What started as grocery shopping.

      Ministry on campus sometimes starts off campus, but who would have thought that simply buying our groceries could have an eternal impact?

      We do our grocery shopping at the local Kroger right down the street. Because of this, the Delta Tau Delta fraternity is now starting a Bible study.

      At Kroger, one of the check out attendants is a guy named Kyle. Vince would often chat with Kyle while checking out. After small talk several times at the store Vince discovered that he was an active in DTD. They ended up getting lunch later that week, and Kyle shared about his life and relationship with God. He said that after having a solid beginning in his faith, that he had since struggled in his walk with God. He also shared that God was stirring his heart and he wanted his fraternity brothers to know God.

      A month later Kyle is doing just that– paving the way for many of his brothers to know Christ. Kyle is realizing that he can bring light to the spiritual darkness around him. He has helped get Vince in to talk at the chapter meeting with the active members, where 14 of the 30 members said they wanted to attend a DTD Bible study. Vince also got to talk at a meeting with the pledges where 16 of 21 said they wanted to attend a DTD Bible study. Vince has had the opportunity to personally share the Gospel with many of these guys. And next week, Kyle and a couple of his brothers that Vince is training, will be starting up a Bible to reach their fraternity with the Gospel!

      Greek Wide is beginning to catch on at SFA in a big way. In addition to the Delta Tau Deltas, Vince has had the opportunity to talk to Sigma Alpha Mu, and Sigma Tau Gamma fraternities this past month. God has now given us an influence in 8 of the 10 major fraternities on campus this fall! At the meetings with these fraternities Vince talks briefly on the importance of spiritual life in developing into a “well rounded” man, and challenges the guys to take steps in that area of life. Over half of each fraternity active and pledge class respond indicating a desire to talk with Vince about a relationship with God through Jesus!

      Please pray for these guys. Many are far from God and looking for hope in empty places. Our larger goal with these Greeks is to have a Bible study lead by a Greek in each house. It’s a goal that could take some time, but with these 3 fraternities and others, we already have guys in each house who are willing to step up and learn what it looks like to lead and reach their peers.  Thanks for being a part of reaching students with the Gospel at SFA.

GETTYSBURG    

      Vince was able to take a week to attend a Christian leadership conference in Gettysburg, PA. There, he studied along with other Cru staff guys about the battle of Gettysburg in 1863 during the Civil War. Vince was challenged and developed as a Christian leader by learning the character and quality of the men who fought in Gettysburg, and the decisions they made. Vince learned more about what it means to be a leader at SFA and he is enjoying the difference his experience at Gettysburg has made in his life on campus. He’s even brought what he learned straight into the talks he gives to the fraternities! We are grateful for how God is already using this valuable training in Vince’s life and ministry!

 

Fall Snapshots

We have experienced an exciting start to the year! There have been so many incredible stories of God at work, and we want to share a few snapshots from the first month of this school year so you can hear of God’s faithfulness!

Greek Wide

       Greeks at SFA have a significant influence. They are sharp, driven students who excel socially, and take lead roles at SFA. They are also often seen as intimidating, and, at SFA, very few people are taking the time to care for them spiritually. This year we began a new facet of Cru to meet their needs called Greek Wide. You can look at Greek Wide as Cru for Greek students, or as a way for us to more effectively relate to a fraternity or sorority student by creating a place for Greeks to grow in their faith together.

       Up until now, we have talked to the ƟX, ΣN, KA, and TKE fraternities. In the coming weeks we hope to get in front of more. We hope to build relationships with each of these fraternities so that every Greek may know Jesus. Pictured is a pre Rush event we helped put on, where prospective Greeks came to check out the fraternities and sororities. We were able to meet over 200 freshmen Greek hopefuls.

Crusday

       Tuesday night is the big night with Cru. Weekly, we have small group Bible studies that are lead by staff and students. They meet every Tuesday night, except for the last Tuesday of the month. In these groups students can learn how to grow in their faith, whether they are a general student, Greek, Athlete, etc. Then, the last Tuesday of each month we have what we call “Crusday”. Crusday is our big event where students who are a part of smaller groups come together to study scripture as a large group. Our first Crusday was a hit, we had 105 students join us for Crusday at Chili’s! Pictured is Crusday, where we ate good food, talked about the Great Commission, and shared the Gospel with all who attended. Brynn enjoyed it too!

Follow up

       During the first few weeks of school there are a lot of photographable opportunities; Greek events, large gatherings, social events, etc. However, we spend the majority or our time sitting on campus face to face with students sharing with them about a personal relationship with Jesus. They are always exciting conversations as students hear the Gospel, some for the first time. These are also moments where you don’t lean over and ask the person, you just met, for a picture. However, it is a good time to sneak one, haha! Pictured is my typical daily view. This is a picture of me sitting (holding the camera) in ChickFilA in the student center. I’m with one of our current students on the left side, who is sharing the Gospel with a freshmen guy on the right side. This was a significant conversation where the freshmen heard the Gospel for the first time saying, “I’ve grown up on a farm my whole life, knowing only that and nothing more.” We are so blessed to show him who Jesus is, and to do life with him as he discovers a saving relationship with Him.