I am a Campus Minister with a Christian organization known as the CCO. I work at Bellefield Presbyterian Church, with a student organization called Cornerstone, to minister to students at the University of Pittsburgh and surrounding campuses.
Showing posts with label Campus Ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Campus Ministry. Show all posts
Andy: Hey everybody, Andy here! I’m here with Mary. Mary, why don’t you tell everyone a little about yourself?
Mary: Hi! My name is Mary Liao. I’m currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Economics, and I’m part of the Outreach Prayer and Service Team here at Cornerstone.
Andy: Awesome! And she’s newly on leadership this year—we’ve been trying to get her for a while. So thank you for joining us! How did you first find out about Cornerstone?
Mary: I found out about Cornerstone through attending regular church services here at Bellefield. It was during the first university luncheon that I got to go downstairs and meet the Cornerstone community. That’s how I first connected with everyone.
It was also really close to where I lived as a freshman—I just had to cross the street from my dorm. So I started attending regularly from there.
Andy: I’m glad the food got you, and you stayed for God!
What would you say Cornerstone has meant to you?
Mary: At first, it was a great way for me to stay consistent with reading Scripture, attending Bible studies, and connecting with other Christians. That was really meaningful to me.
As I became more involved, I found more ways to serve—through events where we pass out food and drinks to college students and people in the community, through SereniTea, and even by going on mission trips to N.A.O.M.I. over spring break.
I think God has used Cornerstone to grow my faith from something personal into something I can actively share with the community.
Andy: That’s awesome. Lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to my friends and supporters who are watching this right now?
Mary: Yes! Thank you so much for all your love and support for campus ministry. It truly means a lot.
Andy: Yes, thank you all, and thank you, Mary, for doing this!
Mary: Thank you!
Andy: There’s still plenty of time to give. The link will be below. Bye!
Andy: Hey everybody, Andy here! I’m here today with student leader Josh. So Josh, why don’t you tell everyone a little about yourself?
Josh: Yeah, sure! I’m a sophomore studying civil engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. I’m a student leader here and serve on the freshman ministry team. In my free time, I like hanging out with my roommates and throwing a frisbee around at Schenley Park.
Andy: That’s awesome! How did you first hear about Cornerstone?
Josh: My friend Nick actually told me about it. I was originally involved with Cru, but Nick kept inviting me to Cornerstone, and over time I just found more of a home here.
Andy: That’s great to hear. What would you say Cornerstone has meant to you personally?
Josh: Cornerstone has really given me a sense of community. It’s also helped me develop a personal relationship with God—something I didn’t really have before coming here.
Andy: That’s awesome, Josh. Lastly, is there anything you’d like to say to my friends and supporters out there?
Josh: Yeah, I just want to say thank you for supporting Andy and Cornerstone and everything we do. Through his ministry, I’ve been able to grow stronger in my faith, and I’ve seen him help others do the same. Your continued support really helps him share God’s word with people who need to hear it.
Andy: Thank you so much, Josh. And thank you to all of you for your generosity—there’s still plenty of time to give! You can click the link in my bio or below. Thanks again, Josh, and thank you all. God bless!
I just want to apologize for not posting an update video in a while. Life’s been pretty hectic and busy, but I’m here now to share what’s going on with Cornerstone and in my life.
Cornerstone has been wonderful this semester. Our large group continues to enjoy homemade meals, and we’ve been studying the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, from the Sermon on the Mount. I had the privilege of speaking about “Blessed are those who mourn.” I went through John 11, the raising of Lazarus, highlighting how Jesus wept and showed empathy, but was also angry at death, showing that death was not meant to be a natural part of life. It was truly a blessing to share that message.
I’ve also been helping lead the freshman Bible study, where we’ve been doing a Theology 101 study. One of the participants is my son, Benjamin, who has been coming to Cornerstone and participating in the study. It’s been amazing to have him involved.
About a week ago, I had the opportunity to speak at a missions conference in Eaton, Colorado, at my wife Emily’s home church, Evangelical Free Church of Eaton. It was an honor and privilege. I spoke on Daniel 1, focusing on Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, and how they were being assimilated into Babylonian culture yet remembered who they were. I related this to challenges college students face today. It was meaningful to be at a church that has been so important to both Emily and me—it’s where Jesus brought Emily into my life. It was also wonderful to see friends and family while I was there. (Link to Sermon: https://tinyurl.com/yjcd2b7y)
Joshua is looking at colleges now. He’s narrowed it down to a few options and will be making a decision soon. I won’t reveal anything until he’s officially accepted. Please pray for him during his senior year as he finishes football; his team has been having a great season.
Asher is in his sophomore year at Allderdice and is thriving. He’s found a great group of friends and even started an esports club, which has been exciting for him.
Emily continues to excel as the Director of Communications at Haiti H2O. They’re currently in the middle of a pumpkin sale, so prayers for that would be appreciated.
Financially, things have been going well. I recently received a raise, which is wonderful, but it also means I need to raise more support. Raising finances is always challenging, but God has always provided, and I trust He always will.
If you feel led to donate, I’ll provide links below for both one-time and recurring gifts—any gift is a good gift. For those who already give, I ask you prayerfully consider increasing your gift by 10–25% to help cover financial needs, provide resources for students, or take students out to lunch.
I am incredibly grateful for your prayers, support, and generosity. God bless you richly for your partnership in Cornerstone and in my life.
Andy: Hey everybody, Andy here, and I'm here with Josh. So Josh, why don't you tell everybody about yourself?
Josh: My name is Josh. I'm currently a rising senior at Pitt. I'm a nursing student, and fun fact—I am from Las Vegas.
Andy: From Vegas! So Josh, how did you hear about Cornerstone?
