Francis Chan at Cross Training

Winter quarter started off with bang, as we were blessed to have Francis Chan come and share with the group at Cross Training.  Having recently moved to the area after traveling with his family to visit the persecuted churches in China and North India, Francis spoke to the many pitfalls that plague the American church but seem absent among the persecuted churches.  

He told story after story of the people he met on his travels who have been severely persecuted for their faith. In one story in particular, he shared about how a group of Chinese believers laughed in disbelief as he described trends that he sees in the American Church. It seemed strange to them that we would not be persecuted like they are, and hearing of people's tendency to switch churches because of things like better worship or child care left them confounded.  He spoke to our tendency to lose focus, remarking at how easy it is for us to become complacent surrounded by so much comfort and entertainment.  By contrast, it is hard to lose focus when your faith is a matter of life and death...

As we have experienced, God has given Francis the ability to graciously share hard truths, challenging young people to live sold out, Christ centered lives, no matter what the world or the Christian culture around them looks like.  It was definitely an illuminating time, the effects of which have continued to be felt. We are excited to have he and his family in the Bay Area, and look forward to getting to fellowship with them in the future.

Awesome Meetings with Freshmen 

It is hard to capture how awesome this years freshmen class is. On the guys and girls side, there are a number of hungry students who desperately desire to live Christ centered lives.  I (Natalie) have been leading the freshmen small group for the women, and each week after we wrap up, I am so filled and encouraged because our times are so rich together. Sometimes, it can be challenging as a small group leader to get students to open up or to really get excited about the content that you are going through. Not so with this group! I feel that they are very genuine, hungry, and soft towards God, which makes for deep, heart felt discussion on the content that we are going through (which is currently the book of James).  

It is also neat to see them forming close relationships outside of small group. They share meals with one another and with the guys freshmen small group, and their genuine care for one another is evident. It is powerful to hear stories from them about how simply hanging out together is a strong aroma of Christ to people around them. Their care for each other is contagious and has caused those who live around them to desire the same thing.  Students who might have never stepped foot inside a Christian meeting have come because of the love they've seen amongst this freshman class.  Please pray that God would continue to draw them to Himself!  

Orange Bowl Party and... 

The quarter kicked off with over 100 students joining us at the Stenstrom's house to watch Stanford beat up on Virginia Tech in the Discover Orange Bowl...

As God would have it, it was at this party that Natalie met a freshmen girl who was there with a friend for the first time. Following that first meeting, she became a part of the freshmen girls' small group that Natalie leads. Sadly, only a month after joining the group, she lost her mother to cancer. Having seen the way the group has come around her, and in turn how God has used her to be an encouragement to the group, there is no doubt that He intended for this group to be there for her at this time. 

It is at times like this when we feel most thankful that we can be present and available.  It seems that God does some of His most powerful work when we least could have expected or planned for it. Thank you for helping to ensure that we can be there for students at moments like this when they are open to God's moving in their lives.  We look forward to celebrating those moments with you in eternity! 

Thanks, and God bless! 

With Love,

The Kingdom First Ministries Team 

Special Request!  

This spring break we are traveling with 19 students to the island of Roatan, located 27 miles off the Caribbean coast of Honduras.  We will be serving in a number of the island's health care facilities, remodeling their primary emergency room, and helping to remodel their only eye care facility.  Additionally, we will host youth mentoring events and HIV/AIDS education for the inhabitants of a number of the island's smaller towns.

Please prayerfully consider contributing beyond your normal giving to help cover student scholarships, and project costs.

If you are interested partnering financially with the Roatan Trip, please click

 HERE  

Also, we ask that you be lifting this trip up in prayer!  The names of students going are:

Alexandria - Andrew - Ben - Blair - Bryan - Caroline - Cody - Devin - Forrest - Hannah - Jami - Jasmine - Jose - Josh - Kelly - Lizzy - Ryan - Ryan - Taylor    

Join our Prayer Team! 

 Each week on Sunday nights, students from the CL community gather to pray for the campus and for all the believers that God has placed here.  Seeing students contend in prayer for the people and campus they love has gripped our hearts with a renewed vision for claiming this place for Christ.

Starting next week, we will be sending out short, weekly prayer / praise reports for all those who feel called to be praying for  Stanford on a more regular and informed basis. 

If you would like to receive those emails, please let us know by emailing :

 trentwiesen@gmail.com.

2 Chronicles 7:14-15:

  If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.   

Kingdom First Ministries

www.kingdomfirst.org 

325 Sharon Park Dr. #702

Menlo Park, California

94025