Moore News (January 2025)

To Donate to my campaign:
https://ccojubilee.org/campaign/4398/Moore-Campaign

To Donate Regularly:
https://ccojubilee.org/staff/amoore

Hello everyone, Andy here!

I just wanted to give you a quick update on everything happening with Cornerstone, the Moore household, and a brief financial update.

Cornerstone Update

Our large group started a few weeks ago, and we’ve been going through a series on the prophets of the Bible—including both the Major and Minor Prophets, as well as prophets mentioned in other books. It’s incredible how, even after thousands of years, these men and women of God continue to speak to us. I believe this has been a valuable lesson for the students as well.

Family Update

Since I wasn’t able to share an update last month, I wanted to take a moment to do so now. We spent Christmas in Eaton, Colorado, Emily’s hometown, visiting and staying with my father-in-law, LeRoy. We also got to spend time with Emily’s sisters, Leslie and Polly. It was such a wonderful and relaxing time!

One of the highlights of our trip was the game room Leroy built in his basement—complete with pinball, shuffleboard, air hockey, foosball, and darts. We had an absolute blast playing together! Though, I have to admit, waking up to the sound of pinball in the morning wasn’t quite as fun—but at least the boys were enjoying themselves!

I also had the opportunity to share a brief missions update at the Evangelical Free Church of Eaton, the church Emily grew up in. This church has been a huge support to my ministry from the very beginning, and they’ve continued to support us throughout the years. It’s especially meaningful to us because it’s where Emily came to Christ and where we got married. It was such a blessing to reconnect with so many friends there.

Financial Update

I know I shared a detailed financial update last time, but I just want to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has reached out to check in on us. I’m incredibly grateful for those who have made generous one-time donations, as well as for our new monthly supporters—it truly means so much.

Right now, I don’t have an exact update on our financial needs, as I won’t have all the numbers until the end of the month. But I’ll be able to share a more precise update in a few days once I have everything organized.

For those who still wish to give, there’s still time! You can donate through the campaign or the usual giving methods—the links will be below (or above).

Thank you all so much for your continued support. I love you all, and God bless!

To Donate to my campaign:
https://ccojubilee.org/campaign/4398/Moore-Campaign

To Donate Regularly:
https://ccojubilee.org/staff/amoore

2023 August Newsletter

Financial Ask

Usually I have my Financial Update/Financial Ask in the middle of my Newsletter. Due to a recent strain in our monthly giving, I wanted to make sure you didn't skip over it. I know that a financial piece isn't as exciting as the rest of my Newsletter, and it can be easy to skim through, so I ask that you PLEASE WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW. Thank you!

To Contribute to the $10,000 via campaign: https://ccojubilee.org/campaign/4398/andy-moore-1

To Contribute regularly: https://ccojubilee.org/staff/amoore

First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support and generosity. With your help, we have experienced financial stability and growth in the past year, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve in such a meaningful capacity.

However, I want to be transparent and vulnerable with you all, and share that this past month presented some financial challenges for us. This past month we made approximately $4,200. The month before that, we made approximately $4,200. That is almost $1,000 less than what we need per month. A few years ago, we found ourselves in a financial struggle because I let our Ministry Account (the account that collects my fundraising, and where my check comes out of) dwindle without expressing our need. This time, I want to stop the bleeding. We need help replenishing our Ministry Account. To meet this need, I am starting a campaign through the CCO and striving to raise an additional $10,000, just to replenish our MA. This $10,000 is a one-time thing, and will be separate from the $5,600 we are trying to raise monthly. This $10,000 of extra cushion will allow us to continue pursuing our mission without financial distraction. You can find a link to the campaign, as well as a link for regular giving, below. If you plan on sending a check towards this $10,000 goal, kindly indicate "replenishment of MA" when making your contribution. This will enable us to allocate the funds accordingly and acknowledge your remarkable support.

I am humbly requesting your assistance in reaching this goal. Any gift, regardless of its size, will make a significant difference and contribute to the vitality of our ministry. Whether you can commit to increasing your monthly support or providing a one-time donation, your contribution will be immensely valued and appreciated.

I want to emphasize that your assistance extends beyond financial contributions. First, prayer. Please pray for our ministry – for our students, our staff, and my personal finances. Pray to bring God’s kingdom to Pitt. Second, you can help by sharing this newsletter on your social media networks. This is what I call a “Social Media Blitz.” By doing this, you help spread awareness about what is happening at Cornerstone and our current financial need. Your support, financially, prayerfully, and tangibly through the power of word-of-mouth, ensures that the Gospel message reaches students and that our personal needs reach those who are called to join us in our mission.

Once again, I cannot express enough how deeply grateful I am for your continued support. Your belief in this ministry and your commitment to its growth and impact fill me with immense joy and motivation. Together, we are making a lasting difference in the lives of the students we serve. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for your friendship, generosity, and unyielding support. May God bless you abundantly in return for the blessings you bring to others.

