Bake Sale!

‘BAAAKKKEEE SAAAALLLLEEEEE!!!’ yells Matt Law. It’s a cool fall day and a group of CSFers are outside CSF selling baked goods and hot dogs after the football game to raise money for our retreats. Brandon is running up and down the road among the stopped game traffic to do car side orders. Matt is playing the piano from the porch and Kim is strumming on her guitar. Katie is waving to the cars passing by with her game day wave and when traffic dies down, Gary is airmailing leftover hotdogs into the hands of lucky passengers. Yes, it’s a great day to be a Mountaineer…and a CSFer!!  

 

[Written by Renee Pugh for the December 2010 Newsletter, which can be found here]

tic-toc

Remember the CSF building?  Some of you helped build it, prayed for it, funded it, encouraged Sandy and Susan through the hard work.  I'm talking about and enjoying something I had no part in. 

I get to sit here now, after midnight, with a bunch of youth group kids running around CSF. They're having a youth retreat at CSF. Katy and Renee and others are around and played games and got to know them. The adult leaders were blown away because when they left home this evening two girls that don't get along and wouldn't ride in the same car....were sitting next to each other playing a game with Katy and Renee, our interns. I'll be here tomorrow morning helping cook breakfast - those adult leaders are working their back-sides off to make this happen.  They work, volunteer for the youth, married, kids, one is pregnant and they choose this stress (but they love it) of leading a group of young people on a weekend retreat.  Our CSF folks are going to spend about 2 hours with them tomorrow. Taking a tour of campus and sharing

Last week we had another group come from the Paden City area to bring their youth here.  They've invited us to help with their summer retreat the past two summers so we've gotten to know them. Young people and college folks intermingling, getting to know each other.  Young people hanging out at CSF.  Building relationships, making contact. 

If a huge percentage of young people are leaving home for college, are they ready?

Here's a quote from our Facebook page after one of the leaders, Brian Croasmun, left last week:

"I think all the kids are planning to come to WVU now! They had a great time and want to come back. You guys have a great thing going and we are glad to be part of it."

Well that's not so bad is it? Imagine a world where young people want to come to WVU because of CSF, because of Jesus. Read that again. Is that possible?  Is that needed? Does that glorify God? Is that in alignment with His will?  Young people choosing a college because of Jesus, what they can be a part of there, getting a degree while they worship and serve the King of kings!  Is your mind racing?  Goosebumps?  Does that give you pause?

Kids are still running around as I type. Thanks for allowing me to hear the stomping, walking, and pitter patter above my head right now.  Thanks for your support.  Thanks for giving so much to Sandy and Susan to make this place happen.  Thanks for this building.  Thanks for supporting Krissy and I here as well. 

Pray for these jokers,
GG

 

[Written by Gary Gross for the December 2010 Newsletter, which can be found here]

Fall 2010 Life Groups

5 Love Languages
Brandon & Renee Pugh
Quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, physical touch, or giving gifts. Do you know your love language? The 5 love languages life group focuses on discovering your love language and learning to communicate with others in everyday situations. This group led by Brandon and Renee is not just for those in relationships because it focuses on how we interact with everyone!

AIM - Abide in Me 
Katy Riley & Lance Harlan
Lance and I lead the Tuesday night life group and we are reading “It’s not about me” by Max Lucado.  This book focuses on the main purpose of why we are here.  The world doesn’t revolve around us, it doesn’t revolve around the church or the government.  It revolves around God.  We are just his servants who live out and spread his word.  Lance and I both are excited to be able to work together and help lead others towards God’s path.

Everyday Jesus
Jared Zinn, Stacy Kunze, & Julie Adams
We are studying Jesus’ life, actions, and friendships.  Each week we discuss how we can become more like Jesus in every aspect of our lives, whether it has to do with work, relationships, having a purpose, or serving.  For more information on the subject dealt with John MacArthur’s book Twelve Ordinary Men.

[Written for the September 2010 newsletter, which can be downloaded here]

New Interns

My name is Renee Pugh and I just started working at CSF!! I never thought that I would have the opportunity to be an intern at CSF, but as always, God finds a way. I lost my job unexpectedly and was completely broken inside. As a recent WVU grad and newlywed over the summer, I was scared for my future. I felt John 14:1 speak to me so strongly. ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.’ It’s amazing what happens when we trust in him!! 
---  Renee

 

Hi, my name is Katy Riley and I started my journey as Student Intern at CSF in May.  I grew up on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in the little town of Snow Hill.  I am a member of Spence Baptist Church of Snow Hill, MD.  I graduated from Snow Hill High School in 2006 and came to WVU for Mechanical Engineering.  During my time in college I was a member of the Marching Band for four years and am a Brother in the Band Service Fraternity (all service greek organizations are fraternities) Kappa Kappa Psi.  I attended Wesley United Methodist Church in downtown Morgantown and was a member of the bell choir until I started attending CSF in November 2008.  I became a life group leader Spring 2010 with the Beta Girls Group and am now Student Intern.  I am now a life group leader of AIM for this semester.  I am excited to have Renee join the team recently and can not wait to see what God has in store for our journey together as interns. 
---  Katy

[Written for the September 2010 newsletter, which can be downloaded here]