September Letter from the Missionary

Hey everyone,

Well, the ministry is off and running! We have named the ministry I am doing "Cross Culture on Campus", also known as C3, and I will be its director.

September was very encouraging and fruitful in the local high schools. I visited 7 different schools and made a total of 10 visits, mostly during the lunch hour. This has been wonderful not only in reinforcing my relationships with the youth at Grace Church and their peers, but also in becoming a campus presence to the administration. One of my goals in these schools will always be to show Christ's love through acts of service -- something I've been able to do by helping out math classrooms at Hillside and cleaning up the cafeteria at Jordan. Another one of my main efforts during these visits is to minister to the youth directly. We've met with over one hundred students so far! Happily, with help from a student, we've even been able to start a lively Christian discussion group for believers and unbelievers at Hillside.

In these beginning stages I am still spending a good deal of time in the formative process. I meet often with the pastors at Grace (Pastor DeWayne has been an immense help) and with other high school-related organizations/people.

Presently, I still need to spend a good deal of time fundraising. As our numbers increase, I hope to be able to spend more of my days going into the schools and reaching students.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. I cannot wait to see what October has in store.

For His Glory,
Adam Dawson

September Student Profile: Tyler Thompson

Tyler Thompson, a senior at Hillside High School, and I started a group called "The Real". Every week students gather after school and discuss topics that they don't broach during class -- from Jesus to tattoos. When asked why he helped to start this group Tyler responded, "I've seen the world...I want to reach out to the youth. I want to help save all the people I can."

Tyler has seen his brothers go to jail and been pursued himself by gun-toting gang members. As he felt himself being caught up in that lifestyle, he began looking for something real. Although he grew up in church, it had become routine for him. One day his mother came to him and said, "If nobody can help [you], then a man named Jesus can. Just give him a try."

"He changed me in a big way," Tyler said about Jesus. "I could have been dead...He changed my life by stepping in and giving me chance after chance...When the gang related stuff went down hill, I found the real understanding of Christ."

When asked what he likes about "The Real", Tyler said, "The growth capacity. People are starting to see how real it is."

"Learning about people and perspectives of Christ," he adds. "...learning how they were brought up...the stories of their lives...we feel what they go through."

September School Profile: Hillside High School

Students: 1450
Christian Groups: 2 (The Real and Gospel Choir)
Demographics: 89% African-American
Students who receive Free/Reduced Lunch: 53%
Student:Teacher Ratio is 32:1
Concerns: Apathy, Cheating, Truancy, Low Performance, Perverse Sexuality.
Teacher Prayer Requests: the transforming Spirit of our Lord fill every person at Hillside

September Quick Facts

Total School Days: 19
# of School Visits: 10
Support Raised: $1,500 per month
(43% of Financial goal)
Groups formed: 1

Our Mission Vision

Our Mission Vision is (1) to deliver the gospel to all students, parents, faculty, staff, and administration for all Durham and Orange County schools, and (2) to promote and direct the unification of the Christian people within the above groups for His glory. Our goals for October: partner with other Christian groups like Young Life to further God's Kingdom, engage Christian Communities in 2 more High Schools, and raise 72% of financial goal.

Prayer Requests for October

+ vision from God
+ salvation for lost students
+ discipleship for students
+ partnership with Christians
+ financial support