Earlier this semester, I joined with our Cru ministry at Drexel University on a night when they were going out on campus to share the gospel. Alex, one of the student leaders, explained what we were about to do, “Some of you have never done this before, so we’d like to pair you up with someone who has experience initiating spiritual conversations with people. We have a simple questionnaire you can use to ask people about their religious views and see if there is opportunity to go deeper and possibly talk about what it means to have a relationship with Jesus.”

I was introduced to and matched with Cassie, a junior fashion design major. As we left the meeting room and began to walk on campus, I asked how she had become involved with Campus Crusade there at Drexel. She unfolded the fascinating story of how during her freshman yearshe lived in the same residence hall with a guy named Scott. After a short conversation in the hall, Scott asked, “Is there anything I can be praying about for you?” She was taken off guard but very intrigued by his offer to pray for her. Scott also invited her to come to the next Campus Crusade weekly meeting. As she described it, “I was at a low point, doing all the silly things people often do their freshman year and I was miserable. When I went into that meeting, everyone was so friendly. The songs we sang really spoke to me and then we got into small groups to pray for one another and the campus, it was a new and powerful experience. I think I really grasped what it meant to be a Christian was for the first time that night. Now I help to lead Alpha, a course on the basics of Christianity – we’ve seen quite a few students come to Christ through that.”

Over the next hour we had three very good conversations with students who were hanging out on this warmer than usual late Fall evening. As we were heading back to the meeting room, we noticed a young woman sitting on a bench outside the building. I asked Cassie if she’d like to go through the questionnaire with her. It turns out, that Jessica had just recently arrived in Philly to work there at Drexel. She had studied philosophy at Notre Dame and had been on a sort of spiritual quest for the past few months. It seemed so obvious that God had arranged for this conversation. Cassie invited Jessica to check out Alpha (see www.DrexelAlpha.org) and they exchanged info. Please pray that Cassie will be able to reconnect with Jessica and help her connect to the Christian community there at Drexel.

As everyone gathered back in the room, Alex led in a song and then invited people to share about the conversations they had on campus. It was all so encouraging to hear story after story of how these 50 or so students, many for the very first time, had shared their faith that night. But perhaps the most exciting story I heard was Alex’s. He told about how he had become a Christian just about a month into his freshman year.

“I was standing around outside by dorm with two other friends, when Stefan (the student who began the ministry there at Drexel about 5 years ago) came up and asked if we’d be willing to give our responses to a few questions about our religious views. It was interesting, but I wasn’t really into it that much and after a few minutes, Stefan left. But later that week, he saw me in the gym and said ‘hi Alex, how have you been’, I was amazed that he had remembered my name. He invited me out to a Growth Group Bible study there in my dorm. Through that, I understood the gospel and became a Christian.”

Now Alex is helping to equip and motivate others to reach out to students just like him and Cassie. My heart welled up with gratitude to God for all that he is doing at Drexel. Similar stories could be told by Geng and Steve at Penn, Patti at Philly U, Phillip at the University of Delaware and many others. It is because of students like Alex and Cassie that we have committed our lives to sharing the life-changing message of Christ with college students. God is at work, drawing students to Himself and transforming a generation of future leaders. Thank you for the part you have played during this past year to help us to reach students like Steve!

As 2006 draws to a close and we plan for next year, we find that we need some extra financial help. Our medical insurance costs are increasing by over 12%, which represents $2717 in additional funds needed for 2007.
As you are thinking through your end of the year giving, would you please consider giving a special gift to help provide this extra $2717 that we need? This will help us to continue to minister effectively. Thank you for partnering with us to bring the message of hope to people like Kristin!