Where In The World are the Lemons now?

I’m sure that you are all curious what we are doing currently!

As Daran finishes the rest of our internship in Arkansas, we have moved our family back to Springfield, Missouri to begin raising support to get us to Utah! We have been so blessed to live in a ministry house owned by Family Life Mission while we raise support. Check out what they are all about at www.familylifemission.org.  They are giving us a sweet deal that will help us to raise support faster! God is good!

As most missionaries will tell you, our heart is on the mission field and we are truly ready to be on campus in Utah but raising support is part of it and it is an enjoyable part. We get to meet with old friends and we get to eat alot! Every step gets a little closer so the move back to Springfield was exciting because we knew we were getting closer to Utah! We ask that you pray for us during the support raising phase! We want to work hard and quick. Also pray for the team that we and God are building. We love you all and count you as miracles in our lives. You are making this happen and we are so aware of that!

For Utah and the Campus! – Noreen

Some Place Like ________?

When God called us to Chi Alpha we quickly realized he was also leading us to launch on a new campus where the Gospel is needed. Much like our call into Chi Alpha, God progressively revealed the location over a span of two weeks.
Noreen and I were attending a “support raising training” last Spring, led by a church planting missionary. As he was sharing his experiences, he often used his vision and calling to Utah as examples. During the week we also met with my Royal Ranger commander from Utah (the Assemblies of God boys mentoring program) from growing up. He mentioned in passing, there is no Chi Alpha in Utah. After that night following the training, Noreen and I were looking at the Chi Alpha map and checked out what was going on in Utah. Nothing. Nearly 3 million people, 60% Mormon, and we have no presence on the university campuses of Utah.

Up to this point, we were asking for God’s leading and had not sensed specific direction. So we were being practical by looking at universities with no Chi Alpha that were also in close proximity to family. Utah is definitely the first, but not the latter.
I had lived in Utah in the 80’s growing up, and loved it then. So the idea of living there is not as out of left field as some may think. It’s a beautiful state and very family friendly.

Now God had our attention. A few days later we met with some friends to share about Chi Alpha. As we talked about our desire to launch in a new area, the husband interjected, “Somewhere like Utah?” Pause. I glance at Noreen, she looks at me, “Did you tell him?” “No, did you?,” I replied. Noreen asked him why he said that. Why not New York, Maine, Montana? He had no good reason, just the first state to pop to mind. One week later meeting with another couple, a similar story, “Like Utah?”

As I’ve shared before there are no coincidences with God only providence. We could not ignore this call. So we began the process of launching Chi Alpha in Utah. There are some steps that need to be finalized before we move, but God has BIG PLANS for somewhere like Utah. To be continued...

Spring Break trip to Utah

We just got back from Utah this past Sunday. Drove all day and all night and arrived back in Fayetteville AR at 8 AM Sunday morning. Thanks to James and Noreen for making it happen. Normally, I like to drive, because: for one I like to; secondly, I can’t sleep anyway in any moving vehicle, including airplanes; third, it’s probably a trust issue. Me, actually almost dozing off, Car, bump, Me – “What was that?” – Driver, “What was what?” You get the idea. 21 hours total and we made it!

I was hoping to actually write some while in Utah, but the days were long, and time to even reply to emails was limited. So I will try to sum up the week in this post.

Coram Deo (The Presence of God) Church, the church we worked with in Eagle Mountain & Orem, Utah, is doing some phenomenal things to build bridges into the community. We had a lot fun working with Pastor David Nicholson, his family, and his staff (all volunteers). His staff comprises of believers that have sensed God’s direction and believe so strongly that they are willing to move to Utah, get jobs to support themselves and work for the church in their spare time. He simply prayed for workers, and God has provided people from everywhere. Primarily we helped promote a movie night on that Friday. We canvased the surrounding neighborhood at the church location in Orem, which just opened this past January. At the event on Friday we had approximately 150 people show up for a family movie night with free pizza and popcorn. There were an estimated 100 new guests in the building that night we were able to make some connection with. Awesome night!

