Evaluation & Planning
We, as part of the larger Cru SD team, spent time in our end-of-semester DOPE week (Days Of Planning & Evaluation), sorting out what we’ve done well as a team and how to prepare well for the future. Around the same time, Lauren, Rebecca, and I were also doing our own Bridges team DOPE week.
We were excited to reflect on all that God has done in the hearts of these international students this last year. We also took a hard look at what we need to improve, what we need to stop doing if it isn’t working, and what we need to start doing to be better stewards of God’s resources.
It was a pretty intense week of planning and evaluation, but through lots of prayer, contemplation, and spreadsheet wizardry we feel confident and excited about the upcoming school year.
Summer Plans
The school year at both SDSU and UCSD has officially ended. I know you may be thinking, “So, what do you do during the summer months?” Great question! Over this summer I have 3 main assignments:
Summer Events:
We are still hanging with students throughout the summer and have special events planned. We actually just finished one of them last Saturday: Independence Day Party!
Core Training:
I am currently working through Cru’s training material called “Core Training”. It is in-depth theology and ministry training. It is really good stuff and I’m learning a lot. My goal is to get through a majority of this training material before summer ends. My brother Dan and our friend Dakota have been going through some of this material with me so we can discuss these topics and learn even more.
Raising a Budget:
We are working on fleshing out our new vision for this next school year and want to make sure we are able to continue on with everything that worked well last year. In order to do this, we will need a bit of help with the financial side. This is not for my personal missionary budget, but we are working on talking to churches and families to help us meet our Bridges San Diego ministry budget for the 2022-2023 school year. The budget goal is $10,000 for the whole year. If you want to learn more about this budget and what these investments will go toward, click here.
Independence Day Party
Many international students come from countries where they celebrate some sort of independence day, but very few of them have experienced an American 4th of July celebration. We decided to celebrate our Independence Day early with a beach bonfire and bbq and any international students who are sticking around San Diego this summer.
We were excited and blessed to have 12 international students join us! We brought a grill, some all-beef hotdogs, and even some plant-based hot dogs for our vegetarian friends. Sadly, we weren’t able to have fireworks, but everyone got an American flag, played fun games, and had great conversations.
It was really encouraging to hear from a few students how grateful they were to be invited to such a fun event. They kept asking when the next event was and immediately followed our Instagram account to know more.
The best part of the night, though, was when Allison, one of our awesome volunteers, spoke about true freedom in Christ!
It was a powerful message of hope found in the loving sacrifice of Jesus. It definitely left these students wanting to know more.
Galatians 5:1 ESV
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.”
John 8:36 ESV
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Pray for Students
Please pray that the Gospel will sink deep into the hearts of these students and plant a seed that will grow into a desire to seek Him as their Lord and Savior.
Pray for these students to boldly ask us or other Christians about who Jesus is, to tirelessly seek Him, and to knock at His door to dwell with Him forever.
Pray for Leaders
Praise God with us for giving us the energy we needed to serve and love these students well. Pray for our evaluation process so next year’s event can be even better.
Praise God for our amazing volunteers who work very hard to make sure each and every student is loved and served well. Pray specifically for Adrian, Allison, Baogang, Bikere, Curtis, Darrell, Grace, Harmony, Jaqueline, Karan, Meixuan, Miho, Morgan, Olivia, Steve, and Ukeme.
Pray for me (Sam), Lauren, and Rebecca as staff that we will have the energy and focus to do this work well. Mostly, though, that we are constantly seeking Him in all we do.
Pray for the Budget
It is no small task to raise finances for ministry work, but pray with us for God to provide people to invest in what He is doing through Bridges in the lives of these international students here in San Diego.
Pray for Partners
Thank God with me for all of my partners in ministry who are praying for me, this ministry, San Diego, and these students.
Thank God with me again for all of my partners in ministry who give financially so I can be here to love and serve these students.
I praise God for you and pray for God to bless you.
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” (Philippians 1:3 ESV)
God bless you, my brothers and sisters in Christ and partners in ministry!
In Him,
Sam Davis
Sam Davis has focused on international student ministry since 2010 and is on staff with Cru and Bridges International in San Diego, CA. His passion for leading others into a close relationship with Jesus is shown in his general love for people and focus on discipleship.
Sam and his wife, Gloria, love to travel, meet people, eat great food, and hike.