Introductions: Ashley

Hi there. My name is Ashley Holleman. I'm on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ at Penn State University where I help to direct and coordinate Penn State Christian Grads (PSCG), Campus Crusade's ministry for grad students at Penn State.

I began grad school in 1998 at the University of Michigan where I pursued a Ph.D. in Chemistry. That year I also met my future wife, Heather Brown, who was pursuing a Ph.D. in English Literature. We met through Michigan Christian Grads (MCGrads), the grad ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ at the University of Michigan. We became increasingly involved in MCGrads where we saw the Lord draw us to one another, powerfully transform our lives, and use us significantly in the lives of our peers. In June 2000, we married and I left my grad program with a M.S. in Chemistry to be able to spend more time in ministry. While Heather continued her grad program, I worked full time at Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and we both continued our involvement with MCGrads as Associate Staff (part-time volunteers) of Campus Crusade for Christ.

Heather successfully completed her Ph.D. in December 2002, and in June 2003 we began ministering full time to grad students at the University of Michigan as staff members of Campus Crusade for Christ. In August 2007 we moved to State College, PA to direct Penn State Christian Grads.

Several years ago, God began putting on my heart the desire to develop international mission trips for grad students to give them a cross-cultural ministry experience, to expand their vision for reaching the world with the gospel, and to help launch grad ministries on campuses outside the U.S. When we arrived at Penn State we kept meeting students involved with PSCG who had an interest in a trip like this and who also had some prior connection to the University of Melbourne. Encouraged, I spoke with Campus Crusade's staff team in Melbourne and found out that they were very interested in partnering together to launch a grad ministry on their campus. The more we prayed and looked into the possibility of going to Australia this summer, the more it seemed that the Lord was orchestrating such a trip to take place.

So, I couldn't be more excited as we sit here in Los Angeles waiting to board a 15 hour flight to Melbourne. And I couldn't be more grateful if you would take a few minutes to pray for us and our trip. In particular, please pray for two things. Pray that God will lead us to those who are eager to help launch a grad community in Melbourne and/or to those who are searching for Him. And pray that as the Lord leads us to these people, He will "pull back the curtains" so to speak and allow us and those we meet with to see Him and His glory a little more clearly and fully.