test

testing

The Reverse Newsletter

In our newsletters I always try to paint a picture to help you, our readers, understand our ministry at a deeper level, one that goes beyond statistics or lists, one that connects your emotions to ours, one that allows you to be more than readers, but in a unique way sharers and partakers with us. I always want to communicate “Why” we do what we do and not just the “what we do”… As we head into the holiday season celebrating Thanksgiving and with   Christmas and New Years just around the corner, I thought I would do something different… really different…. completely different…  Rather than writing to you about the students that we minister to and serve; I am actually going to write this letter in reverse… instead of writing to you our supporters and potential supporters about students, I’m going to write to students about you! So you have my permission in a way to eavesdrop, and as you read this, know that it has already been given to students to read first…

Letter to those who we serve and love on campus:

Last week I received an encouraging email from a former student who was on campus back when I first started working with CA. I’ve seen him grow so much spiritually. I was given the opportunity to pour into his life the same way that I (and other staff) now pour into your lives… You see I watched him as he fell in love with another student from CA, and even had the incredible honor of performing the wedding ceremony for them. Over the years, as with many students, Annie and I have remained involved in their lives enjoying the view as he entered full-time ministry and as they became parents and now have two beautiful daughters. With permission allow me to share some of that email with you..

“Joe, I want to thank you for always being there for me and Colleen and my kids.  You have always been a constant source of love and support to me even when I was a massive butt head.  Without you in my life I can honestly say I wouldn’t be where or who I am today. Your impact in my life has stretched far beyond me and my family and is echoed in my ministry at Fellowship Church.  What I do is a direct result of what you did and continue to do. So on behalf of myself, Colleen, Emilie, Erynne, and countless others at Fellowship church, Thank you! 

Also Colleen and I are celebrating our 10 year anniversary next month. Can you imagine it was that long ago?”

I share this with you to point out that Annie and I have been reaching out to students like you for a long time, and the reason why we (and other staff) do this… is because we love you, we really do! In fact, I pray that I receive an email like this from each one of you someday, not that I am looking for a pat on the back, but that I want each of you to discover the depth of Christ’s love and the global mission of being a Christian. I pray that God would become fully integrated and woven through every aspect of your lives, that you would find love and reproduce that love advancing His kingdom and correcting injustice at every level…

But you may not be aware of the bigger picture…. Annie and I are directly connected to you, so its easy to be thankful for us, others on staff, and our ministry in CA, and yet you may not fully understand how our ministry to you is dependent upon the generosity, hard work and prayers of others, made up of individuals, churches and even companies who are all part of “the body of Christ” and who all love and sacrifice for you without necessarily knowing you, and without expecting anything in return and as a result they enable me to be available for you!

I remember the first time I spoke at a church to raise support. I remember exactly where I was standing when someone came over to me so compelled to help reach out to students like you that she became our first supporter and still sacrifices to support the ministry today…

I once led the worship for a men’s retreat in Connecticut and struck up a conversation with two men about evangelism and how to connect with the culture today. I shared my passion and love about you with them, and with just that short conversation they began supporting the ministry and have for many years.

Another time I was at a retreat in New Hampshire walking across the front porch, when a retired gentleman asked me my name and what I did. When I told him I ministered to college students, without question he said, how can I help… and he began supporting me faithfully until he passed away a few years ago.

When we were first beginning to build a worship team at Worcester State I posted in our newsletter that we needed a keyboard. Soon after, I received a call from someone I had never met. They told me to go buy a high-end keyboard and they delivered a check without even really knowing me. They have been supporting our ministry ever since. So when you hear the keyboard being played during worship, know that it came from someone who loves you and continues to express that love.

Over the years many times some of you could not go on a retreat because you didn’t have the money, and yet through the body, funds were there for you to go, and on that retreat, God spoke to you and you felt His love because someone in the body loved you and provided the funds.

Through the same body when you needed to really talk and we went out for lunch or coffee to get away from campus and we talked about Jesus you were being blessed by the body… and when you received a free Bible… or the coffee and snacks at our coffee table… the body was there. It was this body that provided the sound equipment we use to worship… the LCD projector…  the banners… gift cards… meals for our free dinners, work done on the CA house, volunteers and materials.. all products of love… all God’s way of providing for you (and me) through this body of Christ!

A few times owners of companies  and churches led by prayer, provided significant gifts to help complete large projects, or fill in the funds needed to cover the amount we are short in committed support.

After being invited to speak to a church group in someone’s home, people moved by the Spirit, joined our support team.

Friendships have been born, awareness raised, and churches from Maine to West Virginia love you! The list could go on and on and on, there are so many stories I could tell you about, so many beautiful people, and churches who believe you are so precious and valuable… but let me share with you one last example…

A few years ago after speaking in a supporting church, I mentioned how the Bible study we did at Nichols College was now beginning at 10:00 instead of 11:00 PM (it now begins at 9:00 pm). After the service a sweet elderly woman approached me with a smile, she laid her warm hand on my cheek, and in a soft quiet and shaky voice she said, “Praise God… that you have moved the study to 10:00, it is so hard for me to be staying up every Wednesday to be praying for you and the students during your Bible study.” She brought me to tears… can you picture the love of this woman who struggles to stay up late for the privilege of praying for you! And there are many who pray for you often.. they pray that you would be blessed, protected, and drawn into an ever closer relationship with God and they truly understand the secret of giving out of love to call, invite and welcome you into His kingdom. So this Thanksgiving holiday, give thanks for those in the body of Christ, the bigger picture, the people, churches and companies that live out the ideal of Christmas giving all year long for you and for the glory of God!

______________________________________

I hope you have enjoyed eavesdropping

To those who faithfully support us through prayer and donations, from the bottom of our hearts thank you!

If you are not currently supporting us, it would be so cool to be able to tell the students who read this letter how many more people have expressed Christ’s love for them by joining  our support team.

=== JOE ===

Annie’s Corner:

Joe and I were at a missions conference in New Hampshire not too long ago, Joe was speaking at a church that we had never visited before. The service went really well and we met lots of nice people. After Joe speaks there is always a number of people waiting to talk with him and I  was standing next to him when a young woman came over to me and pulled me aside, she wanted to talk with me. She wanted to thank me for supporting my husband and letting him do what he does best. She told me that she was praying for me and for all the things I do for our ministry that a lot of people don’t see. I am very happy doing things in the background. I don’t like being the center of attention. So I do a lot of  office work and cooking for students and just being a Mom to some of them. I have to admit she really touched my heart and it meant a lot to me. I know there are many others who pray for me as well and I thank God for all the wonderful supporters and students He has brought into our lives and for the future supporters and students yet to come! 

Joe and I and all our sons (Jeremiah, Joe, Dave & Sam want to wish you all a Happy Holiday season. Merry Christmas and may our Lord and Savior bless you all.

Annie

To financial support our ministry just fill out the envelope enclosed with this newsletter with a check made out to Missions Door. Please include a separate note stating that you would like to support the Shea’s and how often in faith you plan to donate. If you do not have an envelope just use the address at the bottom of this page or go online to our website.

Recalling the Call

At the close of this semester Annie and I have completed ten full years of full-time ministry reaching out to college students. It’s hard to imagine that so much time has past and so much ministry has happened, so many lives impacted… but perhaps the most impacted lives are not the students we reach out to, but rather Annie and myself…

Fifteen years ago, Annie was expecting our fourth child when Val Nordbye (now the national director) came to our church raising support and sharing her vision and the importance of campus ministry. I had been sensing a need to become involved in a ministry focused on evangelism and as Val and the students she brought with her shared…  something inside of me was stirred.

After the service I talked with Val and told her I was interested in working with Campus Ambassadors (CA). Val was excited about my inquiry and asked if she could come out to our house and talk together with Annie and me. I still remember Val sitting in our living room and unveiling what full-time ministry would look like. Somehow my idea of being involved in a limited capacity around my work and family schedule was understood by Val to be a desire to enter full-time ministry! While I listened carefully, I did not have the heart to tell her I was not at all interested in leaving my career as an engineering program manager, however Val ended the conversation with these words, “Why not just hangout with us and see where God takes it.” I thought to myself, I could do that.. hangout… and see…  So in April of 1997 I began to hang out to see where God would take it.

I recently spent some time reading through my old journals and tracked comments about the idea of moving from engineering to campus ministry. Here are a few entries:

4/26/1997 – It’s Saturday at the Abby. A beautiful day. The main issue on my mind lately is about CA. I feel God is calling me to this ministry, but financially I am afraid.

5/17/1997 – This morning I am struggling emotionally and physically. It seems to be an impossibility to be given this salary and to raise this amount of support. I go from high to low not knowing what direction God is leading. I struggle with the amount of time, money, and faith needed to make this transition. I understand there are no impossibilities with God but it is so difficult to know his will.

I know I am called to a ministry, but what ministry? Is this the one? Should I have more faith to live on less? Should I sell everything? There is no clear answer. I have the Word and prayer and even that is difficult. God’s will is so simple and yet so complex. I have a desire to do this but I question my motives. Am I doing this for me or am I doing this for the college students who do not know Christ? My motive should be one thing and one thing only, to glorify Christ.

7/12/1997 – I am still at a loss for what to do concerning CA. I feel the call and therefore must move in that direction. But I cannot see financially how I can. What is stepping out in faith? What is being responsible for your family? Where does the line cross? I know I must (and ultimately will) be obedient to His call but I also must feel at peace with the decision and its cost. Perhaps that is what I need time for most.

10/4/1997 – Today Annie and I are staying at a bed and breakfast on Cape Cod. On Monday it will be our 13th wedding anniversary. We walked the beach this morning and prayed together and talked more about making the move to full time ministry. It’s good to talk. I don’t know how we will raise the support needed. My own desire is to have all things in order first. But perhaps that is not God’s plan. He wants to see faith first. It’s not easy to walk by faith, it’s not natural it’s supernatural!

11/7/1997 – I went on the CA fall retreat it was great. On Saturday the worship service was held in front of a fireplace and we played choruses unplugged. Then student after student shared their testimony. Each had their own set of hurts and pains, and many revealed how they had found Christ through CA. On Sunday, four students were baptized in the lake.  I stood in the cold water with Remy, a student who has been coming to our house for a while now on Tuesday nights to play guitar and talk. While it was cold, it was beautiful! More and more I think about this call.

1/1/1998 – I had breakfast with Val yesterday, it went well. She is very encouraging. I still feel the call to campus ministry and that I should act on this soon. I have an appointment to meet Grey from the Mission in early March. This will be good to do as well.

3/20/1998 – I met with Grey for breakfast, we had a great talk. Whenever I talk about full-time ministry with him or Val I leave all fired up and determined to make this transition, whatever the cost. Then the world seems to take that passion and turn it to skepticism and concern. I also had lunch with Carol -a person I met through work. She has been a blessing and has volunteered to be a prayer warrior for me. At one time she wanted to go into the mission field, but did not. We both feel there is a window of opportunity that the Lord provides and we must not delay too long in responding to the call. She told me she would not let me miss the window, our discussion was a true blessing. Father, help me to be discerning and to respond with courage to your call. Help me to see the big picture and be confident in the direction I choose that it is indeed the direction you have planned and ordained for me to go, that I might bring you glory. Help me to be brave as I face trials, struggles and evil. Open my eyes to your pleasing and perfect will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

4/4/1998 – I am scheduled for a stress test on Wednesday. I pray for my health to return. I am frustrated and tired. In spite of all of this, Annie and I have decided to move to full-time ministry with CA. I have been praying and thinking on this issue for one year now, and during this time the one thing that has really held me back has been the financial issue. I have been thinking of ways to be creative that would allow me to support myself. I have been trying to be the “provider” for my family. Seventeen years ago when my heart problem began, I had a similar attitude. It was my heart problem that caused me to realize my need to depend on Christ. Now seventeen years later my heart problem is on the surface again and I realize I depend on the Lord for every breath. So, whether I am dependent on the Lord for my health to earn income, or depending on the Lord for income directly through support raising, there is no difference. I am still dependent on the Creator. The only difference is who the faith is actually in, God or myself. I choose God!

