A Word of Encouragement

Mark 40:28-31
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increase power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

Last week, I was walking into the office and saw a hawk on the fence line not to far from me. It was pretty remarkable to see the claws on this animal. I walked into the office and told the guys that I thought I saw and eagle. They laughed and made fun of me for somehow confusing a hawk with an eagle. So where does one go when you are factually made fun of. The internet of course. I googled hawk and apparently the hawk is made up of a family which includes the "true hawks" (Accipiters) as well as eagles, kites, harriers and buzzards.

I also learned that these animals are widely reputed to have visual acuity several times that of a normal human being. This is due to the many photoreceptors in the retina (up to 1,000,000 per square mm for Buteo, against 200,000 for humans), an exceptional number of nerves connecting these receptors to the brain, and an indented fovea, which magnifies the central portion of the visual field. Wow, now that is focusing.

What is the point here? The point is what are we focusing on. Are we growing weary, tired, impatient and ready to move on, or are we focusing on Jesus with the intensity of a hawk or eagle. Scripture indicates that if we do place our focus there, our strength will be renewed and we will not get tired and weary as our strength is supplied by our Great God and King Jesus.

BYX Nationals visits Texas A&M

by National Associate Tyler Rogers

On Friday October 30 I left Fort Worth and headed south to College Station. I arrived at faculty adviser Sean McGuire's house where I would stay for the weekend. Sean was the faculty adviser for the UGA chapter when I was president there in 2008. He received his undergrad at A&M and his PhD at Georgia. Now Sean is an accounting professor at A&M. Sean and his wife Tara were great host and let me stay with them. When I arrived to A&M I decided that I would go to midnight yell practice, one of the many traditions that the Aggies hold so dear. You are suppose to have a date to yell practiced, so I called a friend of mine, Kaleigh Cook and we went to the Hall for some two stepping and then to yell practice. I was immediately impressed by the tradition and thought it was awesome.

On Saturday, Sean and I woke up and headed to campus to enjoy some tailgating a good day of football. The treasurer elect Helm Donahue's parents had a great tailgate set up for the guys and we really enjoyed some great food and fellowship. After the tailgate, Sean and I walked to Kyle Field and I experienced my first FIGHTIN TEXAS AGGIE football game. I thought it was so unique and really awesome. Now I can saw those horns off with the best of them. After the game, I met up with some friends and went to dinner. After dinner I went out with some BYX guys to celebrate Halloween.

Sunday I woke up and went with Sean and Tara to church. That evening Sean had the current and newly elected officers over for dinner. Tara made us some really great Chili and we had a ton of fun joking around. After dinner we had an officer meeting. The meeting was long but great. The men at A&M have really made a lot of progress in their infrastructural leadership development. They created over twenty opportunities for men to have a leadership role in their chapter. This is a huge step for the guys at A&M as they continue to engage and develop leaders through their chapter.

Monday I met with the newly elected officers. I also went to pledge meeting which was awesome. Mike, the pledge captain, had planned an open mic night for the pledges. It was so awesome to hear the pledges share their hearts and discuss what BYX has meant to them. They gave a challenge to their pledge class about setting a new standard of commitment. After pledge meeting, chapter went well. It was great to see the guys again. After chapter, most of the guys headed to Reed Arena to experience After Dark. It was great to experience such an amazing display of God's awesomeness with my brothers.

Tuesday, I woke up and had meetings with some of the current officers as well as had lunch with Sean and BYX alumni Travis Berry. My trip to A&M offered me nothing but hope, as I saw the improvements the guys were making. They really are moving full steam ahead in College Station. Gig'em Aggies!

BYX Nationals visits UNT

by Tyler Wilson, Ministry Associate

It was a great pleasure this past week to be with my boys just up I-35 at the Theta Chapter. We've tried to get together through the fall in addition to my visit (the guys even invited Lauren and I to one of their date parties, but unfortunately we were out of town), but outside of a few lunches with officers this was our first real encounter. The packed day brought a lot of encouraging conversations as I learned of the growing health and expansion at North Texas BYX.

The guys had just come off of a couple events that marked major steps for the chapter. For the first time that I'm aware of, they participated in the campus' Homecoming. Teaming up with Phi-Lamb and Sigma Alpha, they competed in the float competition as well as throwing a big tailgate. (For a funny story, ask Keith Cranford about tripping over other tailgates' power chords!) Several of the guys told me it was the most fun they've ever had at a BYX event. Within just a week of that, the chapter had a halloween open party that brought in over 100 people, all jammed into 1 house! The music was rocking, the food was in full supply, and the costumes were head-turning and hilarious. The organization and execution of the night was just excellent. Overall, these 2 events were great strides down the path of establishing our social identity as a fraternity that we've been working towards. More expansion with the Greek Community and Campus activities is still in order, but certainly these are wonderful steps.

Part of the reason for the increased success is owed to the VP, Keith Cranford's, efforts over the summer. He raised the stakes for the chair positions in the chapter, making them more established, adding to their responsibility and legitimacy as positions. This more developed structure is allowing the chapter to run more efficiently as well as empower the members to take ownership and lead. President Brandon Nase has had a vital hand in things as well with his drive to see Homecoming happen and his knowledge from his role as the SGA director of campus involvement.

In other news, the chapter is continuing to ride high off of their 9 pledges for the fall. Kudos to pledge captain Clayton Wilson as well as the members for doing their job in recruiting and striving to personally connect with each potential. The big group has brought plenty of new life for the chapter and pushed their numbers over the 25 mark. Pledgeship has been involved and exciting for the young guys who have blended in beautifully. Few chapters understand better how to create an environment of serving pledges and integrating them in with the members than North Texas.

Cell groups continue to be a high point for the Theta chapter, as the "through-the-week" fellowship and accountability has been evident. Another strong move this year has been in their chapter meetings, which have undergone continuous wrinkles to keep things fresh each week and implementing more tradition. Our time Monday night was very rich in brotherhood and unity, from the opening socializing to the closing time of worship outside (see picture below). It was a touching time to linger and talk with the men, as several of them have become very dear to my heart as brothers.

The past semesters at UNT have seen the bearings for the course set clearly ahead. Now, the ship is churning forward and making ground. With the major items being done well, the chapter can work to fine tune some of the supporting elements of BYX the remainder of the fall and into 2010. And I have confidence that the incoming crew led by Will Davis will have a smooth transition taking the helm, keeping the brotherhood and unity charging onward.