Send checks payable to the CCO:
5912 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Write "Andy Moore: Replenishment of MA" on the Memo

To Contribute to the $10,000 via campaign: https://ccojubilee.org/campaign/4398/andy-moore-1

To Contribute regularly: https://ccojubilee.org/staff/amoore

My Cornerstone Testimony - Part 2 - Ch-Ch-Changes

After that fateful night at the pub, and many brainstorming sessions and reflections, we came to a unanimous decision to change the format of our large group sessions at Cornerstone We realized that our previous structure closely resembled that of a conventional church service. We had a repetitive cycle of worship, announcements, more worship, a talk, and further worship. This resemblance was not in line with our vision for Cornerstone, as we wanted to create an atmosphere distinct from the Sunday services at Bellefield. We did not want to play church.  We desired to offer something unique and different, an experience that would captivate and engage students in a meaningful way.

A pivotal factor driving this change was our recognition of the diverse ways in which individuals learn. We acknowledged the importance of catering to different learning styles, including auditory, visual, and experiential approaches. With this revelation in mind, we embarked on a new teaching methodology that sought to create an interactive and immersive environment. We aimed to foster deep connections between the material being taught and the students' own experiences and understanding.

The inaugural lesson in our revised format happened to revolve around the profound concept of Jesus being the bread of life. I had the privilege of leading this lesson, and it proved to be an incredible experience. After delivering the teaching, we encouraged the students to actively participate in a bread-making activity. The act of making bread served as a powerful illustration of the profound truth we had just explored. Witnessing the students engaging with the lesson firsthand and experiencing it tangibly was an immensely gratifying experience.

The new format displayed remarkable success, both in terms of facilitating meaningful learning and fostering an atmosphere of enjoyment for the students. We observed a genuine thirst for knowledge and spiritual growth among the students, igniting a sense of excitement and engagement. Moreover, we received answered prayers from God, as He brought forth students who were truly passionate about their faith and wholeheartedly desired to see His kingdom flourish at Pitt. Their presence and enthusiasm infused an extra layer of vibrancy and unity within our community.

Something was happening. God was working.

For a while, things progressed fairly smoothly as we continued to walk in alignment with our vision. However, it is often that when you are doing something right, and glorifying to God, you will be attacked. And, we were about to be…

Moore News

We are thrilled to update you on the latest happenings in the Moore household. The biggest news is our unforgettable vacations.

Our journey began with a trip to the magnificent Badlands in South Dakota. It was a special place for me, as I had visited 20 years ago on a National Parks tour with my parents, right before Emily and I got married in Colorado. The Badlands truly showcase the stunning artistry of God's creation. The rugged landscapes, unique rock formations, and vast open spaces left us in awe. Our boys had an absolute blast hiking and immersing themselves in the beauty that surrounded us.

From there, we ventured to Custer State Park, where we were treated to sightings of bison, prairie dogs (which are everywhere), antelope, and weirdly wild donkeys.

We then made a special stop (on my account) in Deadwood, a town of significant historical and cultural significance and is most noted for the town where Wild Bill Hickock was murdered while playing Poker. I am a huge fan of Westerns, which I inherited from my Dad, and I couldn't resist the chance to visit this iconic place, especially after recently finishing the HBO show. While the town is famous for its rich history and captivating stories, I was surprised to find it had transformed into a bustling tourist attraction. It reminded me of a mini Nashville except with numerous casinos. I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t that.

The next day, we traveled to Eaton, Colorado, to spend quality time with Emily's family. We had a wonderful week with her father, LeRoy, and her two sisters, Leslie and Polly. It was a week filled with a lot of board games, laughter, and catching up on each other's lives. During our stay, I had the honor of giving an update at Emily's beloved church, the Evangelical Free Church of Eaton. The church holds a special place in our hearts, as it is where God found Emily in their youth group, and where we were married. It was awesome reconnecting with many familiar faces in the congregation and share updates on our lives and Cornerstone.

One of the highlights of our time in Colorado was experiencing Top Golf for the first time. For those unfamiliar, Top Golf is an entertaining and interactive golfing experience where players aim for targets on a large outfield, earning points for hitting specific areas. It was a thrilling and enjoyable experience for all of us. It was a memorable experience for all of us, and we couldn't help but have a friendly competition. Josh managed to hit the farthest shot, but I was not far behind.

A week after we got home from Colorado, we traveled to my parents house in Oak Hill, WV. It was great to be back home and spend time with my parents – whether it was watching a movie, or swimming in their pool, or eating, we always have a great time when we return to my hometown.

We are grateful for the opportunity to explore new places, create cherished memories, and strengthen the bonds of family. As much as we loved our time away, it is also wonderful to be back home.

Lastly, we want to express our deepest appreciation for your continued support, love, and friendship. Your presence in our lives is a true blessing, and we are deeply grateful for the unwavering care and encouragement you provide. As we reflect on our recent experiences, we are reminded of God's abundant blessings and the beauty that surrounds us in every season of life.

Also, please feel free to share this Newsletter on your social media accounts. And, as a reminder, be sure to listen to that podcast, “Lessons of Hope” from Haiti h2o which Emily helped to produce and direct. Link: https://open.spotify.com/show/1q1RZhmoykCbZSyOkUPnaq?si=c329788cb0c04fec

We pray that your lives be filled with God’s love and joy, and adventures of your own. God Bless!

