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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

People of Peace

November 21, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Going to a brand new place where you do not know anyone can be scary. Continue reading

Faithful Witness

November 16, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Will we live out God’s invitation to be a Faithful Witness?

At Urbana18 through deep engagement with the book of Revelation, participants will be challenged by what it means to be a faithful witness in this generation.

Over this last month, our InterVarsity community has reflected on the lives of three faithful witnesses that walked amongst us: Gwen Wong, Jen Huerta Ball, Barbara Boyd (pictured above).

We have mourned the loss of each of these precious witnesses to Jesus and from their stories are compelled to give our whole lives to Jesus. Each one to the very end of their lives on earth embraced and proclaimed the love of Jesus.

They join the great cloud of witnesses that cheer us on to run our race with perseverance.

This week I preached at chapel on the way that faithful witnesses compel our faithful witness. Please pray that God would strengthen our faithful witness and that many would say yes in this generation of students and faculty to be a faithful witness.

Open Doors

October 22, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

“We are just trying to catch up with God.” Continue reading

World Changers

October 18, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Over the last several weeks, I have been blessed to hear stories of God’s movement around the world through the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES), the umbrella movement that InterVarsity/USA is a part of.

One story is about Dr. Denis Mukwege, co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2018. He is a graduate of InterVarsity’s sister movement in Burundi, where he did part of his medical studies. IFES General Secretary Daniel Bourdanné said of Dr. Mukwege: “He is a model to me of Christian engagement in society. He selflessly brings the character of God to these broken people.” Read more

Praise God for me for the world changers he is developing on campuses around the world!

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.

Led across boundaries

September 27, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

Have you experienced God leading you to an unexpected space to follow him? As I look in the book of Acts, a consistent theme is God leading his people across boundaries into mission.

As Camilla and I moved back to St Louis in 2002, an invitation came for me to explore staffing a Black student chapter in St Louis. In response I joined the Visions Gospel Choir, part of Harambee Christian Ministries, and came my first Friday to the building pictured above at Washington University.

This started a five year journey of learning with and providing leadership alongside amazing student leaders in Harambee. God clarified my calling, formed me as a leader, gave long term friendships, and enabled me to witness students and faculty saying yes to Jesus.

It continues to be a blessing to see these students have impact in so many sectors of society. In June I went to this place, gave thanks to God, and laid stones of remembrance.

As an InterVarsity movement we see God continuing to call us across boundaries in mission. Let me know ways you would like to partner with us in this mission.

Going before us

September 6, 2018 / Howie Meloch / 0 Comments

On my first retreat hike after our move to Madison this summer, I experienced yet another sign of God going ahead of us as a family in this move.

As I spent my monthly retreat hiking and talking with God, I was calling out to God with the concerns and uncertainties that come with a big move. As my heart was stirred, I came upon several spots in the hike that caught my attention, like the cluster of wildflowers pictured above. On my hike, the path went straight through the flowers. As I walked through them the vibrancy of that sunny day was amazing.

The experience caught my attention and as is my practice on my hikes, I stopped to consider what God might be saying to me through this space. It was clear that my mind had been so filled with concerns, prayers, anxiety, and God’s invitation in that space was to turn towards him.

This call of God to turn aside and look toward him was further emphasized two days later as we spent part of our chapel service that week reflecting on Moses’ turning aside to look at the burning bush and encountering God. The message each day was the same, it is so easy to be distracted by many things and God’s invitation to us is to stop and look. Will you join me in this today?