In awe of the God who provides
What happened
Let’s just say that there’s been a LOT that’s happened since I last posted here (WARNING: Long post).
When I checked in on here last time, our family had just begun our St Andrews journey: I was gearing up to start a PhD in New Testament at the University of St Andrews part time, online, while working in Dallas. Anna was planning on continuing to work full time with International Students Inc. on Southern Methodist University’s campus. Owen was to continue being a chunky goof. We were planning on stuffing the slim spaces of our lives with planning on raising support to move to Scotland by Fall of 2026.
But.
God was writing a story he hadn’t tipped us off to, yet.
Out of nowhere (and I mean, nowhere), the Lord provided. Like, a lot.
Let me cut to the chase: In the beginning of September, I was notified of funding that I received that would cover over 90% of my university tuition for the three out of the four years of my program.
In other words, $80,000 of tuition was provided in one fell swoop! Yet the funding came with the following conditions: (1) that I would start my PhD, full time, in January, and (2) that I would commit to at least the first three years of my program full time and in person.
It is definitely an understatement to say that we were shocked. Shocked at the way our Father’s character as provider was just shown to us, and shocked that we were, all of a sudden, on the cusp of making an international move.
Eight months later, and we are still shocked, yet with a shock has matured into a sense of deep awe.
We are in awe because we just saw God bear his strong arm to carry us across the world to St Andrews, Scotland. We are in awe of the way the way God has been authoring our story. And we are in awe of his Fatherly care. Let me be a bit more concrete about what I mean:
- God provided us a house in a town facing a housing crisis, strategically located to host international students for the gospel.
- God provided vital support as sent as missionaries by our church, Park Cities Presbyterian Church, in a matter of days before we were scheduled to move.
- God provided quick returns on passports during a government shutdown.
- God provided – in a matter of a couple of days – to an unforeseen need of $12,000 related to visa applications.
- God provided a ton of support from my employer, the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts, in every step of the process, even though I was rolling off staff.
- God provided lodging through a partner family of ours while we emptied our apartment and prepared to move out of Dallas.
- God provided health for the move – no sickness with a 2-year old, traveling and staying in multiple parts of the US, visiting friends and family – all during the Christmas season. That’s a grade “B” miracle if I’ve ever seen one!
- God provided housing for Anna and Owen while they stayed in the US for an unexpected three extra weeks due to a visa delay for Owen.
I think there’s a good way to sum up what I just said in a sentence (Romans 8:32):
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
In other words, if God has provided for our most basic and greatest need that we can’t meet – deliverance to God from under the power of sin by the of Christ – how much more will he not give us anything else that he thinks is good for us?
Saying goodbye to our community in Dallas 
Owen saying goodbye to his best friend at our church: Ross the security guard (who gave him a Buzz Lightyear when saying bye!!) 
The big move! Owen’s visa was delayed, so I made the maiden voyage while the rest of the Russell crew followed a few weeks after 
First last day of school! 
The rest of the crew landed!
What’s happening nowadays
So, what does life look like for us nowadays? Anna is heading up Friends International at the University, an international student ministry. Currently, she’s learning about what’s been going on at the University and working to further the gospel among the international community here. She’s pretty rad.
Meanwhile, I’m trying to get as good of a grip as I can on the source of Isaiah that Luke used so that we can have a better idea of how he is drawing upon it to tell the story of Jesus and the earliest churches. Along with my dissertation research, I am working alongside Anna to disciple international students on campus.
Owen is still chunky, but not as chunky as he used to be. He’s definitely still as goofy as ever, though 😉
What we’re aiming at
As I said earlier, a lot has changed since my last post. But one thing has not: our desire to further and deepen the praise of Jesus among the nations in student ministry now and in missional scholarship later. This is why I am earning a PhD in New Testament here: to give as high of a quality of teaching in the NT to church leaders where such equipping is absent, explicitly as a scholar – i.e. one who is not only teaching the NT to the nations, but who is furthering our knowledge of the NT through normal research and publication of the highest academic quality.
We absolutely love doing this mission with our partners and want more to join us in our work. If you have a desire to see Jesus’ praise increase among the nations through international student ministry and missional scholarship, check out below our support page through our organization, International Student Inc.!
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