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A New Level

February 24, 2017 / / 0 Comments

Some seasons of life we are invited to take a step up. The growth is noticeable, the new perspective, clear, to us and others. The last 6 months have been a season like this for me. In part due to my sabbatical and also through the engagement with my amazing ministry partners.

Two weeks ago on my monthly prayer hike, I took a ‘stretching’ route that invited me to step up to a new level. As I looked over the valley below and the hills in the distance, I felt the call to go higher. My prayer in that space, as I considered the soaring birds in the distance, was for the winds of the Spirit to elevate me.

Thank you for your continued prayer and partnership. I am grateful for the journey God has us on together.

All for a Reason

February 14, 2017 / / 0 Comments

“I always thought the moment that I accepted Christ would be utterly life changing.  That all my questions would be answered and I would stop having doubts” began a recent student post to the Washington University InterVarsity facebook page.  The student, nicknamed “Mountain,” recently attended the Ohana conference- one of four conferences held together in Kansas City at the end of January.  He continued:

To be honest though, when I finally stood up and accepted Christ I didn’t feel different. I still had questions and I still had my doubts. But what had changed was that I finally realized one thing: I believe that everything happens for a reason. Me coming to Wash U was for a reason, my childhood friend convincing me to come to ACF was for a reason, Me meeting all my wonderful brothers and sisters in this community was for a reason.  On 1/28 I decided that I could no longer accept that these events were just products of chance. On 1/28 it became clear to me that it was the will of a higher power, of God, that has brought me to where I am today.

On January 28th, Mountain joined over 100 other students from around the region in committing or recommitting to follow Jesus.  He and his InterVarsity community at Wash U have been reminded that even though questions may remain, Jesus can be trusted to lead you exactly where you belong.

 

19 Years in the Making

February 13, 2017 / / 0 Comments

If you had told 22-year-old Howie he’d one day be attending a 400 person conference primarily consisting of the region’s Black, Asian and Latino movements, he probably would have laughed. Or cried. And yet, two weeks ago, I found myself in the ballroom of a hotel in Kansas City listening to Black, Latina, White, and Asian American staff issue a call out of Revelation to students from these corners to reach all of their campus.

I spent much of my sabbatical reflecting on my time on staff so far and what it looks like to empower students from every corner.  It has long been a dream of mine to create a space where all students can know they are seen and heard. There were times early in my staff career when I hesitated to even invite black students to certain events for fear they would not feel welcome.

Two years ago, our region choose to embrace the cross-cultural call of Acts 1:8 and has been making this a ministry priority. As I returned from sabbatical and found so many staff working together to make this conference a success, I was struck by how much this commitment to ministry in the corners has transformed our region. Seeing this long-time dream of mine realized is an amazing way to step into this season.

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.

Photo Credit: fatbwoy Flickr via Compfight cc

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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