BYX Nationals Visits Auburn

by Nick England
Ministry Associate

The night before I left for Auburn, I found myself wide awake way past my bedtime wondering a couple of things. I just could not decide if I should dress up as Aladdin for their Halloween party or Garrett, their secretary. Tired and frustrated I packed some items for both and hit the sack. I woke up the next day, grabbed my bag and went to the airport. I boarded the plane with many of these thoughts still looming, however, I had a paper to finish for one of my classes. Needless to say, costume ideas were pushed aside during the plane ride. I arrived in Atlanta, met by their president, Clint and one of their members John. We ate lunch at the airport then made the drive to Auburn. It was great to catch up with the guys but all the while I was wondering, what the heck am I going to wear to this party? We got to Auburn and Clint and I went to his place/double wide trailer which I would make my home for the weekend. It was quaint with just a hint of white trash. There were no holes in the wall like you would see in the houses of normal college guys, which is good because if there were you'd be looking outside. Once we had dropped my things off we went to grab dinner before the party with Clint, his girlfriend Laura and another couple. (Can you say fifth wheel?) We all had a great time at Zaxby's before we went to go change into our costumes. Laura as Marilyn Monroe, Clint as JFK and I as Aladdin. Right before the party, however, we discovered that the place we were having the Halloween party was double booked. So after Clint and I figured out an alternative, we threw together another Halloween party at the last second thanks to some quick thinking and the graciousness of a couple who lived near Auburn. Their grace towards us was truly a magnificent representation of the Body of Christ.

The next day, Clint and I woke up early to get dressed up for the game and check on the tailgate. The men bought me a ticket and a game day tie to wear so I would fit right in. Auburn was playing Ole Miss that day, a game the Tigers thought they would lose. However, Auburn played better that game than they had all season and pulled out a win. After the game, we walked over to Toomer's corner to witness an Auburn tradition. After a victory, everyone who's anyone walks over to Toomer's corner to wrap the trees with toilet paper. To this day, the city of Auburn is the only city in the United States with a paid toilet paper clean-up crew. The men had set up a tailgate that day to commemorate what they refer to as their Founders Weekend. It was October 31, 2008 when they were officially recognized as the Omega chapter of BYX. So they began a tradition of a big tailgate for this game every year. The event was a huge success. BYX guys and their girlfriends showed up to eat some barbecue and cake while watching football on the projector they had set up. We left a little while later so that I could finish up my paper and so we could go to a haunted hayride. However, as with most haunted hayrides, it was a flop. The only thing haunting about it was how much they charged. All in all, it was a great Saturday.


Sunday was a little more relaxing. I had the opportunity to go to church with some of the guys followed by lunch at McAlister's - a personal favorite. The rest of the day was spent meeting with some of the officers which flowed into Monday as well. Over these two days I was able to meet with all of the incoming and outgoing officers over some good food and good conversation. It was very encouraging to see how well these men understand BYX and continue to do things well. We went to chapter that night which is held at the Auburn chapel. This chapel happens to be the oldest building on campus and an old civil war hospital. It is the perfect place for their chapter too meet. I had the privilege to encourage the men to continue to build their unity with one another. Their chapter is healthy and growing but we never want to forget to keep first things first. The men at Auburn are very encouraging. They understand what BYX is and they do brotherhood well. It was a blessing to be there for their Founders Weekend marking their first year of a great legacy.

BYX Welcomes Alpha Gamma Chapter

In March of 2009, Kane Moix contacted the national office about the possibility of starting a BYX chapter on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas. Kane, Blake Jacobs, Jeremy Flynn, Kyle Boyd, Jeremy Wilson and TJ Beringer began recruiting other men to join them in their endeavor throughout the spring 2009 semester. They began to meet for fellowship, to spend time in the word, and to pray for the possibility of starting BYX. During the spring of 2009 these men worked to complete our three-phase prospective chapter process. In September, Jason Hoyt and Nick England traveled to Conway to visit these men during Phase 3 and commence their training to be officers. After spending two days with these men, we have felt the Lord moving us to start the next BYX chapter at the University of Central Arkansas. As a result:

AS OF NOVEMBER 9, 2009 WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS HAS BECOME THE ALPHA GAMMA CHAPTER OF BETA UPSILON CHI, MAKING THEM THE 27TH CHAPTER IN OUR FAMILY.

The University of Central Arkansas group of about 16 men is led by Senior Kane Moix. Kane will be the first president of the Alpha Gamma Chapter. Their officers are:

Kane Moix President
Kyle Boyd Treasurer
Blake Jacobs Vice President
TJ Beringer Pledge Captain
Jeremy Flynn Secretary
Jeremy Wilson Chaplain

BYX Nationals Visits LSU

by Nick England
Ministry Associate

I had to spend my Friday night avoiding people so that I could get in bed early. Let's just say it wasn't fun, but that's not what I was thinking about. I awoke early and left the house at 5:30 in the morning so it was no surprise that I was tired, but that's not what I was thinking about. I hopped on the plane for my 7 o'clock flight, buckled up, tipped my hat over my eyes and dozed off singing to myself, "operator won't you put me on through..." Next thing I know, we've landed in Louisiana's fair capital just in time to grab breakfast with James, LSU secretary. I had the pleasure of catching up with James over banana pancakes at Baton Rouge's prized diner, Louie's. After breakfast we dropped my stuff off at the house where some of the officers live and went to get ready for the tailgate. We ate some great food, watched football and played a couple games of washers. But that's still not what I was thinking about. Being an avid college football fan I had heard of the reputation LSU held...eerie things happen in Death Valley at night. I walked over to the stadium alone from the tailgate. Thankfully enough I was wearing my LSU gear. This was the first college home game I would go to where I wasn't cheering on my Sooners. Auspiciously enough, LSU played Auburn that night, one my other BYX chapters. However, there would be no dispute here, I was a tiger that night...an LSU tiger. The game was a blast! I got to learn what the students do at the games and see LSU really have a breakthrough in their performance this season. It certainly was a long day, but a great one. Louisiana Saturday night.



Sunday I attended church with Will, LSU treasurer. It was a great service and was followed by an interesting afternoon. Will and I wanted to go to lunch but unfortunately his car wasn't working...so just like I did in elementary school, we hopped on some bikes. That's right, Will and I rode our bikes a good ways to grab some great Cajun food for lunch. The rest of the day I was able to catch up with some of the guys and enjoyed going to the officer meeting followed by a great dinner with some of the officers.

Monday was a little busier. I met with the incoming officers and got to know the men who will be leading BYX this next year. They have a great group of officers who will lead the chapter at a pivotal time in their growth. Before chapter I had the opportunity of hanging out with a bunch of the members and pledges for dinner but this dinner was particularly funny. The men in BYX at LSU are known for their pranks and I was privileged to witness one of them. Fun was had by all and it ended up in somewhat of a "brawl" in the men's bathroom. After dinner we headed over to pledge meeting then chapter. It was great to see such a solid group of men who have been doing BYX for only a year. These men truly get brotherhood and unity.

BYX v. University of Florida Lawsuit Update

As many of you are aware, BYX has been involved in a lawsuit with the University of Florida for over 2 years. Florida had originally refused to recognize BYX as a Registered Student Organization because BYX admits only Christians to its membership. Ironically, the University attempted to take shelter behind its “anti-discriminati

on policy” while discriminating against BYX and claiming that its policy prohibited them from allowing BYX to register. We were initially unsuccessful in persuading the trial court on our position. However, we appealed our case to the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta where our arguments finally got significant traction.

