STANFORD MINISTRY NEWSLETTER
From Jim Black
Greetings to all of our friends and family who partner with us in this work!
We've seen a wonderful beginning to 2025 in the FCA ministry at Stanford University. The Lord has been very faithful. The momentum that the Lord gave before the Christmas break has continued in this New Year. Below are some highlights of the quarter so far:
A Monday night gathering with our largest crowd ever, which included local high school FCA student leaders; we invited them to be encouraged and challenged by what God is doing at Stanford and to take it back to their high schools. The following Monday night our FCA friend, Francis Chan, spoke and encouraged many students.
We've had three separate FCA Family Dinners (including a mini-retreat) at our home. It's brought us joy to host the student athletes for a meal and wonderful fellowship as they need the opportunity to be off campus, spend time together, and gain refreshment away from the pace and pressure of campus life.
We also elected student leaders for the coming 2025-2026 academic year. We're blessed to have wonderful new co-presidents in Fisher Anderson (Football, Class of 2026) and Peep Williams (Lacrosse, Class of 2026). They will now work to build student leadership teams for the coming year.
Beyond all of the above, Gospel conversations & discipleship happen with these future leaders every day. We could not do this without you. Thank you for partnering with us!
Key Updates & Prayer Requests:
We want to thank many of you who have prayed for our housing need We have two exciting updates:
First, to our great surprise, our landlord reversed his decision on selling the home we've been renting! He plans to keep it a few more years. This is a wonderful gift.
Second, we've actually had a dear friend connect with us about the potential of helping us live in a ministry center/home near campus.
While we're thrilled to continue to live in our current home for the short term, our hearts’ desire is to continue to live as close to campus as possible, in order to minister to students in an easily accessible home environment. This development could move us toward that reality! Would you please join us in prayer for that?
Additionally, many of you sent encouraging messages about Laurie joining with me on staff full-time in the next 6 months. Please continue to join us in prayer for that. We need to continue to raise funding for this in order to offset her teaching income, but we sense God's call very clearly in this direction.
ADDITIONAL PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS PRAISE
PraisetheLordforremarkablestudentinterestandengagementwiththeworkofthe GospelthroughFCAoncampus
PraisetheLordforfinancialprovisionforthisworkatStanford!
PraisetheLordthatourcurrentlandlorddecidednottosellourhomeinthenearfuture!
PraisetheLordforrelationshipsintheStanfordathleticdepartmentanduniversityatlarge!
PRAYER
Pleaseprayfordiscipleshipfruitthatisbothwide(touchingmanystudentathletes& coaches)anddeep(bringingthoroughgoingGospeltransformation).
PleaseprayforagoodrelationshipwiththeupcomingStanfordathleticdirector;itwasjust announcedthatthecurrentAD,BernardMuir,isresigningattheendofthisacademicyear.
PleaseprayforallthefundingneededtoaddLaurietomyFCAStanfordteamandfor long-termministryspaceandhousingnexttocampus
Sunday Family
Dinner around a table in our home. The FCA students and our son, Isaac, were enjoying playing a game together.
FCA students discussing John Piper’s ‘Desiring God’ at our winter mini-retreat on 1/18/25.
FCA t d t t ith Sili V ll Ch i ti b iness leader, Eff Martin, during our student leader summit hristian leader every month to invest in our student leaders
Senior men’s basketball point guard, Jaylen Blakes, sharing his testimony at our Monday, 1/27/25 gathering. Over 140 people joined us this night!
Francis Chan speaking to a full house at our Monday Night gathering on 2/3/25. 4 Stanford students gave their lives to Christ at the end of Francis’ talk!
SPIRITUAL LIFE ADVISOR UPDATE
For the last 4 years I've served as one of two spiritual life advisors (~chaplains) for the Stanford football team. In this role, I've attended practice regularly, have led a Bible study for the team, and helped to direct the pre-game chapel program, speaking at 2-3 chapels per season. However, due to Reid playing his high school football games on Friday nights, I didn't travel with the Stanford team to away games. That will change this fall as Reid will have graduated. I plan to journey to away games to minister to the team, coaches, parents, etc. Given Stanford's move to the ACC, this means I'll be traveling, Lord willing, to away games at Hawaii, BYU, Virginia, SMU, Miami, and North Carolina. Please begin praying for those trips this fall. If you live in those areas, I'd love to connect with you while I'm in town!
Donate by check:
Checks payable to "Stanford FCA" Add #24417J00 in the memo line Mail to: Stanford FCA P.O. Box 24308