March Goodness: The Lord Is at Work!
Dear friends,
A freshman comes to faith at Rutgers U
The InterVarsity students met a freshman guy (I’ll share his name another time) on the first day of the student involvement fair. They invited him to froyo with everyone afterwards, and he seemed really interested in getting involved. He then ghosted (did not respond) to them for the rest of the semester. IV Staff Kevin continued to message him about every other week all semester without fruit. Then he finally responded and came to their Christmas party in December where Kevin connected him with Andrew, a Small Group Leader who leads a small group near his campus.
Andrew made it his business to be a friend to him this semester. Almost every day they spent part of the day together, and Andrew moved his SG to meet in his dorm. At their spring retreat IV staff Kevin gave a call after our guest speaker gave a fantastic message about encountering the real God and living without secrets, and he responded! That night he spoke to Andrew about his decision. Kevin asked Andrew what this has been like for him, and he said, “So much joy!”
An Opportunity to Plant More Campuses!
Longing for revival, we catalyze movements that call every corner of every campus to follow Jesus. This is our 2030 national vision. In North NJ, we have 13 campuses and 18 more to go plant witnessing communities that grow love for God, for His Word, for people of every ethnicity, and His purposes in the world.
At the end of this month, March 28-April 1st, our North NJ staff team along with other staff from our region will go to 5 campuses and pray the Lord would plant a witnessing community there. We will prayer walk the campus, do Faith Journey surveys with students, and see if we can gather students together for a small group Bible study. Here are the campuses:
- FDU-Teaneck and Florham Park
- Rutgers-Cook/Douglass
- Middlesex County CC
- Seton Hall
Would you pray the Lord will go before us helping us to find people of peace, Christians and non-Christians who want to encounter Jesus on campus, and see at least 2 of the campuses start an InterVarsity small group?
Ireland Pilgrimage (happening after 2 year delay)
Later today, I have the privilege to go to Ireland with 10 other IV staff and alum for the week-long pilgrimage that was delayed due to COVID. The purpose of the pilgrimage is to grow in my relationship with God as we hike in nature, pray, and explore the places St. Patrick established to bring Christianity to a pagan culture. Pray for safety and that we would encounter God in fresh in new ways that will build our faith.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel! We are the dream team, and could not do it without you!
Blessings,
Cathy Craig