Meet the CSU Staff Team

Many of you might wonder who I am laboring with on the Colorado State Campus. This team that God has assembled brings me a tremendous amount of joy each day and I have an ample amount of thanksgiving to Jesus for bringing us together. I love this team and I am excited to see how God continues to use us on the campus this upcoming semester. 

Jim Rinella

Jim is our Campus director at Colorado State. He has been on staff with the Navigators for around 30 years!  Jim is happily married to Linda and they have 2 boys Michael (16) and Matthew (14). Jim is a tremendous leader. He is also our regional director for the Rocky Mountain Region. He has a very large role on our campus and in our region yet doesn't miss a beat. He is very compassionate to our students and is committed to excellence. I enjoy working with Jim because he encourages me while shepherding me in my first year of full time Christian work. He makes God and family his top 2 priorities respectively and I admire that. We have a large ministry at CSU, around 300 students. It is probably the 2nd largest in the country for Nav collegiate ministries. Jim is committed to student leadership and his vision has been highly influential in our ministry.

Brad and Jeanne Miller 

Brad and Jeanne have been laboring with the Navigators for around 40 years! I am so grateful for this couple that I have been walking through life with for about 2 years now. Last year, Brad and Jeanne hosted an alumni study at their home and it was highly impactful in my growth in knowledge of God but also in my love for the body of Christ. Brad has been mentoring me for over a year and he points me to the truth of the Scriptures every time we meet. Brad is involved with starting Navigator ministries around the state that are volunteer led (Nav-fusion) . He is a great Sunday school teacher with a bunch of "old boogers" at his local church. I occasionally attend his class and it's great to see these people who have been walking with Jesus for many years still desire to grow in their faith. Every week Brad and Jeanne open their home for the EDGErs from CSU, Northern Colorado and CU-Boulder for our staff bible study and it brings me much joy. Brad and Jeanne love Jesus with their entire being and my desire is to imitate their faith and love they have for people. 

Dan Boryla

Boryla (sounds like Gorilla) is one of my best friends. When I came to faith in Christ in the summer of 2008, Boryla was in the highly impactful men's bible study that God used to get ahold of my heart. Dan and I have been growing together, spurring each other on, and praying together ever since. Dan is a great brother in Christ who I can be real with and he will tell me what I need to hear, even if I don't want to hear it. He brings truth to my life and it's awesome to share our first year on staff together. Dan is a great leader for our ministry. He is incredibly relational with the students; he has a gift of witnessing to non-Christians; grows the best facial hair in all of the land; and loves Jesus. 

Michelle Marie Magnus

Michelle is a beautiful young woman and in her first year on staff. She is truly one of a kind and a gift from the Lord to our team. She enjoys meeting with her girls for discipleship; helping run numerous behind the scene things for the ministry; supports me in some of my roles on campus; and brings such a calming aspect to our team that is remarkable. Michelle volunteers at a coffee shop in Fort Collins and loves spending time with her friends there. She is also using her gifts for our local church, The Crossing. Michelle is from Denver area and has 2 loving parents and 2 awesome siblings (Josh & Jenny). Michelle and I have been dating for about 4 months and it's been excellent to share the work of the ministry with one another. ;)

The Colorado State Navigator Staff team has been a highlight of my EDGE experience thus far. Our weekly staff meetings and interactions together throughout the week have been great. Our leadership seeks Jesus with everything they have. Dan, Michelle and I are growing together in our first year and I hope that we can look back on this year and see God's hand guiding us through His work on CSU's campus. 

Would you pray for:

1. Unity on our team  as we continue to labor shoulder to shoulder?
2. God's to speak clearly to Jim and Brad?
3. We will be used in big ways this semester to help students to come to know Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him?

Thank you guys for your continued support and love! I hope you're enjoying these updates. I'll keep em coming! Feel free to comment below.

Here are some more pictures of our EDGE team:

 Brad and Jeanne back in the day. Whatta Stache!

 Jim and his bride Linda!

 EDGE bible study at the Miller's w/ CSU, UNC and CU

 Jeanne caught us hard at work one afternoon

 This was at our EDGE Summit in December with over 100 other EDGE staff around the country!

 EDGE photo session last summer! I love these guys!

Bible Study Update

The following post is an update on an end of the year support letter I sent out. My monthly partners did not receive this letter but I still wanted to share this good news with you all!

December 2010

As the fall semester is coming to a close, I’m grateful for the prayers and support I’ve received from people all over the country. Your prayers are powerful and effective and I want to say thank you.

 At the start of the semester I had no experience in leading a bible study. I expected to be eased into leading a small freshman study. God had different plans! Seeing the need for upperclassmen and freshmen study leaders I stepped out in faith and was willing to be used by God. These bible studies have been astonishing. The men in both studies come faithfully each week to go deep and have their lives changed by the gospel. I have developed some great relationships with these men and I’m thankful that the Lord put it on my heart to lead both studies.

Many times I have felt inadequate in my leading but I constantly have to remind myself that I am not the leader; God leads by His Spirit and we all follow. 

“…apart from me, you can do nothing.”  -John 15:5

January 7, 2011

Here is a picture taken in October of the Sophomore Studs! We studied The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges. It was challenging to myself to grow in the Holiness that the Lord calls us to and I am praying that it continues to challenge these sophomore men for the rest of their lives. I've been praying for them over the Christmas break. Will you join me in prayer that these men pursue holiness; that they return to study this semester; and that I will be used by Jesus to lead these young men into a deeper relationship with Him?

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. -1 Thessalonians 4:7