To Contribute to the $10,000 via campaign: https://ccojubilee.org/campaign/4398/andy-moore-1

To Contribute regularly: https://ccojubilee.org/staff/amoore

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

January 2018 Newsletter

Cornerstone Update
With a new calendar year comes new leadership. While we have never really had a problem retaining our leaders, this year we have had a huge turnover in leadership. On one hand, the thought of working and teaching so many new people can be daunting. On the other hand, it brings something new to the table. Every leadership team has a different collective personality, and sometimes it refreshing to have a fresh perspective. There seems to be a genuine ere of optimism, and a sincere love for Christ. God is and will continue to do great things through Cornerstone, so please be in continued prayer for them.

Meet the Students

Meet Sean Justice, a Senior who is one of the leaders of our Worship team. Read more about him:

Since day one of college, Cornerstone has been a place where no matter what else has been going on in my life, I would be surrounded by God’s love from students and faculty that truly care about me and other people. That’s something that’s hard to find in even some (supposed) Christian communities. My involvement in Cornerstone has been pretty constant over the past three years if not consistent as far as depth goes. In that time, I’ve come to learn a few different things about my relationship with God as well as what it means for my life. I can say for certain that without Cornerstone my faith would be weaker than when I had started college and I’d be short some really great friends and mentors.

In general, as a person Cornerstone has helped me come out of my shell while at college. Being involved with Cornerstone, whether for orientation events, bible study, worship, discipleship groups and all manner of shenanigans really put me in a place to meet a lot of new people. Despite preferring to keep to myself I’ve gotten much more outgoing with trying to be open with and talk to new people. And while it took some convincing, and I still like to hide in the background, being on leadership has been a great experience as well. Learning to trust and serve God, aware that I don’t need to be perfect but to let him be perfect, has been a huge ongoing lesson because of my time with Cornerstone.

While I’ve always known that spiritual discipline is important, Cornerstone has helped me put it into practice. While doing so I’ve had the pleasure of seeing the work God has done in mine and others lives when he is set consistently as the focus of my day. The presence of a community to help focus on God has been huge for me. And with that comes a stronger relationship with Him that has helped me to be more trusting and vulnerable. The combination of things has led to some of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make and trusting that they were God’s will. Discipline, community, vulnerability and trust. These are the sort of things that I hope to carry with me after college because of Cornerstone.

Financial Update
God has blessed us recently by helping us reach our monthly goal. Now, we are asking for help on a unique way of giving. If you are interested in learning more, please read the picture below:

Habitat for Humanity Spring Break Trip
As many of you know, I am the adviser for the Pitt Habitat for Humanity. This role has given me the unique opportunity to meet and work with students. One such opportunity is taking part in an amazing Spring Break trip to Winston-Salem, NC to help work on houses. The trip costs $300 per student. The expenses include transportation, housing, and food for the week. If you are able and willing, I’m asking for your support or help to cover trip expenses. If you would like to help support students on this trip, please go to the following website: https://engage.pitt.edu/project/8688.

Moore News

The Moore’s has a fantastic Christmas. We flew out on December 20th to Colorado and spent a bit over a week out there. Out of the 13 (almost 14) years that Emily and I have been married, we have never celebrated Christmas in Colorado with her family. It was so incredibly relaxing! We went and saw the zoo lights in Denver on Christmas Eve, visited with Emily’s relatives, watched a lot of football and I met up with a former student and wonderful friend, Jeff Schallick, who lives in Cheyenne, WY working in the gas/oil industry. (Read more about what Jeff does by visiting the following link: http://ccojubilee.org/stories/living-out-gods-story-for-gas-drilling/89/). The whole family just had such an incredible, relaxing, and joyous time. I’m not exactly sure why it took 13+ years for us to do this.

We flew back into Pittsburgh on December 28th (Yes, I spent my whole birthday in various airports. It wasn’t that bad.), and we didn’t arrive home until 1:00 a.m. on December 29th. Just a few short hours later, my parents and sister’s family came to Pittsburgh for our “second Christmas.” I’m not sure if frying a turkey on a few hours of sleep is a good idea, but I did it anyway. It was as if the same incredible, relaxing, and joyous time that we had in Colorado transferred over to Pittsburgh. In other words, the party never stopped. Multiple people have been asking me, “What was your favorite gift?” Honestly, its hard for me to single out one. For me, it is way more about the experience. As my parents taught me, “It’s not where you are (or in this case what you get), by who you’re with.”

We pray that you all had a fantastic Christmas, and that God continues to work through you!

In Christ,
Andy Moore

September 2016 Newsletter

Cornerstone Update
This summer we held our annual summer large group gathering, Common Ground. Common Ground takes most of the CCO groups in Pittsburgh, from various campuses, and combines them into one large group which meets once a week. We decided to do Francis Chan’s “Basic” series this year, as a way to get new perspective on the many Christian truths we already know (Fear, The Holy Spirit, Fellowship, etc.). Common Ground had a great turn out with some great discussion on the BASIC series.

After Common Ground, and an extended vacation, came the time for planning the upcoming school year. This meant that orientation week was soon coming up, complete with multiple fun activities and tireless hours spent working. Here our student leadership took on orientation week events, as well as events scattered through the upcoming semester. We have a great group of leadership students, who came up with some big (and new) ideas. Orientation week went off without a hitch, and we had phenomenal turnouts to all of our events.

Now we are part way during the semester, and I am just trying to catch my breath. It has been, by far, my busiest semester to date. Granted I am taking two seminary classes on top of working, which (of course) makes it busier. Bobbi, Mark, Meagan (our new fellow), and I are all still finding out what does and does not work to our individual strengths. Cornerstone has been great so far, though. We are exploring new ideas and trying new things, constantly seeking God though out all of this. God has certainly been moving here.

