college years impacted

The University of Southern Maine

This winter and spring semester has been off to a busy and exciting start! We have hadspecial times of togetherness to grow as a group. Read how God continues to work in

this ministry!

MARCH 2016

A Tuesday Nav Nite on campus with a majority ofour students all gathered together at one time.

Smaller men's, women's, and co-ed Bible studiesmeet throughout the week.

Students at the annual Northeast Winter

Conference inSouthbridge, MA.

by Lexi Richardson - USM Class of 2016

We rode to Conferencein style!

Due to costly transportation, Lilley'sLimousine of Scarborough, ME surprised thestudents with a ride down to the ConferenceCenter in Southbridge, MA. We enjoyed a weekend of worshipping together and listening to amazing speakers.Thank you Lilley's!

college years impacted

"My favorite thing about the Navs is the relationships I have built with otherChristians in the group. Being a part of Bible studies over the past two years hasgiven me the opportunity to connect with some awesome people, who havehelped me grow closer to God. I always look forward to seeing my Nav friendsaround campus and at Nav night."

- Zach Childs, USM Sophomore

"There are so many things that I love about The Navigators, but my favorite part has tobe the community. I grew up very involved in church, but when I came to college, I didnot know who I would grow in faith with. I am so thankful I found The Navigators. I havemade so many friends through this group who encourage me daily to seek God. I alwayslook forward to the times we spend in community together! It has made the time awayfrom home a little easier, and I've really been able to develop my relationship with Godwith the help of this group."

-Christina Williams, USM Junior

Students share why being a part of Navs is so

important to their lives

• Hear how student's lives are beingtransformed through Christ

• Learn about their summer internship plans to pursue God

Come celebrate with us aswe wrap up another year

END OF THE YEAR BANQUET

SAVE THE DATEApril 8th, 2016

**More details to come **

This semester is off to a great start! I’ve been able to meet with a couple of guys on a regular basis, I am leadinga weekly Bible study on campus, I have been helping out with worship at Nav Nites, and I’m trying to host agame night every couple of weeks on campus as a way to get time with students and reach out to those whoaren’t part of Navs. One of the guys I’ve been meeting with named Ethan, is unable to make it to Nav Nites thissemester due to a night class on Tuesdays. One morning when we were meeting he wanted to tell me ‘Howmuch he appreciated me taking the time to meet with him and get into scripture together.’ That has probablybeen the highlight of my EDGE Corps experience so far. I hope that through our continued relationship his eyesare opened to what discipleship is all about and that he will do the same with guys he comes into contactwith. This way the knowledge of the Gospel will be multiplied throughout our community and the world. Thankyou so much for your prayers and support that allow me to be on campus and work with students to further theGospel this way!

from Dillan Hesseltine,

My favorite part of working in vocational ministry this year has been my one-on-one and small group meetingswith students. There are currently four girls that I am trying to meet with regularly in one-on-one or smallgroup Bible study settings. I have known all these girls since last semester and it has been really great to seethem open up to me and become increasingly eager to grow in their walks with the Lord. I have loved gettingto know them better, hearing about how their day-to-day lives are going, reading Scripture together, andhelping each other experience more of the joy that God has for us. I am looking forward to seeing these girlsgrow, eager to experience what they will teach me, and excited as I begin to see them intentionally invest inthe lives of their friends within the USM community and beyond.

from Mary Kate Bickford,

at USMCatch-up with the EDGErsMary Kate Bickford, a recent graduate from the University of Maine, and Dillan Hesseltine, a recent graduate fromMaine Maritime Academy, are our two EDGErs this year. The twenty-two year olds began their EDGE Corps term atthe University of Southern Maine in fall of 2015. EDGE Corps is a two year program for recent college graduates togrow as ministry leaders alongside experienced staff. They invest their life into serving God and college students fulltime through discipleship, to grow students' relationship with God.

We are in the midst of a busy season and looking to find added capacity for all the changes. Prayer in this area isgreatly appreciated. There are also a number of significant events going on in Maine during March and April. Our sistercampuses will be ministering in Boston on their winter break in Orient Heights in East Boston on March 4th-11th. OnMarch 18th-20th, I will be speaking at the Spring Conference for Worcester Polytech. Lastly, a new 20s ministry hasbegun with a group of our recent graduates and younger staff. They are meeting weekly, and gathering with other 20s toworship monthly, and we are planning a conference for Maine 20s on April 8-10. Please be in prayer for all of theseevents.

from Rus Willette

Often when asked to recap a period of life, I am at a loss as to how to briefly summarize in a way that is reflective ofthe truth and reality of life… and one that won’t bore any listeners. In this case, I am not worried about boredom for Iam encouraged and excited to relate that God is answering prayer! That the Creator of the universe cares so muchabout us that He listens and responds to our requests in His perfect timing is a lesson that may take my lifetime tolearn. At the beginning of the school year, I met at least half a dozen individuals who felt the Lord calling them to a yearof prayer. We pray to see spiritual generations rise up and share the Good News of Christ on this campus, that theymay be a light for Jesus in this dark world. As the seasons have woven their way through time, the prayers prayed inthe fall are being answered! I am so encouraged to see a new light in the eyes of students who are eager to spend timein God’s Word and seek answers to the questions life is posing - by searching for God’s answers. Would you commit topray with me that God’s work would continue in those hearts and His Kingdom would spread here at USM?

Several aspects of Winter Conference (February 12-14) made it a highlight of the semester for me. The group ofstudents who went with us to the conference was itself a sign of God working. In addition to our student leaders, wehad several students attend who are just starting to be more active with our group, a few seniors who have begunthe transition to the workplace and finding fellowship through the local church, and about five students who are stilltrying to decide whether they believe in Christ. The six hour cruise in a limo with about eight of our students was agreat time to have fun together, get to know one another better, and to process what God has been teaching us. Theconference was also a deeply moving time for many students as we were encouraged to take the parts of our livesthat are ashes and trade them in for beauty (Isaiah 61:1-4). What a joy it was to pray with several students as theybrought their brokenness to Jesus seeking His beauty in return!

from CP Brown,

Catch-up with the Staff at USM

from Lynn Sarver

We thank you for your continual prayers and support.