Hey,

I hope you have settled into the new year with a sense of peace and purpose. Time flies, it was just December 15th when we left Miami for the longest family roadtrip so far. I would not suggest driving from Miami to Houston, to New Orleans and back to Houston then home to Miami in three weeks. What a trip it was.

It was refreshing to see family in Birmingham and Houston and eat really good home cooked meals. We miss those simple times of being around family and having meals together so every meal was important! Please keep our families in your prayers for us. 

Our time in New Orleans was very special. We attended the Impact Conference "The Remedy" and I went to a New Orleans Saints Football Game to watch former Miami Hurricane Jimmy Graham. What a place to experience a football game. 

Jenise and I have gone to this conference since 2003, and I have had the privilege of playing drums on the worship team. This year I was the one of the oldest in the band, its been awesome to see how God has used this experience in and through my life. We brought 6 University of Miami Students Athletes with us and I believe their faith has been forever impacted by the conference. One of the students is entering the NFL draft this spring. 

After making it back home and starting the new year, and Jenise running a half marathon (I still can't believe it), we have seen God at work in many many ways. One way are the opportunities I have been getting to lead a band around the country to lead worship for Athletes. It's humbling to show up on a campus or at a retreat where college athletes gather together to unite and grow in their faith! The response is amazing. They totally lose themselves in the music and message of the Gospel. I've watched a few hundred in the last few months make committments to God and exchange the desires of this world for God's desire for them. (See prior post)

Can you imgaine a culture where athletes are genuinely following Christ and influencing those who follow them to do the same? God is and has used sports to redeem his creation. That's the mission we are apart of, and if you are praying for us and financailly supporting us, you are joining God at work in redeeming athletes, for his purpose!

If you currently support us, we can't say thank you enough. Perhaps youv'e been supporting us a while and wonder what else can you do. Please contact us at jasonburris@me.com

If you don't currently support us, please seriously consider this an opportunity to help the Gospel go beyond your reach! Next to God's grace, we really need and depend on the financial support of the generous and sacrifical giver. Click Here to begin giving today!

Thanks so Much - TeamBurris

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So this past weekend I went on an AIA winter retreat and took the UTC Band to Chicago for the regional retreat. Words cant explain what a great time it was. Below is the link for a video that captures some of the retreat but please read the story below. Its a co-worker explaining her experience with a hotel employee where we were.

The Story,

Hey Friends,
I have a cool story about what God is up to behind the scenes of the retreat
this weekend. One of the hotel workers who was helping with the room, I
believe his name is Fransico, talk with me for a bit right before we left.
You may have seen him around through out the weekend taking video of some of
our sessions. I asked him why was taking video and if he was able to enjoy
any of our sessions. He went on to tell me how he had ever seen anything
like our event before. He said all the people were so kind and polite.

In all his 6 years working there he had never seen a group like ours. He told
me that the week before we came his GM had a meeting with the employees
letting them know when/if these college students (our athletes) started
drinking in the hotel they needed to kick them out. They were preparing for
a normal college party :)  He was shock to see the concert Sat night and how
everyone was having so much fun without alcohol.

I told him about our group and how the students are trying to follow Jesus and how God's presence was in their with us. I told him I hope that seeing our group would encourage
him to look into Christianity. He ask if there was a place he could learn
more about Christianity, that he has 2 middle school sons and wants to learn
more. Nick gave him a couple church suggestions.

I then told Alex,the hotel Baggage boy ( that my in-laws made friends with finding out he is a student
at Moody), that his co-worker is interested in learning more about
Christianity and finding a church. He said he would reach out to him and
pray for him. About 10 mins later before I got on the elevator to leave Alex
said he talked to Fransico and he was going to church that night with him!!!
Praise God!!

 
Thought you all would enjoy this cool story of how God is at work when we
don't even know!!!!!

It was a amazing weekend thanks for all you each did to pour into the lives
of the students- It matters for eternity!!

