Happy New Year!

There is something about the New Year that brings with it a renewed sense of hope and possibility.  I can not put my finger on “why” this is exactly, but I am reminded of a verse in Isaiah (Is 40:31) that reads,” but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  It would not surprise me a bit to  find out one of the reasons God created seasons was to give us physical metaphors and reminders of renewal.  His very ministry to humanity is founded on “renewal!”  If anyone is in Christ, ‘…he is a new creation; the old has gone, and the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17)

With each new year our Lord gives us new opportunity!  That is why I am excited personally, and that is what excites me with what God would allow us to accomplish together through Dream Of Destiny in 2010.  What we want to achieve has not been, to my knowledge, accomplished before in the history of the Stone/ Cambell, Restoration movement.

By the fall of 2011 Dream Of Destiny seeks to help at least 250 students of diverse, ethnic background attend bible college or seminary. Why students of “diversity”? For a few reasons:

Fix cost of college had increased dramatically and continue to increase every year.
The per-student cost is higher at smaller schools since the costs are distributed among fewer students.
In general, college enrollment has historically increased during a recession, until now. The tightening of credit requirement and student loans has made it very difficult for students to secure financial aid.  EVEN LESS AFRICAN AMERICAN, ASIAN, AND LATINO are enrolling in bible college.  As America continues to increase in its diversity, we MUST find a way to prepare the next generation of diverse leaders to minister to meet the needs of America.
As Europe has trended, the US is experiencing a mass secularization of general thought by the younger generations, including Christians in high school.

Relativism is in, absolutes are out.
Students are finding it less and less compelling to choose more expensive, private bible college over it’s larger, less expensive, public competitors.

While cross cultural studies and missions exist at most bible colleges, ethnic and cultural diversity in it’s student body and faculty does not.

Every year the cultural landscape on bible college campuses looses pace with the changing diverse cultural landscape of society, rendering bible college more irrelevant and outdated in the minds of students more than ever before.

Yet it’s more important than ever to help next generation leaders NOW by helping more students of diverse ethnic backgrounds attend bible college and seminary.

That’s why we are asking you to partner with Dream Of Destiny!
Dream of Destiny desires to help make attending bible college viable for more students who represent ethnically diverse backgrounds.
Dream Of Destiny is committed to doing it’s part in reversing these trends, but we need your help.

If just 250 churches within our brotherhood, each, decided to scholarship one student we reach our goal.
If just 500 ministries, out of the 5000 within our association, decided to scholarship half of one students scholarship,
we reach our goal.  While it has never been done before, this goal is very achievable.
We just have to be intentional!

Will you start off the New Year by being a Destiny Leader and help this goal happen?
Over the next 52 weeks will you be a part of making this dream come true for 250 students?
What will you do with your next 52?

Please click the link below and make a pledge to help students to bible college!
http://new.dreamofdestiny.org/donate-or-pledge/

Teamwork is the Only thing that will make this DREAM WORK!