2020 May Newsletter

Student Testimony
Meet Akeem Williams, and hear the testimony how God has awakened in his life.  I first met Akeem in Habitat for Humanity a few years ago, but really got to know him this year when I invited into my discipleship group.  Hear more about how God has been working in his life:

Financial Update

As you can see from the chart above, we have taken our first large hit in a while.  In April, we made $3,736.  That is 82% of where we need to be.  Though I never like to see my ministry account balance dip, I know that God will provide. I'm not sure I could reiterate it any better than how I stated it last month:

Times are tough. Having a steady income can be tough. It is through these times of immense vulnerability, that we realize that we cannot do this by ourselves. That we need a faithful savior to rely on. Jesus Christ is that faithful savior. When everything around seems so inconstant, we have a God who is constant. We must rely on that. I know that these times of uncertainty have hit hard for some, and we have felt that as well. We are asking for your help now, more than ever. If you are interested in supporting us financially, please feel click on the link below. We must be reminded that God is a provider.

Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

God is Good!

If interested in supporting us financially, please click the following link:
https://secure-q.net/Donations/CCO/15954

Moore News

Last month, I featured an interview with our middle son, Joshua.  To keep in this tradition, I have decided to post an interview with our youngest son, Asher (FYI, he was a bit nervous behind the camera).  Asher is a constant source of sweetness, positivity, and energy in our house, so get to know him a bit more:

Thank you all for reading (and watching) this Newsletter! Stay safe, and and take this time of isolation to grow closer with the Lord.

In Christ,
Andy Moore

2020 April Newsletter

Student Testimony
Meet Joel Hinkle, and hear his testimony of how God has been ministering to him through Cornerstone and in his battle against cancer.  The Testimony is divided into two parts.  The first part is Joel's testimony.  In the second part, Joel documented his battle with cancer through Snapchat and so you can see exactly what he went through.  Each slide (in the second part) goes a bit fast, so feel free to pause.

Financial Update
Times are tough.  Having a steady income can be tough.  It is through these times of immense vulnerability, that we realize that we cannot do this by ourselves.  That we need a faithful savior to rely on.  Jesus Christ is that faithful savior.  When everything around seems so inconstant, we have a God who is constant.  We must rely on that.  I know that these times of uncertainty have hit hard for some, and we have felt that as well.  We are asking for your help now, more than ever.  If you are interested in supporting us financially, please feel click on the link below.  We must be reminded that God is a provider.

Consider the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

God is Good!

If interested in supporting us financially, please click the following link:
https://secure-q.net/Donations/CCO/15954

Moore News
March 21 was Joshua's 12th birthday.  Because of social distancing and isolation, we had to cancel his party and have one with just his immediate family.  So, I thought you all might want to get to know Joshua a bit better.  Watch his interview below:

Thank you all for reading (and watching) this Newsletter!  Stay safe, and grow closer with the Lord.

In Christ,
Andy Moore

2020 March Newsletter

Cornerstone and COVID-19

Link to Biblical Touchpoints

I was standing in the hot Fort Lauderdale sun at a Habitat for Humanity work site when I got the text from a friend, “It looks like Pitt is going to be shutting its doors.” Because of this “inside information,” I had the chance to prepare the 34 Pitt students that I was with. When the official announcement came, the tone was somber but expected. Even in the midst of their grief, many students could not focus on themselves. Many came up to me and asked, “What does this mean for you or Cornerstone?” It was because of their selflessness that I too had to ask myself the question they asked me, “What does this mean for me and Cornerstone?” Obviously I would still have a job, but Cornerstone would have to adapt and look drastically different.

Our world, within a matter of days, has been flipped upside down. Humans, who I believe are wired to be communal creatures, are now told to isolate. Businesses are being shut down, whether it be temporary or permanent, and cities and towns look vacant. People are dealing with the disease by either denying it, or by hoarding. These are strange times, for the world has changed. But our God, he does not change. As Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” A true solace we must rely on.

And now, a digital world has become our means to communicate. Cornerstone large group and small groups will now be held online. Instead of meeting people face to face, I will now meet them screen to screen. My blog will probably be updated a lot more, since I am now (mostly) working from home. I am now creating a weekly video series, called “Biblical Touchpoints” in order for students to become Biblically literate and theologically astute (link). The world has changed, and we must adapt. Yet, God’s truth will remain...even digitally. So stay safe, adapt, and rely on the Lord.

