Archive for the 'Celebration' Category

Provision, Praise, & Prattle

Published on July 19, 2011 by Chris Bean in Celebration, Faith, Family, Finances and Personal.

My love for alliteration is no secret to many of you. Those who have ever tracked with my facebook statuses, tweets, or blogging realize that it’s simply something you’ll have to endure if you want to hang out with me…especially in the virtual realm.

Now let me reverse the order and begin with “prattle.” Since this word means: to talk or chatter idly, it might not be the perfect word for what I’m going to share. Today’s “prattle” is all about my little boy, Josiah. He is just over 7 months old now and bringing even more joy to our lives than we might have expected (if that is possible). Here’s a little video of a recent feeding.

Josiah squeals from Chris Bean on Vimeo.

On to Praise. God is good, right?! Generally speaking, I would say that I’m coming out of a season of life (the past 2 to 5 years) in which ‘praise’ has not been my default setting. Cynicism, critique, questioning, complaining, etc  These have been words that come to mind more naturally than praise. But over the past year, I sense that God has been rewiring my brain a bit…and giving me a new appreciation for Who, How, Why, and Where HE is. Psalm 103 is coming to mind as my default setting: Praise the Lord, oh my soul!

Provision may have something to do with my increased tendencies towards praise. As we continue to live out our new faith-stretching call to campus ministry…and daily depend on God’s provision, we are increasingly amazed at how God meets our needs. Just this morning, I made the painful and scary decision to approve $600 in repairs to my Ford Focus. Having just had a baby (in the past 7 months) and bought a house in the past month, our financial margin has all but disappeared. Within minutes of telling the mechanic to move forward with the repairs, we heard from one of our monthly ministry supporters who wanted to cover that expense for us. God’s ability to PROVIDE far exceeds my ability to gather resources. So we continue to trust and live in this exciting space of gratitude.

Comments: 0 Comments | Tags: Tags: , , , .

My Top 5 Favorite Things About Raising Support: #4

Published on March 24, 2011 by Chris Bean in Campus Ministry, Celebration and Finances.

Someone suggested that I’m just trying to be optimistic about this. I often hear other campus ministers make comments like, “Yeah…support raising is the worst part of this gig.” Even a friend in my own organization suggested recently that he couldn’t wait to get a ‘steady’ paycheck again implying that he’d be moving on to other employment soon. Okay…I get it…raising support has its challenges. To me, that reinforces the need to look at this endeavor differently. That brings me to the next reason I actually enjoy having financial ministry partners and supporters rather than a paycheck from an institution.

#4            It gives us the opportunity to minister to our partners as well as college students.

About fundraising, Henri Nouwen says, “Fund-raising is proclaiming what we believe
in such a way that we offer other people an opportunity to participate with us in our vision and mission.” (You can find a copy of his booklet here).

When someone becomes a ministry partner through their financial support, a way has been opened for them to participate with God in His mission of reconciliation in the world.

“You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity…” (2 Cor. 9:11).

Beyond the blessing of being involved with our ministry and vision, ministry partners become people we pray for and serve whenever possible. Names of supporters often come to mind as I’m driving, praying, planning, or hanging out with college students. I love to pray for the financial partners who make this ministry possible and share stories with them about what God is doing to transform college students to transform the world. (The CCO’s Core Purpose)

Granted, overcoming anxiety and awkward moments to make a phone call, send an email, or have a face-to-face conversation is not my idea of a good time. But the relationship and shared mission that we enjoy with our supporters really is a blessing.

If you have questions, I’d love for you to explore more information on how to support our campus ministry here in Cincinnati.

Comments: 0 Comments | Tags:

My Biggest College “Do over”

Published on December 27, 2010 by Chris Bean in Calling, Campus Ministry, Celebration, discipleship, Faith, Gospel and worldview.

If I had to point to one experience or moment which had the most impact on “my” decision to get involved in campus ministry, it would be the Jubilee Conference.

If I could go back and have one “do over” during my own college experience, it would be to attend the Jubilee Conference. (Register now and plan to join me for this transformational opportunity in February).

Get $20 off your registration price for a new registration when you use the discount code “CHRISTMAS”. This discount code is good through 12/31/2011 at 11:59PM EST; so, make sure to register before the NEW YEAR!

If I could recommend to current college students one particular experience with the potential to change their lives, attitude, and vocational path…it would be the Jubilee conference.

Over the past couple of years of intentional hanging out with students, the most regretful statement I continue to hear is something like this:

“Yeah, I’m majoring in ________ but I have no idea what I’m going to do with it.”

or

“I’m pursuing a degree in ____________ but what I really want to do is __________.”

If you’re a college student and you’ve ever said something like that…go here and watch this video.

It’s really tragic to find a great percentage of college students have never thought deeply about their academic calling or entertained the possibilities that God has an over-the-top sweet plan for them to make a difference in the world by aligning their passion, academic path, and future vocation.

Yet another reason for a student to attend the Jubilee Conference this February in Pittsburgh!

Comments: 0 Comments | Tags: