Open Email to the Student Leadership Team

Hello Leadership Team,

Some of you won't get this for a while because of school email being down, but I hope you all hear from Jen or I soon one way or another.

Honestly, I don't think we will have a fall semester in New Orleans this year, which is strange and hard to deal with. What will we do with ourselves? How can we help those in need? What about our life plan?

Everything is out of our control it seems, and that may be the first lesson for us to learn through this as God works to make this terrible evil work to the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purposes--that's us! We are not in control, and are dependent on the mercy of God for every breath we take, and His protection for every moment our bodies remain intact.

Here's the deal: I do not believe that God brought this storm upon us; it's a fruit of humanity's sin and rebellion. I think Romans 8 has a good expression of the state of our planet--groaning as in labor for the birth of God's children at the Return of Jesus, our Lord. God worked so many miracles to bring us to the place of readiness for this fall semester: funding coming in, churches networking together, locations confirmed for meetings and events, universities working with us and helping us connect with students... and then there's Doug, Danny and Andrea, the newest members of the leadership team. Some of you may remember my prayer request for three new leaders before the semester started. God answered in beautiful form, just as He did with Stephen, Scout, Caroline, and Audrey for last Spring Semester. God is alive and well, and His heart of compassion reaches to us, our families and friends, and to the lost and lonely of our campus communities. He will lead us on to bring in a harvest for His Kingdom, only the timing has been adjusted.

Some of you may take courses at another school this semester; we may not be back to New Orleans until Christmas, but God still has plans for us as a Chi Alpha community. I have no doubts about this, as weird as my life is right now.

Pray always, and do not grow weary in doing good, and you will reap a harvest of righteousness.

We will not faint. We will not quit. We will receive God's embrace, and learn to share that embrace in unprecedented ways.

Stay in touch with one another. Love your families with the heart of a servant. God is still God, and Jesus is still passionately in love with you, and the Spirit will never leave us alone.

To Him who alone deserves all glory, honor, power, and praise

I lift up my heart in prayer for you.

He is the only true, wise God,

and of the increase of His Kingdom there shall be no end!

.mattdegier.

Blog of the Week 29.Aug.05

From our Alumni Coordinator, Crystal:

Sunday, August 28, 2005

How do you react in the face of tragedy? Is it possible to realize what the big red spiral on the TV screen is really going to do to your community? What answers can we have in the face of uncertainty? How does God manage to give peace when everything you are used to is going to be different for a really long time? Why do people (family and friends) not leave when 170+ mph winds are less than 24 hours away from the entire state? My main reaction to this hurricane has been questions. Hard questions. I have a strange sense of peace that God will work things out. But every time we've evacuated before there has been a thread of hope that things were gonna change. And we've always missed the "Big One". Now we are going to get what is called the biggest storm of all time. Then there's worries that go beyond whether I'm gonna have stuff. Will I have a place to live? When will we be able to go home to find out? Will people I know who stayed still be safe? How long will it take for things to level out? As I said, I'm responding with questions. I'm not really angry or aggravated. More than anything, I'm confused, in shock, and I really don't know what else, just somber and a little sad that things are going to change so drastically for an indefinite period of time. But I am safe. My parents, Courtney, and the puppies are safe. I have all I need. God, keep us all safe and give us all hope. You can do and have done miracles. Help us surrender and trust You, and learn from our experiences.

8:45 PM - add eprops - add comments - email it

As Katrina Rumbles Onward

Life in Georgia goes on as though nothing is happening.
I still feel sick in my stomach as I think about the 10,000 refugess in the Superdome. Please, do not stop praying for those stuck in the path and the aftermath of this storm.

I have been able to find out some news that will be useful:

Tulane has postponed the beginning of classes until next Wednesday, 7th September.
I am currently unable to get info about the other universities, as it seems the websites must be hosted locally, and all power is out, etc...
I will post more info as I am able to find it out. Please leave comments of any information you obtain. Thank you.

This also means that all potential or planned XA activities for this week are obviously canceled, as is the Fall Leadership Advance that was scheduled for Labor Day Weekend.
We will start this semester out eventually. It's just going to be a little strange.
The prayer blog is still up. Let's use it this week.

Hurricane Katrina

We pray that everyone is safe and secure during the incoming storm, and that you are able to spend the downtime with those you love.
If you need help of any kind please call us. We will be around to help as much as we can.
504-861-1903

All activities are canceled until at least Wednesday. This includes:
Tonight's Pool Party, Chi Alpha on the Patio, and Something Sacred.

Both Tulane and Loyola are closed until Wednesday. We will be posting updates on a new kick-off schedule as we put it together.

Post some comments, and start a fun conversation about your Katrina experience.

Chi Alpha on the Patio - 28.Aug.05

Join us for an encouraging time of worship followed by a free BBQ.
Meet Chi Alpha students and learn about our community.
Meet area churches where you might get connected as a home away from home.

Churches currently scheduled to be present:
Uptown Church
Lakeview Christian Center
Christian Life Center

Where is Jones patio?

Canoeing Extravaganza - is canceled

Canceled by Katrina

Come canoein g on the Jordan River in the wilds of Mississippi, Saturday the 10th of September.

Meet at Bruff Commons at 12:30 to catch a ride or volunteer your car for the caravan (fuel will be reimbursed).
The cost is a measly $8 for all the canoeing fun you can handle and dinner.
Bring your own swim cap. Sorry no thong bikinis please. :)
We'll return from the "Father of Waters" at approximately 8:30.
For more info on Mississippi like "what is their state beverage?" check this out

REGISTER ONLINE

schedule a reminder for yourself

The University of New Orleans

Post by Matt DeGier - Chi Alpha New Orleans Staff Leader Guy
aka: campus pastor, campus missionary, chi alpha dork, etc...

I finished my undergraduate studies at North Central University with my wife in May of 2002. I love to learn, and I enjoyed college, because I learned a lot there. Because of this, and some other motivators, I set a firm goal to begin grad school of some sort within five years. Well, three years later, the time has come: I finally know what MA program to pursue, have put together the funds to get in and to afford a course, and feel confident that it's time to start. Tomorrow, I begin Social Organization, the first class in my Sociology MA program at UNO.

Why does any of that matter? Because, it's one unique strand of a very cool tapestry God has woven for getting Chi Alpha off the ground at UNO. As a student, I will be there far more often than I would have before, as my time and energy with Chi Alpha is focused at Tulane and Loyola. This gives me opportunity to meet folks at UNO in a natural setting, and opportunity to lend support to the student leaders who have come together to get things rolling this fall: Kelly Cabrera, and Audra Rodriguez.

Kelly is really making everything fly, which is another amazing strand in this tapestry. Jen and I have had so much fun watching Kelly bloom as a leader over the last two years, but specifically over the past 3-4 months; it's just awesome! If you are interested in being a part of Chi Alpha at UNO, Kelly is your contact.

Audra, also, is a miracle strand. As of May, she was planning to do one more year at Delgado Community College, and then transfer to Loyola to finish her undergraduate studies. Well, by June all that had changed. A trip to Mexico to serve orphans with Chi Alpha, and some heart-to-heart with God checked her motives on everything, and she changed her plans 100%. Now, she's finishing her first day of classes at UNO with excitement at what is in store for her and Chi Alpha there.

There's a critical mass for Chi Alpha at UNO right now. I'm not sure what kind of fallout we can expect from the blast, but I'm sure excited to watch it blow.

There will be an informational meeting tomorrow, Tuesday the 23rd at 12:30pm at one of the picnic tables in the grassy quad on the lake side of the Library. Maybe, I'll see you there?

As August Winds Down

Prayer Walk at Delgado West Bank on Monday, the 22nd @ 7pm. We'll meet in the parking lot. Contact us for a ride.

Freshmen move-in at Loyola, Wednesday the 24th. Meetup at 211 Cherokee St for 8:30am and we will get to Loyola together, and work until about 2pm. Let us know if you are interested in helping out.

Servant Car Wash at Delgado West Bank on Thursday, the 25th from 1pm to 4pm. Contact us if you are coming, and for rides.

Freshmen move-in at Tulane, Saturday the 27th. Meetup at Fogleman Arena (McAlister and Freret) for 7:30am. They will have breakfast and Tshirts for us, and will also have lunch. We will move folks in until 3pm officially, but things die down by 2pm. Email Matt to sign up for this with Tshirt size.

Let's meet some FRESHERS! (That's British for freshmen.)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
REWARD FOR ALL VOLUNTEERS!

Pool Party Saturday the 27th from 6:30-9:30pm in Kenner. It's going to be a blast, as will these three service opportunities. All who are active in any or all of the service projects (move-in days and car wash) are invited and will receive the details.