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Athletes in Action Miami   Christmas Update 2011      Jason & Jenise Burris (Zoe & Eli)                             Arlene & Steve DeBardelaben  (Our Local AIA Team) Dear family, friends and supporters,  The year 2011 has been an adventure.  The University of Miami has a new Athletic Director, a new Head Football coach, a new Head Men's Basketball coach, and a new Head Women's Soccer coach.  Of course, each of these coaches bring their new assistants.  The old is replaced with the new!  Nothing is the same.  What a challenge. What an opportunity! What a responsibility!  Steve and Arlene (pictured above) have had a presence on this campus since 1975, and Jenise since 1998 as an All American Track and Field athlete, but there is no place for entitlement in a situation such as this.  Instead, it becomes imperative to lay the groundwork that creates TRUST with our new coaches and their families, who are becoming our new friends.  The U has had a constant thread of ministry for 35 years. Every coaching staff we consider new friends. We miss the coaches and their families who had become dear to us and have now been scattered to the NFL, NBA, and other Universities...our prayers are non-stop for them in their new assignments and in their continued pursuit of God.   Presently, our mandate is to seek the welfare of the coaches & families we have been sent; and in their success, we have success.  Their success is building strong, character driven student athletes who learn what it takes to win on the field and to win at life! Our success is seeing each athlete introduced to a personal relationship with the living God who demonstrated HIS love for us in HIS Son,  Jesus Christ.  He is moving heaven and earth to draw us into a relationship with Him. Therefore, we become all things to all men in order to win a some. We demonstrate our respect for new coaches and their leadership...and with time, TRUST grows. We never want to lose sight of our purpose here at the U.  What looked to be a meager year with lots of transitions proved to exceed all our expectations. We have experienced abumper crop of eager student athletes who want to pursue God with true authenticity.  Here's are some of our highlights in general...    This summer we started this new Bible study with five, then fifteen, then twenty-five, then fifteen, then thirty...Now 45-55 Student Athletes crowd into our small home weekly for food, friends and Bible Study!     20 joined in a "focus group on dating".  After reading and discussing BOUNDARIES IN DATING for 3 weeks, these athletes created skits and gave personal testimonies of how their own dating lives had been effected. Their vulnerability was compelling!   Women athletes committed to read THE JESUS STORY BOOK BIBLE along with the scriptural passages.  They met weekly in small groups to discuss and apply what they learned.  (May we suggest that this children's Bible is profound and makes a great Christmas gift for your families!)  Baseball players meet weekly for Bible Study. One player opened his life to the LORD last spring. We met with him and a small group of his teammates throughout the summer.  This fall he requested to be baptized in a local church. This brought tears to his unchurched family as they watched this young man publicly proclaim his new life in his relationship with Jesus Christ. Another baseball player struggled with off season injuries. Through his pain and the encouragement of his grandmother, he has made Christ the "LORD" of his life; and has peace and strength he has never known before. Our new football coach has included us in his circle of trust. We provide Biblical inspiration the night before the game; and individual prayers for most as they prepare to take the field on game day.  In those quiet moments in the locker room many young men experience the presence of the LORD before the team is exhorted and takes the field.     Throughout the week we meet with student athletes and coaches One on One or in small groups.  In the food court, the players lounge, on our patio and at our dinning room table---young men and women are getting to know the LORD and His Word.  Learning to pray---confessing their sin, casting all their anxiety upon HIM, trusting Him for forgiveness, peace, provision, perseverance.   Our friends with the MIAMI HEAT---the security guards, the athletic trainers, equipment managers, and others are all under affected by the NBA lock-out.  It has been a tough time for everyone involved.  Pray for us to know how to minister to these players, coaches, and event workers in light of the situation that now exist   The world has come to us. Swimmers from Egypt & South Africa. An Olympic qualifying diver.  A two time American Olympic sprinter. Student athletes from all across the USA have come to Miami to meet our LORD JESUS CHRIST!       Thank you for all your prayers and investments in this ministry.  Your partnership with us is essential. Thanks for supporting the Burris Family! You have been so gracious to us over the years to us and for that we give thanks to the Lord!  If it's your desire to partner with us in ministry---monthly, or to make an end of the year gift---know that it is needed and greatly appreciated!   Please make your check payable to: Campus Crusade for Christ Jason & Jenise Burris (Staff Acct. 0551224) Mail to: Campus Crusade for Christ PO Box 628222 Orlando, FL 32862-9841 Or if you prefer, Visit our giving site

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This is what I came up with:

T—Time in this life. Not a day or moment is promised to me and is limited so God give me wisdom on how to use it!

H—Health—we are all healthy & that's not taken for granted. Although I've had seizures, I am living in health and God sustains me

A—Answered prayer for so many requests! God hears my prayers and the prayers of his people!

N—Never ending Love, Thanks for the sacrifice of Jesus and your persistent love towards me!

K—Kindness during this holiday season. I love the open hearts and desire people have to help others. God I look forward the ways I,we and others will give generously of their time, energy and resources.

S—Scripture---who can underestimate the power of the Word in our everyday lives. Thanks, Lord!

G—God’s faithfulness in providing all we need on every occasion—even if it comes in unconventional ways!

I- individuals who support us financially. May God redeem people and athletes to himself through us.

V—Victory in hard times. God promises that we are “more than conquerors”—even when we don’t feel like it.

I—Intercessors—those who pray for us and for God's work to happen at UM and in the world.

N—New people coming into the Kingdom, into a relationship with Jesus. We've seen God grow our Aia group this year and draw people to himself.

G—Good, healthy, available food. In many places poverty is a sad reality. I pray for God’s provision for our ministry and purpose to spread effectively and those to whom we reach.

Of course there is much more to be thankful for but this is a start. Let me know what your list is!

Jb

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June_2011_PL.pdf Download this file

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This is by far the best way to cruise the streets & see the city of Miami. It's this thing called Critical Mass that happens the last Friday of every month.

The ride was an hour and I hope to see more of my friends join the ride and meet people. What an incredible way to meet others and share my faith.

Thanks Keas for the invite!!!

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Remember the Talk? It was about Joseph you can read his story in Genesis 37.

1.What Dream has God given you? If you don't know keep praying, talk to someone, and think through it. This will give you direction in your life.

2. When you have tough experiences how has God helped you? Know that God is always with you and never leaves you and wants to help you more than you want to be helped so, cast your cares on him for he cares for you!

3. Are you trusting God in the current process in which you are in? If you are trying to do it on your own that's probably going to frustrate you.

Keep working through these questions!

What's Coming Up:
-FCA will meet on Sunday @ 7pm at the BCM across from Pearson and Mahoney

-AIA will meet next Wednesday Night 8:30pm.

Volleyball and Soccer are on the road this weekend. Keep each other lifted in Prayer and support each other.

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Aug2011.pdf Download this file

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You may have heard by now that Campus Crusade for Christ has changed it's name to CRU. The good press was overshadowed by many negative things said in the media, so I have included below information on why we changed our name and that we are still committed to doing everything possible to make sure the whole world is exposed to the Gospel and has a chance to know Jesus Christ personally.

Please see: http://www.ccci.org/about-us/donor-relations/our-new-name/index.htm

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