Houston Ministry Resources

     

PHOS Ministry Recap

It’s been just shy of two years since my husband, Jeremy, and I moved into student housing in Bayou Oaks, a complex specifically designed for sororities and fraternities, with 20 BSM college students. It’s been a rollercoaster, but as we come full circle we realize just how much fun we have had and the growth we have seen in the students who have been in this thing with us. 

This year we asked the Lord to pull together a student leadership group. Six students courageously stepped up and faithfully met at least once a month with us to discuss the direction of the house and the highs and lows of the culture of the house. These students then went above and beyond to spark outreach opportunities such as our Thursday night Party Pancakes – every Thursday around the complex fraternities host loud parties; our students spent about 3-4 hours every week cooking pancakes and serving them to their neighbors. They invited friends to join in and while handing out the flapjacks, would engage people in spiritual conversations. This made such an impact on the Bayou Oaks community that many said they would sign a petition to keep us if we were ever asked to leave because we are not a Greek organization. We also had several joint-mixers and participated in many philanthropy events including pulling together dishes for our Thanksgiving potluck mixer with Triangle, and competing in Phi Mu’s Field Day.

Several weekly rhythms held our community together so we could see each other’s faces and care for one another: Our council would meet once a month on a Sunday evening to diagnose the heartbeat of the house. Every Monday night we designated as Family Dinner, which of course included a home-cooked meal, which one of our “family” members would volunteer to cook, and then we would have an encouragement or someone of the community would share their life story and we would pray together. The students saw so much value in simply sharing a meal together that they established Café Wednesday or “having breakfast together” on Wednesday mornings. And of course Party Pancakes brought us together again later in the week. 

This weekend we will spend the weekend as a group in Livingston at one of the student’s lake house. We are looking forward to worshipping, eating really good food, and our second annual “encouragement circle”. It will be a great time to see exactly how much we’ve grown and learned about each other and my hope is that everyone comes back feeling like it was all worthwhile and that they were part of something that only God dreamed up.

The Final 72 Hours

March 25th-27th

During Holy Week

At least for me, this was the last 72 Hours of Prayer event I would see at University of Houston - unless I have the opportunity to come back and spur on those that continue fostering prayer on the campus. That would bring immense joy to my soul!

Knowing this was my last opportunity, I spent all day outside for 3 days. Needless to say, my face was bright red and peeling for Easter. I didn't think about the sun because it was so windy out. God was speaking so much out in these 3 days!!!

 

Organic themes of prayer:
1) Fire, purity, boldness. Refining His people. Jeremiah generation. The sun, the beach, The Lord's prayer around the fountain and catching it on fire. Zaps of electricity - God's glory.

2) Tabernacle. "Because home is where the heart is" Welcoming the Holy Spirit to tabernacle with us. The beauty of the Lord. That we are His tent/His temple where He dwells. Beth Moore's "A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place:"

3) God's Unconditional Love. We have a hard time receiving his love because we don't understand unconditional love. We almost reject it just because it is so foreign.

4) Jesus is the Way. That simple, narrow way. We can try to make our own way, but the only good way is the way of Jesus - leaning into Him, having our ear connected to His commanding orders and loving, encouraging whispers.

And continuing in our theme of the semester, Break Every Chain...
Intentional times of intercession:
1) Human-trafficking in Houston. Freedom, Rescue, Restoration. Freedom Place, the I-10 corridor.

2) Third Ward. Culture of Life. Elijah prayer. Generation One, Agape ministries

3) Spiritual Awakening on the UH Campus. At one point it seemed like the entire campus was asleep or tired or drained. So we prayed that they would not rest in earthly things like sleep, leisure activities, and escapism, but to find their rest in the Lord.

The Story of Keep Calm and Carry On

A BSM Christmas

Ministry of Reconciliation

When Christians are in conflict, often it is because we need to learn something from each other. We allow the enemy to divide us when we disagree, but the ministry of reconciliation God calls us to causes us to have a conversation that helps us learn and refine each other as we talk it out. So, let’s be about compassionate confrontation that leads to reconciliation!

Every relationship is worth the try.

Remember that hurt people hurt people, but forgiveness brings healing.

72 Hours of Prayer

Beginning in the Spring of 2011, we pulled together as many Christian organizations that were willing and sparked a prayer initiative that has faithfully been brought back every semester since. It has been such a delight to see it unfold uniquely each time! This event is not about keeping a tradition, but instead a rhythm and reminder that the Body needs to be connected through prayer under the Godhead.

Kicking off our bi-annual event, our friends Mission 24 (an on-campus church) held their worship service outside.

Our hope is that this cultivates a lifestyle of prayer and each semester when we join together again that this could be a celebration and a time for the Spirit to pour out what has been building. On Sunday evening, November 11th, we set up two tents and a circle of chairs. 72 continuous hours of prayer began - through the night and on until dawn. Students, faculty, campus ministers joined to sing praises to God, encourage one another and show the campus that we are serious about our love for Jesus and He is serious about His love for them. Individuals would take hour-long slots each day Monday, November 12th - Wednesday, November 14th. Several students came to understand what it meant to have a relationship with God and have Him walk with them each day! Praise the Lord for new brothers and sisters!

Friends from Dallas House of Prayer came to teach sessions on Hearing God's Voice, the Spirit of Adoption, and Biblical Dream Interpretation. Any by-passer was welcome to walk through the prayer tent and engage in a 12-station labyrinth taking them through identifying sin issues, recognizing their need for the Cross of Christ, and laying their burdens down before Him to take on the free life He has given us.

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Romans 12:6-18

Here are the songs and artists that inspired our worship sessions out on campus: