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California, Dallas, & San Antonio

Hi everyone,

I hope you've been staying cool in the heat, and staying safe if you live along the coast. If anyone suffered any damage and there's anything I can do or people I can connect you with, please don't hesitate to reach out! Praying for y'all.

Summer Growth

Just because students are taking a break doesn't mean that God has been! He's still been moving and maturing them as disciples, getting them ready for this coming school year! Two students in particular come to mind. I've gotten to keep up with Jaden and Luke over the summer. Luke is in town taking summer classes, and Jaden and I have been Facetiming from California to Texas, continuing to study the Bible together where we left off in May.

You may remember Jaden - I shared a bit of his story and his coming to know Jesus this semester in a ministry update a few months ago!

A wise man once said, "If you make your life about climbing the ladder, you'll pass Jesus on his way down."
Jaden told me a couple weeks ago that this idea has really impacted him, and is one of the main things he's felt God teaching him this year. He designed this graphic as a reminder to himself of this truth and sent it to me. I thought it was so cool! I hope it blesses you today as well.

(As of 2 minutes ago when he told me he's officially accepting,) Luke is going to be one of our student leaders this year! He just finished his freshman year and comes from a family of disciples who have dedicated their lives to spreading the gospel across the world.

He's nervous and excited to lead this year, and said that the ministry conference he went to in May (SICM) really opened his eyes to the kind of leader he could be. He got a group of guys together last month to go play disc golf, which may sound like a small thing, but that's a big step for him in planning and coordinating an outing. I'm excited to watch God continue to grow this skill this year, as Luke strives to make and mature disciples on SMU's campus!

Summer Focus

Jaden and Luke aren't the only students who have been active this summer! 

We've been continuing to have our weekly fellowship nights in Richardson on Thursdays. 

All of the FOCUS students across DFW who are staying in town over the summer get together weekly to worship and re-connect with friends!

Say hi to Sophie lol
We went to UTA together and are now co-laborers for the gospel on staff with FOCUS. She's an incredible woman and minister!

San Antonio

Erin and I got to take a fun overnight trip down to San Antonio a couple weeks ago to celebrate our 2-year anniversary! (Which is actually today!)

Our favorite stop was a museum called Hopscotch, which had a bunch of interactive light-displays and optical illusions.

Speaking of optical illusions

Good luck not having nightmares

Naturally, I made time for a round of disc golf while we were down there. Erin captured a picture the putt that secure my under-par round! Woohoo

This only applies to a handful of you, but Communion Park was a very cool, half wooded 9-hole course right off the highway! I would definitely recommend if you ever go down to visit.

The summer has been restful and rejuvenating! I'm so stoked for the school year to start up, and the pulse I can sense from our new student leaders is that they feel the same way. I have a feeling that this is going to be a really neat year of ministry at SMU (and I'm not just saying that). Please be praying for our students as they wrap up their breaks and gear up for another year of school and ministry! I'm so grateful for you and hope these updates come as encouragements to you.

Your brother,
Taylor

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