“Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”

— William Carey (1761–1834), pioneer of modern missions and missionary to India

This is the place for real-life updates from the front lines of campus ministry—personal stories of what God is doing at Michigan Tech, reflections on the joys and challenges of gospel work, and thoughts on books, sermons, or Scriptures that are shaping my heart for the lost.

Merry Christmas

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I’m sending this the day after Christmas so as not to distract you from the joy and warmth of your own homes on Christmas Day itself. The One who left the glory of heaven to be born in a manger continues to sustain us, not by our own strength, but by His boundless grace. This Christmas season, I pray that your homes are filled with the warmth of His presence and the deep, abiding joy that only Christ can give.

Praise God, the lingering illness that weighed on our family for weeks has finally lifted. The cough is gone, the fog has cleared, and Abigail, Elisabeth, and Asher are all fully healed again, running, laughing, and bringing light to our days. My wife is still recovering, having to carry much of the burden at home while they recovered, and your prayers were the anchor we needed. Thank you.

The Lord has also brought unexpected clarity to my own ongoing struggle with constant discomfort and sleepless nights. After months of tests and dead ends, the answer turned out to be simple: I’ve gone gluten-free, and it has made all the difference. Energy is returning, sleep is restoring, and I’m able to serve with renewed focus. God works even through dietary changes to keep His servants in the field. It seems I have joined the ranks of those unable to process the amber waves of grain. Oh well.

As we look ahead to the new semester at Michigan Tech, our hearts are set on the mission the Lord has placed before us: expanding outreach and evangelism to reach those who do not yet know Him. Our primary focus in the coming months will be engaging non-Christians with the gospel, meeting students where they are, building relationships, sharing the hope of Christ, and inviting them into the life-changing truth of God’s Word. Theres been to many examples of Christians on this campus poised to fight instead of shed light and we’re redoubling our efforts to find students who need the truth rather than an additional beating.

Just this last week of class, amid the quiet hush of snow-covered paths on campus, the Lord opened a door for gospel conversation that reminded me anew of His power to heal deep wounds and transform lives. It started with Josie, a young Catholic student who’s been carrying the heavy burden of trying to earn her way to God through endless works, prayers, rituals, good deeds, all in hopes of tipping the scales toward righteousness. She confessed how exhausted she felt, like she could never do enough, never be enough. Praise God, we were able to share the freeing truth of justification by faith alone, how Christ’s finished work on the cross is sufficient, and our efforts add nothing to His perfect sacrifice. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28), those words landed like balm on her weary soul. She is worried about leaving the Catholic church, but I look forward to her growth this next semester.

Then there’s her friend Emma, who joined the conversation, a thoughtful young woman who’s lesbian and grew up in a Seventh Day Adventist home. Her story broke my heart: raised with vivid images of gays burning in hell, but no real message of hope or salvation offered to them. Growing up in a family where no signs of affections are shown, where “boys aren’t allowed to cry”. It’s no wonder she felt burned by the church, rejected and without a path forward. We listened, acknowledged the pain inflicted by such distorted presentations of God’s justice without His mercy, and gently pointed her to the full gospel. We explained that true life, everlasting life, comes not through condemnation, but through being born again by the Spirit (John 3:3-5). It’s a supernatural change, where God doesn’t just forgive but renews us from the inside out. We talked openly about how she would need to be changed, that even her affections can be redirected by the Holy Spirit’s power, as He conforms us to Christ’s image and sets our desires on what honors Him. It’s not about earning or performing; it’s surrendering to the One who loves us enough to make us new.

These encounters fuel my prayers for more such moments as we expand outreach this semester. I’ve been reading Augustine’s works recently (some of my inspiration for writing this way may be influenced by him, you and I will joyfully deal with the awkwardness as I expand my thinking of writing and how it ought to convey things) and I have been encouraged by the view of God that is so high and magnified it shatters all sin. I am also encouraged by a Rosaria Butterfield book that some of you may have heard of “The Gospel comes with a Housekey” or something similar, and its encouragement to show how radical hospitality and bold truth-telling invite the lost into God’s family. Reminders that the fields are white for harvest, and our King is at work even in the coldest winters.

We continue to dream big for the sake of the kingdom. One particular hope burning in my heart is to see an official course on the church and Christianity added to the Michigan Tech curriculum this coming fall. I’m meeting with university leadership to press for this opportunity, believing that the Lord can open doors for the gospel to be taught openly on campus.

And speaking of open doors, the biggest news I have to share is about the campus house at 315 Reservation Street. Because of your faithfulness and generosity, we have now raised over $18,500 toward purchasing this strategic property right across from campus. What a blessing this has been! This house will become a refuge, a place of discipleship, and a launchpoint for gospel ministry to hundreds of students walking past it every day. Every gift has been a direct answer to prayer, and we are closer than ever to seeing this vision become reality. We have reached a setback in that we must come up with the downpayment and we are not eligible for the collateral program, but God will provide, He always does.

Friends, your partnership means more than words can express. Your prayers and your giving are truly the lifeblood of this work. They sustain us, encourage us, and advance the gospel in ways we may not fully see until eternity.

This Christmas, as we celebrate the birth of our King, may your hearts and homes be filled with the joy of Christ, the joy that came down at Bethlehem and remains with us always. May He who became poor that we might become rich now pour out His blessings on you a hundredfold.

Until He comes or calls us home,

Brandon Charbonneau