I remember completing the application to be appointed as a full-time missionary. The package was about an inch thick and had to be mailed through the postal system, but I had not mailed it. After attending an evening event on campus I drove to the monastery, where I often pray. It was dark but not too cold. At this point we had sold our Volvo and I was driving a 1979 Caprice Classic. There at the monastery on top of the hill with the stars out so bright and clear, I got out of the car and climbed onto the faded hood. I leaned my back against the windshield holding the 11×17 inch stamped application envelope between my arms and chest. I began to pray, not so much with words but mostly in peaceful quiet. Its funny, for me, staring at the stars brings a strange comfort that God must be real and that I am also to be a shining star (Phil 2:15). So I sat there for a long time and sometime after midnight, with a smile of confidence, I jumped off the hood, got in the car and drove to the post office in town. I walked up to the mailbox, took a deep breath as I opened the flip door. I slid the envelope into the opening. Knowing our lives were about to change in a huge way, and that we were committing to something connected with a lot of uncertainty and adventure, I took a deep breath and let go!

It took almost five years  between Val visiting our church and when we had enough support raised to end the consulting business I had started.

Now 15 years later and 10 years of full-time ministry, so much has changed. I am now an area director and through a real team effort our ministry and staff has grown. Jackie and Elizabeth have successfully planted a ministry at Fitchburg State University. Chris and Kelly have a vibrant ministry to international students in Bridgeport CT. Matt and Kendyl are now running the ministry at Worcester State. The Mission now owns a house (directed by Kendyl) within walking distance to Worcester State and able to provide housing to as many as eight students. Sam, a student intern for the past two years, just graduated and was appointed to full-time. Omo, a former student at Worcester State currently living in Indiana, has been appointed to a full-time position and is seeking to move back to MA. Zach has been appointed to a full-time position and once his support has been raised he will be planting a ministry in the Springfield area. In addition to my role as area director, I continue to direct a ministry at Nichols college and have even become an adjunct professor teaching a humanities/religion class once a year.

We have seen the lives of so many students transformed by the gospel, a number of them who will openly admit they would not be alive today if not for our ministry on campus. So many students now are plugged in and serving in local churches and communities. Students who now in their professions represent Christ as doctors, nurses, scientists, teachers, the military, government, engineering, and even a soon-to-be lawyer! The list goes on and on… We have seen students fall in love and I have had the privilege of performing many of their weddings. One student recently asked me to walk her down the isle at her upcoming wedding! And we have seen our kids grow up in an environment that promoted Christ-like love and community, and now our two oldest sons are currently college students involved in the ministry and reaching out to their peers.

So, no matter how many stories I could tell about transformed lives, it’s Annie and I who have changed the most as we have seen God work and provide. Thank you for your role in our transformation! As you share your income, love and prayers with us, we continue to see God’s call confirmed and are enabled to continue to reach out to students, recruit and train staff, maintain current ministries and plant new ones all for his Kingdom!

=== JOE ===

Annie’s Corner:

As Joe made the change to full-time ministry we realized our time together was getting less and less. We decided to take Fridays as our day off and call it our “date day.” We go for walks on different town commons, a movie, or out for lunch, sometimes we visit state parks, or even just walk through Walmart. This past Friday our date day crossed over into ministry. We enjoyed an authentic chinese dinner cooked by the parents and grandparents of one of our students. They were visiting from China and he wanted us to meet them. We had such a great time sharing each others culture and history. We were even invited to come and visit them in China. We had such a great time and did not get home until almost midnight. I am so glad that we save Fridays for special moments together and to sometimes share our day with special people.

To join us in financial support just fill out the envelope enclosed with this newsletter with a check made out to Missions Door. Please include a separate note that you would like to support Joe and Annie Shea and how often in faith you plan to donate. If you do not have an envelope use the address at the bottom of this page or go online to our website