Letter From Cameron Reed
What a ride this has been! I will always be grateful for the time I have spent at Tech (the
greatest college in the world). When I started at Tech in the fall of 2016, I had no idea what to
expect. I didn’t even have a relationship with God at the time, so I never could have predicted the journey that He has taken, and continues to take me on. First and foremost, during my time in college God has taught me that He is REAL. He is real in the sense that He does exist, and in the sense that He does not want a cleaned up, pressed and proper version of you. He wants the real version of you. The scrapes, the bruises, the imperfections. He wants ALL of it. Because through those sufferings and trials, the hardships and emotions, God’s glory is revealed. He loves us because of who we are, who He made us to be. His image bearers and His children.
God has taught me to take what I do seriously, but not take myself seriously. What I mean by that is having the ability to recognize the importance of the tasks that are set before me and work diligently on them without getting too upset or stressed out by the outcome or barriers
that come up. Yes the test I have coming up is important, or the interview, or the presentation,
but no matter what the result is, that does not change who I am. Pass or fail, job or no job, Jesus
still chooses me. And nothing can ever change that! When you look at the world through the lens of God’s love for you, other issues start to blur into the background. We still have things to do and obstacles to overcome, but when we focus on His love, those tasks don’t seem quite so
daunting anymore.
I will always be thankful for the people I’ve met and the time others have shared with me
during my time here in Cookeville. I have seen that God is working through the body at
Collegeside and the UCSC (A Collegeside Campus Ministry) first hand. I will never forget the
laughs shared, the tears cried, and the hallelujahs shouted over my time here.
I would like to share one piece of advice that I heard while I was in college, but did not
listen well to. It comes from my good friend and mentor, Andrew Jones. Now I’m paraphrasing
here, but the gist of it was “Don’t waste your time in college”. The years we spend at a university
give us a very unique opportunity to share the message of the good news of Jesus Christ. I cannot tell you how many times Andrew shared this with me, and I didn’t really fully understand it until I took a look back at my time here. I think I got part of it right, but missed the heart of the
message. I’ve seen my time here at Tech as an opportunity for personal growth (and rightly so in my book). So when Andrew told me to make the most of the time I had here, I just dove head
first into anything and everything UCSC was doing. But that was just what Andrew was telling
me not to do. Don’t get so invested in the ministry that you miss the people that you are
supposed to be ministering to! I’ve had three and half years now of classes with one group of
students in my major. I can probably count the number of people I’ve invited to MWP or any
other UCSC event on one hand. That should not be the case! To the students who still have time
here at Tech: do not waste it! Every day that you walk into a classroom, an opportunity sits in
front of you. Start a conversation, introduce yourself to the people you don’t know, invite them
in to something greater. So I’ll ask this question to those underclassmen reading/watching this:
What will you do with the time you have here?
-Cameron Reed
greatest college in the world). When I started at Tech in the fall of 2016, I had no idea what to
expect. I didn’t even have a relationship with God at the time, so I never could have predicted the journey that He has taken, and continues to take me on. First and foremost, during my time in college God has taught me that He is REAL. He is real in the sense that He does exist, and in the sense that He does not want a cleaned up, pressed and proper version of you. He wants the real version of you. The scrapes, the bruises, the imperfections. He wants ALL of it. Because through those sufferings and trials, the hardships and emotions, God’s glory is revealed. He loves us because of who we are, who He made us to be. His image bearers and His children.
God has taught me to take what I do seriously, but not take myself seriously. What I mean by that is having the ability to recognize the importance of the tasks that are set before me and work diligently on them without getting too upset or stressed out by the outcome or barriers
that come up. Yes the test I have coming up is important, or the interview, or the presentation,
but no matter what the result is, that does not change who I am. Pass or fail, job or no job, Jesus
still chooses me. And nothing can ever change that! When you look at the world through the lens of God’s love for you, other issues start to blur into the background. We still have things to do and obstacles to overcome, but when we focus on His love, those tasks don’t seem quite so
daunting anymore.
