As we get ready for HMCC’s Undergrad Retreat this weekend, I really sense that God is going to do some amazing things. Many of us have been praying hard this past week, asking God to show up and show His unbelievable power.

I’ve gone to so many retreats in my short lifetime and the ones that stick out to me the most are those where God just shows up in wonder – and leave everyone awestruck. I have been talking to a lot of undergrads this past week and there seems to be a great anticipation for this weekend. Some comments that I have heard this week:

God desires to redeem business for his glory. In high school, I was directionless and passionless. But God had grand plans for me, calling me towards business and the poor, to the University of Michigan, to Harvest Mission Community Church, and eventually to Christian Business Initiative (CBI). I knew nothing of these plans back in high school. Even now, I know so little of where God is taking me, but I’m in it for the ride because I trust that God has a well-designed plan ahead.

When I was in high school, I played on both the football and wrestling team, each for one season. My parents were extremely hesitant about me participating in these sports because they didn’t want me to jeopardize playing in the orchestra or see me fail AP Physics. However, I eventually convinced them that I had to play these sports through strategic whining and complaining – they reluctantly agreed.

When I think about those who have gone before us in spreading the Gospel – i.e. William Carey, Adoniram Judson, Amy Carmichael, Mother Teresa, the Apostle Paul – and the struggles, battles, and persecutions that they faced, I realize that the intensity and the fervency in bringing Christ to our spheres today should be no different. However, many of us will look at the Transformasphere Movement and use it as an excuse to move towards a life of greater comfort and security.

I graduated from the University of Michigan in 2002 and decided to take a year off before “diving in” to whatever it was I was supposed to dive in to. I had finished all my pre-requisites for the field of medicine, but for some reason I still wasn’t thoroughly convinced this was my path – that this was the direction I was supposed to move forward in. I knew I wanted to help people, and becoming a doctor sounded like a good idea. Not only would I be helping people, but I would have the prestige and the great salary to go along with it.

I had the chance to meet Jacqueline Novogratz and the Acumen Fund team in NYC a few months ago. Acumen is a philathropic venture capital nonprofit that takes charitable dollars and invests in scalable and sustainable organizations serving those at the base of the pyramid. Investments are made in water, health, housing, and energy.

This video below is definitely worth the watch, even if you are not a business person.

Can God use venture capital and private equity for the Kingdom? You better believe it.

HMCC's Med Outreach Team will be conducting an interactive presentation and introduction on what dentistry is using diagrams as well as providing some instruction on proper diet (what food is good, what is bad) on Tuesday, October 9th at the Hikone Community Center. Additionally, they will be providing some teaching how to brush/floss properly. During this time, they will give out toothbrushes to the children so they can practice their technique. Members of the team will help them and make sure that their technique is appropriate (provide individualized attention).

This wasn’t supposed to happen. By now, I should’ve been in medical school. Or at least medical school bound. But then a failed class in genetics, a few retreats, and a couple of summer missions trips later, here I am.

As we have been trying to get the Transformasphere Movement in high gear, there have been some questions raised regarding how some professions fall into the seven spheres (CHARGED). One group of professionals in particular in our church who has been asking questions is the engineers. How does engineering fit into the Transformasphere Movement? There does not seem to be a clear category. Why are we being left out? (And I am sure that there are other professionals in other fields who are asking similar questions).

“M.I.T. has nurtured dozens of Nobel Prize winners in cerebral realms like astrophysics, economics and genetics. But lately, the institute has turned its attention toward concrete thinking to improve the lives of the world’s bottom billion, those who live on a dollar a day or less and who often die young.”