Posts tagged ‘stand out’
Greatest Hits / Final Blog of the Semester
I can’t believe this semester is coming to an end. It’s exciting but sad because I won’t have any more “projects” for my blog. I wanted to display my best blogs of the semester. I really enjoyed all of my project assignments, so here they are:
1. Interactive Feature – Timeline – This timeline was one of my hardest projects; it also was one of the projects that took the most time to do. That is one of the reasons why it is my favorite. Another reason is because I am truly inspired by the person that this timeline is about.
2. Preview for Interactive Feature
3. Final Project – Profile Story – This project was another hard one that took a lot of time to do. I enjoyed getting to write a profile piece about my pastor because I learned a lot of information that I never knew about him before.
4. Preview for Final Project
5. Multimedia Interview – This project also took a long time to do. I loved all of my interview assignments. They required more work than all of my other assignments, but it was worth it in the end.
6. Preview for Multimedia Interview
7. Photo Essay – This assignment received the most hits throughout the semester (mostly because it was posted on Facebook so that everyone I interviewed could read what I wrote about them). It was a simple project for my first assignment, but it was fun to do.
8. Preview of Photo Essay
9. Other Interviews – I also enjoyed interviewing people who attend different churches in South Jersey: Cristina and Alison.
I would like to continue to update this blog after my class ends. I’m not sure if I want to change the focus off of being strictly for encouraging Christian college students or not. I will create new posts when I make my decision, so keep checking to see what is to come!
Preview for Multimedia Interview
Nate Peña preaching at The Rock of Salvation Church. By: Cristina Garcia
My next post is going to be a multimedia interview on Nate Peña. He works full-time as the office manager of an animal hospital, has a wife and newborn daughter, and is the youth minister at Maranatha Revival Church. Peña is only 24 years old. The interview is very in-depth so I don’t want to reveal too much, but I will share a couple of things that I wasn’t able to share in the multimedia interview.
When speaking about his job, Peña says that God gave him favor. He was looking for a full-time job, and was called for an interview at Bandfield Animal Hospital. However, the position he was interviewing for was only part-time. The person speaking with him said that Peña didn’t qualify for the full-time job because he didn’t have the experience. Also, there were other people applying for the job, who had the experience. However when they called him back, Peña was given the full-time position. When Peña asked why they chose to offer him the job, they told him they liked something about him. Peña says that God’s favor is the reason why he received this job.
The interview mentions that Peña is involved in an evangelism team at his church that was developed about a year ago. He said that a few of his youth and him hold signs at two different locations: on the street outside of Vineland High School and in downtown Vineland. The signs have evangelical messages on them. The young people who are involved in this team are not afraid to stand out. Click here to see Maranatha’s facebook page.
“We want our church to reflect that the gospel has no cultural boundaries,” Peña said. We are not a Spanish church—we’re just a church.” Peña has been the youth minister at his church for two and a half years. He says that the youth group will be having their first youth rally in December. Click here to see various videos of Peña preaching at his church.
Photo Essay
Eight different members of The Rock of Salvation Church of Vineland, NJ, were asked three questions: “How long have you been at The Rock? What do you like about going to a bilingual church? What would you say to encourage Christian college students?” Each person gave a variety of answers.
By: Stephanie Rockliss
Felix Galafa Jr. has been going to The Rock for about two years. He says he likes going to a bilingual church because it’s helped him with his Spanish. Galafa says students should encourage each other. “Randomly call each other with a word of encouragement—use facebook and text scriptures; share testimonies. Invite others, who aren’t Christian, for all the above.”
Natasha Guadalupe (left) ministers in a skit at a church block party. By: Stephanie Rockliss
Natasha Guadalupe has been going to The Rock for over 23 years; she was born and raised in the church. She says she likes going to a bilingual church because of the worship music. Guadalupe says she likes the diversity the music in her church has to offer. She said to encourage Christian college students: “Stay with your head held high. Just remember God is by your side and He’s there to guide you through it [school].”