At oral argument, the 11th Circuit three-judge panel aggressively attacked Florida’s thin justifications for denying BYX access to student registration. Seeing the writing on the wall, Florida caved only a few weeks later, changed their policy, and recognized BYX as an

official student organization. Florida’s change of heart was likely motivated out of concern that it would suffer a damaging adverse ruling and be forced to pay BYX’s legal fees. After reversing its policy, Florida petitioned the 11th Circuit to dismiss the appeal since there was no longer a dispute and since they had given us every remedy we requested. On the surface, this sounds like total victory--and it is in this case.

However, the 11th Circuit’s dismissal of the case as moot undermined our effort at making Florida an example to other universities. They fought us for over 2 years and, at the last minute, when they knew they would lose, they caved to avoid an adverse ruling and legal fees. While good for our BYX guys at Florida, we would have preferred that the court give Florida the same lashing on paper that it delivered in oral argument to dissuade other wayward universities from similar unconstitutional behavior. Nonetheless, this case serves as a powerful example that the constitutional rights of organizations like BYX will not be marginalized by universities inclined to deny religious organizations access to student registration and university services.

So, a very long chapter in the fight for religious freedom is closed. Praise be to God, we won. Now, let’s pray for continued favor as our fraternity expands across the nation.

BYX Nationals visits Vanderbilt

by National Associate Tyler Rogers

On Thursday night, October 15th I flew into Nashville and met with a my pledge brother Jason Smith, who graduated with me from UGA. He is in divinity school at Vanderbilt. I spent Thursday night hanging out with Jason and his fiance Rachel. Friday I spent the day visiting Vanderbilt and really worked on some BYX projects, then met some friends of mine from Georgia who were in town for the Georgia-Vanderbilt game and went to see a movie with them.

Saturday, I woke up and got dressed in my game day clothes for the first time this football season. It was nice to be back in the SEC where sweater vest and coats and ties are the norm for a cold Saturday morning football game. The men of BYX at Vanderbilt were hosting their alumni for an alumni tailgate because they were celebrating their university's homecoming. I went to the tailgate and enjoyed getting to meet both new and old Vanderbilt guys. It was great to see some the older guys at Vanderbilt that I met during my tenure at Georgia. We reminisced on some of the times we spent together in Athens at the Loft, a dance hall of sorts in downtown Athens. Unfortunately, I was unable to watch the Dawgs beat the Dores on Saturday, because I had to drive to Knoxville for a wedding. I spent the rest of the day in Knoxville with some old friends.

Sunday, I woke up and had lunch with Jason, then headed to meet the officers at Vanderbilt for their officer meeting. I enjoyed watching these men lead and make decisions as they have continued the strong legacy of good leadership at Vanderbilt. The officers are doing such a great job leading the men there and continue to impress me with their mature leadership. On Sunday night I met back with the officers over dinner at T.G.I. Friday's. I enjoyed just spending time joking around and getting to know the officers.

Monday morning I started my one on one meetings with the current officers and those seeking a position. I started the day at 8:30 a.m. and met with guys from then until 6:30 p.m. I REALLY enjoyed getting to hear the guys' hearts for the chapter and hearing their ideas for the future. After finishing up the one on one meetings, I headed to have dinner with the chapter at 6:30 at Qdoba and was able to meet some of the men who are rushing BYX this semester. After dinner, I went to Chapter. Chapter reminded me of how rich the chapter at Vanderbilt is in traditions. Their founding fathers set the chapter up very well with a lot of strong traditions. During chapter, I was fortunate enough to listen to officer speeches. After listening to the speeches and meeting with the guys I am confident that the future is bright for Vanderbilt's chapter. I gave a talk on focusing on our commitments as men and how important that is to the future of our fraternity as well as the future of our families and churches. After chapter, I was fortunate enough to go with Vanderbilt founding father and current Advisory Board Member Dillion Barker to grab some food and talk. The discussion was great.

Tuesday morning, I began another long day of meetings. I met with guys one on one from 8:30 until 7:00. It was awesome meeting with so many guys. I was able to squeeze in 22 one on one meetings in my two days there which was awesome. I think meeting with the current and hopeful officers was definitely something worth while. After the meetings I left to go to the chapter's Crush Party. They had planned the party a while back and since I was in town they invited me to come, I just had to find a girl to crush. So I crushed my friend, and BYX groupie, Mary Catherine Alexander or MCA to those of you at Vanderbilt. The only problem was that MCA and her friend Sam had already been crushed by Nathan Presmyk, brother and presidential candidate. I met with Nathan and he was more than willing to share his crush with me so we were set. Each group of brother and crushes had to pick a theme. Nathan, Sam and MCA had decided to Kanye, Taylor Swift, and Beyonce. I didn't have anything, so I just went normal (a Taylor Swift Fan if you will...). We arrived at the Skating Rink and started skating around which was a lot of fun. Because I had met with so many of the guys there, I felt welcome. MCA and I enjoyed each others company and it was a lot of fun until the incidents started happening...

So here's the story... MCA and I were skating and she realized that she forgot to wear shorts under her dress, so if she fell it would be bad. I told her that if she started to fall just to grab my arm and I would catch her. Well that didn't work out so well. MCA started to fall and I realized that I couldn't stop her. As she fell I saw her dress starting to rise up, so I did what and gentlemen would do in this situation... I dove on top of her to cover her up. So here I am, the national associate for their fraternity, layin on top of a girl in the middle of a skating rink. To make things worse, the historian skated by with his camera. Click.Click.Click. We got off, I got good gamed by the President and we continued to skate off the embarassment. MCA thanked me over and over again. Things only got worse from here. Meanwhile, Nathan got a bad blister and he didn't want it to get worse and cause problems with his hiking trip the following weekend. So I had Sam and MCA to skate with. Sam and I decided to do some trick skating. Sam skated under my legs like a pro. I decided that I would do the same. Bad. Idea. As I skated under Sam's legs my head made it through but my shoulders clipped her knees causing her to fall backwards. As she fell my skates flew out from underneath me and I was headed for a collision between my face and the skating rink floor. I tried to stop the fall with my arms but they were caught by her legs so my face just planted right on the floor with a big thud. After laughing for a while we got up and skated away. At the end of the night, I had ripped jeans, a scabbed up knee, a large goose egg, bruised nose, and skinned forehead. Luckily for me, President Brett Johnson's crush and girlfriend, Vanessa, is in med school and had a bandaide on her. Needless to say, it was a fun night. After the Crush Party, everyone went to sonic and we spent time hanging out there.

