An Apple for the Teacher: The Story of Nikki

The perfect outfit is laid out next to your bed, your lunch has already been packed, complete with your favorite flavor Capri Sun, your back-pack dusted off from of a summer of running free, and the first day of school is just hours away. I know not everyone prepares for a new year the same way; some students can’t wait to take on the next grade, while others would be much more comfortable hidden in a dark hole – but surely you remember those days of anticipation. I bet you’ve learned to recognize that regardless of your location on the school-desirability-spectrum the teacher you find at the front of your new classroom has the power to change everything. Maybe you had a teacher who changed everything for you? The one who refused to believe you were stupid, who talked to you when your parents wouldn’t listen, and made school more fun for everyone. In the fall Nikki will begin to teach a class of her very own. She dreams of being an inspirational teacher,  of  having the chance to change even a single child’s life. The kids who find themselves in her class have no idea what they have to look forward to or how lucky they are. I believe that her dream will be realized many times over. Her eyes are bright and vibrant, her smile warms your insides like a cup of cocoa, and more than anything her compassion is deeply genuine.

Nikki was introduced to Impact about three and a half years ago. When she arrived the first thing she thought was, “Man I wish I would have come here sooner!” Impact sparked a recognition of the importance in developing  intertwining relationships, she was presented with a picture of community that was irresistible. The effect  it had on her was monumental. Impact became a family for her, a brilliant network of support and encouragement in this place away from home. Nikki is also particularly close to her biological family. She has celebrated great victory and mourned devastating defeat with them.  Through it all she maintains and optimistic outlook, never doubting that things will end up okay.

The buoyancy of Nikki’s character is remarkable to me. I can see her as a buoy on the ocean of life, not untouched by the waves, but floating, brightly colored, amidst them. She serves as an anchor for others because God is a mainstay for her. Though she has seen more than her fair share of heartache, she is resilient. She allows trouble to steady her reliance on God, to broaden her perspective, and to produce wisdom that is a gift to those who know her. Vulnerability doesn’t frighten her and she is willing to share of her experiences openly. Nikki reminded me that changing your mind can be a great thing to do and we should stay open to new things. Often times when it seems like the sky is falling, we live only to find out it was just a bit of morning fog.

Life is messy, complicated, exciting, challenging, and painful but I can still see a hint of what was meant to be on the canvas that peeks through from behind our brokenness. I can see it reflected in Nikki’s eyes. Hope is always available, joy is as faithful and mystical as the sunrise. Sometimes the sun creeps above the horizon absolutely shattering the darkness sending a melody of illuminated color in every direction, sometimes the sun just peaks out slowly from behind the clouds as the darkness fades – either way it lights up the entire sky, bringing heat and light into a dark, cold world. But if we stay in our air conditioned rooms, settle into our couches and soak up the fluorescent light we start to believe that a switch on the wall makes the difference between light and darkness. This way we never have to shield our eyes from the brilliance of natural light, never feel too hot or too cold, and we are able to grow perfectly stagnant. We pacify our restless minds enough to live pseudo lives, absorbed in a manipulated reality, assuming that comfort and convenience equate happiness. I don’t think they do. I say step out into the light, open your eyes wide, and photosynthesize. The sun will give you life and its contagious.

Impact Summer :: Meeting New Students

A lot of what we spend time doing in the summer relates to meeting the 5,000+ Freshman that come to UNCC each fall.  We want to meet as many of these new students as possible so that when they are invited to an Impact event they know who we are!  Two of the big ways we meet students is through SOAR in June & July and Freshman Move-in, the Friday before classes start in mid-August.

SOAR (Student Orientation & Advising Registration) is held in 12 different sessions in June and July. Every new student to UNCC must attend a SOAR, so it’s a great way to get ourselves in front of everyone!  During each SOAR session they hold a “Niner Night” event where all of the Student Organizations can set up booths and give information to the new students.  So far we’ve talked to over 400 Freshman who asked to receive information about our fall events!

Freshman Move-in is a chaotic day where Student Organizations help thousands of students move into their dorm rooms. Impact has helped with this for 7 years now and we’ve found it to be a great opportunity to talk to students about what we do and invite them out to the events we hold the first week on campus – including our 49,000 Water Balloon fight!  Impact has over 50 current students helping move Freshman into 2 dorms this August.

This is just a small part of what we do each summer to get the word out about Impact, and tell the campus about how they can connect to God through our community.  Through the comings weeks and months we’ll be highlighting dozens of ways we reach out to the campus each fall!

Summer Pursuits

“Impact is Different…” I think over the past week I have said that amillion times; either in casual conversation with new friends that ask me “what do you do?”, at camp, or in support meetings, I say those three words often.  Oursummer calendar is another way that Impact is different.

We are fortunate to have students that stay in the University City area or live close to Charlotte over the summer, so we continue building community and ask our students to continue thinking about and living out the Word of God in summer community groups.  Most campus ministries do not continue meeting together over the summer… it is just that Impact is different.  Throughout the summer we live out scripture and strengthen community by devoting ourselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship and to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (Acts 2:42)

Community groups are a precious time for me.  They are casual times of open communication, eating, and fellowship that is a hot bed for building and maintaining relationships.  Community groups are honest conversations about true faith, full trust, and unconditional love.  They offer a break in a hectic week, but simultaneously remind us that God is always with us and we should live intentionally and lovingly.

As this summer has gone by… rather quickly, I might add… we have seen new people come and speak honestly about their faith.  We have eaten together.  We have shared stories of friendship, of laughter, and of blessings.  We have shared stories of pain, of destruction, and of ultimate hope in blinding darkness.  We have continued friendships, built new friendships, and encouraged one another to live differently from the rest of the world.

