a2f newsletter.

happy wednesday.

hope spring break has been going well for all. go purdue - winning the big10 championship. it’s going to be an exciting march madness coming up.

it’s been quiet here (as it always is when students go on break). but, while you guys are gone, the staff have been making some trips. we checked out ball university in muncie, in and, currently as we speak, i am here at notre dame at south bend. we just wanted to see what these universities are like and, who know, one day in the near future we might try things on these campuses.

otherwise - this past week, we sent off our filter of hope team to guatamala. last i heard - they are having a grand old time and they’ve already experienced 4 salvation decisions on the trip. please continue to pray for them.

again, wanted to highlight some exciting, completely student-led events coming up after you guys come back from spring break.

free kbbq + fun. but also a time to hear their testimonies + stories about how they discovered christianity to be both intellectually true and personally powerful + relevant in their lives. all our students have a variety of spiritual backgrounds (from churched, dechurched, and unchurched) so any + all spiritual backgrounds / exposure to church are welcome.

we’re also going to be having our a2f 3v3 basketball tournament.

come join us. all skill levels welcomed. if interested, sign-up form to come soon. but, in the interim - please email [email protected] with your name, email, and team member names.

again, if you have any questions, go ahead and use this form - q + a with dj form

and if you would like a coffee chat with either me or tabby, we created this standing google calendar link - schedule a coffee chat with dj or tabby

dj.

sunday. 3/22. 12p. walc 1018.

continuing our series in john that will carry us through the rest of the semester. for those still around, we’ll be having our usual service. same time. same place. afterwards, we’ll have lunch. come join us.

deadline - 3/31.

if you are interested in becoming a student leader for fall 2026 - spring 2027, please fill out this application form here: student leadership application form link.

friday. 4/3. 630p. lawson 1142.

good friday service. opportunity to remember what christ did on the cross. communion. and, afterwards, food fellowship.

sunday. 4/5. 430p. walc 1018.

come celebrate easter sunday with a2f. he is risen. please note the change - we will be meeting at 430p at campus house (1000 Mitch Daniels Blvd). worship. sermon. choir. afterwards, we’ll celebrate easter by having a big kbbq dinner celebration. come join us.

“i have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.”

i’ve been reflecting on this idea of peace. it’s something that i don’t think we, day-to-day, recognize we want or need until life inevitably throws us something that threatens that peace. challenges. difficulties. tragedies. bad news. a dreaded, unexpected phone call. when our peace is disturbed is often a terrifying moment. a moment when we realize what we thought was giving us peace is actually inadequate.

that’s what makes the gospel so incredible. it’s only in the gospel that there is a peace that no unexpected situation can ever shake because the how it will all end is set and it’s something that nothing can ever change. our happily ever after.

but this is also true not only of external factors that threaten our peace but, maybe more importantly, the internal threats. our deep sense of insecurity. those moments when it becomes quite clear that the person we are doesn’t match the person we hope to be or the expectations that we’ve set for ourselves. that’s the disciples - jesus is telling them (though they would like to think that they believe and would never do this) that they are going to scatter. betray him.

what painful news - that there is this gap between the person you hope and expect to be vs. the reality of who you are. life often has a way of revealing this gap in painful ways. a bad test score. a moment of indiscretion that leads to decisions we regret. that moment that we could’ve been loyal but choose to whisper that little gossip for the sake of some social credit. or even as christ-followers and yet the ever persistent gap present as we notice our struggle with different addictions, temptations, motivations, and desires.

what’s incredible is this - jesus is saying he knows. but still. have peace. i know. and i want you to know that i know. but it’s okay. i love you. i’ll still and always forgive you. that gap - it’s always going to be there. but it’s okay. that’s why i am going to the cross. to overcome that gap as well. you are still loved.

not sure what’s going on in your life right now. maybe you’re just struggling or this semester has been tough and you’re grappling with this gap. i wanted to leave you with jesus’ words - it’s okay. “i have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace” even with your failings.

jesus is no begrudging forgiver. no he is rich in mercy. overflowing in forgiveness. and i think he would want you to know that he knows and it’s okay. you are still loved.

until next time.

dj.