Wednesday morning I woke up and headed to the airport and flew back to DFW. The men at Vanderbilt are doing well. I have always and continue to be impressed with the leaders this chapter produces. It is evident that they cover their decisions with wisdom and prayer. Be in prayer as the newly elected officers prepare to take office. The future is bright for our brothers in Nashville.

BYX Nationals visits Arkansas

by Tyler Wilson, Ministry Associate

This past week I ventured to NW Arkansas to spend some time with the Xi chapter. From the time I arrived at the airport with Cass Trumbo attempting to scare me to the solid conversation I had with chaplain Jordan Hurst on the ride back two days later, the entire visit was... good. Not the kind of good you say when someone asks you how you're doing and you mean to casually move along. But the good that stems from the Lord's goodness. The sweet, meaningful goodness that comes from rich and edifying eternal things.

Getting to see the officers was certainly one of the highlights. Through the past 10 months, these men have really become dear to my heart as we have walked through quite a bit together. They have been so excellent and faithful in their work and leadership, and yet carried themselves with so much humility at the same time toward me and their men. They have not been shy in coming to me for counsel, and have even prayed diligently for me together. Definitely mature beyond their years, and by their hearts have won my deepest respect. So needless to say officer meeting Sunday night was... good.

Monday saw plenty of great one on one meetings full of encouragement. Much of my time was spent affirming the things they have done and are doing as a chapter. Yet, there were still opportunities to tune some of the finer points of BYX, discuss their role in the chapter this next year and talk future leadership. Multiple members showed up over lunch to hang out and discuss BYX as well, which was a joy. Once again... good.

Coming into chapter meeting I was able to meet with the two guys running for president this fall: Taylor Hall and Hunter House. Both are great dudes and will be capable to handle the reigns. Chapter Meeting was nothing short of electric. Announcements and the Trumbo Show brought plenty of energy and laughs as we learned some "fratology" and geared up for the game of Big Bro/Little Bro Assassins the next 2 weeks. As I came to speak, I was able to first share with the men how exceptionally they are doing as a chapter in fulfilling the purpose of BYX. Cell groups, with the insertion of Littles into their Bigs' cell group have really progressed. Intentionality in chapter meeting abounds. Socially, the chapter continues to excel, putting on full throttle open parties, participating in step show, joining in their LifeSource philanthropy, and engaging sororities like it's their job. The dudes are definitely known on campus, and they're using that to spread the name of Christ. Pledgeship is absolutely rocking. As you mayhave heard, Arkansas is boasting a stout 80 pledges this fall, by far their largest ever. Cass and his crew have been hard at it to keep each of these guys involved and connected. So far... so good.

Here's a picture of the young men taking their first pledge test after chapter meeting:

So much more can be said about the health of BYX at U of A right now. Certainly they've encountered their share of problems and struggles. But the way in which they've responded to them is what has been astounding. There was no better witness to this than when an established member confessed some hard things to the chapter Monday Night. Never, and I do mean that word, have I seen such genuine repentance from a man over his sin. Without hesitation, the other 89 members rallied around him and pledged their commitment as brothers to walk through this with him. How is the Brotherhood and Unity in Fayetteville right now? Well, you might say it's as GOOD as it gets.

BYX Nationals Visits HBU

by Nathan Miller, Ministry Associate

We all love stories of redemption. Stories of people who were down and out, the odds were against them and they unexpectedly rise up and overcome the obstacles set before them and stand victorious. Well BYX at HBU is probably the best BYX-related redemption story that I can think of right now.

It was only a year and a half ago that things were looking pretty grim at HBU. Chapter membership was decreasing, morale was low, reputation on campus was poor and the chapter was placed on probation. Well, a new group of officers were brought in, some new passionate pledges joined the brotherhood and now the fraternity is growing and the future looks very bright at HBU.

I had the joy of going down there this past week. I made my way down to Houston on Wednesday night and met with about 15 of the guys at a local Chili's. We had an absolute blast just catching up and sharing what is going on in our lives. After talking and laughing for about 2 hours we left and I went to the hotel for the night.

I spent most of my day on Thursday in the Lakehouse Lobby meeting with current officers, potential officers and even some current pledges. I had a great time talking to them about BYX at HBU, BYX nationally, what God is doing in their lives and what their goal and vision is for the fraternity on their campus.

When it was time for dinner, Calvin and I headed to what I call China Town Houston for some amazing and authentic Asian food. After some amazing food and some great conversation, we headed back to campus for chapter meeting and nominee speeches.

One of the things that is noticeably different about BYX at HBU is the passion and energy in chapter meeting. Where before there was apathy and slight boredom, now there is pure excitement and passion. That passion carried over in our time of worship. I was blown away as I listened to the men sing "Revelation Song" about as loud as I've ever heard a group sing...it was a really awesome moment.

After worship, the men accepting nominations for officer positions took the floor and spoke about why they want to be an officer and then opened things up for questions. There were some great questions asked and the guys gave very good answers. After meeting with all of the potential officers and hearing them share their hearts and vision for BYX, there is no doubt in my mind that BYX is going to continue to grow and expand all over HBU's campus.

As I've said before, HBU BYX is a great story of redemption. They have an amazing core of young guys who believe in BYX and are determined to impact the campus in a big way. They have the 2nd largest pledge class of any group or fraternity on campus this semester and the men that are pledging are solid! Their chapter events are much better and their reputation on campus is amazing. Even the university administration is noticing the change in BYX and has reached out to them and is partnering with BYX in several ways. If things continue to progress the way that they are and the Lord continues to guide and bless them, I think it is only a matter of time before BYX becomes the largest fraternity on campus!

I am so proud of the guys down at HBU and you should be too. Please continue to pray that the Lord would continue to grow and bless the men on this campus and pray that the Lord would use the men of BYX at HBU to greatly impact the university and the surrounding area!

BYX Nationals Visits UGA

by Nathan Miller, Ministry Associate

The BYX Chapter at the University of Georgia is one that I have had the joy of working with for 3 semesters now and every time I go is such a great time...my visit from October 11-13 was no exception.

On Sunday, October 11th, I boarded a plane in Dallas and headed out towards Atlanta to meet with my brothers down in Georgia. After arriving in Atlanta I hopped in my rental car and after getting lost (thank you iPhone maps) I finally made it in to Athens at about 9:30 pm. I wasn't able to meet with the brothers because they were having a pancake fundraising dinner for the family of Scott Minear, the brother who was involved in a serious car accident over the summer. The event was a HUGE success as the chapter raised well over a $1000 to give to Scott's family...what a testament to the brotherhood, unity and fellowship that is taking place down in Athens, GA!!!

