SundayApril26,2015|devo26

fromusSeniors...

HiSeniors:)

You have been graciously and

in raw form, sharing words of
life not just on Fridays through
a mic at the Branch but in and
through the stunning revelation
thatisyourfinalsemester.

There has been such a

willingness on your parts to be
vulnerable. And its that
vulnerability thats solidified the
impact youve molded into so
manyheartsandmindsatBrown.AndnotjustforyourfellowSeniors...

Couple days ago, Ioverheard, well, eavesdropped as Yao wasmakingplanstohangout with

a first year. He got a hug for it later to inform him that his willingness to invest time in the
youngins was super encouraging. And thats not an anomaly,rather thats the norm for you
guys. Yall have challenged, inspired and catalyzed a legacy which will bear witness as new
leaders rise up for the sake of the Gospel at Brown in the coming years. Your relational
investment outshines your academic investment and I fully believe Jesus is giving you the
slowclapforthatchoice.

So my last challenge toyouherebelow,wasbornout oftherelationalexamplethatyourlives

have so aptly depicted. And please understand my intent these are thoughts, merely a
scaffolding to beusedbyyouthearchitecthoweveryouseefit.Hayoucouldtotallythrowthis
out and come up with your own post graduation plan...butI do hope that you will recognize
theimportanceofmovingonwithintention.

thepostBrownaccountability/encouragementnetwork
(catchytitle:P)
Basically, its about being intentional to stay connected during your transitional time
post graduation. This will hopefully not only bless/equip you but also those you stay
connected with and those with whom you are forming new relationships. Heres a possible
andbasicoutline:

1. Purpose
:To facilitateaplaninvolvingindividuals(3groups)whotheSeniorcanstayin
contactwithaftergraduation.
2. Duration
:First6monthsaftercommencement.

3. Goal
: To flee from isolation! bystaying connected with Christian brothers and sisters
from your Brown experience while theSeniortransitions,potentially toanewcity,new
church,newexperience,newfriendships.

The3(potential)groups
:
1. PeersFellowGraduatingSeniors
:
a. ConnectHow:viatxt,FB,orcallonceperweek.
b. ConnectWith:at leasttwoothergraduatingpeerswhy?strandofthreechords
isnoteasilybrokenEcc.4:12
c. Purpose:Youhavedeeprelationalinvestments withothergraduatesasaresult
of your time at Brown dont just toss that aside as a memory to scrapbook.
Your sacrificial love for each other can implore you to not settle for anything
lessthanGodsbestaftergraduationifyouallowthatlovetocontinuetohavea
voice in your life. Sokeep itrealwithyourfriendswithurgentprayerneeds,be
asoundingboard,etc.

2. Older Mentor
Church Pastor, branch staff, wise Grandma, etc.
(someone who
willcommittoprayingfortheseniorfor6monthsandscheduleacallonceamonth)
a. ConnectHow:onecallpermonth
b. Talking Points: you establishwith the persontopicsyouwantthemtoask/keep
you accountable to, example: hows God treating me, howamItreatingGod,
haveIconnectedwithachurch,amIorganizedwithmybills,etc.
c. Purpose: Prayer support and guidance on general and/or specific life topics.
Sometimes its easier to heartheadviceofatrusted,godlyindividualwhosnot
directlyinvolvedinourdaytodaylives.

3. YoungerStudent
:
pickonecurrentundergradstudentyouwanttoseesucceed
a. ConnectHow:email,call,etconcepermonth
b. Prayforthemduringthe6monthsregardingtopicsspecifictothem
c. Possible topics to converse about include: spiritual goals, academic goals,
friendshipgoals,charactergoals,etc
d. Purpose: To be a needed blessing for a college student facing the rigors of
Brown and encourage themtofindothersoncampustheycanleanonasthe6
month duration winds to an end. This will also infuse in you the habitof being
missional...a habit that will likely bear fruit when you begin to make new
relationships and God puts on your heart new individuals to invest in
relationally.

Looking back at my post graduation decisions, I can see such potentialin my friendshipwith
Erik...we couldve locked arm in arm, shouldered burdens for each other as we moved on
from college life. I think about what it couldve been like to have Pastor Jim or JoePoasthe
behindthescenesdudeinmylifetoaskmethehardquestions...Icouldveusedtheirprayers.

And I think about Ian as he continued onatOSUaftermytimehadendedhehadlookedup

tome.Wesharedabondthatcouldvecontinuedfruitfully.

Understand thatthis isntregret but simply an honestassessment.ThetransitionsEllynnand

Ive made have been more difficult as we have tended tolet go ofour connections so to go
into our new adventure on our own. It got lonely quickly and even unhealthy at times. Sowe
now are planning for our next transition from Providence in about a year and will heed our
own advice above. And we understand that the transitional timeis temporary hence the 6
month durationsuggestedabove.Eventuallynewpeerandmentorrelationshipswillform,and
those undergradsweve invested inwillbegin(aswewillencouragethem)toinvestandrely
onothersaroundthem.

Our prayer is that your next transition willbe better than ours in the past not mistake free,
but simply more aware and better equipped. Remember that very first email we sent to you
lastsemester...

This Sunday, you and your fellow seniors will start receiving a weekly
devotional from us the dream is, well its you. You are the dream. As REN
church says, to see youbecomethefullestexpressionofwhoGodcreatedyou
tobe.

GodBlessYou!
~YourSeniorYear