johnson (Azusa City Library), Father Aloysius Ezeonyeka (St. Frances of Rome), Emma Cook (Chamber of Commerce), Crystal Marquez (Our Neighborhood Homework House), Dr. Robert Duke (Azusa Pacific University), Alexis Ruiz-Alessi (Azusa Unified School District), Julia Pusztai (Neighborhood Wellness Center), and Xavier Torres (Azusa Police Department).

Representatives from each partner agency/organization met regularly throughout the spring 2011 semester, learning and implementing community development research tools, which included studying the history and current state of Azusa, generating a shared vision for its future, mapping and evaluating each agency’s network, evaluating top concerns facing the city, and creating interlocking chains of resources and partnerships to address those issues.

Community Scholars performing a cause-consequence analysis exercise.

The Community Scholars Program yielded many significant insights into the challenges, opportunities, and underlying infrastructure of the city, as well as new avenues for networking and partnership.

True community empowerment was demonstrated, as the program supported the capacity of the city of Azusa and its members to act as scholars and generate knowledge by collaborating in this sustainable community-building project.

Xavier Torres, Azusa Police sergeant concluded, “It was a unique program that brought strangers together who became friends and can now work together and share resources.” Moving forward, the Community Scholars plan to meet on a quarterly basis, rotating host responsibilities, and maintaining strong relationships and dynamic project collaboration.

On September 19, the Community Scholars reunited for their inaugural quarterly reunion, graciously hosted by St. Frances of Rome Church. The group dined together, renewed previous commitments, and discussed ongoing collaborative projects, before attending the Azusa City Council meeting and formally presenting the activities and outcomes of the Community Scholars Program, spreading their excitement and vision for a strong, healthy Azusa.

 

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I’m a sophomore?

Megan Monday, October 3rd, 2011

Without further ado, I will be continuing my blogging adventures throughout SOPHOMORE YEAR! (WOOOO)

Meghan, myself, and Melody. My beautiful fellow alpha leaders.

To catch you up on life (or to introduce myself if this is the first post of mine you are reading)… My name is Megan and I am a sophomore graphic design major. You can read all of my previous posts to get a good grasp on what I was involved in last year and what my life “looked like.” Basically, I was living in Trinity Hall with the most amazing hallmates (two of which are my roommates this year). I was involved in Young Life first semester and second semester I joined a D-Group and started attending meetings for a Focus International mission trip through the Office of World Missions (to Tanzania). I loved my experience with the Alpha program, and due to that I applied and was accepted to be an Alpha Leader for this semester. IT IS SUCH A BLESSING. Say hello to my incredible alphies:

So far, even though this year has already flooded me with busyness, I am LOVING this new change of pace as a sophomore. My roommates are two of the most amazing, Godly women around and it is such a blessing to be able to seek God together and know that they are always supporting me and uplifting me. My R.A. (Resident Advisor) is incredible, my D-Group is continuing into this year and is always such an encouragement, and the bond that I have formed with the other alpha leaders is indescribable. I am realizing the blessings of a small community such as APU, I am reaping the benefits of being able to pour into so many peoples lives and to be poured into by so many great people.

It is crazy to me that it has been over a year since I moved in to Azusa, California and this place became home. It became home quick, might I add. It is funny that it is such a random, little-known city yet holds so much importance in my life. This place used to hold potential, and now it holds growth, change, purpose, relationships, and passion. This place, Azusa Pacific University, and this city, holds a lot.

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A Necessary Blog Post.

Megan Monday, October 3rd, 2011

If you want to get technical, my run as an APU blogger ‘ended’ over four(ish) months ago when our summer break began. However, after the life changing eight weeks I spent this summer in Tanzania I felt that this post was entirely necessary after talking so much about this trip in my previous blogs.

I don’t really know where to begin, that seems to always be the toughest part about talking about a trip that had as big of an impact as this one had on me. I traveled to Tanzania (South-Eastern Africa) and spent two months there with a team put together by both the Office of World Missions and more importantly, God. (He hand picked this team perfectly, might I add.)

Three of my favorite beautiful girls of Nkungi.

We spent about 5 weeks in Nkungi village where we did work assigned by the village leaders, taught at both a primary and secondary school, installed water filters, distributed food packets, built blocks for a teachers home at one of the primary schools, and loved like crazy on the beautiful kids that we spent endless time with.

The new playground we build in Singida Town, the primary (elementary) school kids were so excited. It was the first of its kind.

Then we spent about 2 weeks in Singida Town where we worked at a childrens community center where food was distributed to the children that couldn’t afford it (in exchange for them being educated). We had the blessing of constructing a playground which was unheard of there and also repainted and fixing up the entire building. The other 1 week of the trip was spent in travel time and debriefing on a safari.

Babuu. One of the amazing things we got to witness on this trip was his hatred and aggression toward us in the beginning, that in time turned to love and admiration.

I think that the most present things that God taught me during that time was that (1) fears are petty when compared to life lessons that can be learned. We think our fears are justified, until God uses those fears to bring himself glory. (2) Statistics on poverty, lack of clean water, hiv/aids, prostitution, and disease are REAL, not only are their faces behind them but there are stories and names behind them. (3) Love and grace speak infinitely louder than words. Just because you can’t speak fluently in a language doesn’t mean your impact is less valid. (4) Stepping out of your comfort zone is always worth it. (5) The Holy Spirit is as as REAL and ALIVE as God and Jesus are, pray for the Holy Spirit to work through you because He most definitely desires to and WILL. (6) We cannot be strong and we cannot spread God’s perfect love without the power of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Seek it.

All of our friends that we grew to be SO close with in Nkungi village. Blessed beyond words to know these people and call them my Nkungi family.

Basically, the point of this post is not to boast about what I was blessed enough to do this summer but rather to encourage you and to point the glory to God and let you know that He has great things in store for you! A year ago I would have never imagined that going into APU God would call me to this mission trip and this mission trip would lead to so many convictions and blessings. Trust God and trust that His plan is infinitely greater then your own. Allow your life to look differently then you thought it would.

Also, while I know that world mission trips are obviously not in God’s calling for everyone, I DO encourage you to seek out Focus International mission trips at APU and see if God is calling you to one. We are all called to be missionaries, some in their hometowns, some in Azusa, some in other states, and some globally. Seek out where God has called you as a missionary.

My amazing sisters and brothers in Christ that I got blessed to spend 2 months serving alongside.

A side note: If you are a new freshmen at APU, WELCOME. I cannot explain my excitement to see so many new faces around campus and to finally have campus filled after 3 weeks of Alpha Leader Training! I encourage you to seek out ministry opportunities at APU and pour yourself into others. One of the greatest things about APU is being handed so many options to serve others and glorify Jesus Christ.

And if you are reading this blog as a prospective student, I encourage you to do the same, except where you are at. Google away and search opportunities to serve and love on others. Trust me when I say that it is worth every second. Bringing glory to God, and purpose and joy to yourself.

God bless you all.

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