SPRING 2025 NEWSLETTER : simplebooklet.com

Well, another semester has gone by! God has blessed us in a multitude of ways. We aresuper grateful for the growth of our college group, both in terms of numbers and inbaptisms with more souls being saved! This semester we had many exciting events andexperiences that were very successful and fun for us! From our blitz week, to our tworetreats, to our end of the year banquet, we had many fun things that allowed us tofellowship and grow closer to one another. The UCSC has also truly been a great place forus to grow closer to God, develop our spiritual leadership, and make lifelong relationshipswith our fellow Christians. Even though we will miss many of our students who aregraduating and moving away, we are excited to see what the future holds and how the Lordwill continue to bless our growth!From the InternsAs this semester comes to a close,we will be welcoming 4 new internsto the intern team! We want tothank Kaylee, Josie, and Chase forserving the UCSC, and say hello toKate, Karlee, Mattie, and Dylan. Weare so excited to see what the futureholds!2

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The UCSC means moreShane Meredith ne of the most amazing things anyonecan ever witness, in my experience, is Godusing His people to do His work in theworld. Likewise, one of the most fulfillingthings that you can experience is knowingthat God used you to change someone else'slife for Him.2 Timothy 2:20-21 reads; "Now in a greathouse there are not only vessels of gold andsilver but also of wood and clay, some forhonorable use, some for dishonorable.Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself fromwhat is dishonorable, he will be a vessel forhonorable use, set apart as holy, useful tothe master of the house, ready for everygood work"When we dedicate ourselves to God asinstruments in His hands for good works,He uses us! When God uses us we becomeso much more than what we could haveever been apart from His purposes. God isvery good at taking what is dedicated toHim to do great works, many of whichtouch eternity. This is true of the UCSC andthose who are a part of it. The UCSC is astudent organization and in one sense aplace. But because of those who are a partof it and the God they serve, it means somuch more!The UCSC is an instrument in God's handsto do His work in the lives of students andon the campus of Mississippi StateUniversity. Through the UCSC, studentscome to know about Jesus and are savedthrough obeying the gospel, just as fourstudents put Christ on in baptism thissemester.The UCSC is where students learn toshare the gospel that is the power of Godto salvation. (Romans 1:16)The UCSC is a where Christian studentscome and find brothers and sisters inChrist who build their faith and helpthem keep that faith while in college.The UCSC is where students learn to usetheir talents and opportunities to servein the Kingdom.The UCSC is where students are given asafe place to come fellowship, study, findencouragement, study the Bible, grow intheir relationships with one another andin their relationships with Christ.Because of the UCSC, we can lift up thediscouraged, counsel the troubled andtrain young people in godliness. Becausethe UCSC exists Christians are broughttogether to form lifelong friendships andsometimes even find the one they willmarry. God uses the UCSC to change thetrajectory of young lives, the familiesthey will start and the Church as theygraduate and move on to be a part ofcongregations all over the country. It istruly amazing to see God working in thelives of our students and workingthrough them to do His work throughthe UCSC!O4