Meet the Students

Meet “Backwards Hat” Nick Pezzuti, a junior Mechanical Engineering major from Mechanicsburg, PA. Nick has been part of our ministry since the orientation week cookout his freshman year. Read more about him:

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? My favorite childhood memory has to be playing games with my family. We had a soft mini ball when I was little. My brother, sister, dad and I would run around the house and play ball tag. Sure a few lamps were broken, and a few bumps on the head were given, but the memories will last a lifetime.

2. What has been your involvement in Cornerstone? I've been involved in Cornerstone for two years, and have been on leadership for one. As a small group leader, I've really enjoyed leading a bible study and getting to know the people that come to Cornerstone even better. Being involved in Cornerstone has been a huge blessing in my life, and I've learned a lot through my experiences there.

3. How has Cornerstone helped you during your years at Pitt? Cornerstone has taught me a lot about my faith in Jesus, and has really helped me understand the Gospel and what it means and looks like to find my identity solely in Jesus Christ. Through the talks, bible studies, outreach events, hangouts, and everything in between, Cornerstone is helping me bring Glory to God throughout my life each and every day.

Financial Update

As you may have noted from the chart that our monthly giving is $3,681, 94% of where we need to be. I have been raising these funds so I can minister to students like Nick, and see how God has worked in his life during his years at Pitt. It is because of God working through you that all this is possible, and I am completely in awe by all of your graciousness. If you would like to help this ministry, we are always looking for new supporters. If God leads you to prayerfully do so, we would love for you to be a part of this ministry through gift. Remember that any gift is a good gift. We trust that God will provide. He always has, and He always will. 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.

Moore News

It seems as though the entire month of July was spent in vacation, and it was (for the most part) relaxing. We started July by going to Vermillion, Ohio to Family Camp at Beulah Beach. Here we, were joined by my entire family (my parents, and my sister and family). It was a great five days of playing outdoors, as well as learning some biblical wisdom and meeting new families. There were a lot of great times and memories on that trip, but very little down time.

Immediately after the Beulah trip, we went back home, packed up our things, got our dog, and headed to Colorado to see Emily’s family and friends. We had a great time as the boys played on the farm and we visited various places, like the Denver Museum and a Trampoline park. My favorite part of the trip was when I preached at Emily’s church on the resurrection of Lazarus. It was really a blessing to be able to speak to a church that has supported us for so long.

Now the kids are back in school, and we are trying to settle in to new schedules. Benjamin and Joshua have decided to pursue fall baseball, and will actually be on the same team this time...which makes coaching much more manageable. Asher toyed with the idea of playing Fall Ball, but decided that baseball wasn't his thing (which is absolutely fine). He has decided instead to pursue art classes. He is a fairly gifted artist for a 6 year old, and is really excited about it. He has started drawing constantly, and just keeps getting better and better.

We thank you all for your love and kindness, and pray that you continue to advance in the knowledge and wisdom of Jesus Christ. Hopefully, these newsletters and updates will be a bit more frequent.

In Christ,
Andy Moore

June 2016 Newsletter

Changes
This month marks the end of an era. My beloved boss and coworker for the past nine years, Chris Ansell, has decided to move on from his position at Bellefield/Cornerstone. I actually first met Chris even before I started working at Bellefield. It was at a CCO staff seminar, and we were in a group together. After we were done talking, he asked me to apply to the Bellefield position. I did, and here I am today.

When I first started working at Bellefield, Chris and I didn’t get along too well. Chris is a type A personality, I’m a type B personality, and I think our work styles just clashed at times. As the years went by, we learned to complement each other and our differences. I had strengths where he had weaknesses, and he had strengths where I had weaknesses. Not only did our work relationship develop, but our friendship also developed. I now consider Chris Ansell (aka “Chransell” as known as by the students) to be one of the best friends that I have.

I am heartbroken that Chris is leaving, but I am so excited about how God will use him and his family.

With that being said, we now have a new coworker: our former fellow (intern) Mark Michaelis. I was so happy when Mark applied for the job. He has been a tremendous fellow, and really brings a lot to our team. This year will definitely not be the same without Chris, nor should we expect it to be. I expect it will be downright weird at first. I am, however, super excited to work with Mark, Bobbi, and our two new fellows. Cornerstone will look different, but God will still be there and in control.

Meet the Students

Meet Emily Wenz, a junior Rehabilitation Sciences major, with a Certificate in American Sign Language, from New Hope, PA. Read more about her and her experiences at Cornerstone.

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? I have many, but the first memories that come to mind are my birthday parties growing up. I’m a triplet, so we always had huge birthday parties for my brothers and I all together during the summer. One year, we had a giant water fight party with about 50 kids simultaneously sliding down an inflatable water slide and chucking water balloons at each other. It was awesome, but now I can see why my parents were always so stressed during those parties….Anyway, one of my babysitters would always make a cake with three different sections because my brothers and I could never agree on what we wanted to put on it (some things never change).
Note: I was going to write about the time I attended Farm Camp and learned how to groom and show cows (aka we gave them baths and then walked them around on a lease in a circle) because it was hilarious and more enjoyable than expected, but I now realize that really the only funny/sad thing about that memory is that I was barely still a child when I attended (I was 14), so I wasn’t sure if it counted as a childhood memory.

