In the summer of 2006, as part of our first national planting cohort, 23 year old Nick Dombrowski moved to the Rio Grande Valley to establish a chapter at the University of Texas—Pan American. Imbued with a deep sense of calling and vision, Nick jumped in with both feet.
Obstacles
But it was not easy. A Polish-American from Michigan, Nick faced huge adjustments to a culture that is 90 percent Mexican-American. His closest staff peer was four hours away.
Visits with local pastors revealed a deep skepticism about his mission. One told Nick, “you’ll be just like the others who have come here to start ministries. Within two years, you’ll pack your bags and leave. You won’t last.”
Nick quickly discovered several other problems. Due to the general poverty of the area, student turnover is high. Of those who finish school, few do so in consecutive years.
Most students had a religious veneer. “I spend a great deal of time convincing students that they are not believers,” Nick laments. He has dealt with sexual sin among students, even amongst chapter leaders.
Tenacity
In ministry terms, Nick’s first year—2006-07—was a success. Three Bible studies were launched with 35 students participating. However, when the fall of 2007 came, only five returned.
But when the second year ended with 45 core students, Nick headed into the summer of 2008 encouraged. Unfortunately, history repeated itself and only 10 came back for fall term for his third year.
That year—2008-09—proved to be a watershed experience. Once again, the number of returning students was relatively small. Nick was tired, frustrated and lonely. He felt dissonance with several student leaders and disappointment with their lack of follow-through. It seemed that the chapter was just spinning its wheels. Why was he, in essence, replanting every year?
Having tried so hard to enculturate himself into the Mexican-American world, he also sensed that he had lost touch with his own ethnic identity. And very few churches in the area had ministries for 22-30 year olds.
As these frustrations congealed, Nick was forced to confront the sin in his own life. “The Lord was showing me just how much I needed Him. He was pushing the ugly stuff out of my heart. I needed to be broken.” Nick made a conscious choice: to go deeper with the Lord and “to do whatever it takes” in ministry.
Joy
This fall term, 80 students are active in Bible studies. Nick has helped to launch a twenties-something ministry at his church. He purchased a house. And, he continues to revel in Mexican-American culture—especially its food and music—and in the Spanish language.
The pastor who was so skeptical about Nick’s longevity five years ago is now a dear friend. His church has become an important financial supporter as well as a ministry partner.
Nick’s greatest joy is “seeing clueless students come to Jesus.” Over the past four years, 28 have come to faith. Four more students were being baptized by his pastor friend on the day I talked with him.
Nick has a big vision for the six other schools in the Valley. A volunteer staff planted a new chapter at South Texas College this fall. Three other graduating students from Trinity University and the University of Texas—San Antonio are seriously considering moving south next year.
Nick wants to create a new area in the Red River region, reaching all six of the schools. As he said this, my eyes moistened. When the Chapter Planting Initiative was conceived in 2005, we prayed for a multiplying effect—that plants would serve as beachheads for more campuses.
Conclusion
Planting is not for the faint of heart, but it is also deeply rewarding. I confess to being a planter at heart, having done so twice in my twenties—as a Young Life volunteer staff and as a law student. So thanks Nick—and all of our planters—for taking on the pain and risk associated with launching new ministry.