Blog of the Week 22.Aug.05

posting a day early, this week:

from Audra @ www.xanga.com/belleespiritu

Freshman year. I began to see the world differently. I decided I wasn't always happy going with the flow. I started to question things. I began to develop a stronger desire to know why I believe the things I believe. I tried less to mold into what I thought people wanted, and I tried more to find out who I truly am. I have learned so much - about people, about life, about the world and more than anything, about myself. And this is what I've learned: I have so much more to learn. God is doing a great work in me, be it ever so slowly, and it is truly amazing - particularly in the light of who I was before I met Christ. It may not seem amazing to the average passer by, but I'm okay with that - it's probably the result of my reluctance to allow people deeper than my surface. When I think about things I face, I notice how much my perspectives, opinions, standards, view points and priorities have changed over time. Sometimes it feels like I'm on the outside looking in, watching myself become the person I'm going to be - the person God wants me to be. God is faithful. Those words are so powerful, yet they have become such a cliche. As I reflect on my life, and my walk on this road with Jesus, I see how I have changed, my beliefs have changed, even things that I once held as truths have changed. In spite of all that, He has never changed. He has loved me. He has never once kicked me while I was down. In my lowest times, He has always held me up, and been the strength that I couldn't muster up on my own. So, as this new school year starts, I am determined to live, and to live passionately. This is going to be the best year of my life. I'm going to experience new things, and build new friendships. I'm going to do my best in all my classes. I'm going to make the most of every opportunity. I am going to love people like Jesus has loved me. "If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest." -Max Lucado

Photo Galleries

Check out the photo galleries.

' just posted some fun pics of John Roger and Deanna's wedding.

photo: Josh, Brian, Sandeep, Scout, and Danny get their groove on at the reception, if you look closely you can see Jesse's face behind Brian

Blog of the week 15.Aug.05

It was a tough week to chose a single blog of the week. I highly recommend browsing through some of the recent posts in the Chi Alpha New Orleans blog ring. There's some well-written, encouraging, and thoughtful online banter going on.

This week's blog of the week is the ScoutNecessity.
What is the ScoutNecessity? Check out Scout's blog, and he'll tell you. Here's his most recent post; interesting stuff!

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Currently Reading The Fuel and the Flame: 10 Keys to Ignite Your College Campus for Jesus Christ By Steve Shadrach see related Jake. When I left Nik and Curtis around 6 or so, I didn't know what would happen with the rest of my day. After reading a comic book over at Borders, I passed over to Barnes and Noble Booksellers to read up on a book Matt asked us to check out, The Fuel and the Flame. I thought, I'll read one chapter and get a comic book. I found a seat on my way upstairs, but not before a book fell from this dude's table. Since this is the South, I picked it up for him, further seeing that he was really studying his stuff tonight. He had a tarot deck in front of him and was reading over its symbolism. Now, you know how hard it is to talk to people in public places. It's weird. But after I got that prod, you know the one, the don't you want to talk to this guy or you'll always wonder if you don't feeling? Well I won't wonder because I forgot myself for a moment and sat across from him. "How long have you been reading tarot?" He was very polite. He had enough charisma to maybe someday work the French Quarter with readings and magic tricks without starving, maybe even paying rent. Divination, friends, is real. No doubt about it. And though this might seem like sin to some of you, when he read my cards they said this: I am a passionate individual with a tempered will for my passion. I am evanglizing you right now even as I am speaking to you. I will engage in great spiritual things soon and have a strong male figure (I told him Jesus) as my guide and hope will be the result. I will be sucessful. This resulted in maybe thirty minutes of talking to him about the miracles in Mexico and experiences that shape who I know God to be. He told me of his ideas of how beliefs kill and how existance is made of vibrations on a single line. As with most people I've come across, he didn't have any justification for his beliefs, only that he accepted them because they worked for him. He is learning both Santaria (an Hispanic form of black magic) and astrology in attempt to find enlightenment. Nice guy. We talked about respect, forgiveness, and Batman, too. We even used Robin #2 (the late Jason Todd, crow-barred to death by the Joker) as a metaphor for forgiveness. It is my hope that we will meet again sometime soon and I can tell him more about miracles and 'more than' coincidences. I want him to know God intimately. And get this, I even got to give Jake a ride home. God rocks.

10:21 PM - 6 eprops - 3 comments - email it

Exciting News for Early August

Prayer Gathering will be hosted by Jen and Matt&Jen's place: 211 Cherokee St (map) this Thursday, 11 August @ 7pm. Don't miss it!

John Roger, Deanna, Matt & Jen will be presenting about Chi Alpha and sharing a message with the folks at First Assembly of God in Metairie Sunday the 14th at 10am - 2001 Transcontinental (map). Should be fun. Come represent.

