Singing “My lighthouse, my lighthouse, I will trust the promise, You will carry me safe to shore” surrounded by a hundred US Naval Academy (USNA) midshipmen – who will be serving our nation in unsafe waters in the very near future – is a surreal experience.
A major element of Cru’s campus ministry is the annual fall retreat. It was always a highlight for me as a student and as campus staff. It’s a time for new students to get connected to our movement – to find out more about who we are and what we’re all about. It’s a time for students to build friendships and make memories. It’s a time to get away from the noise of campus life and go deep with the Lord. So being asked to join Navy Cru’s fall retreat was such an honor for me.
When I arrived at the camp, the sea of midshipmen in their dress white uniforms made it very clear that this fall retreat would be different from every other fall retreat I have ever attended. The USNA is a unique campus. I felt like I was crossing cultures just learning the language I needed to know to communicate well! Not only do USNA first years have an insanely tough schedule and strict regimen, all midshipmen live under codes and restrictions unique to military academies. Even the silly mixer games we played were different, more intense. And even after an hour of intense exercise on Saturday afternoon, throngs of midshipmen used their free time to go for long runs… instead of napping!
These young people make a commitment after their sophomore year that locks them into a seven year contract with either the Navy or the Marine Corps, and by signing that contract they sign away a lot of control. As I shared about our global ministry with Cru and how they can get involved, I kept these things in mind:
Midshipmen can go with Cru on a spring break trip, but our Summer Missions don’t fit their leave schedule
The only time a midshipman can go on a year-long STINT with Cru is after sophomore year (that’s early!)
If their grades are not excellent before they go, there is no guarantee they will be re-admitted to the academy, which is a weighty decision for so many who have dreamt of serving in the military their entire lives
It is likely that every single midshipman will be sent to serve overseas during their five year post-school commitment, and Cru can prepare them to walk with Jesus and make Him known wherever they go
Over the years, we generally have at least one USNA midshipman on a Cru STINT every single year. Those STINTers return to the academy for two more years of school and bring with them passion and excitement for sharing the Gospel. Please pray with us that the Lord will raise up midshipmen to STINT next year. Pray, too that those midshipmen who do not yet have a personal relationship with Christ would come to know him through their involvement in Cru!
Praise and Prayer Sitting with midshipmen and hearing their stories brought me so much life this weekend! Please pray that they will turn to Jesus in everything - that they will surrender to Him and walk closely with Him.
A few weeks ago I jumped into a big project full-time, and I expect it to be complex and time-consuming. I’ll be assigning all of the staff in cohorts 1-4 (my corner of the US) to their summer assignments. There are a lot of moving pieces, and there are a lot of emotions involved for individual staff members. I want to care well for them!
Kirstin Heyne 65 West Slokom Ave
Christiana, PA 17509
65 West Slokom Ave