Cornerstone Student Testimony

Meet Mike Stolarz, and listen to how God has been ministering to him through Cornerstone.

Cornerstone has had a major impact on my life over the past year. I began attending Cornerstone just over a year ago after being recommended that I attend by various members of my home church Hebron Presbyterian in Penn Hills. I had been raised going to church for the majority of my life, but, because of some struggles I went through in high school, I started coming less and less to the point where I stopped coming entirely (unless my parents forced me to go). By the time I started college in August of 2018, I wanted nothing to do with the church or God. I saw signs for Cornerstone around campus, but I wanted nothing to do with them. I thought they were lame, and if I wanted to be a cool college student I had to party and live recklessly; smoking weed and drinking instead of anything God related.

During this time, I was in a rock band with some friends from high school and I was in charge of the band's money. My drug use became so bad that I no longer could afford my habits. So, I began to dip into the band’s money, and by the end of 2018 it was all gone. I felt an intense shame at all times based on these actions, as I knew full well at the time that I had sinned greatly. But, I hid this sin and shame from everyone. In hiding this shame I went into a deeply depressed state where I felt trapped and with no way to get out. Eventually my band found out that I had stolen all of the money, and I became even more depressed. I had told my mom what I had done, and she prayed with me every day that week. By the end of the week, I had been kicked out of my band, lost the majority of my friends, but somehow miraculously was able to pay back all of the money that I owed. That Sunday I went to church with my family, and I felt extremely convicted of my sin but at the same time loved and forgiven by God and the members of my church. After the service some members came up to me and asked if I was at Pitt, and they recommended that I come to Cornerstone which they had attended and loved years ago. That night I gave my life to Christ, and that Wednesday I attended Cornerstone for the first time.

The first time I went to Cornerstone the theme for the month was “shame.” I found this to be a true sign from God, as it was exactly what I was dealing with at the time. That night we were asked to discuss with our tables any experience we had with shame, and I felt called by the spirit to share all of my testimony with people who were complete strangers at the time. That night the music also had a major impact on me, and I asked one of the worship leaders if they needed a drummer. It turns out that they had been praying for a more consistent drummer for that entire year! Soon after, I was able to attend the Jubilee Conference which was truly life changing and eye opening. Now, a year after this all took place, my life has completely changed all thanks to the grace and love of Christ. I am now part of Cornerstone’s worship team, playing drums and leading worship every week. I have been able to stay clean and sober from drugs for over a year now, and plan on staying sober long term. This would not be possible if it weren’t for my support system that God has provided in my friends and family. God has completely changed my life through Cornerstone, the leadership that Andy, Mark, and Bobbi have provided to me, and the love and encouragement I have received from all people in Cornerstone, through Christ.

Spring Break Testimony

Meet Ethan Pohlman, and listen to how God ministered to him through the Habitat for Humanity Spring Break trip.

My Cornerstone campus minister, Andy Moore, reached out to me in the fall semester one night after Cornerstone. He asked me if I wanted to go to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for spring break with Panther Habitat for Humanity. I was a little skeptical at first, but it wasn’t a lot of money and seemed like it could be fun. The catch was that he needed the commitment and money pretty much the next day. Somehow, he convinced me to go for it. God was working through him that night, because, while I didn’t know it then, this trip to Florida would end up being what I now consider the best week of my college experience so far.

The Saturday of the spring break trip I got into a van with Mike, a friend from Cornerstone and also the only other person I knew on the trip, and 5 strangers. Honestly, I was a little nervous. I had no idea what to expect, and I was trapped in a van with these people for the next two days. But I very quickly came to realize that I had nothing to worry about. We jammed to a ton of different genres of music, played ridiculous car games, and began to open up about our lives. That first car ride was very symbolic of this trip as a whole- God challenged me with obstacles, tasks, decisions, new people and new experiences, but He also gave me the tools to overcome everything that I was faced with, and in the end turned it all into a rewarding experience. The main focus of this trip was the workdays, where we built homes for low-income individuals. This presented a challenge, simply due to the nature of the work. Patience was key. Often the tasks that we were accomplishing seemed small and insignificant, but the fact is that each of us was a small part of achieving a greater goal. For me, the most rewarding point on the trip was after finishing laying the tarpaper on a roof. It had taken a day and a half to complete, and afterwards we were able to stand back and know that we accomplished something real that was going to help someone who needs it.

