What'll ya have??

If you are from Atlanta or have ever visited our fair city, hopefully you've experienced The Varsity.

Yup!  That's it, in all its grease-filled, food hawking glory!  Not gonna lie.  That place intimidates me ... the crowds, the yelling, the grease!!  :-) 

And so does this process we've embarked on recently at BCM.  About two weeks ago, we had a very honest staff meeting that has led to many HOURS of honest brainstorming and a Gathering last night that was very different than it has ever been.  Pretty much we've gone back to our purpose statement, leading collegians to follow Christ to become people of influence ... and followed it with a blank piece of paper.  Scary.  Yup!  Intimidating.  Yup!  Exhausting.  Yup!  Super, super exciting!  Yup!

Cause over the last few years, things have started to change ... not just numbers ... those are just a symptom.  But something has changed.  We've had a great year by all accounts ... unified, peaceful leadership team, capable team leaders, creative, new events, solid Gathering, little drama ... but something just doesn't feel right.  Something isn't right.  And someone said it out loud ... it's kind of like it's really been whispered all over ... in apartments and dorm rooms, among roommates and small groups, behind closed doors with campus ministers.  And no one really knows what that "it" is that is missing or has changed.  But we all know its there.

SO ... last night we had some Nehemiah time.  We see the wall.  We know God's desires.  And we need a plan.  But as of yet, that plan is still to be determined.  We asked some questions:
What brought you to BCM and why did you stay?
Your friends that didn't stay, why?
How has your faith been challenged during college?
What can we do to help you grow in your faith?
If you were redesigning BCM, what would you keep?  kill?

And I've been reading lots of comments, thoughts, answers, ideas ...

And I feel like we're in that somewhat awkward Varsity environment saying, "what'll ya have?  what'll ya have?? what'll ya have??"  And while there are some threads of commonality ... everyone has their own "order."  It makes the planner in me nervous that we started this process this late in the year (like for instance, we were supposed to pass out leadership applications last night ... and we don't know that leadership needs to look like!) ... it's made me EXHAUSTED because it's meant HOURS of staff meetings and student meetings in a month packed with mission trip rewrites, women's retreat prep, dinner theater ... but it is also soooo freeing.  It is encouraging.  I LOVE what it has done for some weary souls.  Yes, some of those comments hit pretty close to the heart.  Yes, all of it makes me a little nervous.  Yes, it has brought us together as a staff in a way that has not happened since I've been here.  We've gotten emails from alumni who share in our anticipation and excitement.  We are dreaming new dreams.  Finally.

For the four of you who read this ... will you pray with us for these things?

• Discernment to hear what is being said and what is being NOT said
• Time and energy to listen and grace to ONLY listen and not respond right now
• Wisdom NOT to be reactionary
• Wise counsel ... we are meeting with some folks who have skill sets in organization that we don't have
• A renewed sense of HOPE and purpose
• a fresh call to hear from God and to obey
• Staff unity and friendship building
• Patience to not run ahead or feel pressured to just do something
• REST .... I'll be honest, I am running on fumes with everything else going on at BCM and the added demands of this process is pretty much killing me right now.