On Monday morning I left the hotel in what seemed to be a monsoon and made my way over to Jittery Joe's in the Student Learning Center. I spent the next couple of hours meeting with some of the current officers and some of the guys who were running for office for 2010. When it was time for lunch I was thrilled. You see, Athens has this amazing soul food place called Peaches and I absolutely LOVE going there. So Chris Laney (President) and Forrest Powers (active) picked me up and we headed that way. We pulled into an empty parking lot and were incredibly saddened when we saw a sign on the door that said "Closed for Columbus Day". Instead of sitting down and eating the best food of my life, I had to settle for eating Jason's Deli and then listening to Forrest rock out to "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus...ya...I know!

They dropped me off back at the SLC and I did more interviews until it was time for chapter.

At about 5:30 PM I walked into the room where they have chapter and sat in on the Pre-Chapter Prayer Meeting that they do every week. We took time to pray for the chapter, elections (which were that night), chair nominations and praised God for the amazing success of the fundraiser the night before.

After an amazing time of worship the officers passed out the ballots for the 2010 officers. After those were all collected I got up and addressed the chapter on the saving power and the beauty of the cross. Once my talk ended we circled up, prayed and sang and then we headed out to World of Wings for some cheap wings!!!

While we ate and enjoyed some amazing time of great food and fellowship, the ballots were counted and the winners were notified. I think it is safe to say that in the hands of the men that were elected, the strength and success of BYX at UGA will continue to grow and deepen!

On Tuesday morning I headed back to Jittery Joe's and met with a couple more of the men and then packed up and drove back to Atlanta (I didn't get lost this time) and I made my way back home to DFW!

As always my trip to UGA was a blast. The men down there in Athens simply get BYX. They have an amazing balance of social involvement on campus and spiritual growth and their unity and brotherhood is some of the strongest that I have seen. They continue to grow and next spring, depending on graduates and pledges, they should break the 100 member mark for good...God is so amazing!

Please continue to pray for the guys down in Athens and pray that the Holy Spirit will give wisdom and discernment to the young men that were elected to be officers for 2010. Also keep praying for Scott Minear. While I am pleased to report that he is recovering well and is in good spirits, he has a lot of rehab and physical therapy to go and I know that he would appreciate your prayers!

Go Dawgs!

Nationals at Mississippi State University

by National Associate Tyler Rogers

On Saturday October 10 I flew into Jackson, Mississippi and State's President Chandler Ragland picked me up. We headed to Starkville to catch the Mississippi State vs Houston game. We arrived and walked to the stadium. It was awesome to back at a college football game, especially a SEC game. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs were defeated by the refs in a close game against Houston, around the same time that my Bulldogs from Georgia were being beaten by the Volunteers in Knoxville. Needless to say, it wasn't a great day for either Bulldog Nation. After the game, the guys took me to a great pizza place in Starkville and we went back an apartment and watched football all day. The night ended with Alabama beating Ole Miss, and Florida slipping by LSU. We piled, and I mean piled (six deep), into Lee's beamer and drove to Taco Bell late that night to grab some food, and then I wound up sleeping in a ENO (an awesome hammock) in Chandlers living room. The original plan was to use the ENOs on campus and sleep outside, which would have been awesome, but the cloud that landed on Starkville would have soaked us, so we decided not too.

On Sunday I woke up and went to church with Chandler. It was great to be in a small church filled with older people who loved the Lord so much, and who loved on us so much. I got some great food there, and then went and returned to the eno in Chandler's apartment to take a nap. Later that day I checked into my hotel, and then went to First Presbyterian church with some of the guys. I got to eat dinner there with none other than Mr. Jesse English himself. Jesse was awesome to talk to since he was very instrumental in the foundational development of the chapter at Mississippi State. I rode with Shaun Pillai and Hunter Upton to the officer meeting, where we met. The meeting was an open meeting allowing the guys who were thinking about running for exec to come. So after meeting with everyone the officers asked the non exec members to leave and handed out the suprise Homecoming shirts they made for the brothers. After the meeting, I rode with Shaun, Hunter, and Caleb to my hotel, stopping to eat at Sonic on the way.

On Monday, I set up at the student center to meet with current and hopeful exec all day. The day flew by as I spent time listening and learning about Mississippi State's chapter and the men who are leading it. I also offered some structural ideas to the guys that went well. Later that afternoon, I met up with some of the actives at Abners to hang out and eat. After eating, I caught the end of the pledge meeting. This is one of the highlights of my trip. Toward the end of the meeting, one of the pledges announced that due to some family problems and school issues, he was no longer going to be able to do BYX. Immediately, three to four of the pledges hands went up. These guys asked how they could help him through this tough time. They said they wanted to walk with him through this. This was one of the best examples of our brotherhood that I have seen in a while. It was incredible. After pledge meeting, chapter started. I spoke on God's faithfulness, and though it may be hard now, God's faithfulness promises to see us through. I talked on how BYX facilitates that, and how our brothers are charged to commit to helping each other get through those times. After I talked, the men interested in leading the fraternity next year gave their speeches. They were a mixture of serious and hilarious. They were all great though. After chapter, I joined some of the actives at ZAXBY'S, my favorite fast food restaurant. There are only four of them in the entire state of Texas. Afterwards, I spent time sharing ideas and strategy with some of the guys who are running for office.

On Tuesday, I spent the morning and early afternoon meeting with officers and hopeful exec members. Again, it was great to listen and hear about the chapter as well as share wisdom with these guys. Afterwards, Chandler drove me to the airport to head back to Ft. Worth. The men at Mississippi State are working hard to continue to build a legacy that will last at the University. They have developed so much spiritually over the past year, and I think they do BYX so well. They understand the balance between spiritual and social stuff. They are legit, and as they would say... "Thats what's up!"

The Saga of Frank Continued...

At the 2008 BYX Summit, the annual battle of warriors was held. Beating out the fiercest of opponents, Brother Reed (SMU) made it to the final round to face a member from Texas A&M University in the challenge of agility. Much to his dismay, he learned he was to fight the 5'8, 95 pound Aggie in Wii boxing. Unpracticed in the art of virtual slap fighting, Brother Reed was bested by the Aggie's superior video game skills. Frank, the highest award given to any chapter, was presented to A&M. After several unsuccessful attempts by pledge classes past, the Nu class at SMU took it upon themselves to reclaim the relic. Based on a whim and a prayer, five pledges and one active ventured out into the Halloween night on a clandestine operation to right the wrong of ages past. It was there that they met their destiny.

