Tag: Street Level Ministries

February 24, 2022 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read what is happening with Shofar Mission in Cebu City.

One Saturday morning in late January, we woke up to emails letting us know the Philippines was planning to open to Foreign Tourists on February 11, 2022. March 13, 2022, will mark two full years since our last “normal” Street Level meeting, did an outreach on a university campus, or taught a science lesson in a classroom. Currently, universities and schools are like ghost towns with many staff still working from home due to requirements of social distancing, plastic barriers, etc. that remain in effect. Check out some photos from the heat of COVID and what ministry was like before:

The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

The last two and a half years have taught us a lot. It has been said that the Philippines has had the hardest, strictest, and longest COVID lockdowns. There were many times that left us trusting God – for example, when the city announced all Quarantine Passes were invalid. They issued new ones, but the idea was to issue less of them. These were required to leave our house to access goods and services. December 16, 2021, and the weeks after were another big test as Super Typhoon Odette approached our island. As Cebu City was raised to Alert 4, we prepared to move to the innermost room of our house with what we needed to be safe. The typhoon left severe damage, including no water or electricity for weeks (months for some people).

Street Level Ministries

During these times, we have continued to see the hand of God at work. Even though all classes remain online and students need a valid reason to visit campus. We have met several students recently through Facebook promotions that have been interested in SLM. We got to play Dutch Blitz and eat pizza with a couple of them last Sunday. In January, Street Level Ministries started meeting every fourth Friday of the month in Toledo City. We have also been hosting Street Level Radio live broadcasts weekly, and recently added a couple of songs written and produced by Capstone Generation Church to the station. Our latest edition of Word On the Street Magazine has been released digitally, with print copies coming next week.

Exploring Creation Science

All of the schools in this ministry are connected to one or more local church. This has allowed for some face-to-face interaction with students. We have been able to teach Sunday School for both the children and youth at the Inayawan Church of the Nazarene. We continue providing Explore Booklets, a USB with the lesson videos, and will teach a science lesson during kids’ church at the Universal Church of Christ Church & School in Toledo. These face-to-face opportunities have given us a chance to hand out fliers promoting the online Exploring Creation Science lessons. We have also continued to provide online lessons and Explore Booklets for students. Lessons online continue with the Nazarene school in Banawa.

Prayer Requests:

  1. Please pray for all of the students and staff we have been able to meet and minister to – that their love for Jesus would grow and that they’d be bold witnesses in their communities.
  2. Pray for the local churches we have recently been able to connect with more, including: Inayawan Church of the Nazarene, Capstone Generation Church, Universal Church of Christ in Toledo, and the Toledo Alliance Church.
  3. Pray for preparations as we get ready for Pastor Tim and Sharon to arrive, and us to depart for a short visit to the USA.
December 19, 2021 River Falls Ministry

What do church, gingerbread houses, and cookies have in common? This is how we ended out the semester in River Falls. Keep reading to find out more!

Church in the Heart of Campus

We recently had our final meeting of Believers Campus Church for the semester. We’re thankful to have the space on campus this semester and meet a lot of people looking for church. Many came and went, but some stuck around to hear God’s word taught each week. Complying with the university mask mandate is a relational barrier that we’ve needed to overcome, but people have really made the best of the now-familiar strangeness.

Christmas Party

This is where gingerbread houses and cookies come in. Street Level ended the final meeting for the semester with a Christmas Party. With the students help planning and executing, we baked (and ate) cookies, had a gingerbread house making contest, played trivia, ate pizza, and overall had a good time of fellowship. The party was during finals week, so was a good way to spend the last meeting together.

Looking into 2022

Overall, 2021 has been a challenging and blessed time. We’re thankful for work God has done in our lives and others, and now we have another year ahead of us. We will be using winter break to pray and prep for 2022. Before we know it, Campus Church will be back in our familiar room, Street Level will be fellowshipping, and we’ll no doubt have new stories to share about God’s work.

Please pray for….

  • The Spirit to work in individuals lives, giving them a desire to fully serve God.
  • Wisdom as to what and how to plan for the next semester.
  • The effectiveness of coffeehouse ministry to both disciple and outreach.

For Further Information

November 24, 2021 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read what has been going on at Shofar Mission as we continue the mission God has given us.

Street Level Ministries

Street Level has been meeting weekly for discussions about big questions in the Christian faith: “Why Did Jesus Have to Die?” “How Can I Have Faith?” and “Why and How Do I Pray?” We have one new member who got connected by seeing a Facebook ad. We’re still meeting online, but making plans for when universities start meeting face-to-face again. The WOTS writers have been working on Issue 89 and distributing Issue 88. One of the SLR DJ’s has been hosting a weekly radio show from the office. At the end of October, we hosted a phygital Halloween party. A couple members joined us at the office! In December, Pastor Jonah will lead one of our Friday discussions, and we’ll finish out the semester with a Christmas murder mystery party.

Exploring Creation Science

Students and staff continue to tune in and engage each week with online lessons. One addition has been adding experiments with basic materials that schools can do as a whole group and observe over the course of the week. We have been able to see a few students in person. Those 12-18 are allowed out and those under 12 can be out if accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult. At the end of October, the school and church staffs that we work with were fully vaccinated. This has allowed for a conversation about more interactions with teachers and school administration. Since everyone is fully vaccinated opportunities to teach a lesson from a school with the teacher and share a meal with school administration are in the works. Exploring Creation Science also continues to provide Daily Bible Readings and staff reading plans for students.