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On occasion I'd have to make choices aboutwhich group to do things with, but I'd almostalways pick the UCSC event. It was so wonderfulto have a good-sized group of Christians my ageto hang out with and talk to about life andreligion! We also had fun playing ping pong andspades quite often. I had my first experience withretreats through the UCSC. I really lookedforward to those two weekends in the Fall andSpring to get away from all the ordinary schoolstuff and just be able to focus on Bible study,religious discussions and singing. The UCSC environment was so important to mywell-being and development that I had to find alocal college group to do things with duringsemesters when I was in the co-op program andin Alabama. I couldn't go a whole semesterwithout a close-knit group of Christian friendsnearby (of course we didn't have social mediaback then). While I was in Starkville, I also got toparticipate with the congregation as a whole,leading singing on occasion. attended Mississippi State from the Fall of1993 until the Summer of 1998. I came from afairly small congregation in northwest Alabama.We probably had about a dozen or so kids inour youth group. We didn't do camps or retreatsor other things like that... mostly putt-putt andpizza plus some singings and local youth seriesin the Summer. While I had a good group offriends there, I was pleasantly surprised to findso many like-minded individuals at the UCSC. Iwas also in the Famous Maroon Band at State,so when I showed up in Starkville, Iimmediately had two great groups with whichto be affiliated.We’ve been touring campuses recently with ouroldest child as she prepares for college and Ihighly recommend a stop at the local ChristianStudent Center to anyone considering a publiccollege or university. Your spiritual well-being isone of the most important things to consider asyou leave home. Knowing that there is a group ofpeople there and waiting to help you keep movingforward on your Christian walk gives great peaceof mind. I still have friends from those days 30 years agothat I keep in touch with. I’ve even lost touch witha few and then been reacquainted as our childrenfind themselves meeting each other. You starttalking and it almost feels as though you’re backright where you left off. IAlumni ReflectionBy: Jeffery Peeden7

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The 2025 UCSC Guys Retreat took place in Double Springs, Alabama, amid Smith Lake. This year’stheme was on the Pitfall of Pride and the Power of Humility, and how each one plays a vital role inour lives. Our lessons were brought forward by Andrew McKnight and Andrew Carlock.Our weekend began on Friday night with a trip to the local mexican restaurant, Buena Vista, inDouble Springs. Afterwards, back at the lake house, Andrew Carlock brought forth his discussion onthe Pitfall of Pride, which took us through the negative connotations that pride can cause in our livesand to those around us. We finished out the night by watching ‘A Minecraft Movie’. Saturdaymorning, we made the trip to Birmingham to enjoy time of fellowship. We shared in a meal at UrbanCookhouse downtown, then made a detour to Vulcan Park before teeing off at Top Golf. Later thatday, back in Double Springs, some of the guys went fishing, while others skipped rocks and relaxed.That evening, Andrew McKnight followed up with the positive connotations, sharing how the Powerof Humility can help to strengthen our faith as Christians and grow as brothers in Christ.Sunday morning, we were blessed to join the congregation at the Double Springs church of Christ fortheir morning class and worship before eating lunch at the local Jack’s restaurant with the minister,Vance Hutton. We are extremely thankful, once again, for Dalton Mitchell and his family for allowingus to spend the time at their lake house.GUYS RETREAT8

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The 2025 Girls Retreat was spent in Grant, Alabama, overlooking the peaceful waters of LakeGuntersville. This year’s theme focused on Biblical Friendships, with inspiring lessons shared byJessie Green, Mary Monahan, and Brianna Teer.We began our weekend on Friday night with Jessie Green’s lesson on Job and His Friends,exploring the importance of presence and support through hardship. On Saturday afternoon, MaryMonahan shared the story of Ruth and Naomi, encouraging us to cultivate loyalty and love in ourfriendships. Later that evening, Brianna Teer closed out our study with a powerful message onJesus and His Apostles, reminding us of the strength found in spiritual companionship. Saturdaywas filled with sweet moments of fellowship. We enjoyed brunch together at Another Broken EggCafe and spent the afternoon relaxing, shopping, reading, and walking together along the lake.That evening, we cooked dinner together and shared lots of laughs in the kitchen, makingmemories as special as the meal itself.Sunday morning, we wrapped up the weekend by worshiping with the local congregation atGuntersville Church of Christ. It was a weekend full of laughter, connection, and spiritual growth—an unforgettable time with cherished friends and sisters in Christ.Girls Retreat9Two are better than one, because they havea good reward for their toil.Ecclesiastes 4:9

