Ministry Update: Robert Knuth – Top of the Rollercoaster

"Why do you do what you do?"

It's the million-dollar question that we (almost!) never ask each other. Surely, "what do you do?" is every American's favorite go-to conversation starter.

And if you're not a pastor in Ann Arbor and conversation doesn't turn immediately awkward as your secular neighbors fumble to know what to say (I jest!), you might even get the follow up question of: "where do you work?"

At least in my experience, "why do you do what you do?" is the question only reserved for the sit-down conversation with someone you find interesting and might want to be friends with long-term. In other words, no bueno to ask this question of the random dude pushing his daughter on the swing at the park.

Here's the thing: I don't want to be that random dude who pops up on your emails from time to time. Some of you have been on these emails for years!

Do you wanna know why I do what I do? Why I keep sending these emails out?

August and September.

Two months of complete exhilaration and excitement that tries to hide the underlying uncertainty that comes along with interacting with hundreds college students. Many of these students will find a home in RUF this Fall semester (hopefully 150+!). However, many of them will not for whatever reason.

The rollercoaster of the entire experience is an adrenaline rush of seeing God's Spirit alive and at work to curate some of the most random encounters imaginable (stay tuned for October's newsletter!). 

Welcoming college students in August and September is one of greatest opportunities the Church has when it comes to witnessing to the glory and splendor of the Triune God. 

I can't think of any other ministry opportunity that gives the Church access to ~1000 young adults all wondering the same questions of identity (i.e. "Who am I? What do I believe? How do I know what's true?").

It's a field that is white and ready for harvest (John 4:35). 

You might be thinking, "How can I help? I don't live near college students!

That might be true. But this is a partnership. It is no one man (or one church) show.

You are needed. Your church is needed. Even if that means you don't live here in Ann Arbor! The Apostle Paul uses the illustration that Christians are many members that make up one body, in which Jesus Christ is the head (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). 

God uses ministry partnership to knit together the body of Christ. This is true locally, regionally, and globally.

Thank you to all of you who support this ministry financially and in prayer. Here are some quick line-item needs as August approaches:

• 13 copies of "The Secular Creed" by Rebecca Mclaughlin to equip my Core Group on Sunday nights ($9.99 x 13 = ~$130)
• 2 on-campus boards (~$150/board x 2 boards = $300)
• 17 weeks of on-campus board advertising (~$10/week = $170)
• 1 on-campus banner (~$300/banner = $300)
• 4 weeks of on-campus banner advertising (~$20/week = $80)
• 96 Iced coffees to give away with RUF info in the middle of campus (12 pack = $39.36 x 8 = $315)
• 14 staff breakfasts ($40 x 14 = $560)
• 4 family-style dinners for our 50 person monthly ministry team meeting ($250 x 4 = $1000)

Grace and Peace,

Robert

The new RUF Michigan staff team in Denver last week for RUF training! Our job requires us to spend two weeks a year with other RUF staff praying, brainstorming, and getting better equipped to do ministry on the campus.

Quick Family Update

As of today (7/30), Katherine is 6 weeks post-op. She is recovering well, and is in less pain as the time wears on. Thank you for your care and support of our family during a crazy season of our lives. Here's how you can continue to pray:

• For Katherine's continued physical healing and comfort
• For the timing and success of her second surgery 
• For wisdom to know limits and finitude