I will always be thankful for the people I’ve met and the time others have shared with me
during my time here in Cookeville. I have seen that God is working through the body at
Collegeside and the UCSC (A Collegeside Campus Ministry) first hand. I will never forget the
laughs shared, the tears cried, and the hallelujahs shouted over my time here.
I would like to share one piece of advice that I heard while I was in college, but did not
listen well to. It comes from my good friend and mentor, Andrew Jones. Now I’m paraphrasing
here, but the gist of it was “Don’t waste your time in college”. The years we spend at a university
give us a very unique opportunity to share the message of the good news of Jesus Christ. I cannot tell you how many times Andrew shared this with me, and I didn’t really fully understand it until I took a look back at my time here. I think I got part of it right, but missed the heart of the
message. I’ve seen my time here at Tech as an opportunity for personal growth (and rightly so in my book). So when Andrew told me to make the most of the time I had here, I just dove head
first into anything and everything UCSC was doing. But that was just what Andrew was telling
me not to do. Don’t get so invested in the ministry that you miss the people that you are
supposed to be ministering to! I’ve had three and half years now of classes with one group of
students in my major. I can probably count the number of people I’ve invited to MWP or any
other UCSC event on one hand. That should not be the case! To the students who still have time
here at Tech: do not waste it! Every day that you walk into a classroom, an opportunity sits in
front of you. Start a conversation, introduce yourself to the people you don’t know, invite them
in to something greater. So I’ll ask this question to those underclassmen reading/watching this:
What will you do with the time you have here?
-Cameron Reed
Recent
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2021
2020
March
St. Patrick and the Presence of GodAt Home Date NightThe Goodness of a PandemicCommuning ApartFrom the Childrens Library- The Lost LambWeekly Ministry UpdateThe Promises of God - Day OneTeenside Daily DevotionalCollegeside Care GroupsTeenside Daily DevotionalImmunity Boosting TipsThe Promises of God - Day 2Self Care ResourcesKidside Quarantine ReportBuilding a Family Mission StatementThe Promises of God - Day 3Teenside Daily DevotionalFrom The Children's Library - Good, Good FatherTeenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalCelebrate Recovery - HopeTeenside Daily DevotionalQuarantined TogetherTeenside Daily Devotional
April
Teenside Daily DevotionalRest and RiseReflections on the Serenity Prayer - Part 1The Promises of God - Part 4Teenside Daily DevotionalReflections on the Serenity Prayer - Part 2Teenside Daily DevotionalFrom The Children's Library - God Made You SpecialTeenside Daily DevotionalTales From The Trail: #1 Hope Springs Forth From Human HeartsTales from the Trail: #2 The Last Supper and the Banquet to ComeTeenside Daily DevotionalCelebrate Recovery - Stay ConnectedTales From The Trail: #3 Lead With The TowelTeenside Daily DevotionalThe Promises of God - Day 5Teenside Daily DevotionalTales from the Trail: #4 Lonely Night in the GardenLimit Your WorryTales from the Trail: #5 Peter, O PeterThe Promises of God - Day 6Teenside Daily DevotionalTales from the Trail: #6 The Friday We Call GoodTeenside Daily DevotionalTales from the Trail: #7 The Tomb is FullTeenside Daily DevotionalTales from the Trail: #8 So It Isn’t FinishedFrom The Children's Library - God Gave Us EasterTeenside Daily DevotionalCelebrate Recovery UpdateYour Best Night InThe Promises of GodTeenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalHard TimesFamily ResourcesThe Promises of God - Day 8Teenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalRestTeenside Daily DevotionalThe Promises of God - Day 9Teenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalSeeking Wisdom From GodThe Grace ChallengeApril ImpressionsTeenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalPicnic DatePromises of God - Day 10Kidside Focus VideosFrom The Children's Library - The Rainbow FishTeenside Daily DevotionalCelebrate Recovery - Online Meeting NightsTeenside Daily DevotionalWeekly ChallengeTeenside Daily DevotionalGuard Your HeartTeenside Daily DevotionalKidside Worship At HomeTeenside Daily Devotional
May
