In 25 years, I have been a reporter and photographer for a small daily newspaper, a journalism and photography teacher at a community college, a Director of Student Publications at a state university, an assistant director of marketing at a private education company and the director of a non-profit corporation, also known as a campus ministry. For 25 years, God has provided the opportunity to grow in my understanding of His Love, His Word and His Grace. He also has provided the opportunity to invest His Word in the lives of college students-to make His disciples-as I walked with Him.

For the past ten years, this discipleship has been a part of the ministry of the Nazarene Student Center for the University of Oklahoma, Inc.:  a ministry now known as the 2:8 House, based on 1 Thessalonians 2:8 which reads: "we loved you so much that we gave you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too."

LOVE WINS.

As our family celebrates this milestone, it provides the opportunity to reflect on the past ten years. Our family celebrated Mary's first birthday right before we moved to Norman. She turned 11 last month. Jonathan will celebrate his 9th birthday in September. Ten years of serving, loving, and living across the street from the University of Oklahoma campus. Ten years of investing our faith in the lives of young adults. Thank you Aaron and Courtney, Nancy, Emily, Jennifer, Charles, Riley, Will, Christian, Brian, Ching-Mei, Diego, Bo and Pei, Gary, Kristina, Yuri, Whitney, Brad, Sandie, Erin, Savannah (like Georgia), Sarah, Jeff, Lonnie, B.J., Kyle, Chris, Meloni, Lisa, Hee-Soo and so many others.

Ten years of living out our faith in a profession position that is sustained by God through the generous financial support of so many friends. Thank you Lloyd and Phyllis, Rick and Linda, Dave and Edna, Carl and Barbara, Duane and Linda, Keith, Gary and Linda, Darrell and Myrna, Rick and Marjean, Brint and Emily, James and Shirley, George and Eleanor, Charles and Carolyn, Robert and Donna, Jim and Joyce, Michel and Janet, Mitch, Harvey and Sharon, Vic, Russell and Ruth, Cleat and Alece, Johnny and Edna, Talmadge and Genell, Brent and Amy, John and Carolyn, Jim and Stephanie, and so many others.

While each person we meet is a significant part of why Christ has us on campus, there have been many other significant milestones as a family and as an organization.

Mother's Day, 1998-Rhonda and I were interviewed at Denny's Resturant in  Norman. We accepted the position   while standing in the two-bedroom house, which would house our family AND the ministry. We moved to Norman in early June.

Fall semester, 1998-Fat Tuesday begins. We began serving a free lunch every Tuesday-a tradition that has grown to as many as 130 students each week. As we began meeting students, several of them also joined our family for dinner during the week.

Spring semester, 1999-Rhonda begins teaching at the OU Center for English as a Second Language. This position provided us with great contact with international students, and it solidified Rhonda's call to teach.
This also marked the semester that the membership on the Board of Directors began to expand. We began the process of having at least one board member from each Nazarene district in Oklahoma.

September, 1999-Jonathan was born. Sooner born and Sooner bred.

November, 1999-The Board of Directors voted to make an offer on our current location, 700 Chautauqua Ave. Northeast Oklahoma district pledged $25,000 toward the building, which was matched by Southwest Oklahoma. We moved into the house in December just in time to host the finals week lunches.

Spring, 2000-The first house, 900 Elm Ave., was sold. A tithe from the increase received on that property was given to the Joplin District to help begin The Potter's House on the Missouri State University campus in Springfield, Mo. Other proceeds were used to pay down the debt on the house and also to install central heating and air conditioning units at the current location.

February, 2003-Nazarene Secular Campus Mission was launched as a nation-wide effort to reach out to state university campuses. David continues to direct this initiative. Ministries have begun on several campuses including: Kansas, Nebraska, Clemson, Washington, Idaho State, Wright State (OH), Ohio State, Iowa, and North Dakota State.

Fall, 2004-Stephanie McCullough-Lawler became our first weekly volunteer for Tuesdays. She continues to help with Fat Tuesday each week.

Spring, 2005-A family foundation affiliated with Hobby Lobby purchased the current building and offered a long-term lease to the ministry for $1 a month. This allows the ministry to get out of debt while still providing a ministry location for years to come.

Summer, 2005-The OU Nazarene Student Center became known as the 2:8 House.

Summer, 2006-The same foundation decided to donate the house to the Church of the Nazarene Foundation.

Fall, 2006-We began using all washable dishes to reduce the amount of trash being generated by the ministry. Three new volunteers from Norman Community Church of the Nazarene began coming every Tuesday to keep up with the dishes. Thank you Miss Faye, Miss Donna and Jerry!

Summer, 2008-An e-newsletter will be launched to provide monthly ministry updates. Please send us your e-mail address to be added to this list.

Fall, 2008-The release of "Can You Hear Us Now: Twentysomethings Talk About Faith, Culture and the Church." This book is a compilation of comments received from 400 college students at the M7 Conference. It will be used by the denomination to elevate the discussion of the perspectives of the twentysomeones in our church. We co-authored the book with Jeff Edmundson.
God continues to demonstrate His love to and through our family and the 2:8 House.

As we look toward the future, consider God reaching students and faculty from around the world through building personal relationships and sharing home-made meals; consider God planting His ambassadors through professional and ministry positions throughout the world; consider a servant leadership house where students would learn to demonstrate His love through service; consider a "sober house" where student who have dealt with drug and alcohol addiction continue to receive healing as they prepare to utilize their God-given talents in their profession.
 
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above ye heavenly host.
Praise  Father, Son and Holy Ghost.