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SETH GIVENSSETH GIVENSSenior Testimonial I came to the UCSC in the Fall of 2021. I wasfresh out of high school, worried about what lifewas going to throw at me for the next couple ofyears. As soon as I walked through those doors intothe UCSC, I didn’t look back. I was instantlywelcomed with open arms from people who arenow life-long friends. I’ve gained more and morefriendships year after year, many of which I feelwill last a lifetime, all from the UCSC and LifeGroups. The people here are truly wonderful. If there is one thing I can say for sure about the UCSC, it’s that you will get out ofyour comfort zone. My fall semester I led singing at a UCSC led service and thefollowing spring I led a Tuesday Study. Since then, I have led countless bible studiesand led singing on more than one occasion. My faith has grown tremendously here. Ialso enjoyed doing things with the congregation like, the clothing drive, life groups,Wednesday Night Supper, and packing food for underprivileged kids. You hear at yourchurch back home that when you leave your parents, it’s on you to find your faith. TheUCSC has not only allowed me to have a faith of my own, but it has nurtured it andgrown it. Whether it be college studies, Shane teaching a Wednesday night class, or justsinging in the stairwell, all have helped my faith in so many ways. The UCSC and theStarkville Church of Christ have given me so many things over the last four years, myfiancé, opportunities, friendships, etc. and I am forever grateful for them. 10

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FRESHMAN SPOTLIGHTParker CohenParker CohenAfter growing up in Starkville, I didn’t know what to expecttransitioning from a resident to a student. One thing remained thesame though: God and the UCSC. That brought me peace andcomfort in a time of uncertainty! I was welcomed into the UCSCwith open arms by the interns, upperclassmen, teachers andmembers of the congregation. Making friends with people thatvalue the same things I do and in similar stages of life was a hugeencouragement, and I couldn’t be more thankful to God for theserelationships! Spiritually, having a person to talk to about the goodand bad days at any time of the day is so important! After building these relationships and having these conversations, Ihave realized the presence of God in those situations and desired tohave a deeper relationship with God so that I can be there forsomeone else. Trusting in God’s plan was the theme of my freshmanyear, and as I look back, I couldn’t think of a better year! Thetransition that I was so scared about was seamless. The friends that Iwas nervous to find, I found them. My encouragement to you is this:trust God in every single aspect of your life and it will turn out justas it should! Tuesday studies were very interesting and I lookedforward to those! It was an extra set aside time to dive deeper intothe Word, and be around people that also wanted to dive deeperinto the Word!While thinking of a favorite memory, I think back to spring semester finals. Everyone was leaving thatweek for the summer, and I was staying behind in Starkville. My dorm was empty and sad, so I went tothe UCSC to study for my last final of the year. After a little studying, we found groups of people tohave conversations and play games, and it was just what I needed! I arrived around 7:30 PM, and thenext time I checked the clock, it was 1:30 AM! It was in that moment, I realized that I was going tomiss these people so much and I thanked God a little extra before going to bed!The UCSC has significantly impacted my spiritual life sincebeginning college. With the classes that are offered and theamazing teachers that present lessons, I feel blessed to beapart of the UCSC. I have been able to grow in the Faithalongside fellow Christians my age thanks to the support andresources that the UCSC has to offer. I have also foundcountless friends here at the UCSC that I feel would help mewith anything that I need. Overall, my walk with Christ hasbeen supported and encouraged since joining the UCSC. My favorite memory from the UCSC so far has been the Fallretreat. Getting to be able to have a weekend dedicated tospiritual growth and fellowship during the semester wasextremely rewarding and it allowed me to grow closer to Godand those in the UCSC. My favorite event during the week is Forged. Hearing fromfriends share their thoughts and giving lessons is a bigencouragement to me. The discussion’s that are had atForged are always great and I look forward to them everyother week. Freddie McConnellFreddie McConnell11