Josh: I actually knew nothing about Pitt or Cornerstone until I got here. It was actually our water bottle handout that we have during Welcome Week. I was moving in on campus—it was a hot summer day—and luckily, there were these people handing out water bottles with information about campus ministry.
Andy: That's awesome. Glad you're here! So, what has Cornerstone meant to you?
Josh: I feel like Cornerstone is family, for sure. I grew up in one church back home and saw the same people every week. Coming out here, I was able to find that same kind of community—from my D-groups with Boaz and my roommate Andy, to my AOM (Area of Ministry), and all the friends I have here. It’s just family. We live life together, go through tough times like exams, procrastinate together, and break bread. It's been amazing.
Andy: That's awesome, that's awesome. And lastly, is there anything you'd like to say to my supporters and friends?
Josh: This guy’s pretty cool, so you should support him! And yeah—thank you guys so much for supporting him as you have been, and I hope that support continues.
Andy: Yes, and thank you so much. There’s still plenty of time to give—you can just click on the link below or in my bio. Thank you so much, and thank you, Josh! God bless.
Andy here. I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas and give you a brief update on how finances are going.
In short, they’re going well! We’ve reached our goal for the year, which is wonderful. Thank you all so very much for your support.
That said, there’s still plenty of time to give if you’re wanting to contribute a “Christmas bonus,” so to speak, or even a birthday gift—my birthday is on December 28th! I’m still working to put a little extra cushion into our ministry account to make things a bit more comfortable. This money allows me to minister to students.
There’s still time to give if you’d like. Just click on the links below or in my bio. You can donate through the campaign or the regular giving method.
Again, thank you all so very much for your love and generosity. I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!
2. My voice sounds off because I was diagnosed with bronchitis yesterday. (Bronchitis—ain’t nobody got time for that!)
I just wanted to give you a quick update on our finances. In short, we’re doing fairly well. If you look at our campaign and where we currently stand percentage-wise, it might not seem like much, but many have been giving the regular way of donating. We truly appreciate all of your love, support, and kindness. We really feel it!
That said, we’re not completely out of the woods yet. We'd like to raise the balance in our ministry account by about $3,000, just to have a cushion that allows us to continue ministering to students. So, I’d ask that you prayerfully consider donating to the campaign—or setting up a regular donation if that’s more convenient.
The links for donations are below or in my bio.
Again, thank you all so much. I love you, and God bless!
Andy: Hey everybody, Andy here. I just wanted to take a moment to be vulnerable and say that we need your help financially. This past year has been one financially of ebbs and flows, goods and bads. Recently, it's kind of been one of those "when it rains, it pours" situations. We've had some supporters who can no longer give, understandably. We've had some hiccups financially, we've had some automotive trouble, and of course, we've had some medical expenses as well recently. So, I am just asking for your help financially. That's why we actually started the campaign, because we started to dip a little too low. I'm so grateful for you all—for your support, for your love. It's because of your support that I'm able to do what I do. I can go out on campus and spread the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ.
But it's one thing for me to say what I do, and it's another thing to hear a testimony from one of my students about what I do.
John: Hi everyone, just wanted to take a second to talk to you all about some of the impact that Andy has had on me during my time at Cornerstone and at Pitt. I first met Andy Moore my freshman year of college, and he was quick to get me involved in his discipleship group with two other students. We've been meeting consistently for three years now, and Andy has served as a close friend and mentor to me and these other two students.
During this discipleship group, it's a time to decompress about our weeks, play some board games—which I'm sure you all know Andy is very fond of—and just talk about our spiritual lives and well-being, and get more into the Word with his guidance. Through Andy, I've been able to grow so much in my faith, and the support that you guys give him is directly responsible for the growth and ministry that he provides to myself and every other student at Cornerstone. He has done so much for this community for so long, and myself and every other student appreciates and thanks you for any support you give him, whether that be financial, through prayers, or by spreading his newsletter. He has done so much for this community, and it would just mean so much to me if we were able to support him back. Thank you.
Andy: Thank you to John for doing that. Now, I don't want you to hear John's words as a puff piece. I'm actually very humbled by what I do. The only reason I can do what I do is because the Lord allows me to do it and has gifted me to do it. Another reason I can do what I do is because of you all supporting me financially. So if you are interested in giving and helping in this time of need, I ask that you can click on one of the two links below. We have the campaign and our usual way of giving. Thank you all for listening, and God bless.
As you may have seen from my last video, I have started a new campaign and wanted to talk about it a bit. I'm reaching out with a heartfelt request to replenish my ministry account, which has dipped a little due to my focus on another campaign, the Cornerstone campaign. I'm aiming to raise about $6,000 to provide a cushion as I seek new monthly donors to sustain and expand our ministry's impact.
A healthy account allows me to dedicate more time to campus activities for meaningful ministry, reducing the need for support raising. It also covers personal expenses related to ministry work, ensuring effectiveness and our presence in the mission field. Importantly, it enables us to assist students, making a tangible difference in their lives.
Support raising might be a foreign concept to many, but I believe it is vital. It transforms ministry from an individual effort to a communal mission, inviting others to join in a sacred partnership. By pooling resources and prayers, we further the kingdom of God. Raising support helps us cultivate a network of believers united in a purpose, each playing a unique role in the ministry's success. This collective endeavor not only sustains me but also allows supporters to actively participate in God's work, creating a shared legacy of faith and generosity.
Through support raising, we embody the truth that ministry thrives best when carried on the shoulders of many, echoing the early church's spirit of unity and shared mission. So, I ask that you prayerfully consider donating to the cause. Your generosity will directly impact our ability to minister effectively and support the students we serve.
If you're interested in donating, the link to the campaign will be below. There is also the regular way of donating listed there as well.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers, support, and commitment. God bless.