This is the official account of SMU pledge "Tiny":

After countless hours of research on social networking sites, and the Texas A&M website, I obtained the phone numbers of two pledges rumored to be guarding the relic known only as "Frank." Once all other methods of information gathering had failed, I was forced either to cold call one of the members or to abandon the operation entirely. PCP "Jaws" was unsuccessful in reaching the first Guard. I then took it upon myself, posing as John, a recruiter for Raytheon. I lured the unsuspecting engineering major with promises of a prestigious internship on the condition that he give me his contact information, including his address. The Frankian guard foolishly gave up the information. Word spread like wildfire to the members of SMU pledge class Nu that operation Frank was a go. We gathered together, five pledges, and hatched an ingenious plan on how to breach the walls of Frank's prison. Based upon local church records, we decided to pose as members of Grace Bible Church of

College Station. To ensure maximum deception, I printed off the contrived objectives of our faux "scavenger hunt." The list cleverly included items only found inside of a house so that the Guard would be tricked into permitting us entry into his residence. One of those items was coincidentally a nativity figurine, worth fifty "points". Armed with this list and the story behind it, we prepared for glory. While searching for costumes, pledge "Yoda" called his big, Brother Park, for assistance. They then donned their costumes and headed off into the night: pledge "Lando" as a hot dog, pledge "Yoda" as a Roman philosopher, PCP "Jaws" as a werewolf, pledge "Pup" as a pirate, Brother Park as Brother Osborn, and I was myself.

Halfway along the trail, the party was famished. They longed for Sonic Drive In and made a detour. While waiting for service, we pondered the epic proportions of our undertakings. This made PCP "Jaws" overwhelmed with the urge to dance, and thus the "Chance Dance" was born. We set out once more.

Crossing the boundary into College Station, we became uneasy and stopped at a local gas station to collect our nerves. MapQuest then led us to the High Gates of the Community. PCP "Jaws" scaled the spiked walls just in time to meet up with his brethren, who had utilized the open gate instead. We searched high and low for unit number 18, realizing all to late that the address we had been given was, in fact, merely a P.O. Box. Pledge "Lando" sighted a BYX sticker on a distant vehicle, parked in front of one of the townhouses. We tried all the doors of the residence, and knocked repeatedly, but to no avail. When all hope seemed lost, one of the Frankian guards returned to the prison. Brother Park, thinking quickly, sprung into action and told him about our scavenger hunt. The Guard was oblivious to our deception and allowed us entry. While leading us to his refrigerator, one of the items listed, PCP "Jaws" was blinded by the glory of a nativity figurine. Screaming battle cries, he ducked and rolled across the room and tackled Frank. Bursting out the door, he passed the treasure off to pledge "Yoda" while he blazed the trail back to the car. We jumped in and drove off to the pained screams of the

disheartened guards, for they knew the consequences of their shortcomings. They chased after us in a white truck, determined to retrieve their lost possession. Engines pounding, rubber burning, PCP "Jaws" eluded them by swerving sharply onto the freeway and making the jump to light speed. The rickety old pickup couldn't maintain the speed, and the engine blew out in a fiery blaze of destruction. The blood red flow of transmission fluid stains the highway to this day.

We triumphantly celebrated our victory by sharing a communal meal with Frank at a nearby McDonalds. Word of our victory quickly became known throughout the fraternity, and we were ushered in to chapter the following Monday with cheers of approval and celebrity status. Our names will go down in BYX history for ages to come.

BYX Nationals Visits SAU

by Nick England
Ministry Associate

SAU you say? That's right, Southern Arkansas University. A small state school in, well, southern Arkansas that's known for it's criminal justice program, a talented baseball program and of course, those Muleriders. If you drive an hour east of Texarkana on Highway 82 you'll roll into the town of Magnolia, Arkansas. There you'll see a town square with a court house, some fine southern dining, and a movie theater. Throw in an extra helping of country bumpkins and you've found the home of SAU. Of course, when I rolled into town with our very own Jason Hoyt, there was a bit of a culture shock. However, when we met up with the men at Mule's Cantina, the chicken fried steak and warm company made us feel right at home. We got to eat dinner with the men whom I had already met from a preliminary prospective visit I made with Nathan Miller in May. We were able to talk with them over some great cooking and sweet tea in a room they reserved for us in the restaurant. Afterwards, we took a picture in front of the court house before we went to see the campus.

Our stroll around their campus that night was nice. The weather had gotten cooler after it had just rained and there was a mist in the air. Our opportunity to walk off our dinner around campus and chat with the men was a nice close to the evening, or so we thought... Jason and I headed over to the Wesley with Chad, Alan and John their President, Pledge Captain and Treasurer. We walked in with the intention of shooting some pool, but little did these three men know that would not be the case as they would venture into a world anew. A world known to many as Jungle Pool. A game that ruled the Friday nights of an elite group of men in Norman, Oklahoma. For the first time this little town experienced the awesomeness that is, Jungle Pool.

Jason and I went to our hotel after that to check Inn at our hotel which claims Quality as it's tag line. However, it was a much different experience as we were in a non-smoking room tainted with the smell of Marlboro in addition to an air conditioner which was about as powerful as a mouse fart. Needless to say, our stay there was sub par.

After a stuffy and smelly night's sleep, we began our training of the officers for the day. Each session went very well and they had some great questions as Jason spent time training them on their specific position and I spent time getting to know them. For lunch we went to Miller's Cafeteria which is like a podunk Luby's where you can hang out with the geriatric crowd and stuff your face for a shady 4 dollars. When all of the training was over, we met a bunch of the men for dinner at Backyard Bar-B-Que, the best barbecue joint in town. Afterwards, we went to the Wesley to run through our hazing policy and constitution with all of the officers. They asked some great questions again and we got to see the wheels turn some more as they latched on the vision of BYX even more. We said our goodbyes and thanked them for a great visit and then drove back to our "hotel" to go to "sleep". At one point, I actually woke up because a beetle was crawling on my neck. I grabbed it and threw it across the room and lay awake with the feeling of bugs crawling on me the rest of the night. It would be the last night I stayed in that hotel.

The next day, Jason and I had breakfast at McDonald's with one of the officers over some good conversation. We learned about police cars and a thing or two about bow hunting. Then Jason and I hit the road for a four and half hour drive back home.

Overall, our trip was great. For all of the flack and jokes Arkansas catches, we had a great visit. It's no news that we move at a fast pace in society, going from one thing to the next. With an iPhone grafted to our hands and our faces glued to a TV it's easy to sprint through the day and find yourself in bed asking yourself, what happened? The pace in Magnolia is a little calmer, the people talk a little slower and they think a little simpler. But they care a lot more. You can't rush through your day in town like that. It was a pleasure to teach these men how to do BYX and solidify the vision. But in the end we rolled out of that town learning a thing or two as well.

BYX Nationals Visits Texas Tech

by Nathan Miller, Ministry Associate

My visit to the Eta Chapter at Texas Tech, and the weekend leading up to it, is something that I will never forget. Not only will I remember this visit because I am a Texas Tech Alumni and it was great being back on campus, but more importantly, I will always remember this visit because the Friday that I flew to Lubbock, TX was the day that I proposed to the love of my life and we became officially engaged...what a rush! After spending the next two days with her I had to leave her and begin my BYX visit.

On Sunday, October 4th, I met up with the current officers at Spanky's for some amazing burgers and some delicious fried cheese (best in the state if you ask me). We spent about two hours catching up and talking about issues pertaining to the chapter. I answered questions about Nationals and some things that we are doing and I explained some policy issues to them as well. That, mixed in with great discussion about chapter meetings and homecoming events and things like that, led to a great night of conversation and fellowship amongst brothers.