By: Stephanie Rockliss
Enrique Gutierrez has been going to The Rock for about five years. He likes going to a bilingual church because “it’s able to reach out to people who not only speak Spanish, but speak English as well.” Gutierrez gives advice to Christian college students: “Try to stay away from all the temptations around on the campuses.”
Eddie Jenkins Jr. (left) ministers during worship at a youth retreat. By: Stephanie Rockliss
Eddie Jenkins Jr. has been going to The Rock for about five and a half years. “Even though I don’t know what they’re saying [Spanish], I still feel the [Holy] Spirit.” Jenkins says he would want to commend Christian college students for all of their hard work. “I admire them for sticking through in school and their faith.”
Benjamin Ocasio Jr. (left) ministers in a skit at a youth retreat. By: Stephanie Rockliss
Benjamin Ocasio Jr. has been going to The Rock for about 27 years; he was born and raised in the church. Ocasio likes going to a bilingual church. “We’re not inhibited. We have the ability to reach a greater audience.” He has advice for Christian college students who live on campus. “Do not compromise. Unfortunately, many Christians change when they get there [college]. Try to unite with someone with the same level of faith as you—while you’re pursuing your education.”
By: Stephanie Rockliss
Patricia Ocasio has been going to The Rock for about 16 years. She likes going to a bilingual church. “I’m an avid note taker so sometimes it gives me more time to write it down. It helps me to better understand my cultural language.” She gives advice to Christian college students: “Stay focused on your studies. Do well in everything you do. Be mindful of the effect you have on others.”
By: Stephanie Rockliss
Stephanie Ocasio has been going to The Rock for 22 years; she was born and raised in the church. “I just like diversity; being around different types of people—different types of music.” She said to encourage Christian college students: “It gets kinda hard sometimes when you’re surrounded by negativity. Don’t be conformed to this world. It’s good to have a social life, but don’t make that your main priority.” She says you should “surround yourself with positive people.”
By: Stephanie Rockliss
Brianna Smith has been going to The Rock for about seven years. “I enjoy hearing English and Spanish. It’s taught me a lot more Spanish,” Smith said. She gives advice to Christian college students: “Stay strong and put God first in everything you do—and everything else will follow.”
Don’t be ashamed to speak the truth
Last week, one of the posts I created was about a message from Our Daily Bread; it was about praying for others—intercessory prayer. This week I want to speak about the topic, Speaking The Truth, which is from Our Daily Bread too. I want to write about the topic in this devotional because I believe it is relevant to Christian college students. Also, the day this message was written for happens to be my birthday (October 10, 2009).
The message, Speaking The Truth, has a key bible verse: “He sent prophets to them,…but they would not listen—2 Chronicles 24:19.” I want to encourage the readers to read the corresponding verses and message here. The message says that Old Testament prophets were sent to preach, and many times the people were stubborn. It says, “Now, as representatives of the risen Christ in this world, we are to promote reconciliation, justice, and integrity… This may mean speaking the truth in the face of opposition.”
Many times as a Christian, especially in a college setting, one may feel uncomfortable with various things that their peers may be saying or doing. Also, Christians could feel like some of their professors discuss their views with their students, which could be contradictory to what Christians believe. This doesn’t mean that one should argue with the person they don’t agree with. Instead, one could calmly share what they think about the topic. It’s important that Christians don’t push their beliefs on anyone because that will only keep the person from listening to them.
Also, Christians shouldn’t feel ashamed to share what they think because others may disagree. As I shared before, Christians are called to be the salt and light of the earth. Another part of the devotion says, “It’s better to declare the truth and be rejected than to withhold the truth just to be accepted.” That may sound a little extreme, but college students need to make sure they stand for what they believe in. If these students speak the truth and believe it, they will have more confidence in unwavering when others try to sway them to do something they don’t want to do.
Salt and Light
Christians After Hours 