Building wisely

EU has grown rapidly in size over the last few years—more than 920 people attended bible study groups in first semester this year, not counting visitors. Yet we know from the Scriptures that all growth comes from the Lord (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). So we give thanks to him for the growth we’ve seen.

However the evidence suggests this growth is reaching a plateau. We’ve not changed our message: we’re still proclaiming the gospel of Christ as revealed in the Scriptures. What’s going on? Here are some of the questions we’re asking ourselves as we seek to build wisely under God’s hand:

• Has the EU’s growth in numbers been matched by a growth in maturity in Christ?
• Are we investing sufficiently in the lives of the student leaders so they can lead and serve their peers well under Christ?
• Are we acknowledging that growth comes from the Lord and expressing this by diligence in prayer?
• Others in the AFES community have suggested that we are relatively under-staffed compared to the size of the EU. To what extent should we seek to increase the size of the EU staff team?
• Do we need to restructure the EU ministry and the staff team so that we can proclaim Christ more personally and effectively for the next phase?

Please pray for wisdom as we plan the way ahead.

Finances

If you made a one-off donation as part of last year’s ‘112 in 2012’ campaign, please consider giving the same amount again as an annual donation. This would bolster our General Fund donations and help it get back towards budget. Thanks to all our partners in this work – without your prayers and generosity the ministry would be impossible.

Yours joyfully in his service,

Rowan Kemp
EU Staff Team Leader

Financial Update

GradsFund staff are funded by both ‘General’ and ‘Personal’ donations. ‘Personal’ donations are in support of particular staff members. ‘General’ donations subsidise Senior Staff and the ministry as a whole.

2013—August

‘General’ monthly target: $27,900  (Received: July- $21,100; Aug- $20,300)

‘General’ year-to-date target: $223,000 (Received: $184,000)

‘Personal’ monthly target: $76,700  (Received: July- $62,000; Aug- $78,300)

‘Personal’ donations target: $594,000  (Received: $669,000)