Prayer Gathering for next week will be at UNO. Kelly will lead us in a prayer walk around the campus. 7pm, meet-up location TBA.

photo: John Roger & Deanna ham it up at Matt&Jen's last summer

Statement of Faith

Unfortunately, "Christian" has very little meaning these days. People professing to be Christians have divided amongst themselves; Christianity became the majority or even state religion in areas around the world, and has become entangled in, polluted and diluted by politics and culture. So, it is useful for a group calling itself "Christian" to define its beliefs to some extent.

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship is an interdenominational community on the college campus. It is directly related to the Assemblies of God denomination, and holds to that denominations' statement of faith. However, in our local community, we promote a statement of faith more general to what would be historically considered orthodox Christianity, making room for followers of Jesus from all denominations.

We confess the Apostles' Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He arose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

We believe in the narrative of the Holy Bible as revelation to God's true nature and will.

We believe that God's narrative continues to be written in and through the lives of the faithful.

We believe that loving God teaches us to love all people, regardless of religion, race, sex, or lifestyle.

These statements are dense, and could be unpacked for volumes. Actually, theologians have written volumes elucidating these beliefs over the centuries. For a more thorough understanding of our life of faith, visit us in weekly prayer gatherings, at The Gathering, monthly, or a Satellite discussion group. Faith is lifestyle, not mere words. Get to know us, and you'll get to know our faith.

You may also post a comment with a question here, or email us. We'll be sure to get back with you.

Get Involved

Chi Alpha New Orleans is a student organization currently chartered at Tulane, Loyola, and UNO. We have students involved from some of the other New Orleans campuses, as well. All college students are welcome to join us for a special event one time, or to become a regular part of our growing community.

If you would like to get involved, there are several ways: weekly Satellite groups, weekly prayer gatherings, semi-monthly community action, special events, retreats...

We are more of a community than an organization, so membership is really about relationship. We would love to get to know you, and you might enjoy getting to know us, too.

Check out the Faith, Community, and Action pages for more information!
Read our Statement of Faith.
photos: (above) ladies Satellite group dresses up for a night on the town, which inevitably included cheesecake (below) action team at St. Luke's Christian Church on Franklin Ave in February

Blog of the Week 8.Aug.05

Laura Post

Every person brings out a unique part of yourself, which is why each friendship is unique. My friendship with Audra is VERY unique! She brings out a side of me that I love. Last night, we walked around the city and just let loose. I think it's the first time we've ever hung out without a crowd of other people. We definitely don't do it enough!

Tourists in our own city, riding the streetcar, looking through shop windows, sitting by the river and listening to jazz from Cafe du Monde. I love New Orleans. I don't care that I've lived here forever. It's never gotten old. Even if I move away, this will always be home.

Tonight at Six Flags, right before the huge drop on the Zydeco Scream, I yelled, "Why did I let you talk me into this, Audra?!?!" And she yelled back, "Because you're impressionable!!!" Haha...I don't think I'm THAT impressionable. I just love adventure, I love pushing myself to new limits...is that a crime?!?! Thanks for hanging out with me, Rodriguez!

prayer calendar

Praying around the clock together just got a whole lot easier!
Click on the prayer calendar link to the right, pick your day and add an appointment. No logins necessary. It's like fast food, but way better, because it's coordinating our concert of prayer for Chi Alpha New Orleans, our campuses, families, and more!


The prayer blog is still up and running for use in sharing prayers, requests, answers, insights and more. Email me, and I'll get you connected, or just log in as nolaxa (if you have the password), and you can post that way.

Blog of the Week 1.Aug.05

nominated by Scout:
it's me...

www.xanga.com/nolakid

Sunday, July 31, 2005

This, below, kind of characterizes how I have been feeling the last couple of days. I am looking to God for the fulfillment of desires in the campus ministry here. I am desiring the Kingdom to come, and I talk, read, think about it all the time, but am fed up with it. Action is in order, but the opportunities seem out of order, or I'm just too self-absorbed. It's one of those times where I just long to be remade in the image of my Saviour, to learn to let go of my ambitions and adopt God's. My heart is so easily swayed, so easily out of order. Thomas Merton on Facing - and Coming through - Despair You are fed up with words, and I don't blame you. I am nauseated by them sometimes. I am also, to tell the truth, nauseated by ideals and with causes. This sounds like heresy, but I think you will understand what I mean. It is so easy to get engrossed with ideas and slogans and myths that in the end one is left holding the bag, empty, with no trace of meaning left in it. And then the temptation is to yell louder than ever in order to make the meaning be there again by magic.

Posted 7/31/2005 at 5:39 PM - email it Give eProps or Post a Comment