BIG News!

It is hard to believe that yet another semester is nearing its completion.  For me, between Thanksgiving and finals week was always a great time to reflect on some of the amazing things I had seen God do on campus and in the lives of individual students throughout the semester.  Sometimes, even the briefest moment to pause and reflect allowed God to breathe new life and encouragement into me as I was reminded how our consistent ministries on the front-lines are making a huge impact for His Kingdom!  I hope you will each be able to experience one of those moments in the final days of this semester.

I just want to pass on a few bits of info for you and then let you in on some BIG news that I’m sure you will all want to know about!  First, the updates:

1)   Latest Threads Bible Studies for Small Groups

Threads has published two new studies since August.

• Birds and Bees--Gregg Matte--small group study on sex and relationships
• Manage--Chip Luter and Micah Carter--4 session study on stewardship/managing all God has given to us

2)   Collegiate Week Line-up

This year's platform guests at Glorieta will be:

• David Nasser--speaking Sunday-Tuesday
• Eric Geiger--speaking Wednesday-Thursday
• Charlie Hall--worship leader for the week

Of course, there will also be lots of breakouts, late-night activities, and leader fellowships as well!  The dates are Aug. 4-9, 2013.  Registration will be handled through Glorieta.  There is currently a waiting list for on-campus housing, so be sure to ask about the waiting list or ask for hotel options nearby!  To register, simply call: 505-757-6161 or visit: http://www.glorietaconferencecenter.org/collegiate

3)    Other Upcoming Events

• February 2-8, 2013-Join us for the first ever Reach New Orleans during Mardi Gras (http://www.lifeway.com/event/Young-Adult-Event-Reach-New-Orleans-2013 )
• March 2-8 or 9-15, 2013-Beach Reach is back at Panama City Beach (http://www.lifeway.com/n/Product-Family/BeachReach?type=events ).  Be sure to register by Dec. 14^th to claim the early bird rate...plus get one van driver registered for FREE!
• October 25-26, 2013-Hold this date for the first ever Collegiate Weekend coming to Nashville, TN!!  (contact Bill Noe, bill.noe@lifeway.com for more info)

And now for the BIG news!  We are welcoming Mark Whitt to the Threads team to serve as the Collegiate/Young Adult Specialist.  He comes from Murray State University where he has just finished 13 ½ years of ministry as the BCM Director.  He will be a great addition to the team and a strong voice for collegiate and young adult ministry.  He would especially love to help your church or ministry in providing training for reaching the collegiate generation.  Please join me in welcoming Mark to LifeWay starting January 1st!!

Note for Collegiate Ministry Interim Leader

My name is Bill Noe, and I'm the new coordinator for all the collegiate/young adult events through Threads!  I'm excited for the opportunity to serve you in this new role and wanted to be sure and take this opportunity to introduce myself.  I graduated from the University of Kentucky, but have spent the last 12 years in campus ministry at the University of Louisville (just finished my eighth year as BCM campus minister there).  I served at NAMB for a year right out of college, but other than that, I've been in KY my whole life, so moving across the state line has definitely felt like a big life change.

In this new role, I will be coordinating your favorite annual events like Collegiate Week and BeachReach, but will also seek to give life to some new events like Reach New Orleans (missions experience during Mardi Gras) and hopefully some weekend regional events similar to a shortened form of Collegiate Week at various times of the year.  I've already been able to experience what a transformational experience these events have been for my own students, so I'm looking forward to getting to play a small part in God using these transformational experiences in the lives of your students as well!

I'm actually writing this on the way home from Collegiate Week 2012.  If you didn't get to join us, you missed a powerful week!  We were led this week by speakers Ben Stuart, JD Greear, and Jen and Brandon Hatmaker along with worship leader Aaron Ivey and band.  They did an amazing job of leading 2,000 of our national collegiate ministry family in worship each day.  The speakers challenged students and leaders alike to cherish Jesus above all else, know the power of the gospel, and live our lives in response to the worth and majesty of our Savior. As I fly somewhere over Texas and Louisiana, I am amazed at the potential your students have as they leave Glorieta or summer missions experiences or working summer jobs and return to campuses all across the continent!  We know that God has done some amazing things in their lives over the summer and I anticipate along with you how God will use them in powerful ways all semester long!

Also, I just wanted to mention that I am currently serving in the interim period to help carry some of the roles of the Collegiate and Young Adult Ministry Specialist as the Threads team seeks to replace the giant hole in our team with the loss of Linda Osborne.  She has returned to her hometown of Winona, MS to teach school and be able to spend more time with her children.  If I can do anything to help you in this interim period or if you ever have any questions or suggestions about Threads events, please don't hesitate to drop me a quick message (bill.noe@lifeway.com).

I look forward to many events ministering alongside you and your students!

Bill Noe