Category: Draw Students (Page 4 of 13)

Draw Students and Faculty to Jesus as Savior and Lord

Photo Credit: Ian Ligget Flickr via Compfight cc

Praying across Maine

February 13, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Do you remember a time where God brought the right people together at the right time?

At Urbana 18 I led an exhibit that invited participants to pray for every campus in the United States. I received this story recently from Will Truesdell, InterVarsity’s Associate Regional Ministry Director in New England.

A highlight for me at Urbana was to come alongside a group of students from across Maine (and from various campus ministries and churches). Because of Urbana, they committed to praying for every campus in Maine this year. We began with a video call in January, and developed a goal to find someone from every campus to join us for a monthly prayer time. Then, we hope to visit campuses to pray—seeking God for his will and his kingdom to come to each of these places. I’m thrilled that this seed has begun with students, that it’s bigger than InterVarsity, that it is focused on God and prayer, and that it has a vision that could grow into something transforming for colleges in Maine.

Join me in praying for these students from Maine.

In 2019 InterVarsity along with several partners are leading the EveryCampus initiative to invite people onto campuses to pray. Want to join us? Go to everycampus.com to sign up.

Fruit at Urbana

January 28, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Rejoice with me for the many decisions at Urbana 18 and pray for these students and faculty as they take next steps back on campus.

Pray for Urbana

December 27, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Tonight over 10,000 students and staff will join together to consider Jesus, the Faithful Witness, through the book of Revelation.

The vision of the Urbana 18 Student Missions Conference is: To compel this generation to give their whole lives for God’s global mission.

Please join us online at https://urbana.org/ to stream the sessions and go here for specific ways you can be praying each day.

Photo Credit: BryonLippincott Flickr via Compfight cc

Real Hope in New York City

December 10, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

“Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35

Across the country InterVarsity staff, students, and faculty are lifting up their eyes to see the fields that are ripe for harvest. As they step onto new places, they find God at work.

This video is one example of how they are “lifting their eyes” in New York’s five boroughs.

Click here if you would like to partner as we seek to see movements catalyzed on new campuses.

Photo Credit: Gregory "Slobirdr" Smith Flickr via Compfight cc

Fall Harvest

December 6, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

A few weeks ago at Park University in Kansas City, the Athletes InterVarsity large group had testimony night. Several leaders shared their stories of coming to know Jesus and invited the group to respond.

Our staff Hannah said “The Holy Spirit had prepared that night. As I arrived, I saw a student in the hallway outside and asked what was up. He felt like being apart of testimony night would be wrong since he isn’t a Christian. After encouraging him, he came in and listened to the testimonies. After the testimonies, my staff partner Lance continued the night by sharing the gospel and inviting students to consider responding to Jesus.”

Three students accepted Christ at Athletes InterVarsity that night, five had already made decisions earlier this semester and two more have made decisions since that meeting. That makes a total of 10 students who have said yes to Jesus for the first time this semester! Almost all of these students have come to Jesus through a relationship with one student, who became a Christian himself a year ago and planted a small group this fall .

Praise God with me for His work at Park University!

Real Hope on Campus

November 28, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Thanks to you… Continue reading

Invitation to God’s global mission

October 4, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

God used Urbana 1996 to call me to join InterVarsity staff. Over the the last 70+ years Urbana has challenged 300,000 students to join God’s global mission. It is my privilege to serve at Urbana 18. Do you know a student who could come? Would you like to give so more students can attend?

Please pray as our staff team prepares to encounter God together with 16,000 others December 27-31, 2018.

Saying Yes

August 2, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

As a five year old I said my first yes to Jesus, mostly because I did not want to go to hell. As I grew up I realized that Jesus wanted a relationship with me and said yes again.

When I got to college I began to see the depth of sin’s impact on me through how I treated those around me. As a college student I sat in my apartment (pictured above) on a gray couch and wondered how God could possibly love me.

In my reading through scripture I came that day to Isaiah 6. In it the prophet Isaiah has a vision of God, realizes and confesses his deep sinfulness, receives cleansing from God, and hears and accepts God call to go.

As I read these words, I sensed God saying “Howie, I always have known how sinful you are. If you confess your sins, I will cleanse you. And if you say yes, I will send you.” On that couch I said a Yes that radically changed the course of my life.

In June I went to this place, gave thanks to God, and laid stones of remembrance.

As students and faculty come to campus this fall, would you pray that many would say yes to Jesus’ call in a way that radically transforms the course of their life?

Watch this video to learn the story of Jesus I am saying yes to.

Exploring together

June 5, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

At Getaway International students from around the region explored the way of Jesus and what it looks like to follow him. This year the conference looked at Jesus through his interactions with the crowds in John 8.

Each year Getaway provides a place for International students who are not yet followers of Jesus to consider the way of Jesus. They do this as they build relationships with their friends from campus and engage in activities around Windermere Conference Center.

This year like those in years past, we find that this environment of relationship deepening and discussion is fruitful in seeing students take steps towards Jesus.

Join me in praying for continued discovery and engagement for the students who attended.

First Steps

May 14, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

At the beginning of this semester, Tim, Area Ministry Director, challenged Ryan, first-year staff, to start ministry at a new campus. “Where should I go?”, he asked. Tim suggested Avila University, a four-year Catholic university in south Kansas City.

Amazingly, the first week Ryan visited Avila, he met a student who enthusiastically said that she would love to help him start a Bible study. And a few weeks later, the first InterVarsity Bible study at Avila was born!

This student invited all her friends, and six of them started coming. During that initial gathering, as they shared their hopes and vision for this group, one of the students said, “I think that this should be a place for everyone to attend, even those who are not religious.” Wouldn’t it be fantastic if InterVarsity could become that sort of a space on campus?

Please be praying for Ryan as he leads this group forward in outreach to the rest of Avila!