This spring break trip was full of accomplishments. God challenged me, either by placing me in an uncomfortable position, or surrounding me with unfamiliar people, or by presenting me with a physically demanding task. Yet out of that, he inspired friendships that will last a lifetime. He filled my heart with a love for service. He opened my eyes to a great organization made up of caring people. He inspired conversations about Him. I had the blessing many times on this trip to share with others my involvement in the church, and what my faith means to me. God was at work in my life this trip, and was working through me to help others, starting with that seemingly impulsive decision to say “yes” to going on this trip.

Donating to Our Ministry
Because of this pandemic, we realize that finances are tight for many of you, but we could use your help now more than ever.  If God leads you to donate, we ask that you click the following link:

https://secure-q.net/Donations/CCO/15954

Thank you, stay safe, and God Bless!

In Christ,
Andy Moore

2019 Christmas Letter

“May the God of peace be with you all.” – Romans 15:33

Advent is a time of waiting patiently for the coming of the Lord. Waiting, however, can often lead to impatience, restlessness, and an unpeaceful mind. St. Augustine once said, “Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds it’s rest in thee.” We all strive to end this restlessness and gain peace.

Peace has usually been defined as the absence of pain, war, or conflict. Christians (and Jews) have a very different definition. Peace is associated with the Hebrew word shalom. Shalom is not just the absence of conflict, but it means peace as the original way God intended it to be when he created the world in Genesis 1: full and complete and sinless and harmonious. The reason that it was shalom was because God, the one who is peace, was there.

When we strive for peace, what we are really striving for is for a world that is made right; a world that has reclaimed shalom. When we strive for peace, what we are really striving for is God and his promise that one day shalom will be restored. Revelation 21:4-5 states, “‘[Jesus] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” This is peace and the hope that we cling to: a world that is free from suffering, death, mourning, crying, and pain.

If we held onto this 21st century watered-down definition of hope that trusts in the abilities of man, we would have nothing. We may believe that the world is getting better through humanity, but there will always be another murderer, or liar, or adulterer, or megalomaniac. If we held onto that hope, we would have no reason to exist. But the hope and peace that is Jesus Christ is real. The hope that Christ is coming again and making all things new is everlasting, and will happen. Then we will have shalom.

We hope that you have a very Merry Christmas!

In Christ,
Andy, Emily, Benjamin, Joshua, and Asher Moore (and Olive)

For a "hard copy" of my Newsletter, click the image below:

To donate, click on the following link:
https://ccojubilee.org/about/our-team/andy-moore/261/

2019 Fall Retreat Testimony

A Quick Cornerstone Update:

In lieu of my usual Newsletter, I have decided to share a testimony from Jorge & Breaunna Villapier on our Fall Retreat, which happened October 4-6 at Ligonier Camp and Conference Center. Approximately 40 students heard Caleb Musselman & Juliet Casinelli give three meaningful, memorable, and challenging talks on "Meekness." Listen to what Jorge & Breaunna had to say about the retreat:

If interested in donating to our ministry, click here: 

https://ccojubilee.org/about/our-team/andy-moore/261/

October 2019 Newsletter

A Thank You from Sam Smallwood

One of our leadership students, Sam Smallwood, wanted to write you all a special thank you:

Words cannot express how much Cornerstone and Andy’s ministry has meant to me during my time at Pitt. Frankly, I don’t know where I would be today had I not decided to walk through the doors of Bellefield Church on Wednesday nights. Yes, I was always planning to attend church there on Sundays, but I wasn’t sure how large of a role faith would play in college outside of that. I felt called to explore things further, however, and get involved in some sort of Bible study. After meeting Andy, I knew Cornerstone was where I was meant to be. He talked so passionately about what he does, what campus ministry meant to him in college, and the many ways in which Cornerstone pours into its students every day. And now, as a junior, I am so glad I took that extra step and am truly grateful to have found such an amazing place full of fantastic people who love Christ and love each other.

Cornerstone has allowed me to grow in so many different aspects, not only strengthening my faith in God but also helping me to develop my leadership skills and grow to know myself better. Whether through leading Freshmen Bible Study every week, the CCO’s annual Jubilee Conference, or any of the multitude of conversations had with other students, I have discovered new and exciting ways to apply my faith in college, spent more time in the Word, and have grown much stronger in my prayer life. God is constantly putting new opportunities in front of me and without Cornerstone, my time at Pitt would be lacking purpose.