Shofar Youth Network

We have continued to communicate with various churches and ask how their youth ministries are going. In some cases, school administration and pastors are also the ones that lead church youth groups. Since the youth had been unable to go out of the house, we were able to recommend a few ideas to a couple of youth groups in the city. As we start the new year, we are planning to continue providing resources and sponsorships to youth groups.

Prayer Requests

  1. Please pray for students to remain firm in their faith over the holiday season and in their conversations with family.
  2. Pray that those eligible for boosters would see the importance of getting them.
  3. Please continue to pray that people would follow minimum public health standards (wearing of facemask and social distancing) and get vaccinated.
  4. Pray that we would continue to get creative with ways to see people and minister in person as the new year begins.

November 19, 2021 River Falls Ministry

Over the past month we have been involved in the missions season which consisted of two trips to Louisiana. Because of our involvement several people have stepped up to support the ministry and fill the gaps for those travelling. Many thanks go out to those people and we are very thankful for those who have made our involvement in missions season possible.

Campus Church and Street Level

One Wednesday we met at the coffeehouse with the students to watch the Free Burma Rangers video. There was discussion and a lot of thoughtful questions. The material was difficult to process and it was a good challenge for all involved.

Matt came down from Duluth on a Wednesday evening to teach in church on Campus. We continue to have new students come to both the Monday study as well as church. As we draw closer to the end of the semester, it can often be easy to coast into the Holidays. Please pray for consistency in attendance and desire to for fellowship in the church community.

Campus Church in the Trimbelle River Room
Street Level, Monday Night

Word on the Street

Several students are showing interest in service opportunities and getting more involved in the community. This month there was a writing event for WOTS at the coffeehouse in River Falls on a Thursday night where we hosted the Menomonie crew. The WOTS team from Menomonie will continue to engage collaboratively with the students in River Falls. This is a great discipleship and fellowship opportunity for those involved.

Word on the Street Collaboration Meeting

Prayer Requests

Future planning in River Falls for the winter and spring months to come.

For students who are travelling home for the holidays that there is focus on desire to engage God and other Christians in their community.

Students as they are completing end of semester projects and exams.

Pray for a desire in the students and the rest of the church community to step up their service and commitment to things that God has planned for them.

September 16, 2020 Street Level College Ministries

Getting Started

Street Level has started back up for the Fall, 2020 semester! The UW-Stout students returned to on Labor Day weekend, with classes beginning last week. Street Level welcomed returning students back to Menomonie with a backyard hangout at the Street Level House.

New Location

This fall we have a new location and time for our weekly meeting on Monday night. We will gather weekly at 5pm in The Commons (Elk Creek Room) for on-campus prayer. The plan is to read a short devotional together and spend time praying for our classmates, the campus, and other current needs.

We have also been invited to join The Blind Munchies for a weekly college dinner and bible discussion. The dinner is free and begins at 6pm. The bible discussion will follow at 7pm. All college students are welcome!

Pressing On

The rules of engagement may have changed. But our goal is the same: to build God’s kingdom through discipleship of university students at Stout.

Street Level provides opportunities for college students to serve God in through our varied ministry outlets. You can become a member of Street Level and begin serving God in our magazine, radio station, coffeehouse, or creative team. We also go on retreats, mission trips, etc. We have a discipleship house. And we are supported by a great church.

God wants you to grow in your Christian faith. Even during your time in college.

January 16, 2020 Street Level College Ministries

Time for Some Reflection

Reflection this time of the year seems natural. Looking back over the last few months has brought about many memories, and reminders, but also the excitement of the things to come. It’s crazy that it’s already 2020 and stop and think that means Street Level is now 22 years old: 22 years of reaching out on UW-Stout’s campus and now, beyond this city and all the way across the world.  

This past fall semester saw the graduation of three of our students. One is already off to the missions field and the others are starting life after college in here in Menomonie. Keep them in prayer! This is the time where important life decisions are made and where all the time spent in Street Level and church and the things God is teaching us is put into practice. 

Winter Breaking

As we rolled into winter break, Street Level has been spending time resting and reflecting on the past semester. We have been spending time reading through blog articles as a large group and discussing topics such as if we are making actual progress or are just moving around in circles. We also spent time praying for the next semester and the students away on break, something that we are learning to do before we move forward headlong into things. To wrap up winter break we will be spending our last meeting this coming Monday to talk about our mission on campus and who we are as a group and what we seek to be as a ministry. 

Another Semester Coming

Of course what would be a spring semester kick off be without a good old fashioned game of broomball? Street Level will be looking forward to spending time with Street Level Twin Ports and Street Level River Falls as they come down to crash in Menomonie on a Friday night the first week of school and then play a good clean game of broomball the next day out at the “lake house”. We have lots to look forward to with a sledding adventure planned with OneLife at the Badlands in Febuary and hopefully no broken bones. We are also hoping to have a few guest speakers come to campus over the next semester to speak to the various Street Level branches, but will be a good opportunity to bring people in from campus.

Pray as we head into the next semester- the ground we cover depends entirely on God but you can partner with us to lift up the plans we have and the unexpected twists that are yet to come to bring fruit and to help us bring Students into a closer, deeper relationship with God.