My Dear Friends-

I have something very important to share with you all, and I hate that it's through an email. Please know if I could be sitting with each of you, face to face, and sharing with you, that's the way I would have it. However, as much as we tried to protect that so you could hear on a personal level we ended up sharing this with our ministry as a whole last night and some of you know already.

First of all, thank you so much for investing in this ministry and my life through your words, finances, and encouragement. I have been a part of Grace Campus over the past, well, almost 9 years-- first as a student and then as staff. I am humbled to see all that God has done in me and through this ministry to change and influence lives for the kingdom. We have seen many come to Christ, grow as leaders, and answer the call on their lives for full time ministry, but more than that we have seen the glory of God in our midst. I stand in awe of HIM more today than when I first started.

After praying about this for more than a year, my boss, Matt Dean, and his wife April sensed a clear calling to move their family to Hong Kong, China. They shared this burden with me this summer, when I returned from Uganda, and immediately I sensed a peace and excitement about what God had for this ministry in Hong Kong and began to pray about what my part would be. (read more on their blog) I knew that this was something so much bigger than us that God would have to orchestrate it all- the details of what, why, how, when, and where. I began to pray and seek Him on these specifics for my life.

After sharing this burden and vision for ministry to university students in Hong Kong with the Grace Campus board of directors, church pastors, family, and staff team, we have made the decision to re-plant this ministry and our lives in Hong Kong. Our board of directors has given their approval and blessing, and we will establish Grace Campus Hong Kong in the summer of 2009.

Right now in Auburn, we are in conversation with several local church leaders regarding how we can be unified in this process as we continue to love and serve Auburn students by connecting them to the church. There is still a great sense of momentum on Auburn's campus. We are humbled to be a part of what He is doing here. I will maintain the relationships in ministry I have formed here until time to go to Hong Kong.

October 10-20, our staff team went to Hong Kong where we established multiple ministry partnerships, visited college campuses, made connections with several local churches, and volunteered with Passion's World Tour by the grace of God. What a humbling experience every conversation, connection and experience was! I left this vision trip anxious to be back in the place and the ministry that I feel He has been shaping in me to do. I know I am not the same because of what God has done in me over the last few months.

Here are the facts that motivate us to go: Hong Kong is uniquely positioned as a gateway city to mainland China. In Hong Kong, more than 100,000 university students across multiple campuses in live and study; about 20% of those students are from mainland China. Less than 5% of the 7.3 million people living in Hong Kong profess faith in Jesus.









For the most part, collegiate ministry is overlooked by the local Church in HK, but we believe this is one of the most strategic times to influence men and women as they determine their values and future direction. With great joy, we want to serve the Church by influencing the next generation to know and love Jesus Christ.

On November 20th, we will share the story at Encounter of how God has worked in our lives, and our process of walking into this next season of life together. This will be the next-to-last Encounter ever and I would LOVE to see you there hear the story He is writing before our very eyes- it's a story of Himself and His heart for His people. Knowing that His "light will shine when all else fades, never ending [His] glory goes beyond all fame." Jesus is the goal. He is worth everything. I am fully compelled and convinced that this is what He would have me to do, and this is what it looks like in my life to wholeheartedly follow my Jesus. I want to be a small part of what God's doing is Asia!

I covet your prayers and continued support, and I pray He gives you more of Himself in these days!

Held together by Him,
Katie

I would be blessed to hear your thoughts (you can respond to this email) and for you to pray towards these things:
-Comforting and challenging our students
-Preparing for this new Ministry and all that entails: learning the language, training, raising finances
-Praying against the fears that come along with it
-My personal commitment to go, that God would continue to burden me for the sake of vision- what it looks like to minister to college women in Hong Kong
-Richness in the Word, that He would shape me to look more like Himself- Some key scriptures: Romans 10, Luke 14:25-35 -