Andy has been such a huge influence not only for me, but for so many of the students who attend Cornerstone. He is a great mentor, teacher, and spiritual guide, but he is also an amazing friend. It is because of your generosity that we are able to experience his gifts every week and why our campus ministry is so outstanding. We all greatly appreciate your continued support of Andy, and for those of you who do not yet donate towards his ministry, we would be so thankful if you considered doing so. You play a big role in making Cornerstone so great!

Financial Update
Do to various reasons, our ministry account as dwindled down; it no longer holds the financial cushion that puts my mind at ease. I know that God has provided, and will continue to provide. There is no doubt about that. Finances can always be a worry, however. Especially when one support raises.

We need your help financially. I need help putting that cushion back into my ministry account, especially since I have received a raise. We have been about $600 (a month) short for the past few months. Having this cushion helps me to minister to students, and see how God uses them at Pitt. Yes, I will continually need to seek financial help as long as I’m a campus minister, but having a balance to work with frees up my time a bit more. Working with College students (like Sam) and seeing God transform them, is a true blessing. It is my ministry. Seeing how God has worked through you all to provide financially is a true blessing. It is my ministry. I thank you all for that.

If you would like to help this ministry, we are always looking for new supporters. This is what makes ministry possible. Now this is as important than ever! If God leads you to do so, we would love for you to be a part of this ministry through gift. I am asking that my current supporters give an extra $10 to $50 on top of their usual giving. We are also looking for some one time donations of $100 to $500. If that is too much, then that is fine. Any gift is a good gift. This will help to make up the difference and reach my goal.

In every Newsletter I preach that God has always provided, and he always will. This is something that I not only preach to you, but (like the Gospel) preach to myself daily.

We thank you, and pray that God will bless you richly because you have given to advance His kingdom! Please be in prayer that God will continue to build our support team and that we would be faithful in doing our part.

If you would like to donate, click on the following link: https://ccojubilee.org/about/our-team/andy-moore/261/

Moore News

As I mentioned in our last newsletter (a while ago), Emily I took our 15th anniversary trip (a bit late) to Tennessee. We stayed at a little Air B&B in Dandridge (home of Bush’s Baked Beans) and spent most of our time exploring the small town, as well as visiting Knoxville and Gatlinburg. Knoxville was amazing. We hiked at Ijam’s Nature Center, went to World’s Fair Park and the Sun Sphere, explored the very large University of Tennessee Gardens, and finally ended up in Old Town. Needless to say, we loved Knoxville. There is so much to do there! Gatlinburg, on the other hand, is too touristy for our liking. We enjoyed ourselves there, but preferred Knoxville a lot more. It was great to get away for a few days.

While Emily and I were in Tennessee, Benjamin took his first mission trip to Charleston, South Carolina. He, along with 16 other youth spent their week helping the elderly at a nursing home. He had a blast. There is also another piece of big news for Ben: as of September 8, Benjamin became 13! That’s right, we officially have a teenager in the house. Where has the time gone? He is a sweet young man with a big heart, and we couldn’t be any more proud of him.

While Ben was in South Carolina, Joshua and Asher spent their week with my parents in southern West Virginia. Though not quite as structured as Ben’s trip, Asher and Josh always enjoy spending time with Gammy and Pops.

Asher is now in 4th grade, and continues to enjoy Fulton. He is the artsiest of the three, and has started taking some lessons through a local church. Also, he turns 10(!) on October 6th. It seems to be a year for milestone birthdays. It’s cool to see his personality grow, and he continues to be the most empathetic of us all.

Joshua has started a new school: Schiller STEAM Academy. So far, he has given nothing but rave reviews. He has also joined the flag football team, and is a starting wide receiver for them. That’s pretty impressive, since there aren’t too many 6th graders on the team. He’s had a few nice games, and continues to get better. It’s difficult managing the schedule of three boys at three different schools, but they all seem to love it.

Thank you for reading our (late) Newsletter. We pray that you continue to seek God.

In Christ,
Andy Moore

July 2019 Newsletter

Meet the Students

Meet Martha Layne, a (now) sophomore leader that serves on the Freshmen Ministry Team. Read more about her:

My relationship with God has always been a roller coaster, full of extreme highs and lows. I was raised in an amazing Christian household, attended a powerful church, and was involved in leadership roles in youth group and the children’s ministry. On the outside, I was a model Christian. But on the inside, I was constantly seeking happiness and fulfillment from outside pleasures instead of Jesus.

