Category: Teach Students (Page 1 of 7)

Teach Students and Faculty to Respond to God’s Word

Filled with hope and wonder

December 8, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Every 3 (sometimes 4) years we join together as a movement for the Urbana missions conference. It is a space where “one generations commends God works to another; telling of God’s mighty acts.” (Ps 145:4)

Generation after generation of students have heard and responded to God’s call to give their whole lives to God’s purposes around the world. I responded as a 21 year old in a way that still impacts my life 26 years later.

Hundreds have been praying regularly for this event, focused on the book of Acts. They sense that we will experience a powerful move of God in our midst. Please pray with me towards this end. It is not to late to join me in Indianapolis. Reach out to me for a discount and register soon.

New Name

May 26, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Two times in the last week, I had the same profound experience.

The first came at a year end conference where the speaker walked us through a listening exercise. In it Jesus comes into the room with us. We realize there is a name written on our forehead. It is not flattering – “not good enough”, “second”, “unwanted”…

Then Jesus walks over. He washes off this name and writes on a new one, what is it?

As the speaker led the 200+ students and staff through this experience, many sensed a new name – “worthy”, “loved”, “ready”. After sharing and praying with the person next to them, over 2/3rds of the audience, including me, said they had a significant encounter with God.

Fast forward four days, I am at church and the preacher is speaking on identity. In her sermon she listed five names she had taken on herself and then the names God replaced them with. At the end as a church community we listened for the name that God speaks over us.

We see this kind of work often in the life of Jesus, renaming those that others have cast aside. We also see this in Revelation 2:17 where God gives a new name to the victorious.

What is it for you? What is the name that God speaks over you to replace one you have held on to?

What might God want to do

May 3, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

At Urbana 1997, I heard God speaking to me. “I have given you gifts for this, if you will follow me, I will use you.” At Urbana I said Yes to God’s invitation, to join staff with InterVarsity.

25 years later, I will will join 10,000 others invited to surrender all to Jesus and join in God’s global mission. We will do this through multiethnic worship, creating space for all peoples to come before God. We’ll have time of Scripture exposition and Bible study in Acts. We’ll hear testimonies from the global church. And everyone will have the opportunity to connect with top mission organizations, receive prayer ministry, and get next steps coaching to discern their calling.

Do you know someone (or yourself) who should consider joining me? Send them Urbana.org to register now.

Now is the time

April 20, 2022 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Every few years, students from around the country gather to consider God’s invitation to be a part of His work around the world. Every Urbana participants are invited to surrender all to God and to take a next step to engage in mission.

We are blessed to join together in Indianapolis this December for Urbana 22. Pray for God to move during these days and share this opportunity with college students you know.

The Joy of being Together

November 11, 2021 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Over 160 InterVarsity student leaders from across Michigan gathered at Aspire, a one-day conference to equip students for God’s mission on campus.

Timothy Lin, Regional Director of Michigan, shared:

It has been over two years since the last Michigan in-person student conference.

Students were so hungry for community. As soon as they arrived, they sought new cross-campus friendships. They soaked up everything we could teach them. Many indicated their commitment to reach out to classmates with the love of Christ.

Four students came from St Clair County Community College (SC4) in Port Huron, Michigan. We just restarted a chapter on campus this fall, and these four came to Aspire ready to learn everything about leading this fledgling chapter. Over lunch, they told me, “We had no idea how big InterVarsity is! We can’t wait to help grow our SC4 chapter.” And a couple of weeks later, they did just by that passing out “welcome bags” around campus and inviting students to their Bible study!

I love that the Lord is working in and through these 160 student leaders to share about God’s Kingdom on campuses across Michigan. Please pray for their courage and boldness to share about Jesus with their friends.

Not alone

February 12, 2020 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

What would be the impact if our communities saw the demonstration of the difference Christianity makes?

Jamal Morris, Associate Area Director in Tennessee, encountered student after student who had no interest in Christianity because they did not see it making a difference.

Over the last decade he has been working to demonstrate God’s kingdom through engagement of college students with local schools. Here is one story of the impact:

One of our class coordinators saw a student visibly shaking and asked her what was going on. The student said five other middle schoolers were going to gang up on her after school. The assistant principal granted us permission to walk her home.

A starting fullback for a local university, was with us along with seven of his teammates, making for a total of twenty-five college students walking her home. During the walk, I had a Bible study with the students about the attributes of God, specifically as a protector and good Father. I expressed how this young lady experienced his protection through us.

Students once far from God are now interested in a Christianity they see lived out around them. Please pray for Jamal and his students as they continue to engage the schools in their community and invite other college students to consider Jesus.

Together

September 12, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

As a part of InterVarsity/USA, I have the privilege of serving with sisters and brothers around the world inviting students and faculty to follow Jesus through the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students.

Watch this short video to see the story of the development of this movement.

Recently a delegation of staff and students from the USA went to the IFES World Assembly. Click here to read one staff’s reflections from the time.

Being carried to Jesus

July 3, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Over spring break, Jessica Marotte, staff in Sacramento, CA, hosted a student conference in a rental house to study the Gospel of Mark. She was told there were not many stairs, but when they got there they found a huge flight of stairs.

Jessica says, “One student who came to Mark Camp was wheelchair bound and required two people to her carry up and down 20 stairs each day. It took a lot of bravery for her to trust us not to drop her! Each time we carried her, I could only think, this is a living parable of Mark 2, when the four friends removed the roof of a house and carried their paralyzed friend down into to crowd to meet Jesus.

In the passage it says that when Jesus saw the four friends faith he forgave the paralyzed man and heals him. When we studied this passage at the conference, one of our students made an insightful comment that felt symbolic of this school year, ‘Each of us is the paralytic who needs Jesus’ healing, and each of us is a friend who has faith that helps us carry one-another to Jesus!’

Throughout this year, Jesus has been showing us–students, faculty and staff–that power of faithful community in our healing process. The year was full of miraculous healings that Jesus performed.

Through the power of prayer and intercession we saw God bring breakthrough in the ministry and in student’s lives! We ended the year with 5 students making first time decisions to follow Jesus, and 6 students making re-commitments to follow Jesus!”

Praise God with me for the work of God on campus and let’s consider with these students who God is inviting us to carry to Jesus.

Students taking the lead

June 5, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

This year the chapter at Arizona State University was put on pause after graduating all of the student leaders and transferring the staff out of Arizona.

But, God heard the prayers of staff, Steven and Jessica Grahmann, and called 4 students at Urbana who had a vision to replant the ministry. These 4 students have multiplied to 20 as they’ve recruited for weekly events and bible studies!

Please pray for this group of students as they take the next steps of developing the work at Arizona State.

God’s movement in Arkansas

April 18, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

God is up to something through InterVarsity at the University of Arkanas.

I was blessed in the late 90’s and early 2000’s to work alongside Kevin Smith with InterVarsity at the University of Arkansas. Several years after Camilla and I moved to St Louis, Kevin took over the leadership of ISCA and the work of InterVarsity grew dormant.

In 2015 Christina and Jacob Foor sensed a call to go to Arkansas and revive the work there. They are now reaching over 75 students from 13 countries on campus, in addition to planting work on two other area campuses.

It is such a blessing to see God growing new seeds that have been planted and to see old seeds we scattered now growing as they are being watered. Praise God!