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TRANSFER SPOTLIGHTI'm majoring in Biological Sciences, and being part ofUCSC has deeply enriched my spiritual life. It hasstrengthened my relationship with God and provideda meaningful space to connect with like-mindedChristians, forming genuine friendships. One of myfavorite memories from UCSC is the Winter Retreat—it was an incredibly fun and meaningful experiencethat helped me grow closer to my friends and buildnew friendships with students from other schools. Myfavorite scheduled event is the Tuesday night study, asit has answered many of my questions aboutChristianity and even brought insight into topics I hadnever considered before.I'm majoring in Communications, and ever sinceI became part of the UCSC, I feel like I’ve growncloser to God. Each event or Bible study I attendstrengthens that bond and keeps my faith journeyon the right track. One of my favorite memoriesis when we played Infection on campus—it wassuch a fun and unforgettable experience. Myfavorite event is the Tuesday night Bible study.It's a great opportunity to take a break during theweek, dive into the Word, hear differentperspectives from others, and end the night witha meaningful prayer group.Mattie MitchellRon Jenkins14

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Our SEED (Service, Evangelism, Edification,Discipleship) student leadership groups arecontinuing as our graduates are transitioning outwith new some new faces who have joined thosewho were already serving! One of the greatthings about the SEED groups is chance ourstudents get to practice servant leadership.When some of the leaders of any one of thegroups graduates and moves on, other studentsstep up and get a chance to serve in one ofthese leadership groups. We want to thank theSEED leaders who have served in the past, welcome the new leaders who are currentlyserving and also those who will serve in thefuture. This semester, the service group hosted ourclothing giveaway for the community and gaveout food provided by Starkville Strong’s secondservings initiative. The Evangelism leaders ledtabling on campus, asking to pray for students,and also led efforts to bring visitors in throughdesigning and producing prayer cards with ourservice information. SEED GROUPSServiceSEEDEdificationEvangelismDiscipleship15

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Check made out to Starkville church of Christ earmarked UCSC to 613 E.Lee Blvd, Starkville, MS, 39759PHONE(662) 323-1499WEBSITEstarkvillechurch.org/ucscADDRESS613 E. Lee BlvdStarkville, MS 39759S OC I AL ME D IA :INSTAGRAM@ucsc_msuFACEBOOK@ucscmsuM IN I ST E R T EA M : C AM P US MI N IS T ERShane Meredith(662) 251-6017ministershane@gmail.comC ON G RE G AT I ON A L M IN I ST E RWesley Thompson(662) 312-0972wesnat1@yahoo.comY OU T H M IN I ST E RJustin Easley(662) 418-5698jeasley15@yahoo.comU CS C I N TE R N T EA M :Andrew Carlock(662) 304-7852mac1351@msstate.eduKate Brock(706) 980-4340klb1264@msstate.eduDylan Cooper(662) 825-0506drc457@msstate.eduKarlee Long(931) 709-3996kal619@msstate.eduAndrew McKnight(256) 690-1902awm270@msstate.eduMattie Mitchell(662) 891-2017mcm1170@msstate.eduIf you are in a profession that has available internships, co-ops, or shadowing opportunities for current students, pleaseemail Shane Meredith, as we are compiling a list for studentsto get involved with UCSC alumni and supporters in this way. 16Please consider supporting this ministryThe University Christian Student Center is making a lastingdifference in the lives of college students at Mississippi StateUniversity. Every week, young adults are growing in faith, findingChristian community, and being equipped to live out the gospel ina pivotal season of life. This fruitful work is made possible in partby the faithful prayers and generous support of churches andindividuals like you.Would you consider partnering with us financially to help expandthe reach and impact of this ministry—both on campus and in theStarkville community? With your support, we can continue todisciple students, share the love of Christ, and raise up the nextgeneration of Christian leaders.There are 3 easy ways to give!There are 3 easy ways to give!Visit http://starkvillechurch.org/give > fund dropdown menu > UCSC >choose the frequency of your gift as one-time, monthly, or yearly.You can also give by Venmo to@UCSCMSU.TO DONATE,SCAN THIS QRCODE!You can find ourschedules at: Are you or someone youknow coming to MSU? Fillout this form!

SPRING 2025 NEWSLETTER

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