When I came to college, I was out of control with this newfound freedom. I attended Cornerstone once at the beginning because my childhood best friend’s older brother is heavily involved, and I told him that I would come check it out. I was overwhelmed by all of the people, and I didn’t want to deal with any uncomfortable situations, so I went to one freshman bible study and that was it. I took a break from everything to do with the church, convinced that I could maintain a relationship with Christ on my own. Unfortunately, that is easier said than done, and I found myself getting involved in unhealthy habits and friendships. I began attending a bible study but only in hopes of “balancing out” my life. Over winter break, I had the chance to really reflect on who I had become over the course of the first semester, and I decided that I didn’t want to be that person anymore. I prayed fervently, for the first time in months, that God would bless me with new, healthy friendships and take away all of toxic aspects of my life. With the start of the new semester, I was hopeful for a fresh start.

I had joined Cornerstone leadership on a whim, simply because I was so used to being in leadership positions, and this was one of the first opportunities that there was for me in college. I decided to lead the same freshmen bible study I barely attended in the fall, only because that was the only team that I felt even remotely qualified for. On the leadership retreat, one of the first bonding activities was to describe the five most prolific events in your life. I became instantly petrified because I had to tell these (almost) strangers my events, which were almost all terrible mistakes. However, at the encouragement of Cornerstone staff, I opened up to my team. I have never felt more vulnerable in my life. I realized that Cornerstone is a community full of genuine, real people. The more I began to trust these people, the more they showered me with unconditional love and support. I have met some of the most important and influential people in my life because of Cornerstone. Cornerstone helped bring me back to God. I understand that no relationship with Christ is ever perfect, but I know that I have a community who will help me through every high and low. A community who is supportive and sincere, welcoming each person with open arms, without judgement of past failures and flaws. And I am so grateful that God answered that prayer with a group of people like Cornerstone.

Financial Update

As you can see, we made $3,681 last month, or 80% of where we need to be. If you are wondering why the percentage is so low, it is because I received another raise of an extra $300 a month! Having full support for the past year has been great, but we could still use your help. I am asking that my current supporters give an extra 10% to 25% on top of their usual giving. With this money we will have more time to minister to students like Martha. We are always looking for new supporters that help make this ministry possible. If God leads you to do so, we would love for you to be a part of this ministry through your financial gifts. Remember that any gift is a good gift. In the past few months, we have truly witnessed God’s provision. We thank you, and may God bless you richly because you have given to advance His kingdom! Please be in prayer that God will continue to build our support team and that we would be faithful in doing our part in helping get to 100% each month...especially with the new raise.

Moore News

What a busy summer, and it just keeps getting busier! The summer ended with baseball, as our team (The Cubs) made it to the World Series. Unfortunately, we lost a very tight game three in a two out of three-game series. As a coach, this was my fourth world series, and I know that I cannot win every won. The boys took the loss well, and are ready for next year.

A week after baseball ended, I drove the family out to Colorado to visit Emily’s dad and her two sisters. It was a great two weeks! We went to Cheyenne, Wyoming to visit a former student of mine (Jeff Schallick), visited the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, went to Estes Park, played a lot of board games, saw a few movies, drove the Kabota around the farm, and I even got to give a ministry update at Emily’s home church, The Evangelical Free Church of Eaton. Unfortunately, on the last day we were there, Emily’s grandmother passed away. So, please be praying for healing for her family.

Shortly after we got back to Pittsburgh, we joined my family for family camp at Beulah Beach, a C&MA camp near Vermilion, Ohio. This year’s Beulah, was probably the best I’ve been to. There is always something to do, and a lot of fun to be had. This year’s theme was “Super Heroes” and the family got dressed up as various super heroes. Emily and I were Tap Man and The Catch respectively (a Psych reference), Asher was Captain Underpants, Josh was Meme Boy, (his own creation) and Ben went as himself...we’ll just say he went as his secret identity.

In a few weeks, Emily and I will be taking an anniversary trip to Tennessee (the Knoxville area). We’ll let you know how that goes in the next newsletter.

I pray that you keep seeking Jesus, and learn to be more like him!

In Christ,
Andy Moore