November 2025 Overview

There has been so much to be thankful for this month, and, among the many things, the support and partnership of the NCP team and you as my partner in ministry is certainly at the top of my list! I apologize for such a delayed newsletter for November! Time has really flown by amidst the many exciting things going on!

This month, I was blessed with so many amazing conversations and opportunities to engage in ministry at CSUF and beyond! I think back to my conversations with one particular young man on campus who I've repeatedly conversed with, though with quite some struggle at first. It seemed like every time we talked together it was the same topic and yet we never seemed to make forward progress in our discussion until one day when I changed my approach with him. There were a few things that he was very focused on in all of our conversations; however, that wasn't the real issue at all. In setting aside his various red herrings, we had an amazing conversation about the very root of the issue at hand and very practical steps in our discipleship to Jesus. The conversation was certainly tense at times as he was forced to recognize his resistance to obedience and his covering up of that reality with numerous attempts at good works and asceticism. However, the Holy Spirit has certainly been at work in this young man before we ever met, but it is such a blessing to see a growing openness in him towards simple steps of obedience and discipleship to Jesus! 

Again, I am blessed as I remember the conversations that I've had with the many diverse demographics on campus this month! I had a fascinating conversation with a professor who was a pantheist, and we discussed how his worldview leads to the conclusion that god is at war with itself (as there are brutal conflicts between the things which are allegedly part of his god). I was blessed to meet this man and discuss with him in the short time he had, but I was also blessed by very good conversations with Muslim students on campus. One conversation in particular was with a young man who was quite open to converse about Islam and Christianity, and by the end of the conversation was on the verge of rejecting Islam. That was a very interesting and exciting conversation as that kind of progress in merely one conversation can be quite rare!

Another exciting thing that happened this month was the start to what is currently called "Ekballo Fellowship"! Above, you can see a picture of our first gathering at Avalon Bagels to Burgers as we engaged in biblical dialogue, prayer, worship, and Christian fellowship together. The current name of the gathering is sourced from the Greek word that Jesus used in Luke 10:2 for "cast out", which is the same word used to describe how demons are "cast out" in exorcisms. Jesus commands His disciples to pray that God would forcefully thrust His people into the work of ministry and evangelism, and that is the primary emphasis of this gathering - to not only pray for the harvest and its workers, but also to obey the command to join the harvest ourselves! So far, it has been a wonderful time that gives Christians a launch pad into ministry and offers a place for those we minister to throughout the week to join us in a more casual and comfortable setting as they continue exploring a life with Jesus!

I will be visiting Kansas for a few weeks this December and will have the opportunity to share in a number of different environments - from public middle and high school groups, established church communities, to student leaders at a private Christian school. I have been given many opportunities to share and engage with these various communities, and I would ask your partnership in prayer as I seek to faithfully deliver what God desires to each of these diverse groups. There are many things that I could speak about or do, but, above all, I pray that my sharing might be in submission to God's direction and edifying to the Body of Christ! 

Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer and support!

With love and peace,

Ivan Penrose