Robert & Noemi

When Lisa first joined the staff of IVCF she had a dual role as Urban Project Director and as Campus Minister at Fresno State.  Her first year on staff, she had a staff partner that assisted with the campus work at Fresno State.  After the first year, her partner left staff leaving Lisa to fly solo on campus. 

The higher ups in IVCF figured they would just end the Fresno State chapter, let it lay dormant for a year or two, and wait for reinforcements of additional staff in the coming years.  Lisa appealed and recommended they don’t close the chapter but let her continue to serve the dual role and invest primarily in the student leaders that were a part of the Fresno State IVCF chapter.  The higher ups said, “ok, good luck with that”.  Lisa remained faithful and invested heavily in the student leaders.  Robert and Noemi are two of those leaders.  Now, they are serving as Intervarsity Staff.  The IVCF chapter remains today and is strong.  Additionally, Robert went on to pioneer an IVCF chapter at Fresno City College, which also is strong despite its newness. 

Robert & Noemi have remained friends with Lisa and Lisa continues to pray for and encourage them.  We were excited to have them visit our new home and new neighborhood and to worship with them at Living Hope.  They stayed with us for a few days.  The visit, as are most visits with folks you love and miss and love being around, felt short.  When they left, I had a deep sense of pride, the kind of pride one might have in their children or in a family member.  I am proud at the leaders that they have become.  And proud of the way they are following Jesus.  I was proud of my wife, who had invested in them years ago, even when most would have stopped because they wanted to or had permission to.  I was proud that she continues to invest in them now,, years later.  

And I was full of joy, because in between then and now, the Kingdom of God had come near and we all noticed, and rejoiced because of it.