LOVE IS 28 update banner
2:8 Update
August 18, 2013
August 18, 2013 

Dear Friends,

 

It is almost FOOTBALL time in OKLAHOMA. While the opening kick off of the Sooner football season is now just two weeks away, the beginning of the fall semester begins Monday.

 


We anticipate another great year of ministry as we seek to meet new students and continue to work with those students who are returning. Our activities will include the return of the Tuesday lunch, on a monthly basis, and other various events. You can see a short list of events in an article below.

For those of you on the Southwest Oklahoma District, we encourage your church to participate in the district-wide back-to-school offering for the 2:8 House, which is scheduled for Sunday, August 25th. You could encourage your pastor to show the two-minute introductory video and include a prayer card in your Sunday bulletin. Both of these resources are available on our website.

We begin the semester, and academic year, in need of a financial blessing. We know this ministry requires a team to make it happen. Many of our donors have been a part of this ministry team for several years. We thank God for you and your partnership with us. We covet your prayer. We know that God is faithful. He has directed this ministry for more than 20 years. We want to be open to whatever He wants to teach us; however He wants to lead us.

 

Thank you for your continued, prayerful partnership with us.

 

LOVE IS. 


Dave, Rhonda, Mary and Jonathan Kyncl
Craig, Anita and Jude Shepperd 
New semester begins August 19th

 

The Fall 2013 semester begins tomorrow, Monday, August 19th. The new freshmen have already arrived on campus, new friendships are being established and classes await students on Monday.

 

The 2:8 House will be hosting a variety of activities this semester, including:

Fat Tuesday returns
We will host free lunches the first Tuesday of every month. It is a great way to meet new people and support other ministries of the 2:8 House. Even though this is a free event, donations will be gladly accepted.

Fireside Chats
We will host reguar discussions about the inter- relationship between faith, calling and the academic community. We hope to coordinate these events with a group of Christian graduate students and host the discussions in our living room.

International Friendship
We encourage local families and students to participate in existing friendship programs with international students.

Scripture Memory
We encourage students to begin the process of scripture memory. The first set of cards were distributed to students this week.

Discipleship/Mentoring
We meet students individually to "spur them on" in their faith journey.

2:8 Recovery
meets Thursday nights during the semester. The evening includes dinner, small and large group meetings.
international students w flags
Host families sought
New international students enroll at OU every year. As the new academic year approaches next month, the 2:8 House staff and friends are working to recruit families to participate in an International Friendship program at OU.

This program facilitates friendships between international students and American families. It is a great way to get to know a student from another country. Students enjoy getting to know an American family.

"For several years, Bronell and Paula Greer, who served as missionaries in India for decades, hosted OU students from India." Dave Kyncl said. "They would hold monthly fellowship dinners at the 2:8 House, which also helped us connect with the students."

We encourage any interested families to contact us to learn more about this great opportunity.

Shown below is a beautiful Chinese wall hanging that was presented to us by a graduate student about a year ago. He asked a family member who is very well known in China to produce Ephesians 2:8 as a personal thank you to the 2:8 House. Ephesians 2:8 states "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
You will now find this piece of art in the entry way of the 2:8 House.
Even though 1 Thessalonians 2:8 is our official theme verse, this is another great 2:8 verse!
In This Issue
New semester begins
International friendship opportunity
Happy New Year
Mission Statement
Happy New Year!
By Dave Kyncl

"We loved you so much that we gave you not only God's good news but our own lives, too." 1 Thessalonians 2:8

I realize the calender indicates it is mid-August, and New Year's day is more than four months away.

However, when you live around a university campus, the new academic year begins this month. Actually, it begins tomorrow. So, in many ways, this is our new year.

We begin our 16th year on campus after saying "see you later" to several of our students who completed their undergraduate and graduate degrees. We know that God will continue to expand the influence of his ministry as these graduates begin their careers.

We also know that we will be meeting several new students. Both Craig and I will be teaching in the freshman college. Rhonda has already had a couple of phone calls about her composition class. And, we will be faithful as Christ's ambassadors at OU.

Thank you for your partnership with the 2:8 House. It makes a difference for ETERNITY.
2:8 House Statement of Mission
The mission of the 2:8 House is to serve and build relationships with the University of Oklahoma community, its students, faculty, and staff, in the following manners:
  • Making the person and work of Jesus Christ known, including proclaiming, by word, and demonstrating, by deed, the reality and love of God;
  • Acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God;
  • Supporting the ministry of the local church; and
  • Making Christ-like disciples of those in the nations.
Deuteronomy 32:1-2 (The Message)
Listen, Heavens, I have something to tell you.
Attention, Earth, I've got a mouth full of words.
My teaching, let it fall like a gentle rain, my words arrive like morning dew,
like a sprinkling rain on new grass, like spring showers on the garden.
For it's God's Name I'm preaching--
respond to the greatness of our God!
Contact Information
David & Rhonda Kyncl, kyncl@28house.org
Craig & Anita Shepperd, cranita@28house.org
www.28house.org
700 Chautauqua Ave.
Norman, OK 73069
405-447-7027 
 
Donations may be sent to: 2:8 House, P.O. Box 3211, Norman, OK 73070.

To join our mailing list, click here.