Over a meal last October, I was able to hear about the dreams they had for their campus along with their many fears and hesitations. They told me that a lot of the stereotypes about sailor boys are true. Despite the obstacles they would face (campus access issues being one of them) they followed through with starting the bible club on campus.
My Supervisor has met with them every month providing training and support to help them reach their peers on campus. Last week, the NorthCoast Area team (SRJC and SSU staff) partnered with
Cal Maritime students in an outreach on thirst called The Red Cup Campaign. It is this years national outreach spreading across InterVarsity Chapters and students are interested.
Students walk through a display answering questions about what the campus thirsts for and what they personally thirst for. We shared the story of Jesus and the women at the well. The numbers were overwhelming. Almost every student put down that the campus thirsts for success, but on a personal note the theme was often friendship, happiness, and family.
We were training these students on the spot. They had never done an outreach like this on campus, and acknowledged that they had became a "holy huddle" but desired to see that change.
I was extremely overjoyed and impressed with these students as they took risks, asked EVERYONE who walked by (even walked across the quad to invite people over) to participate. To our great surprise all but a small number said yes to participating in the display. That day we talked to 136 students at a campus of 1,000 and 31 students signed up for bible discussion! If the students didn't know there was a bible club before, they certainly do now. The word is getting out.
During our debrief time with the students, one student said that the campus culture was changed that day. He had never witnessed that many students participate in something on campus or just hang out in the quad. In a campus that thirsts for success, there is a great need for community, love, and authentic friendships and these young men are committed to starting that change on campus with the power of Christ's love. Please pray for these students as they follow up with the 31 sign ups. Tonight is the first Bible Discussion since the outreach. Pray for new students to come and leaders to be encouraged.
Upcoming Events at SRJC and SSU
Pray for SRJC outreach next week. We are doing the "money proxe"
We are in the middle of a bible series on the theme of God's justice and mercy .
Please pray for more student ownership as they lead their peers through our display.
SSU is currently in the middle of a week long outreach called Step of Hope. Each day they are having a different event talking about human trafficking and God's perspective on caring and loving the oppressed.
They already had 2 students become Christians at an even last night! Praise God!
If you would like to give financially to support the work on InterVarsity in Sonoma County. go to https://donate.intervarsity.org/donate
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