Teenside Daily DevotionalFrom The Children's Library - Ernie's Little LiesTeenside Daily DevotionalHeartfelt Friends UpdateKidside Children's LessonTeenside Daily DevotionalWeekly ChallengeWorry, Worry, Worry!Teenside Daily DevotionalThe Promises of God - Day 11Journey To The Battlefield Daily DevotionalRestoring Our Mind And SpiritTeenside Daily DevotionalThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 2Teenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalLetter From Allie GuinnKidside Children's LessonI Want To Hold Your HandTeenside Daily DevotionalLetter From Cameron ReedPreschool Memory Verse and Prayer - May 2020Teenside Daily DevotionalThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 3Testimony TuesdayElementary Memory Verse and Prayer - May 2020Letter From Elizabeth WillmoreBuilding On The RockTeenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 4Heartfelt Friends InvitationLetter From Hannah ClarkLetter From Josh BunnerMarriage In QuarantineThe Lord Heals The Broken-HeartedTeenside Daily DevotionalLetter From Rachel StokesTeenside Daily DevotionalKidside Children's LessonWe Are Weak, But He Is StrongTeenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 5Meeting Updates and Staying ConnectedThinking Out Loud On Evangelism, Part 1Teenside Daily DevotionalTeenside Daily DevotionalThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 6Teenside Daily DevotionalThinking Out Loud On Evangelism, Part 2The Path's Of GodKidside Children's LessonThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 7Strength In GodIntern IntroductionsLearning To Comfort Others
June
Kidside Children's LessonGratitude To GodOur Last HomeThe Problem of FearKidside Children's LessonMy Times In Your HandThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 8The KingThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 9The Reins In God's HandsKidside Children's LessonGod Our FatherMeeting Night Begins June 23rdLetter To The Philippians, Part 10Gone To GloryThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 11Falling Out of BedKidside Children's LessonMeeting Night Is Back!A Clean HomeFellowship 5KThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 12Standard Operations Resume July 1stFriendship In MarriageFaith Through Our FathersKidside Children's LessonGood Old DaysThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 13
July
The Ring Of SonshipHelp Lord!Kidside Children's LessonA Recipient Of GraceNew Encourager CoachThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 14Jesus Paid The PriceToo Much Stuff!Kidside Children's LessonThe Mistake of Forgetting GodIt Starts With MeWho Holds Your HandsBeing Grateful/ThankfulSeeing A SermonFriendship In MarriageA Place of Quiet RestKidside Children's LessonMinistry Update From Andrew JonesLight It Up With PraiseThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 15Respond or React?Are You Bearing Good Fruit?Special DeliveryKidside Children's LessonThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 16God's Word Survives
August
Kidside Children's LessonWhat Will Your Legacy Be?The Letter To The Philippians, Part 17Blessed AssuranceCotton Candy vs. TruthTomato: A Fruit or Vegetable?Kidside Children's LessonRepenters Must RepentSitting At The Feet Of JesusPreparing To MoveKidside Children's LessonTrappedClean Hands, Pure HeartReturn To Combined Children's Worship And FocusThe Letter To The Philippians, Part 18Spiritual VisionKidside Children's LessonOur Final HomeLeads Us In TriumphsActs: The Gospel In MotionTests For A Little WhileKidside Children's LessonThe Lord Over Fear
September
Brotherly WisdomActs: The Gospel In MotionVictory Over Peer PressureMore Than A Religious SpeakerKidside Children's LessonInstant ReplayActs: The Gospel In MotionOne of Man's Greatest FearsVictory LapSelfiesKidside Children's LessonThe Matter of DistanceBe There In Calm And ChaosActs: The Gospel In MotionBroken UnityWeekly CheckupKidside Children's LessonThe Light Of SalvationDid Jesus Really Do That?NicknamesThe Ways Of GodThe Riches of GodActs 3: The Gospel In MotionCagesWhat Do You Desire From God
October
Evidence For The BibleAccurate DirectionsKidside Children's LessonSuch Were Some Of YouMind ControlKidside Children's LessonIs Your Name Written There?Sincere PrayerThe Spirit Is HoveringKidside Children's LessonLiving WaterFaith In An Invisible GodDigging Deeper: Personal Study For ActsSpirit-Filled PreachingKidside Children's Lesson