Further Up and Further In

University Christian Outreach Alumni Association

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Summer into Fall

Volume 4, Issue 2
Summer 2004

Another summer of UCO activities draws to a close, and another school year draws closer. The summer has been a very rich time for UCO--perhaps a little update is in order. On the men's side we had a really successful summer household with seven UCO guys plus a few staffers and a couple Servants of the Word thrown in. On the women's end there were weekly times, alternating between women's groups at Sue Cummins's house and a series of presentations at UCO alumna Renee Bayer's on topics including dating, vocation, tithing, and married life. Renee's service was exemplary, especially in light of her just weeks ago giving birth to her third child Leo. Congratulations Franko and Renee!
As a chapter we also went through a scripture-intensive course on the Fruit of the Holy Spirit. Besides being a great time to dig into the Word, these sessions included some

blessed prayer times. Several UCO members were away for the summer, including three doing mission work in Detroit (see Christina's article for more on this).
As the beginning of term approaches I have had the opportunity to meet with a number of the returning students who have been involved with UCO. These have been good chances to talk about what the Lord seems to be doing with UCO. I have been personally inspired by the response these students have been making to the Lord. Many are willing to serve in UCO this coming year in various ways, making concrete decisions to be available for the Lord and his work in UCO. Thank you for all your support--without the blessings of alumni this work would certainly suffer. 
-Brian Laba             UCO Co-Chapter Director

Step by Step

I was raised in a devout Catholic family, the second of five. My parents planted the seeds of faith in us at a very early age. In high school I didn't get into a lot of trouble, but I didn't really do much good either. Then, at U of M, the people and situations I surrounded myself with really harmed my spiritual life. Thus, in my search for meaning and purpose, I hit some speed bumps and potholes. In the midst of the rocky times I was in, the Lord broke through to me, and I had a real and deeper conversion to Him the summer after my sophomore year.
I didn't want to go back to school if it meant that I would risk relapsing and drifting right back in with the masses around me that so strongly contradicted the Gospel and God's will. So, I began to pray that if God wanted me to go back to school, He would send me a faith community. One day at mass I was introduced to a guy named Brian LaLonde. He invited me to the kickoff party for UCO, and I came and met some of the friendliest people I had ever met. Then I went to the year's first UCO prayer meeting and it was weird, but I kept coming to the prayer meetings, was baptized in the Holy Spirit, and little by little God continued forming me. I then moved into the

UCO Men's Summer Household where I really got a taste of structured life with priorities and a great emphasis on prayer and scripture. I made some strong relationships in that house, and living with men who sincerely strive to be holy and radical disciples of Christ had a big impact on me. I decided: I don't think I can do without this anymore. I can't see myself not living in a faith community.
God has guided my steps this far, He sent me UCO right in the nick of time, and He has changed my life. I don't like to think about where I would be were it not for UCO. My future has already been altered just from being in UCO. As I write this, I am only two days away from flying to Monterrey, Mexico, taking a year off college for a Year in the Gap. Thanks to UCO, I believe that because of His grace God will finish everything he has begun in me!
-Dan Knaggs
Dan's radical decisions for Christ this year have been inspiring. We will miss him sorely, but know his time in Mexico will bless many and bring glory to God!

• May your will be my desire, my passion, my love - Give me a heart so full of love for you that nothing can turn me from you.
  

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