Category: Engage People (Page 10 of 15)

Engage People of All Cultures and Ethnicities

75 years and counting

January 30, 2017 / / 0 Comments

In early January, 1400 InterVarsity staff gathered in Orlando to be challenged, trained, encouraged and celebrate InterVarsity’s 75 years of ministry so far.  Several themes from InterVarsity’s history arose during the week, such as our commitment to prayer and in-depth Scripture study and our countercultural embrace of students of all ethnicities and cultures.  There was also a repeated theme of our staff members’ willingness to say yes to God in risky ways.

In one session Nebraska Area Directors, Eric and Stacy Rafferty, told their story which embodies all of these values as they seek to empower student leaders throughout their state. It was a blessing to have Area Directors from our region testify to God’s work. Please watch this testimony and celebrate with us God’s work in our region!

 

 

 

Corner’s Conference 2017

January 24, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, over 300 students from around the midwest will meet in Kansas City for the first ever Central Region Corner’s Conference.  Designed as a place for students from all “corners” of the campus to come together. It will be four parallel conferences that engage together throughout the weekend – Imani a Pan-African student conference, Ohana an Asian American Conference, Mi Gente a Latino/a conference and Being White a white student conference. Each conference will explore our redeemed identity and God’s invitation into mission to every corner of the campus.

InterVarsity staff from around the region and the country will prepare students to continue to reach all parts of their campuses with the gospel.  As the first time running such a unique event, prayers for logistics, travel safety and that God will speak to all who attend are much appreciated!

More than a Resolution

January 16, 2017 / / 0 Comments

This time of year when exercise equipment goes on sale and diets get started, everyone is thinking about how to make lifestyle changes that improve their 2017 and beyond.  If spending more time in scripture is a habit that could use some encouragement, InterVarsity has recently made it’s inductive reading plans available on Youversion.

These plans take you through the gospels providing three daily questions (observation, interpretation and application) to help you dig into the scriptures.  There is also a two-week topical study called Summoned: Stepping Up to Live and Lead with Jesus.  This study explores important scriptures about the brokenness of the world and ways Jesus invites us to share his healing presence.

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The best kind of e-mail

January 9, 2017 / / 0 Comments

A part of summer for many InterVarsity staff is receiving e-mails from excited new students heading to their campus in the fall. While some of these students never end up getting plugged in, International Student Ministry staff, Brenden Graczak, got to see that enthusiasm turn into fruitful ministry this semester.

Sophie is a first year Singaporean social work student at Washington University in St Louis. She had friends connected to International Friends before, so she emailed him over the summer about wanting to get involved. Her first day in the U.S. she jumped into mission with International Friends at their core group retreat. In the past few months, she has sought where God is leading, and connected with a lot of students. She is an expert inviter, is leading their worship team, and consistently challenges the core group to remain mission-focused.

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Open doors on campus

January 4, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Good working relationships with campus administration are crucial to the ministry of InterVarsity. Late this fall, Maria Rolland, campus staff at Lindenwood University in St Charles, Missouri had the chance to meet up with the director of the English as a Second Language (ESL) department and another professor. They both happen to be Christians and are very excited about partnering with InterVarsity to help serve ESL students.

As a result of this interaction, InterVarsity graduate student, Tolis, and volunteer,Kim, will be leading a culture shock presentation for new international students in January.  This is a wonderful opportunity to make these new students feel welcome and begin building relationships from day one.

Would Jesus Go Greek?

December 22, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Instead of encouraging students to leave their sorority or fraternity, InterVarsity tries to say, “Be Jesus to your sisters or brothers.”  One of the student leaders at University of Northern Iowa is in a sorority and longs to see Jesus infiltrate Greek life.  Earlier this semester, she and IV staff, Tate Offenburger, hosted a Greek Meet to try to connect with other Greeks who might be interested in Bible Study.   They had terrific conversations with those who came and found out that one of them was already hosting a Bible Study in her sorority. She was excited to hear that there was an actual ministry who cared about Greek students and could offer resources.  UNI’s goal has been to see a Bible study in every sorority and fraternity. Even though the semester is ending without a new leader in place, who knows what doors God will open next.

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Faith and Chai

December 12, 2016 / / 0 Comments

Twelve months ago, R, an Indian-American student, decided to start following Jesus at InterVarsity’s Urbana missions conference. As he began his semester at KU this fall, R saw the hundreds of South Asian students all around him. They were like sheep without a shepherd—and hardly anyone was reaching out to them. R started wondering how he could be their shepherd and bring the gospel to them. Fighting his internal fears and hesitations, R decided to start a weekly discussion group called “Faith and Chai” where South Asian students could talk about faith and spirituality.

Thanks to his faithfulness and persistent inviting, that group has officially launched! Every week, there are about 10 South Asian students gathering together, from undergrad students all the way up to PhD candidates, all wanting to talk about faith questions!   R is now praying that the Lord would grant him an apprentice, someone whom he could train up to be a leader for this group in the future.

A Divine Assignment

December 8, 2016 / / 0 Comments

“Briana and I stayed up talking for hours, and we talked about whether we should start a bible study in McGee!” exclaimed Sarah to InterVarsity staff Dave earlier this semester. He immediately replied “That’s funny because as I was praying, I felt like I needed to ask you today whether you wanted to start a bible study in McGee!”

Sarah had actually been praying for leadership opportunities before coming to Rockhurst and God loves to answer those kind of prayers. Dave and Mark (another IV staff) are coaching Sarah and Brianna as they lead this new study in their dorm and they are already looking forward to the day they will need to split the growing group into two.

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