We also had the opportunity to visit and experience two campuses. The University of Utah, located in Salt Lake City and Utah Valley University in Orem. Both are beautiful campuses located right on the edge of the Wasatch Mountains. Let me preface this next part with “nothing’s official” – We are really felt God’s direction as we prayed at the campuses that there were was definite direction for us to launch Chi Alpha at Utah Valley. There is currently no evangelical Christian ministry on a campus of 32,000 students. It’s the largest state university in Utah and in the shadow of Brigham Young University. God was coordinating relationships before we even arrived with the church in Orem. When planning our trip, the first person I contacted in Utah was David Nicholson, the pastor at Corem Deo, without even realizing where exactly he was located. So despite my lack of strategic planning, God was ordaining.

We are excited about the future, and are trusting God with each step. Thanks for your prayers and support as we go on this journey together!

Check out some pics if you haven’t already: http://daranlemon.wordpress.com/2011/03/30/utah/

Utah

Utah Public, a set on Flickr.

Some pics from our recent Spring Break trip to Utah.

A little family update…

As many of you know now, we are working toward planting Chi Alpha in Utah. Analiese was looking at a map in her school book and it had a picture of the Rocky Mountains. I told her that is where we were going to move. She is enthralled with the Rocky Mountains now and says that she is going to live there forever. She even taught herself how to write Rocky Mountains on her doodle.

When we mentioned this to Ayden, it came crashing down that he would be moving away from his best friend, Matthew. He started to cry. I started to cry for him, so I decided to tell him that we would be getting a dog when we moved to Utah. Daran and I had already decided this, but I figured that it was a great time to tell Ayden. Analiese thought this a fabulous idea! She mentioned that we could each have our own dog – totaling five dogs. I told her that we did not have enough money for five dogs. She said, “How much money do we have? Do we have enough money for three dogs?” I explained to her that the most we would have would be 2 dogs. Now the kids are super excited and talk about the Rocky Mountains all the time. Ayden will be making the trip to Utah with us and he is very excited!
Thank you guys so much for making this happen!!

We love you guys!

Noreen

Every Student A Disciple-maker

Don’t you love that feeling of putting on a new shirt you just bought. Or the new car smell, even if you get it from a spray bottle. There’s something exciting about something new (or at least new to you). We’ve felt that exhilaration this year seeing some new students catch the heartbeat of Jesus for their campus at the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith (for those of you wondering, we’re at the U of A in Fayetteville). Even more exciting is that this group of students started Chi Alpha on their own. They were also not afraid to ask for help from other Chi Alpha leaders in the area. Ronnie,  Chi Alpha director at the U of A offered to teach the same leadership class that XA students go through before becoming student leaders.

The students in Fort Smith jumped in and were hungry to learn to become disciple makers.The leadership class is really about becoming a disciple maker for life –  where God has placed you. Of course for most college students, their primary placement in life at this point is the campus. Justin, is one of the students that has been a sponge and has seen the mission field that is his campus. This year, Justin, with the other leaders at UAFS (Fort Smith) are taking steps to ensure that there will be a thriving campus ministry taking place after they graduate.

Now that is pretty cool. But this takes it to another level. Most of you have probably heard us say at some point there over 4000 universities in the US with approximately 280 Chi Alpha groups. One night recently after teaching the class, Justin was excited to share with us some news. Having grown up in a pastor’s home, and his brother a youth pastor, and brother in law also a pastor, Justin was struggling with God calling him into full time ministry. Through his time  in Chi Alpha this year, not only was he no longer struggling with that call, but he heard God’s voice clearly with direction.

Yes ladies, Justin is single and available!

God’s plan for Justin, was not like his family but He was directing him differently for His purposes. God was preparing Justin to reach his campus now as a student but also for the future as a campus pastor.

