Feeling at Home

13 student leaders.
7 staff & interns.
5 colleges & universities.

And somehow everyone fit in our living room.

Last Wednesday evening, Veronica & I hosted the 1st of 4 La Fe leadership meetings in this school year for students and staff from campuses around Los Angeles. Students from UCLA to East LA CC to Redlands gathered in our living room to pray & prepare for the "Cumbre de Alabanza" event coming up November 18th.

We started by praying for each others families - a rare blessing considering how much energy & focus we usually have on the campus in campus ministry. Then Abner Ramos shared about the content of his message from Jeremiah 12 that he'll be speaking to a group of 100-150 Latino college students, their families and pastors, on embracing the "Heart of a Barrio Prophet."

What was most encouraging personally was to see such a clear reminder of God's provision. Not even 2-3 years ago could any of us have imagined this type of gathering of Latino students. We didn't even have any formal gathering of Latino staff, and less than a handful of Latino staff even if we could gather. Now, we have more than 7 Latino staff and interns and a promising group of gifted Latino student leaders on several campuses.

And yet as students were leaving after the meeting, several students came up to me to share how meaningful it was to have this meeting in our home. More than all of the leadership insight. More than the inspiration of the upcoming event. More than the vision for reaching & serving the 350,000+ Latino college students attending 1 of 60+ colleges or universities in the Los Angeles area. It was the impact of hospitality and home that most blessed and encouraged them as they headed back to campus.

READ: Barrio Prophets (a), (b), and (c).