2. What has been your involvement in Cornerstone? I’ve been involved in Cornerstone since my freshman year. I started attending every few weeks and slowly got more involved. I joined the worship team at the end of my freshman year and I am now one of the worship leaders. As a musician, worship was one part of Cornerstone that kept me coming from the beginning, so serving as worship leader and growing in my faith through music has been a great opportunity. I am also involved in the outreach team and I attend bible studies.

3. How has Cornerstone helped you during your years at Pitt? Cornerstone has been a huge help to me throughout my time at Pitt. My faith has grown tremendously throughout college, which is one thing I never would’ve expected. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs over the last few years, and without having Cornerstone as a community to lean on and to hold me accountable, I don’t think I would have grown nearly as much as I have during college so far. I’ve learned that liking a place or what you’re doing there is not nearly as important as liking the people around you. Cornerstone has allowed me to meet some incredible people who have taught me what it means to really care for each other and to strive to serve God through everything I do.

Financial Update

You may have seen from the chart that our monthly giving is $3176, 81% of where we need to be. It is because of all of you that I am here and will get to where I need to be. I have been raising this support so I can minister to students like Emily, and see how God has worked in her life during her years at Pitt. Working with College students, and seeing God transform them, is a true blessing and I thank God every day for this opportunity. If you would like to help this ministry, we are always looking for new supporters. This is what makes ministry possible. If God leads you to do so, we would love for you to be a part of this ministry through gift and/or prayer. We trust that God will provide. He always has, and He always will. Remember that any gift is a good gift. 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.

Moore News

The boys’ school days and baseball season are at an end. Ben’s team won their World Series, placing them 1st in their league, while Josh’s team ended the season in 2nd place. All the boys on both teams worked so hard this year, and were led by great coaches. With baseball done, it is feeling like summer is finally beginning. So far, our future summer plans consist of joining my entire family for Beulah Beach Family Camp, followed immediately by a cross country trip to visit Emily’s family and friends in Colorado. This (along with some summer training) will pretty much take up our entire July. It’s going to be a bit chaotic, but a good chaotic. Emily has also volunteered to spend a week helping to lead Bellefield’s youth by doing the Pittsburgh Project, a Christian nonprofit community development organization with a nearly 30-year track record of developing leaders and serving the city’s most vulnerable residents. Throw in some baseball “lessons” with the boys, and you pretty much have a description of our summer

In other news, I have decided that the time is right to start taking seminary classes. The CCO offers discounted classes through Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA. I have decided to take them up on that offer, apply, and was accepted. I know that working on my MAR (Master of Arts in Religion), will take up extra time, but I love learning about the Bible and am really excited for this opportunity.

I pray that this letter finds you well, and pray that God continues to bless you.

In Christ,
Andy Moore

June 2015 Newsletter

Creative Service
“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.” –Matthew 6:28-29

Jesus commands us not to be anxious about our needs, so then why do we toil? Merely to tend our bodies, or also to shape our souls? In giving us work, God invites us to blend the creativity of our minds with the labor of our bodies, and then to share the products of this work with one another in free exchange —to make real our communal nature, our gift nature, through our personal callings. We must never see our work as simply a way to gain. We must never see our labor as an impersonal force of efficiency. We must never see our work merely as a mechanism we might control with levers and switches of power.

In all our work together, what we call the economy, that’s not a machine either. Work is always personal, because work is always relational. Whether you’re a janitor, a CEO, or a programmer, work is a creative service. So let us cherish our work as the glorious gift it is: the opportunity to join with others - literally millions of others - in a divine project of vast creativity, vast abundance, for the meeting of needs, for the flourishing of cities, for the life of the world.

Let us see every product, every purchase for what it is: a touch point, a nexus of millions of relationships. At every moment you are surrounded with the fruit of a great and gracious collaboration. At every moment you are being reminded that you are not alone…and you were never meant to be.

-Evan Koons, For the Life of the World

Cornerstone Update
It is the end of another school year. This means that things slow down quite a bit for me. There are less students hanging out at the church, which makes things much more quiet, and my workload becomes much easier. The church, during the weekdays, becomes a bit of a Ghost Town.

It is not all relaxation time, however. During the summer, as you may remember, we have our weekly meeting called Common Ground. Common Ground is a large group fellowship where students from various Pittsburgh campuses and Christian student groups merge for a summer ministry sponsored by the CCO. This year we are meeting at Bellefield, and doing a video series called For the Life of the World. For the Life of the World (see “Creative Service” above) is an entertaining film series that explores the deeper meaning of Salvation. It should be a great time.

Elsewhere, in Erie, PA, we have four students involved in the Ocean City Beach Project (OCBP). I know what you are thinking, “Shouldn’t they be in Ocean City?” They should, but due to unforeseen, and quick, circumstances, they had to relocate to Erie. So now I guess you could call it the, LELP (Lake Erie Lake Project). Anyways, OCBP is a summer-long community living opportunity for Christian college students to develop further as campus leaders. The Project provides the opportunity for students to grow personally in faith and to develop a deeper vision for life. The students going are Jeff Schallick, Katie McNeily, Nicole Russo, and Heather Day. Please be in prayer for them.