Summer community groups are a continuation of the Impact community… They keep us moving, thinking, praying, and enjoying the presence of a Mighty Father.

Leave a Mark Where?

Leave a Mark.

If this is the first time you have heard this slogan, you have been living under a rock. Or not involved with the Impact community.

When May 15th comes each year, thousands of students leave the campus. Some go back home, some stay in Charlotte, some leave the country for the summer. But for the staff, the summer provides us a chance to support raise. During the school year, our support raising with new individuals is limited because of our involvement with the ministry and the students. But for three months during the summer, our staff is raising support for the upcoming school year.

We have campaigned under the slogan, Leave a Mark, for three summers now. Our goal this summer is $12,000. We partner with churches, parents, and children, so that we can leave a mark on the students at Charlotte – especially the incoming freshmen class! So where does this money go?

$6,000 goes toward Ministry Expenses. This allows us to put money into the Gathering, retreats, and parties that we throw during the school year.

$4,000 goes towards beginning of the school year activities. We have huge events for the two weeks of the semester. We want to leave a mark on the students through social activities so that they will return looking for community.

$2,000 goes towards our Community Groups. For the first time, we hope to be able to have money to invest into our community groups – the place where students find connections with one another and draw closer to God.

Currently, $6,000 has been given towards our Leave a Mark Campaign – Halfway towards our goal! The students are returning in five weeks. We need $6,000. Will you give towards this $6,000? The incoming freshmen are depending on it.  You can Leave a Mark today by Clicking Here!

Curry Chicken and Frozen Pizza: The story of Scott and JJ

The sparkle in her eye is a window into her heart, the smile on his face is worth more than a thousand words, and their lives have become intertwined like their fingers. Laughter is their constant companion and its sure to serve as sunlight on the rainy days that come. I’ve struggled to try to paint what I see in their relationship with words and I doubt a brush could recreate it on canvas. But, when you’re in a room with them you can tell they they fit together, like summer nights and starry skies.

Scott and JJ are so obviously best friends. They are open and honest, playful and light-hearted, sincere and committed, and so happy to be together. While both of them have plenty of extracurriculars, their favorite thing is simply to exist together. No pressure, no loud noise, no rushing around, no big screen, no itinerary needed, just good company. I always thought a best friend was someone you could do anything or nothing with, this idea encapsulates their relationship perfectly. Their interaction has never been categorized by a high maintenance mentality, they are free to wear t-shirts as they walk through life together. They never doubt that two are better than one.

JJ has an eye for aesthetics and the ability to capture magical moments on film. She loves children, ice cream, good books, and frozen pizza. She is genuine, thoughtful, and brave. The aroma of grace penetrated the walls of legalism built up in her mind, the voice that whispers “cease striving and know that I am God” (Ps. 46:10) has effectively removed the weight of the world from her shoulders, and freedom is freshly within her grasp.

Scott has an ear for music and though he is modest he is truly a talented musician. He described himself as patient, comical, and caring, all of which are clearly manifest in his relationship with J.J. His mom makes the best curry chicken in the world and if you pair it with potatoes you have a perfect meal. He is solid, confident, level headed, and dedicated. He has recognized the value of the people he is surrounded by and has grown to appreciate community progressively more. Impact provided a support system that served as a greenhouse for their relationship, a place where they could thrive. I hope that as they transition out of college and into marriage their roots sink down into the soil of truth and drink deeply from the well of grace, that they will grow as steadfast as a redwood, providing shelter for those who spring up behind them, and that they will always find rest in the arms of the One  who holds the world.

In a broken world, ravished by deception, assaulted by greed, and tantalized with hopelessness I see Scott and J.J. sitting together, holding hands, smiling like school children and I am reminded to celebrate, revel in, savor the moments of pure bliss -  because sometimes, even for a breath, it does seem like everything is exactly right with the world. Breathe deeply and don’t let these instants pass you by unaware, for they are the amuse-bouche of heaven and the best is certainly yet to come.

Something so small can change everything…

We have been taught a lie.

In order to make a huge difference you must do huge things.

It takes something large to change everything.

It takes millions of $’s to leave a mark.

This is a lie…

Every summer we ask our friends, family, churches and the Impact community to participate in a financial campaign. This summer our goal is $15,000.

Honestly $15,000 isn’t a huge amount…but…

We believe that this $15,000 can make a huge difference on the campus of UNCC and the incoming freshman class.

Here’s the other part of the lie that we’ve been sold…

If I can’t give a huge amount of money to a cause then I can’t really make a difference.

That is a lie that separates us from the way of Jesus.

Do you remember this story found in Mark 12?

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

⁴³Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

She put more in then everyone combined…

What she gave…changed everything…

The story of this woman was recorded and passed on from generation to generation.

That small amount made a huge difference.

We travel to VBS’s every summer and we ask little kids to give their pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. In 7 years we have raised thousands of dollars in change. Some would say that all this change is worthless…what difference can it really make…but…

Kids with pennies are a powerful force!

So many lives have been changed because of a few kids that were willing to sacrifice a few pennies.

I have a question for you…

Will you sacrifice a little so that a huge amount can take place?

Will you give something small that will change everything?

Maybe it’s a gift of $20, $50 or $100.

Maybe it’s a monthly gift of $20.

What is God setting on your heart?

Whatever that number is…give from that place and everything will change.

You can give toward to 2010 Impact Summer Campaign HERE.