2005 Miracle Yearbook

Matthew 18:20 says, "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." This verse described this year's Discipleship Ministries. Over 600 stu- dents were involved in small group Bible studies, where accountability, prayer, and open discussion took place Mark Irving, director of Discipleship Ministries, led a group of 12 students known as the Discipleship Coun- cil to choose the studies for this year. These studies ranged from Disciplines of a Godly Woman to Don't Waste Your Life Irving said that the goal of Disciple- ship Ministries was to create a mentoring experi- ence for students who desired to grow spiritually. Christian Ministries employed a variety of means to meet this goal As students met, they prayed together, they learned together,and they grew together spiritually. For many students, discipleship groups were a place where they could go and not worry about work, but they could submerge themselves in Scripture and fellow- ship Sophomore Michelle Percival said,"[My disciple- ship group] has been a great way for the group to come alongside each other and study God's word together." The discipleship groups were a great success this year due to strong leadership There were 64 women discipleship group leaders and 26 men leaders. The responsibility of each leader was to organize group gatherings, lead discussion, and serve as a liaison between their small group and the Discipleship Coun- cil Junior Christen Brady served as a small group leader and said, "Discipleship Ministries has made me a stronger Christian leader, but it has also been a hum- bling experience. The girls in my group have edified and taught me just as much as I set out to do for them." In retrospect, this year was a great experience for most people involved in the small group minis- tries. Irving, encouraged by the increase in member- ship, hoped that next year more men would get involved. "Though I wish more men were involved, I also under- stand that getting together in small groups to talk is like breathing for women, but comes less naturally for men." Andy Klein, Paul Milby, and Richard Lebedda stand near the northern beach of Lake Michigan during an Upper Peninsula small group "field trip." Lebedda explained,"It was guy bonding time." Adam Leffel, Cody Fisher, Joel Wallen, and Paul Walker enjoy a discipleship group meeting and Shamrock Shakes on St. Patrick's day at McDonald's. Fisher functioned as council leader, and the other three led small groups on the book Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper. J K in 2 a Gathered in cozy dorm room,a small group cuddles and discusses Jason Myers, a sophomore living their spiritual ups and downs. in Lawlor, looks on in despair. He explains: "My friends and I had built a canwall out of the cans we had been collecting over the year. And I had knocked it down for the third time that day." A gl b 202 Ministries