My First Month As A Campus Pastor

Wow! What a whirlwind! Wrapping up my 6th year with Dallas Black Dance Theatre to begin this 10 month trek as a campus pastor has been bittersweet, exciting, surreal, fast-paced, and refreshing. 

For my last week of work with Dallas Black Dance Theatre, I had the privilege and honor to share the stage with my coworkers for the last time in a 10 show residency at the oldest running dance festival in the world, Jacob’s Pillow. 

Fun fact: remember that dear friend and coworker that I mention in my support letter? Her name is Renee Walters. She worked with me at Dallas Black and I am SO excited to say that she will be my coworker and roommate for my time as an apprentice! I feel so lucky to have my best buddy by my side from one world to another. 

Immediately following this festival we (Renee and I) flew into San Antonio to begin the apprenticeship with FOCUS’s annual conference, SICM (Student Institute of Campus Ministry). Coming an entire week later than our fellow apprentices, you could imagine my excitement and anticipation when we finally pulled up at SICM to 50 staff members and 150 new and returning students of FOCUS! 

We come into a dining hall full of 200 student leaders and staff, listening intently to talks on Jesus Styled Discipleship, the what and why of evangelism, cultivating a deep inner life, how to lead a small group, and more. 

Along with these insightful lectures, we were able to participate in activities like a Sherpa Trek, hikes, zip lines, and various water activities in the lake (not to mention me face planting on the blob) It was a blast!  

Now, let's fast-forward to my first experiences on UTD's campus: Welcome Week 2021. Welcome week for FOCUS at UTD (University of Texas at Dallas) was a 2 week long stride of various events. Every day we held different activities like board games in the res halls, campus tours, zombie tag, field night, back to school bash, latin explosion, and my personal favorite, the black people meet and greet. Hosting these events facilitated congenial, genuine human interaction, community, and all around fun. For the post-covid-college-campus-returnee, we provided a space where any and all persons could come, be seen, be served, and be loved. Here are some photos of the new friends I've made! 

  

If it weren’t for all of you guys support, I wouldn’t be able to be a part of this sweet community or be able to spend time with these lovely humans on UTD's campus. Because of your donations and prayers I have been able to start a new journey fully taken care of. Your selfless generosity, has given me the time to pour into  the many lives that have now become a part of mine. I couldn't be here without you. 

I can't wait to share more of my experiences with you in the months to come.