FALL 2015 MINISTRY UPDATE

What is college ministry? It’s pretty much like farming. Jesus used the metaphor of fishing with his fisherman friends, but as someone who loves gardening and nature, I relate more to his many references to farming and agriculture. Together with my co-laborers (my wonderful volunteer staff – Tom Bates, and Rick and Anne Pinilla), we work to create a space free of anything that might block God’s light, prepare the soil of students’ hearts, plant the seed of God’s word, water with love, friendship and compassion, nurture the tender shoots as they grow, and watch with joy when fruit is borne and shared. This all requires patience, time, and prayer, as well as discernment as we try to meet each individual at whatever stage they are at in their spiritual journey. We depend on God and each other, as well as your prayers, as we make ourselves available for God to work through us. Ultimately, we want to see students whose spiritual roots go down deep into the soil of God’s love so that they can withstand any drought or storm that comes their way in the years ahead. Psalm 1 says: “Blessed is the one who…delights in the law of the Lord…He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.”

Last year a friend asked me what happens between the wonderful college meetings and the graduate whose life is falling apart 30 years later? In other words, what are we doing to prepare students with a faith that will last through life’s ups and downs? Really good question… and one that always needs to be at the forefront of our minds as we seek to have an influence during these short, but incredibly formative, college years. Last October I held a dinner for alums of Navigators Christian Fellowship during Colby-Sawyer’s Alumni weekend. I connected with several alums I hadn’t seen or even been in touch with for years and it was wonderful to have them in my home and hear how they met their spouses, made their career choices, etc. Most importantly, I asked them how their faith had sustained them in the years since college. Thankfully, they had all married someone who shared their faith and encouraged them in their walk with Christ. All of them were actively involved in a church community. Some had strayed a bit, but found their way back.

In his book, The Fabric of Faithfulness, Steven Garber concludes with three important keys to keeping the faith of our college years over a lifetime. He calls them “Habits of the Heart”: 1) Establishing a Christian worldview that connects what we believe with how we live; (2) Finding teachers or mentors who will pass on their wisdom and knowledge of the faith; and lastly (3) Finding friends and a church community who will help us keep our commitments and convictions. These three could be summed up in the words: Convictions, Character, and Community - all key factors in the lives of the people Garber interviewed who were able to grow in their faith throughout their adult years. These are the things we hope to influence as we meet with students.

So this is what college ministry is all about. We create the space for spiritual formation through weekly fellowship meetings, small groups, leadership training, events, community service and 1-1 mentoring. All of these are avenues which give opportunity for study of the scriptures, worship, prayer, counsel, and friendship. We pray especially that our students would “know the hope to which God has called them, the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints, and God’s incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19). Please pray with us!

Thank you for your love and support,

In Christ’s love,

Cindy

Cindy BensonPO Box 286Andover, NH 03216603-321-9231 (cell)cindybenson@tds.net

If you would like to contribute to my account, please send a check made out to: “The Navigators” to: PO Box 6000, Colorado Springs CO 80934-6000 and write my account #22476790 on the memo line. Instructions for contributing online can be found at: http://www.navigators.org/us/support. Just type in my name and choose the amount you would like to give. Thank you!

Highlights from last year:

-Several guest speakers who tackled all kinds of topics, including racism, sex, relationships, social justice and discipleship, to name a few;

-A Fall Retreat off campus with speakers Jim and Sharon VanYpren, who presented their curriculum on conflict resolution and peace making;

-Two coffeehouses on campus featuring the musical talent of our student leader, Serene, and friends;

-A Christian band concert on campus featuring the Andy Needham Band;

-A trip to the regional Navigators Winter Conference in MA with 25 Colby-Sawyer students;

-Our annual spring conference, Ablaze, hosted at Colby-Sawyer with guests from University of Southern Maine, Berklee School of Music, Boston University, and University of Southern Maine.

-A Year End Graduation Dinner at First Baptist Church to honor our seniors.

Other News:

-Our president and worship leader of the last few years, Serene Chua, graduated and has joined the Navigators staff team at Boston University this fall in the leadership training program known as EdgeCorps.

-The Dartmouth Navigators ministry is now in the capable hands of Curtis and Abby Snook, longtime Navigators who moved recently to the Upper Valley and live close to campus. Their willingness to step up allows me to focus on Colby-Sawyer, which has been a huge blessing. They are reaching out to both undergraduates and graduate students with a weekly bible study and dinners in their home. Another one of our graduates from CSC Navigators, Munaya Sa-eed, is living with them and working in the biology lab at Dartmouth this year!

-The Navigators holds a national conference for all staff from every arm of their ministry every four years, so I will be heading to Orlando in November for four days of professional development and fellowship. This will be my first national conference, so I am excited to get a better sense of the broad network that is The Navigators.

-I look forward to meeting my 5th grandchild, due on December 29th! My daughter Caren and her husband Dave, with 10 year old Clara, live in Pittsburgh, PA, where Dave is a Mennonite pastor. They are excited to be expanding their family!

-I am blessed to have my daughter Lindsey’s family right up the street. Her husband, Scott, works in communications at Proctor Academy and Lindsey is a photographer for the school, as well as a full time mom of Camden, Micah, and Sadie, ages 7, 5, and 2 ½. We have a lot of fun times together!

- Please pray for the students who struggle with serious issues at home within their families. Pray also for the students who take on many roles of leadership and responsibility within the school, that they would make fellowship with other Christians, prayer and scripture priorities in the midst of their busy schedules. Pray that our new leadership team will grow in friendship and unity while stepping out in greater ways to further God’s kingdom on this campus! And pray for the ministry at Dartmouth as Abby and Curtis seek to support students in their walk with Christ.

THANKS AGAIN TO ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST, PRAYERS, AND SUPPORT FOR ME AND THE NAVIGATORS MINISTRY AT COLBY-SAWYER AND DARTMOUTH!

Colby-Sawyer Navigators after leading services at First Baptist Church, a local church next to campus. Advisor Tom Bates is on the left.

There are 9 countries represented in this photo!

Below are more photos representing the past year’s activities, including retreats, planning meetings, Mountain Day, an engagement dinner party for two alums, a wedding this summer of an alum, trips to local

churches, fund raisers for Nepal after the earthquake, and just general fun times together! Enjoy!