God is still calling people to reach the campus! Justin is graduating this December and already starting the process of becoming a missionary with Chi Alpha, and praying about returning as campus pastor to his alma mater.
For The Campus,

Daran

How sure are you that you’re going to Heaven?

That is the question some of our XA students were asking in front of the Union recently. From time to time we make time to initiate conversations with students on campus. We don’t want to just promote Chi Alpha but also to get students thinking about God. You never know where the conversations may lead. Sometimes you run into “scattered sheep,” new students at the school, who went to church, but have failed to make connection with a community of believers since arriving. Sometimes you have conversations with students that have felt burned by the Church or by God. Those are some of the hardest conversations. Increasingly you also have American students, that know about Christianity, but do not have first hand experience with church. More evidence that we are living in a post-Christian America.

As we had conversations this particular afternoon, we approached things in a survey manner so we could get honest answers.Students on average were less than 50% certain they would go to heaven when asked one afternoon on campus.

Less than 50% were certain they would go to heaven.

 

Of course this data is unscientific, but the point is we have a huge need not only on campus but in a generation of young adults who don’t have a relationship with God. And some who have no desire to.

Pray with me for a generation to know Christ!

Discipleship by Design

Another reason I love Chi Alpha. The intentional discipleship that takes place preparing students to be lifelong followers of Christ and leaders in the marketplace. Noreen and I have been taking the same course that all future student leaders take to become leaders at the University of Arkansas Chi Alpha. This weekend is Encounter Weekend. An intense weekend filled with more teaching but also an extended  time of hearing from God and letting Him empower us the with true source of a leader’s power. Should be awesome and we’re looking forward to a great weekend!

Woo Pig Sooie

What an amazing and easy transition for our kids! We can tell you have been praying. They love Arkansas! They kick off their shoes as soon as they enter the Chi Alpha house, and Ayden has already made a close friend named Matthew. Adalynn actually calls the Chi Alpha house her “home.”

Analiese and Adalynn were in their room yesterday and found an Oklahoma Sooners Bear that plays “Boomer Sooners!” I had to laugh because this year Daran will be a die hard Arkansas Razorbacks fan and so will we! Maybe we should hide the bear for a year!

We are still wrapping up support raising this month and want to thank all of you that have put your faith promises in and are faithfully giving.

As Daran said, we are reaching the nations because of you!

Take a look at some our recent photo shoot with the world renowned photographer Debbie Del Tejo!

For more click here: Family Photos 2010

Much Love! Noreen

Every Student A Lifelong Follower of Christ

Prior to classes starting, our Chi Alpha staff had been welcoming and helping international students. In one night Noreen and I had four nations (five if you count the U.S.) sitting at our table for dinner and an exciting game of Spoons (email me if you don’t know how to play). Everyone of these students we had met during international student orientation week. We helped students find apartments and introduced them to the great American store, Wal-Mart. Spending time with these students gives us an opportunity to befriend them. The moment they stepped into our home, we became more than volunteers. We were now American friends who had invited them over for dinner. We must be careful that as we become friends that out friendship is genuine and not just a method to share the Gospel. How else could we have an opportunity to share the story of Jesus with a Hindu from Nepal? Or with 3 non-religious students from Brazil, Burkina Faso, and Columbia.

By the time the night was over, we had developed such relationships with these new students that they knew our cell numbers and became friends on Facebook. When we see each other on campus, we are greeted with a friendly smile and some form of a high five or fist bump. The Word from 1 John 4 comes to life for me,

“12But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.13!And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.14! Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.”

Having developed sincere relationships with several new international students, it was easy to invite them to our first Chi Alpha service on campus. Three international students made a commitment that night to “re- connect” to God. Of course the work is not done, every student a life long follower of Christ. Pray for Marlon, Yoo Jin, & Joao Carlos as we begin the discipleship process with them and for the other new students to experience a life change in Jesus. I will write soon about the individual life change that is going on.!

Passion and Peace

Daran