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Developing world changers

April 25, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Could you imagine the impact of a generation of nurses that follow Jesus deeply and engage in their work as partnering with God in bringing shalom?

My amazing colleagues with InterVarsity’s Nurses Christian Fellowship have been engaged in developing these type of nurses since the 1930’s.

Recently their publication, the Journal of Christian Nursing, has again received top awards from the American Society of Healthcare publications, including a bronze award for Best feature article, The Long Journey of Alzheimer’s Disease and Gold awards for graphics and design.

Do you know a nurse that would benefit from this magazine? Or a nursing student who God could be calling to start something new at their nursing school?

New partnerships

April 18, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

In partnership with a faculty member, InterVarsity staff trained students at John Brown University in proxe stations and the Big Story.

In one of their following class periods the professor sent his 20+ students to visit a Northwest Arkansas Community College, a campus where staff are starting an InterVarsity chapter, to practice what they learned. They led the the Colorblind proxe for two hours on campus, practiced listening and intercessory prayer, and did pocket proxes all over campus.

All of this was very helpful for the local staff, who is doing follow-up and a gathering event as a result of the outreach. The JBU professor said, “I’ve been waiting 10 years to do something like this, we’ve just never had anyone to partner with.” What a great first step of partnership!

As a former InterVarsity staff in Northwest Arkansas, it is so exciting to see God on the move there. Praise God with me!

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!

Following God across boundaries

March 5, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

God can use a few conversations to change the course of a semester and beyond.

At Urbana 18, Susan, an InterVarsity student from the U.S., talked with our Study Abroad and InterVarsity Link teams about her upcoming semester abroad in Latin America.

She received our guide to prepare her for the semester, signed up for a digital small group, got Bible study training, and connected with the leaders of the IFES movement where she was going who invited her to their week long student camp.

When our staff followed up with her after Urbana, she shared about going to the local student camp where she met lots of excited Christian students who are now her friends back in the city where she is studying. She also started a Bible study on Hebrews at her school where there is not an IFES student group, yet, and is being discipled by a local staff.

Praise God for his divine timing and invitation for Susan to partner with Him in mission. Please pray that she would thrive spiritually and that a group would be established at her university in Latin America and in the U.S. as she goes back at the end of the semester.

Photo Credit: martinlouis2212 Flickr via Compfight cc

A new way

February 25, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

As our movement considers partnering to see witnessing communities on 2500 campuses, we realize that we are looking at significant changes.

A colleague mentioned that we are looking for a change more like what Uber did for ride sharing then the taxis taking a next step in installing a credit card machine.

As a community we are seeking God’s direction to engage new levels of national partnerships, create easy on-ramps of volunteerism, make training accessible to all, and more deeply empower students and faculty in mission.

It is an exciting and pray-producing time, particularly as I facilitate elements of our work with volunteers. Thanks for your continued prayer!

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.

Loving God’s word

January 8, 2019 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Do you remember when you really began to understand God’s word for yourself? Across the country InterVarsity Bible Studies are starting over the next couple of weeks.

One of the Senior student leaders of Nurses Christian Fellowship at Pittsburg State began a Bible study over the book of Acts on Friday mornings last semester. It began small but grew rapidly to 20 students each week. Some students even came to Bible Study even when they had a test that day! Through this study we have seen a growing excitement for God’s word in the chapter.

Please pray for students and faculty to grow more deeply in love with God’s word this semester. If you would like resources on how to study the Bible on your own or in groups click here.

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: CAFNR Flickr via Compfight cc

Seeing Faculty

December 17, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Can you imagine the impact of a growing number of Christian faculty on colleges and universities investing deeply in the campuses God has called them to?

InterVarsity’s ministry among faculty is growing and we are putting an emphasis on it in this next season.

Charis Chan, InterVarsity staff at University of Missouri – Columbia, recently sent this testimony. “I was connected to a group of Christian professors last month, and after attending their weekly meeting I invited them to affiliate with InterVarsity. They were so excited about IVCF’s vision for faculty they quickly agreed. They have not stopped calling me their ‘staff worker’ ever since. About 1/3 of this group was influenced by IVCF (as undergrad or grad) but had no idea about faculty ministry. At today’s celebration lunch, they expressed how InterVarsity’s faculty ministry makes them feel seen and understood. They now feel empowered to follow Jesus and be missional on campus as professors.”

Please pray as we develop faculty communities on campus.