Will You Join Me?

“Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.” Psalm 82:3

Hi!

I wanted to take this opportunity to update you a little on me, and invite you to be part of something exciting happening this November. I'm entering my third year at the University of Denver, majoring in Studio Art and Journalism. My relationship with Jesus has grown so much and I have been incredibly blessed with the the friends I have made and amazing communities I am part of. One of these is Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ). I've been involved since my first year, where I have met my closest friends and joined the Leadership Team. This winter, Cru is going on a mission project to South Asia! 
 

Though I can't disclose the exact location I'd love to tell you what we'll be doing. We will be spending many afternoons talking with students on college campuses about their lives and religious beliefs and in turn sharing with them the good news of Jesus' love for them and the hope of salvation. We will also be working with the homes for the destitute and dying and working with women and girls who have been rescued out of the sex-slave industry. 
 

The country is predominately Muslim and Hindu, and less than 1% of the population are Christians. Women and young girls are forced into prostitution. There are millions of orphaned children. South Asia is desperately in need of hope and salvation, which I truly believe can only be found through the gospel of Jesus' love and grace for all. I can't express my excitement to be part of sharing the good news of Jesus with people who have may have never even heard about Him before. 
 

There is an established Cru team in this country, with seven dedicated staff in a city of 20 million. They are ministering in slums, on college campuses, and planting churches. Denver Cru has a partnership with this country, Cru has served there before and will continue to serve as the Lord leads. Our vision, as Cru, is to see this ministry grow as more churches are planted, the good news of Jesus' love is preached, and we continue to see God move in South Asia. 
 

I'm asking you to partner with me on this project, both prayerfully and financially. The mission trip is from November 26 to December 5, and the cost is $3,000. This will cover travel, food, and other expenses such as shots and a visa. I need to have all the money raised by November 23. Would you consider partnering with me with a gift of $50, $100, or more? Of course, however the Lord leads you give is the right amount and such a blessing. All gifts are tax deductible and checks should be made out to “Cru.” On a trip like this, your prayers are most necessary and so appreciated, as we go into the darkness and spread the light of Jesus Christ. 
 

Please mail your gift to me at 1930 S. York Street #207, Denver, CO 80210. There is also opportunity to give online. If you would prefer this option, go online to give.cru.org and type in account #2875125. Please indicate that the gift is for Katy Owens in both the “Add Comment For GPI WSN India Partnership” and the “Add Comments For Donation Services” boxes. The account is a general account for the whole team, so I will not be notified of your gift. Please contact me via phone (314-616-3319) or email (katy.owens.du2014@gmail.com) to let me know about your gift.

Matthew 25:40 reads, “The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'” I feel so blessed to have this opportunity to go out and be the hands and feet of Christ and serve “the least of these.” Thank you for your support, I am so blessed for individuals like you who can help make this journey possible.

Love,

Katy

So Long, Too Long

Whew! It has been forever since I've blogged. Life has been insanely crazy and I'm busy all the time. I'm in a few art classes, which are super fun, but quite time-consuming! Top that off with my other classes (writing and videography-intensive), leading a small group and being super involved in Cru, plus spending time with Jesus and attempting to have a social life and...blogging is difficult to fit in.

Speak of Cru...

I love it. Formerly Campus Crusade for Christ, it's something that has been part of my life for, well, ever really. My parents met when they were both on staff with Cru on a project in Hawaii. They fell in love, got married, yada yada, moved to Arkansas to work for Cru at the University of Arkansas, had me, and we moved to Russia when I was three months old to be missionaries in a still rather communist country (the wall fell only a year or two before we were there). My parents have more awesome stories of our times there than I, as we left when I was a mere five years old, and I can't remember much more than snow, sleds, and other fun childish memories.

I always planned to do Cru in college, and when I got to the University of Denver, I did! I didn't get super involved my freshman year (so busy, so many clubs) but by my second year I was a bit more settled and found my niche. During my third quarter I joined the leadership team and have been super involved with Cru ever since.

God showed me during that year He wanted me to work for Cru after graduation. This is a desire He has been re-affirming in the past few weeks and months, and I am unbelievably excited for the years to come when I can work with college students (and the amazing Denver staff!) and spread the love of Jesus.

Not that I can't spread the gospel now!

God has really been doing a lot in my life recently to show me how I need to be changing to live more passionately for Him and be more forward about my faith and sharing it with everyone and anyone, because He is awesome and how could I not talk about Him all the time? I'm sure I'll write more lengthy blog posts about this in times to come, and more about the other awesome things God is doing.

Basically He is just so faithful to show me my own sin and the ways I need to be changing to live more for Him. I mess up all the time, I'm selfish and live for myself, and He gently reminds me to put Him on the throne and stop putting me, me, me first. It's so humbling to see how deeply He loves me even though I'm so unworthy of this love. It's also so freeing and so empowering! I would do anything for this God who loves me so much!

And I'm getting the opportunity to do sweet things for Him right now. Over winter break I have been blessed with the opportunity to go to South Asia with Cru. I am beyond excited for this opportunity. I will be posting lots about this trip, my heart for going there and the service we will be doing, and the logistics of the trip itself. We are raising our own support, and I'll definitely need people to partner with me, both financially and most importantly, prayerfully!

It is incredible to be loved so fully and so perfectly by Jesus. Having that love means I should be going out and sharing it with others, loving people like Jesus loves us (1 Corinthians 13) and going out into the nations to share this gospel of good news - that Jesus loves. It's so simple and so beautiful and I am so thankful I get the opportunity to go to South Asia to spread this truth!