Missions.


Dennis and Amy Leskowski, Kalamazoo, Michigan, Campus Crusade for Christ

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Dennis Leskowski came to a personal relationship with Jesus when he was 18 years old.  Graduating from high school in New Hampshire, he moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan for college.  At the University of Michigan, he become involved in Campus Crusade for Christ (CCC) growing in his relationship with God.  After graduating with his Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Engineering in 1997, Dennis entered the automotive industry – working first as a product engineer, then developing expertise in noise & vibration analysis, and eventually becoming an engineering manager for Johnson Controls in Plymouth, Michigan.  While working full-time, Dennis volunteered with CCC at U of M discipling students in evangelism and personal spiritual growth and giving leadership to OPC’s Young Couples ministry in small groups and men’s times.

Raised in Owosso, Michigan, Amy Smithers first fell in love with the Lord when she was 18 years old.  She came to the University of Michigan involving herself with CCC through Bible studies, one-on-one discipleship, and evangelism.  After graduating in 2002 with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Engineering, Amy also volunteered on campus at U of M to lead students as well as in OPC’s Young Couples ministry.

In the summer of 2003, the Leskowski’s were officially commissioned by Oak Pointe Church to be missionaries for the Gospel and joined the full-time staff of Campus Crusade for Christ.  After two years of training at Northern Illinois University, Dennis & Amy moved to the west side of the state to lead the team that is trusting God for the campuses of West Michigan, specifically Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and Grand Valley State University in Allendale.  Over the years, through their service to the Lord and commitment to West Michigan they have seen God use them to raise up vibrant student communities that are introducing people to Jesus, building up their faith in those communities, and then sent out to churches, communities, and companies across Michigan and the world.

Praises:

  1. GVSU’s involvement jumped from about 130 (last spring) to 300 strong (this fall)!!! Our student leaders are so encouraged and are working hard to connect all the new freshmen
  2. We have a new believer! Some of our student leaders at GV launched an Athletes in Action movement (the varsity athletic ministry of CCC) last spring. Just last week, she led a girl from her soccer team, Erica, to place her faith in Christ!
  3. We have had a decent turnout of freshmen on our small groups at Western. Our leaders have done a much better job this year helping those freshmen get connected early on, so they don’t fade off (which happened last year)

Prayer Requests:

  • WMU meeting space is still an issue. We did manage to get an adequate room for the first 7 weeks of school, however, we are still facing the challenge of where we’ll meet after that. The department who schedules out the rooms has continued to be very difficult to work with. All of our advertising at the beginning of the year (which is when our effective advertising happens, getting our info into the hands of new students) has the building & time that was promised to us by that department last spring. Please pray we are able to work something out with them
  • WMU freshmen – that we would be able to reach many more through those freshmen who ARE coming to our events and small groups. Pray that these freshmen would come to Christ and be eager to share Christ with their peers. Also pray that God would get rid of the apathy and whatever else holds these WMU students back from seeking out faith in Him
  • We have 6 full-time staff who are spending this semester raising their own financial support to join our team in West Michigan. They are very motivated to get here and are trusting God with the process of building up a team of ministry partners. We are very ready for them to join us to give leadership to these students God has entrusted us with! Please be praying for Him to provide their support quickly so we can share in this together.

 

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