Meet the Students

Meet Sarah Lewkowicz, a student of the Cornerstone ministry and native of Pittsburgh. Sarah has been a staple within Cornerstone for a few years, and has a wonderful, warming personality. Read more about her:

1. What is your favorite movie, book, and band/music? My favorite movie is The Secret Garden, and has been since childhood. My favorite book would have to be either Wicked or The Scarlet Letter. And my favorite band currently is Florence and the Machine, though depending on the day I could switch to any of the 70 different CDs in my car.

2. What has been your involvement in Cornerstone? I have been involved in Cornerstone since my "freshman" year, or my one semester of college in the fall of 2011. After getting talked into going to FMT (Freshman Ministry Team) towards the end of the semester, I finally felt loved and appreciated, and wanted to give back to the community. I was on FMT the next year, and then one of the worship leaders two years later. I am currently one of the Planning Team leaders for Cornerstone.

3. How has Cornerstone helped you during your college years? In the past four years, Cornerstone has given me so much. The community helped pull me out of a deep depression my freshman year, teaching me about God's love and grace, which allowed me to believe that I could be a better self. The biggest, and most recent, moment that Cornerstone has allowed me to experience was my decision to move to Arizona. Every year, Cornerstone sends a mission team to an emergency Foster Care home on the Navajo reservation out west. After four years of spending a week there, God spoke to me while at Jubilee Conference with Cornerstone, kicking me in the pants and encouraging me to follow my call to work at NAOMI house full time. I can only hope to share the love that has been shown to me from the students and the staff of Cornerstone.

Financial Update

You may have seen from the chart that our monthly is at $3346, 85% of where we need to be. There has been so much to be thankful for. I thank God for his love and provision. I thank every single one of you for reflecting those Christ-like qualities. It is because of all of you, I have been raising this support so I can minister to students like Sarah, and see how God has worked in her life during his years at Pitt. Working with College students, and seeing God transform them, is a true blessing and I thank God every day for this opportunity. If you would like to help this ministry, we are always looking for new supporters. This is what makes ministry possible. Now that I have gotten a raise, this is more important than ever! If God leads you to do so, we would love for you to be a part of this ministry through gift and/or prayer. I am asking that my current supporters give an extra 10% on top of their usual giving. This will help to make up the difference from what I currently make and from my goal. We trust for you and for us that God will provide. He always has, and He always will. Remember that any gift is a good gift. 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.

Moore News

Well, our Little League season if officially over, and we had quite a run in the playoffs. After having a pretty rough year, we went into the playoffs as the 4 seed in our division. That sounds good off the bat (pun intended), but there are only five teams in our division. The first game we played was against the fifth seed Angels, whom we had beat twice this year already. After a hard fought game, we eventually prevailed. Next we had to play the one seed Indians who destroyed us this year. Everything that could have gone right went right in that game, and we mercy ruled them 11-1 advancing to the semifinals. Benjamin and Joshua both had phenomenal years and were some of the best players on the team…which made it really hard when we (our family) couldn’t make it to the semifinals due to vacation. The Mariners went on to lose 9-7 in the semifinals in a hard fought game. Benjamin finished the year with a team high .895 batting average and totaled 51 hits in 57 at bats, and got an All-Star nod. Josh did really well for the year batting .684 and leading the team in doubles. I couldn’t be more proud of them, or this team.

As you may have read in paragraph above, we did go on a very short vacation to Colorado. We usually spend a few weeks out there, but this time we only spent five days. Nine if you include driving days. The boys got to spend time with Grandpa on the farm, and Emily got to spend a lot of time with her sisters. We even got to go to the Wild Animal Sanctuary and the Denver Museum as well. My only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough.

We pray that God is using you for the expansion of his kingdom, and that you are growing in him daily! God Bless!

In Christ,
Andy Moore

July 2014 Newsletter

Recovering Vocation
Robert Bellah’s landmark book, Habits of the Heart, helped many people name the thing that was (and still is) eating away at the cohesiveness of our culture—“expressive individualism.” Elsewhere, Bellah argued that Americans had created a culture that elevated individual choice and expression to such a level that there was no longer any shared life, no commanding truths or values that tied us together. As Bellah wrote, “. . . we are moving to an ever greater validation of the sacredness of the individual person, [but] our capacity to imagine a social fabric that would hold individuals together is vanishing. . . . The sacredness of the individual is not balanced by any sense of the whole or concern for the common good.” But near the end of Habits, the author proposes one measure that would go a long way toward reweaving the unraveling culture: To make a real difference . . . [there would have to be] a reappropriation of the idea of vocation or calling, a return in a new way to the idea of work as a contribution to the good of all and not merely as a means to one’s own advancement. Every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever.

But if we are to “reappropriate” an older idea, we must look at that idea’s origin. In this case, the source of the idea of work as vocation is the Christian Scriptures. The Bible teems with wisdom, resources, and hope for anyone who is learning to work, looking for work, trying to work, or going to work. And when we say that the Christian Scriptures “give us hope” for work, we at once acknowledge both how deeply frustrating and difficult work can be and how profound the spiritual hope must be if we are going to face the challenge of pursuing vocation in this world.

