October 2018 Newsletter

Fall Retreat Testimony

Meet Grant Larson, a junior microbiology major that is part of our Ministry Team, and read more about his experience on our Fall Retreat:

The fall retreat provided me with an awesome opportunity to get out of the city, slowdown from the fast-paced campus lifestyle, build community with other college students, and grow with Christ. I had two exams during the week leading up to the trip, so I was excited to go out in nature and spend time with God. I learned strategies for carrying out my faith from the daily devotions led by Dan Dupee; he spoke about power, peace, and hope from a biblical perspective. I was given the opportunity to spend time alone and reflect with God during solitary time, which made me realize how easy it is to take this time for granted back on campus. The importance of reflection stood out to me and I returned to campus with a desire to implement quiet prayer and reflection into my daily routine.

The fall retreat also provided a great opportunity to grow in a community together as a Christian body. I built relationships with students I had not met before and grew deeper with the ones I had already gotten to know. Whether through worship, games, or dancing/singing around a campfire together, I felt at home with the students and leaders who came on the retreat. I continued to feel this way after returning to campus and the sense of community remained strong after we returned. The retreat was a wonderful experience for me to grow in my faith and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Meet the Students

Meet George Muirhead, a sophomore Bible Study Leader and Political Science Major. Read more about him: I was raised in a Christian household, so the idea of Christ being my Lord and Savior has always been close to my heart. But, I would say that understanding was quite limited to the verse of John 3:16 and did not extend past the understanding of that verse. So, leaving my hometown of Madison, Alabama and joining Cornerstone Ministries in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has completely changed my life and how I understand the depths of my love for my God and his love for me.

Firstly, I would consider myself a non-denominational Christian, so for me I could receive a word from any pastor in any denomination as long as they clearly could back it up with the Scripture, and as long as they kept that Scripture in context of the Biblical story. When I came to Cornerstone the staff here helped me further my understanding of just how important this is. That the Bible is the finished Word of God, and that the Word does not come from a teaching at odds with what has been written, so a pastor that clearly did not support their claims with the Word would be quickly dismissed from my mind because of this new fortified understanding. So, from the bottom of my heart I cannot thank the Cornerstone staff enough for convincing me that my faith comes from the Word and it alone. Not from an outside source that is at odds with the Word.

Lastly, my relationship with Christ has grown exponentially, because of this simple realization that I might have been told things in the past that might not hold true to the Word of God. Because of this, I have been forced by my love for God and this realization, to go through the Scriptures to confirm just what I have faith in, and this simple act has made me a better believer as a result. So, I cannot thank Cornerstone and its staff enough for giving me the resources and opportunities to truly dive into the depths of my faith.

Financial Update

September was a wonderful month for us! As you can see from the chart, we made $3,893; 91% of our monthly goal! Thank you to everyone who has supported us in our ministry. My ministry to College students, like Grant and George, and Cornerstone would simply not be possible without you. Just because we are close to our goal does not give me an excuse to rest or be lazy, however. Now is the time for me to work harder than ever! If God leads you to do so, we would love for you to be a part of this ministry through your giving. I am asking that my current supporters give an extra 10% to 25% on top of their usual giving. This will help to make up the difference and reach 100% of my goal with my new raise. We are always in need of help financially, and are always looking for new supporters. Remember that any gift is a good gift.   Please be in prayer that God will continue to build our support team and that we would be faithful in doing our part.

Moore News

After celebrating Benjamin’s birthday last month (September 8th), we had the privilege of celebrating Asher’s ninth(!) birthday on the 6th of this month. Asher absolutely loves video games. As he told me the other day, “I’m different than most kids. I like newer video games, but I also like the classics.” So, because of his love of classic video games, he asked for a Nintendo classic...which we gladly bought him. Needless to say, he went gaga over it. Though, it does pain me to say that the video games I grew up with our now considered “classics.”

In other news, Emily got a new job! She will now be the administrative assistant of Haiti H2O. Haiti H2O is a non-profit founded by our landlords and friends, Jeff and Sarah VanderMolen, which works with rural Haitian communities, cultivating hope and opportunities, in response to the love of Jesus. Emily is very excited for this opportunity, and will be working closely with the director, and friend, Rhonda Smith.

I pray that you are well, and that you continue to grow in Christ. God Bless!

In Christ,
Andy Moore