On Monday, I met with all of the current officers and discussed some issues in the chapter, talked about the vision and direction that I feel that Tech BYX needs to go, challenged the officers to grow and be held accountable in certain areas, and just listened to their hearts and where the Lord was leading them. Tech has had to deal with a fair amount of issues over the last year and a half but I firmly believe that this semester's officers are committed to turning things around and getting BYX back to where it can be and where it needs to be!

When all of my meetings were done I headed over to First Christian Church for chapter meeting. The meeting this week was a pretty busy one. They started off with some announcements pertaining the chapter, including joint Bible studies with Chi Omega and Kappa Alpha Theta, played a funny You Tube video and then announced the big and lil pairings for the semester, held nominations for officers for 2010 and then I addressed the chapter.

After a busy and challenging meeting, I went to Jaliscos with several of the actives and pledges. We ate some delicious food, told stories, talked about anything you can imagine and had an amazing time of brotherhood and fellowship.
On Tuesday, I had a couple more meetings, some time with my new fiance and her family, and then I hopped on a plane and came back to the Metroplex...what an amazing weekend that I will never forget!

As I stated before, Tech has endured quite a bit over the last year and a half and while I do believe that they are in the process of rebuilding there are some issues for concern. First of all, they did get 18 pledges this semester which is a great start to the rebuilding process. However, as with most chapters, they are in need of prayer for who is going to step into leadership for 2010. Also, the chapter is going to be making a push to get things back to where they need to be spiritually and this will take a good amount of time, effort and cooperation so I ask you to please be in prayer for them as they attempt to get things back to where they know things need to be! Also, please continue to be in prayer for Kevin Crowder the chapter Vice President. While serving in Uganda, Kevin contracted Malaria and is still feeling the effects of the disease...please pray that the healing hand of the Spirit would be upon him!

BYX Nationals Visits Texas State

by Nathan Miller, Ministry Associate

Growing up in Universal City, TX I know the San Marcos area fairly well so I was pretty excited about having the opportunity to head down that way and meet with the BYX guys at Texas State! I headed down that way on September 29th and after making a quick stop at the Polo Outlet Store I met up with all of the officers at Dos Flores for some good food and sat in on their officer meeting. After discussing everything from chapter, cell groups, retreats, service projects, Island Party and work out weekend, we parted ways to get ready for a long day of meetings and interviews.The next morning I had the joy of having breakfast at the Root Cellar with their faculty advisor, Dr. Greg Marshall, or as we all know him...the infamous Doc G! I met with him for about 2 hours or so and it was just an amazing time of great fellowship, conversation and encouragement...Doc G is a stud!

Most of the day Wednesday was spent meeting with current officers in the Student Union area on campus. We had great conversation on the direction and vision of BYX at TX ST as well as the future of the officers and leadership of the chapter. These guys care about BYX and want to see it thrive on campus...no question.

After meeting with the young men for about 9 hours it was time to head over to the San Marcos River where we were having an outdoor chapter meeting that night! There is this cool area where they have created this spillway off of the river that is perfect for kayakers and surfers...yes surfers in San Marcos, TX. The men had the opportunity to jump in and swim around for a little while before chapter started. We spent some time in joint worship and then I was able to address the chapter on what BYX means to me and exactly how the Lord has used BYX in my life. I encouraged the men to take advantage of the opportunities that they had to truly enjoy BYX and get the most out of it and followed it with a charge to the men about the potential of the chapter.
The men had a football game at 11 that night but since I am getting old and decrepit I said goodbye and went to my hotel and left the following morning.

I had a great visit with the men down at Texas State and there is definitely a lot to be excited about with the chapter. The current officers are doing a phenomenal job of setting the tone and vision of the chapter and the rest of the men seem to buy into it. They also are welcoming in a group of solid young men with this semester's pledge class and the guys seem to be very excited about being a part of BYX.

As with all chapters, there are a couple of areas that need prayer. Please be in prayer for the future leadership of the chapter. While there are some solid men in the chapter, we continue to pray that the Lord would just press upon the hearts of those that He is calling into leadership. They are also going to be losing a fair amount of their actives over the next two semesters to graduation and they need to replenish their numbers; pray that the Lord would continue to bring young men into the brotherhood that fully grasp the purpose and vision of BYX and that they would lead to the chapter staying on the path they are currently walking!

I can't wait to go back in the Spring and I think this time I will bring more money for the Outlet Stores...ha.

BYX Nationals Visits OU

by Nathan Miller, Ministry Associate

On September 27th I took the drive up 35 and headed up to Norman, OK to visit with my BYX brothers at OU. I had never been to Norman before but I had heard many great things and I know several guys that are OU alumni so I was pretty pumped up to go and check things out for myself...I wasn't disappointed.

After checking in at the hotel and getting things in order, I headed over to campus to meet with several officers and potential officers in the Sooner Schooner Room. From the very beginning I was impressed and encouraged with the quality of the leadership that the OU chapter has.

After meeting with current and potential officers for about 5 hours, it was time to head back to the hotel and get dressed up for Formal Chapter. I arrived at the Santee Lounge, which is a pretty cool meeting place, and was greeted by well over 100 guys dressed up in suits...pretty impressive. I was able to catch the end of the President's Council Meeting and then it was time for chapter to start. After worshipping and sharing announcements with the chapter, I had the privilege of speaking to all of the men.

I had a message prepared but about 10 minutes before I was to talk, the Lord laid a different message on my heart and I began to speak to the men about a passage out of Hebrews 12 and I felt like the presence of the Lord was definitely in that place...it was pretty amazing.

After my talk, I thought that chapter was over...I was wrong. Brett Hopkins (President) decided that they were going to bring back the Birdsong Challenge that night and I competed against a representative from every pledge class. We had 1 minute to try and chug an entire bottle of syrup...I didn't win but I feel like I held my own, even though my stomach felt absolutely terrible.

After a night of sugar rushes and headaches, I met with a few officers at Ozzy's for some great breakfast. We talked and fellowshipped for a while and then I headed back to the Sooner Schooner Room to finish all of my interviews. Upon completion, I headed back down 35 and made my way back to Texas!

All in all, things are looking pretty good at OU. They have 44 pledges this semester and all accounts point to them being a very dedicated and excited group of young men that the chapter is pretty excited about. The current group of officers at OU are leading the men very effectively but it appears that the next wave of leadership at OU is going to be just as solid, if not more so!

My first visit to Norman was a great success and I can't wait to go back there in the Spring...maybe this time I won't have to do it with a stomach full of cheap syrup!

