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Calling to a City

August 9, 2018 / / 0 Comments

When you hear God say something, you respond, right?

As a junior in college I had a sense that God was inviting me to move into an neighborhood one mile from my campus that operated under a completely different reality than where my school sat or where I grew up.

As an InterVarsity student I heard about the stark economic disparities in St Louis, how God was making all things new, and our invitation to join him in this work. My early yes to relocate began a journey for me that continues to this day to open my eyes to new realities and to pray and work for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.

In June I went to this place, gave thanks to God, and laid stones of remembrance.

Hundreds of InterVarsity students are coming back from Urban and Global projects this month and seeking to take first steps to apply what they learned as they go back to campus. Please pray for them to say yes to Jesus’ invitations.

Saying Yes

August 2, 2018 / / 0 Comments

As a five year old I said my first yes to Jesus, mostly because I did not want to go to hell. As I grew up I realized that Jesus wanted a relationship with me and said yes again.

When I got to college I began to see the depth of sin’s impact on me through how I treated those around me. As a college student I sat in my apartment (pictured above) on a gray couch and wondered how God could possibly love me.

In my reading through scripture I came that day to Isaiah 6. In it the prophet Isaiah has a vision of God, realizes and confesses his deep sinfulness, receives cleansing from God, and hears and accepts God call to go.

As I read these words, I sensed God saying “Howie, I always have known how sinful you are. If you confess your sins, I will cleanse you. And if you say yes, I will send you.” On that couch I said a Yes that radically changed the course of my life.

In June I went to this place, gave thanks to God, and laid stones of remembrance.

As students and faculty come to campus this fall, would you pray that many would say yes to Jesus’ call in a way that radically transforms the course of their life?

Watch this video to learn the story of Jesus I am saying yes to.

The start to something new

August 1, 2018 / / 0 Comments

In August 1993 I arrived at Washington University ready to start my college career. Some of the first people to welcome me to campus were a part of InterVarsity on campus.

Joining InterVarsity was a significant way that God worked transformation in my life. Through the group, I developed friends with whom I could discuss the alternate views of the Bible we encountered in class; I found encouragement to examine deeply the life of Jesus and share him with others; and I saw the power of a diverse Christian community seeking reconciliation.

The four years I spent in college and particularly my first six months, was one of the most significant periods of spiritual growth I have experienced.

In June I took time to leave a stone of remembrance in this space and give God thanks for the work he did in my life during these years.

Join me in praying for students and faculty who will come to campus this month that they may discover Jesus in a fresh way through the thousands of InterVarsity students, volunteers, staff, and faculty that are preparing to welcome them.

Remember

August 1, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Almost 25 years ago Camilla and I arrived in St Louis as college freshman. The work that God has done in our lives through this city and the work of InterVarsity is profound.

We are so grateful for the hundreds of people who have intersected and impacted our lives in this period. Over the last several months I have reflected about God’s work in us during this time. One practice in the Old Testament, most notably in Joshua, is marking God’s work by placing stones of remembrance. Both in the physical work of it and in the visible reminder we are aided in remembrance and retelling.

In June I walked in places of deep significance in my walk with God in St Louis and left stones of remembrance. Places like the apartment I accepted the Isaiah 6 call, the streets of Ferguson where I heard in a profound way the cries of the oppressed, and the campus of Harris Stowe where I encountered God’s direction in deep ways.

If you did a similar walk, where would you go to place a stone of remembrance?

That you may have life

June 22, 2018 / / 0 Comments

If you had one more chance to speak to a people you have been developing 40+ years, what would you say?

I was blessed last week to study a part of Moses’ last sermon series to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 17 & 18 and to share it with the our church as my last sermon. There is much for us to learn as we reflect on how God was forming his people in that day.

 

 

 

Exploring together

June 5, 2018 / / 0 Comments

At Getaway International students from around the region explored the way of Jesus and what it looks like to follow him. This year the conference looked at Jesus through his interactions with the crowds in John 8.

Each year Getaway provides a place for International students who are not yet followers of Jesus to consider the way of Jesus. They do this as they build relationships with their friends from campus and engage in activities around Windermere Conference Center.

This year like those in years past, we find that this environment of relationship deepening and discussion is fruitful in seeing students take steps towards Jesus.

Join me in praying for continued discovery and engagement for the students who attended.

First Steps

May 14, 2018 / / 0 Comments

At the beginning of this semester, Tim, Area Ministry Director, challenged Ryan, first-year staff, to start ministry at a new campus. “Where should I go?”, he asked. Tim suggested Avila University, a four-year Catholic university in south Kansas City.

Amazingly, the first week Ryan visited Avila, he met a student who enthusiastically said that she would love to help him start a Bible study. And a few weeks later, the first InterVarsity Bible study at Avila was born!

This student invited all her friends, and six of them started coming. During that initial gathering, as they shared their hopes and vision for this group, one of the students said, “I think that this should be a place for everyone to attend, even those who are not religious.” Wouldn’t it be fantastic if InterVarsity could become that sort of a space on campus?

Please be praying for Ryan as he leads this group forward in outreach to the rest of Avila!

http://kcai.edu/

Dreams becoming reality

May 3, 2018 / / 0 Comments

Two and a half years ago one of our staff, Dave, started taking prayer walks around the Kansas City Arts Institute (KCAI). As he interceded for that campus, he knew that one day, the Lord would open the door for him to reach the campus with the love of Christ.

At the beginning of this year a ministry partner with ties to KCAI connected Dave to a student enrolled there. This student had been attempting to start ministry on that campus for a couple of years. Through this student, Dave connected with several other Christian students at KCAI, and all of a sudden, Dave’s dream became reality!

Currently, Dave is leading a weekly Bible study off-campus as we apply for organization status so that we can host InterVarsity on campus next year. We long for the light of Jesus to come to a campus that some perceive to be a dark place.

Will you pray with us that InterVarsity would be approved as a student organization and for a strong start for this chapter?

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