Everyone imagines accomplishing things, and everyone finds him or herself largely incapable of producing them. Everyone wants to be successful rather than forgotten, and everyone wants to make a difference in life. But that is beyond the control of any of us. If this life is all there is, then everything will eventually burn up in the death of the sun and no one will even be around to remember anything that has ever happened. Everyone will be forgotten, nothing we do will make any difference, and all good endeavors, even the best, will come to naught.

Unless there is God. If the God of the Bible exists, and there is a True Reality beneath and behind this one, and this life is not the only life, then every good endeavor, even the simplest ones, pursued in response to God’s calling, can matter forever. That is what the Christian faith promises. “In the Lord, your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

-Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church

Meet the Students

Meet Spencer Brown, a junior Chinese major at the University of Pittsburgh. I first met Spencer during the freshmen orientation week at Pitt when I noticed he was wearing a Darth Vader shirt, and we struck up a conversation. We have grown closer the past two years, especially during two Dominican Republic trips. Read more about him…

1. What is your favorite movie, book, and band/music? I'm mostly kind of bad at favorites, but I love Star Wars everything. Disney movies are also my thing, especially Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, but I also love Pan's Labyrinth and Clue (because Time Curry). My favorite book is Dune by Frank Herbert. My favorite band is this Icelandic post-rock group Sigur Rós, but I'd be remiss if I didn't also give shout-outs to Kimya Dawson, Simon and Garfunkel, and Beethoven.

2. What has been your involvement in Cornerstone? During orientation week my freshman year I happened to stumble across some Cornerstone folks playing four square and handing out ice cream. I ended up going to Freshman Bible Study, but couldn't make it to an actual Wednesday night Cornerstone gathering until spring semester of my sophomore year because of schedule conflicts, but I've been in a great discipleship group with Cody Latimer and Jeff Schallick since freshman year. I joined the Cornerstone leadership team spring semester freshman year on the Freshman Ministry Team, and continued on Service Team sophomore year.

3. How has Cornerstone helped you during your years at Pitt? So, before college I didn't have the strongest foundation in Christianity, and had never experienced a Christian community with my peers. I actually spent about a year of high school wishing I had the discipline to be Tibetan Buddhist. Cornerstone was--and is--a place where I found Christian community. Being surrounded by people who were passionate about their faith put me in an environment where I could grow and develop my own faith and find passion for Christ. It was also a place I felt safe, like I could really be me and finally find self-confidence. Cornerstone is what made Pitt home for me, and it's where I met my best friends.

Financial Update

June was a good month for us, and we are at 84% of where we need to be for the month. We thank you for all of your continued love and support. We are always in awe how God has used everyone to help support this ministry. We honestly could not do it without God working through you. If you are interested in supporting this ministry, I would love to meet with you. Please contact me using the information on the navigation bar or email me at amoore@ccojubilee.org.

Moore News

We just got back from our annual vacation to Colorado. It was great, but we are very exhausted. Most of the time was spent either playing baseball with the boys, or journeying from one place to the next. Our highlights include shopping, catching a Rockies game in Denver (Coors’ field is really nice, but it’s no PNC), wondering around Estes Park, and hanging out with Emily’s Dad and two sisters, Leslie and Polly. We even got to meet up briefly with my coworker and good friend Chris Ansell and his wife Sarah as they celebrated their anniversary in Colorado. Colorado was a wonderful time as always! By the way, if you are ever in Greely, CO, be sure to check out Red’s Dogs and Donuts. Their donuts are the best I’ve ever had!

Now it’s time to get back to “normal” life. I start my annual summer training soon, and before we know it the students will be back. The summer if flying by so incredibly fast.

I hope you are having a relaxing summer as well! May god bless all of you and your summer!

In Christ,
Andy Moore

Summer Newsletter

When Trouble Looms
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” –Psalm 27:1

To say that it has been a difficult year at the University of Pittsburgh would be an understatement. I was in the Dominican Republic when I first heard the news of the shooting. In fact, I got it through a text message: Shooting has occurred at Western Psych. One dead, several injured. Oakland is on lockdown. Please do not leave, until advised to do so. Share this message if safe to do so.

My first thoughts were immediately of one of my students: Andrew. Andrew was currently with me in the Dominican Republic, and worked at Western Psych (Western Pennsylvania’s largest psychiatric facility.) I knew that I had to break the news to him, and that it would not be easy. ..and it wasn’t. In fact, it wasn’t easy breaking the news to the entire group.

I have seen the recent string of college shootings on the news in the past few years, most notably the Virginia Tech massacre, but the thought that it could happen at Pitt was not even in my mind…and only a couple of blocks away! It was deeply troubling.

I wish I could say that the Western Psych shooting was the end of Pitt’s troubles, but it was not. In the week following (and lasting until graduation), there were over one-hundred (yes, one-hundred) bomb threats to almost every building on Pitt’s campus. The bomb threats started as graffitied threats scribbled on a bathroom wall, and then escalated to dozens of threatening e-mails.

The threats caused panic, and fear on Pitt’s campus. Students could not attend class, or couldn’t sleep because of evacuations at 2:00am. Many students left for home for the semester, and soon to be freshmen took their name out for enrollment. Many class finals became optional, online, or take home. Fear had struck, exactly as the terrorizing threatener had planned. But there is one thing that panic, and fear, always point to: a need for a savior. During the midst of uncertainty, we must rely on the on thing that is certain: Jesus Christ.