BYX Nationals visits SMU

by Ministry Associate Tyler Rogers

On Friday September 25 I drove over to Dallas to visit the men of BYX at SMU. As I arrived, I could not help but noticed the impeccable landscaping and architecture that made the campus so great. I settled in the Student Center and met with current and potential officers all afternoon. I was encouraged as I continue to learn more and more about the men of BYX and the state the fraternity is currently in there. After my meetings, I joined President Jeremy Wilkins, and I went to the officer meeting. It was great seeing the full exec working together to discuss the ins and outs of BYX at SMU. After the officer meeting I joined the rest of the actives and traveled to White Rock Lake, where I was fortunate enough to get to experience the Big/Little Revelation ceremony. I enjoyed spending time talking to the guys and watching the pledges find out who their big brother was going to be, as well as which family's house they would be a part of. After the Big/Little Revelation, we sent the pledges off to their pledge retreat, and I joined the actives as Cafe Brazil to hang out and eat some food. I enjoyed spending time getting to know these fellas.

SMU's chapter has a unique tradition they do called Coliseum. Coliseum is a competition of sorts based on five houses the fraternity has been divided into. Each house, named after the original five big brothers, has its own history and pride. The houses compete each semester to gain points to and win Coliseum overall for the semester. Coliseum is encorporated into nearly every aspect of what they do, including cell groups, chapter meetings, assasins, and other competitive activities. Coliseum is awesome.

On Monday, September 28, I returned to campus to have a few more meetings and to attend chapter meeting. I had the opportunity to meet several more guys and to speak at chapter. I spoke on remaining focused on the commitments we make as men of God. It was great seeing the guys. SMU's chapter of BYX is doing great things. These guys have really established how to encourage brotherhood. They do the fraternity well. This semester they are focusing on continuing to develop brotherhood, as well as getting their name out on campus to further the ability to recruit guys. And of course, the continue to do a great job of protecting Frank, who they stole from Texas A&M last year. Be praying for the men at SMU as they begin to make structural changes that will lay the foundation for them to support a larger chapter in the future as they continue to grow larger.

BYX Nationals Visits Ole Miss

by Tyler Wilson, Ministry Associate

This past Sunday I puddle jumped my way out to the small college town of Oxford, MS to visit the Ole Miss men that I've had the pleasure of being over since their inception. I expected to find the guys somewhat in a state of disappointment after having 5 or 6 potential pledges bail at the last minute last week. It was certainly a momentum blow. Instead though, I found the Chi Chapter full of drive and enthusiasm and in its healthiest state since it began just over 2 short years ago.

Like never before, their corps of officers are owning their positions. Three new additions (pledge captain, secretary, and treasurer) have brought a wonderful dynamic to the group filled with energy, wisdom, and initiative. Each of my meetings were exciting, as I heard stories and saw with my own eyes how the Lord has been maturing these men. Founding fathers Cal Bowen (President) and Andrew Alderman (Chaplain) are setting their sights on finishing strong, as they will be graduating from BYX in December to take political internships at George Washington University next Spring. VP Carl Denton will be moving graduating in May, while the three new guys look to continue as officers in 2010, taking their high goals with them. Michael Joyner, the treasurer, desires to see 60 men in the chapter before he graduates in 2012.

Despite the late drop-off during rush, Ole Miss still had 5 sharp young men pledge. I had the pleasure Monday night at Chapter to see them go through the ceremony of receiving their big bros. It was certainly a special time, and I anticipate big things from the Epsilon class.

With elections not far off, the chapter is moving forward from a successful pledge retreat and setting their sights on determining the next leaders. A road trip to Vandy for the game this Saturday is also in order.

The resounding theme from my 2 days in Oxford was growth. While the chapter continues to wait patiently for large numerical growth, they are definitely making strides internally, stabilizing and developing the foundations of BYX. Cell groups have a strongly communicated vision of spiritual depth, aggressive accountability, and prayer that is taking root. Chapter meetings are efficient, fun, and meaningful. Brotherhood continues to grow, and their social calendar is beginning to expand nicely. My charge to the men was to persevere, to stay steadfast in the vision of BYX and it will be only a matter of time before the University of Mississippi knows who they are, and the option of a truly Christian fraternity is exposed to every one of the 7,000 male students.

On a side note, I came across a Bible verse in my reading Monday morning that I believe the Chi chapter is now looking to adopt as their personal creeds:

"...from before birth you were called a REBEL." -Isaiah 48:8

Yeah, they liked that. Nothing like taking Scripture out of context, right?

BYX Nationals Visits SFA

Having never been to Nacogdoches before, I wasn't really sure what to expect...all in all I was pleasantly surprised. I arrived in Nacogdoches on Sunday September 20th and after watching the first quarter of the Cowboys/Giants game in my hotel, I headed over to the SFA campus to meet with the current officers and attend their weekly officer meeting. After introducing myself to all of the men we talked about chapter events, cell groups, pledge interviews, the state of the chapter and the future leadership of BYX at SFA. When all of the officers had discussed the items pertaining to their office, I was able to speak briefly with the officers as a group and tell them what I feel the vision for SFA BYX is and gave a little insight into how I think that goal can be accomplished. I reiterated that Nationals is here to help them in any way possible and assured them that we would do anything we possibly could do for them. After everyone spoke and Aaron (chaplain) closed us in prayer, we turned on the TV just in time to see the Giants kick a game winning field goal against the Cowboys...it was a rough ending to a great meeting...ha.

On Monday I was able to meet with some of the current officers one on one and was able to get a feel for where their hearts are at. Not only with the Lord but with BYX and simply life in general. We discussed issues that pertain directly to their office and we also talked about the overall health of the chapter and the direction that the officers want BYX to go. The men openly shared their hearts and I was able to share mine with them as well and all in all the meetings were very beneficial.

Monday night I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the weekly chapter meeting. I addressed the men as a group and I told them about how the Lord used BYX in my life, where I think BYX at SFA can be in the very near future, and discussed what it is going to take from the actives, the officers, and Nationals to make sure that this goal is accomplished. The talk went well and I believe the men were able to see a vision of where BYX can be on their campus very soon.

After chapter, several of us met up with some of the SFA Phi Lambs at Bullfrogs for some 30 cent wings! After a great night of fun, food and fellowship it was time to head back to the hotel and get some sleep.

Tuesday morning I had two more meetings with current officers that also went extremely well. We discussed everything from relationships to leadership to our own personal battles and struggles and the Lord really blessed the time spent in those meetings. After grabbing some lunch at Raisin Canes it was back to Fort Worth!

The leadership at SFA is undoubtedly devoted and committed to making BYX succeed on their campus and if they are able to sustain that passion and commitment, I believe they will accomplish that. There are some things that they definitely need prayer for however. Please be in prayer over future leadership for this chapter, please be in prayer that the Lord would continue to sustain and grow this chapter, and pray that the Lord would install a passion and a desire for all of the men in the chapter to actively seek His will out in their lives and that the Lord would use BYX in the same way that He has used it for thousands of other men across the country!