During those trying weeks, Cornerstone students really stepped up, being a light to the Pitt and Pittsburgh community. A few of our students started a network of unused beds and couches to sleep on, in case they were evacuated from their dorm. All the evacuated students would have to do was go to one of these safe havens to find shelter. A prayer visage was held. Our students handed out free cookies and hot dogs to students. It is these reasons that I thank God every day for where I am, and who he put me with.

Why We Do What We Do
Meet Danny “Haircuts” Churchill, a now sophomore Psychology major at the University of Pittsburgh. I really got to know Danny during this past year, and especially on the Dominican Republic spring break trip. Here is his testimony of the trip:

God gives us a great deal of talents and helps us to use them, even if we may be afraid or uncomfortable. That’s one of the most important things I learned from my trip to the Dominican Republic. I had some of the craziest, God-filled experiences there. Before going to the DR, I had been on mission trips before. On these trips, the things I was most used to doing was labor, such as building walls or hauling dirt or digging holes. Our mission trip did not have any of that. I was going to be doing something completely different. The main idea of our trip was to “be comfortable with being uncomfortable”. With that idea in mind, I was in for a whole new experience.

We arrived there and each day when we went to villages, I felt I was learning something new about the world God created. I learned just how much energy little kids can have. They will keep on going whether you can or not. Another thing I learned was that there is so much beauty in everything in God’s world. Everywhere we traveled, all of it was beautiful. It’s a beauty that I seemed to have taken for granted before. As I was having all these experiences, I was also learning a great deal about myself. In doing evangelism with everyone on the evangelism team, I was able to see my friends communicate the amazing word of God to many people who needed it. It was amazing to see the effect that their words had on the people that heard them. I was a bit anxious to step up and speak to some of the people, though. I figured I would stand off to the side and doing little things and not be the person that would share the words that they believed God put on their heart. However, I needed to learn to “be comfortable with being uncomfortable”. I worked up the courage and one day I was able to speak words that God gave me to a woman who wanted Christ in her life. As she came to Christ soon after she heard me speak, I really felt his presence. I felt I had the courage and the strength to continue doing what I had just done. It was a feeling that I had never had before. From that point on, I knew that God would give me the words that I needed to say whenever I felt I needed to communicate His word to someone there. Through eliminating the fear that I carried, I had learned to utilize a talent God had given me to do His work.

Though I had had this amazing experience and had overcome a fear that I had, I continued to struggle with something. How am I, being a young college student, qualified to even begin to tell anyone what it takes to be a Christian, to help them come to Christ? What makes me special enough to do that? As I thought more about it on our way back home, I realized the answer was simple. God gave us all talents. It does not matter who you are, if you let him into your heart, he will use the talents he gave you. He can have you evangelize people even if you feel inadequate for the job or he can have you reach out to children even if you think you cannot. While this is just one of the many things I learned about myself on this trip, I felt it was the most important lesson I could take from it. I do not think it is possible to adequately describe my experience in words. Rather than describe it, I attempt to live it every day. The Dominican Republic trip was the most rewarding experience I ever had. It showed me talents I did not know I had and really taught me how to use them to glorify God. I was successful because I became comfortable with being uncomfortable.

You may have seen from the chart that our monthly giving remained at $3200, 91% of where we need to be. It is because of all of you that I am here and will get to where I need to be., I have been raising this support so I can minister to students like Danny, and see how God has worked in his life during his freshman year at Pitt. Working with College students, and seeing God transform them, is a true blessing and I thank God every day for this opportunity. If you would like to help this ministry, we are always looking for new supporters. If God leads you to do so, we would love for you to be a part of this ministry through gift and/or prayer. This will help to make up the difference from what I currently make and from my goal. We trust for you and for us that God will provide. He always has, and He always will. Remember that any gift is a good gift. 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.

Moore News
A lot has happened since I last wrote a newsletter. In fact, it has been a long time since I wrote a newsletter. I started to write this newsletter a few weeks ago knowing I needed to put a new one out, and planning on finishing it quickly. Then a funny thing happened: my hard drive crashed on my computer at church. This means that I was forced to put this newsletter on “pause” for a while.

Between the time of Part 1 of my newsletter and part 2, I was able to go on a much needed vacation to Colorado to see Emily’s family. It is exactly what I needed to relieve stress, refocus, and energize myself. Sure you may think that driving approximately sixty hours in a van (three days up, and three days back) with three young, energetic boys wouldn’t be relaxing, but it surprisingly was.

We did so much in Colorado, it is a little bit of a task to sort out and communicate just what we did. We hiked the Red Rocks outside of Denver, journeyed through Estes Park, went to a rescued wildlife sanctuary, and ate at the quirky restraint Casa Bonita (which I like to call the Mexican Chuck-E-Cheese). The boys had a blast playing football, basketball, golf, and baseball with Granny and Grandpa, and we had a great time with the rest of Emily’s family as well.

My real time of relaxation did not simply come from all our adventures, but came through going to Emily’s church (The Evangelical Free Church of Eaton) and meeting with her pastors which kind of became an impromptu counseling session for the past year. This helped me vocalize a lot of what I was feeling. It is interesting that this entire semester seemed to consist of counseling sessions for students, when I needed one myself.

Now I feel refreshed and ready to take on the new school year with a fresh set of lenses and ready to take on new challenges as well as try new things. God has indeed richly blessed us.

In Christ,
Andy Moore