Category: Ministry

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Multiplication Revisited

It was 15 years ago and it was our very first day on campus at UC Davis. We were eager but new to the campus and nervous about how we would get a new group started. Armed with only a vision and a stack of questionnaires, we anxiously began approaching students who were there for various orientation activities.

We must have approached a couple of thousand students that first week and we spent most of the rest of the fall following up and meeting with students who expressed literally any kind of interest. It was both draining and rewarding at the same time.

The very first student Jen approached to fill out a spiritual interest questionnaire was a freshman named Tricia. Amazingly, Tricia was interested in getting involved in a campus ministry and after meeting with Jen and getting information about Cru, she ended up getting involved as one of our founding members.

Tricia was involved for 4 years and gave leadership not only to our Cru ministry, but helped us start Epic as well. Upon graduating, Tricia took the principles we had been talking about and became one of the first students from our ministry to go on STINT, a one year international mission. After returning from STINT in Central Asia, Tricia served as an intern with us at UC Davis and then joined the full-time staff of Cru, where she was assigned to give leadership to our ministry in Hawaii.

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Jen (left), Tricia (center), and Skyy (right)

Tricia served several years in Hawaii, building into students and giving them a vision for the world, just as she had been taught. One of the students whom Tricia mentored was Skyy. After graduating, Skyy spent last year as an intern with Cru, just as Tricia had. This fall, Skyy is leading a team of recent grads to the Middle East on STINT, just as Tricia had done.

In 2 Timothy 2:2, Paul gave this charge to Timothy:

“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”

From the beginning of our ministry, it’s been our desire to see students won to Christ, built up in their faith to follow Christ whole-heartedly so that they could be sent out all over the world to Win, Build and Send others.

Thank you for your partnership which has allowed us to do just that with countless students like Tricia and Skyy and now many others.

For a pdf version of our newsletter to print out, click here. Please feel free to pass our newsletter along and share our site with others.

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The Power of Multiplication

Connecting with students at CSU San Bernardino about Destino



Click here to read the pdf version of The Lowedown.

For years, Jen and I have been talking to students about the power of multiplication. It’s the old adage, “give a man a fish, he eats for a day, but teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime.”

A book that has highly influenced our thinking is “Master Plan of Evangelism” by Robert Coleman. In the book, Coleman outlines Jesus’ strategy to reach the world, which ironically was not through his own direct efforts, at least not ultimately. Jesus’ approach was to invest in 12 men who would be able to carry on His work long after He had gone. These men in turn invested in others who did the same. It was a multiplication effect that led to exponential growth of the church. It makes sense, and it works.

For the last few years, Jen and I have been trying to apply this principle to movement start-ups. Jen and I have been planting ethnic movements for several years and at the same time have been inviting and equipping others to do the same. We’re beginning to see the fruit of that borne out as new ethnic movements are beginning to take root in various locations throughout our region.

Now, instead of just Jen and I launching these new ministries, we are beginning to see established ministries branch out to start new works. And ministries that were started just in the last few years are beginning to expand as well.

Just a few years ago, we recruited a new team to reach Latino students at Long Beach State. After quickly establishing a ministry there, they branched out and started a group at Cal State Fullerton. And just this last month, students from those ministries spent several days of their spring break out in San Bernardino working to establish a new Destino ministry at Cal State San Bernardino.

After spending two days engaging students on campus in many different ways, students were invited to a free lunch to hear more about the vision for Destino. Over 20 students showed up and after the meeting was over, eight students stuck around to hear how they could play a part in helping to establish Destino on campus.

In the weeks that have transpired, those students have continued to meet and we are well on our way to seeing Destino established as an official organization at Cal State San Bernardino.

Praise God for what He’s doing and pray with us that Destino would be established and begin to grow and flourish at Cal State San Bernardino!

Destino Students converge at CSU San Bernardino

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IMPACT at Long Beach State University

Our Impact Launch Table at Long Beach State
Our Impact Launch Table at Long Beach State

At this time last year, we had no Impact ministries in our region. By the end of last year, we had one new Impact ministry at UC Santa Barbara.

For the last couple of years, we have desired to start an IMPACT ministry at Long Beach State. This past October, we went to Long Beach State with the hopes of finding at least one student who would want to be a part of an IMPACT movement.

Read the latest Lowedown to find out how God moved on campus and what is happening now.

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Making an Impact on Campus

Today, about 15 of us spread out all over campus initiating with hundreds of students, sharing with them the vision of Impact and inviting them to come to an informational meeting later in the day.

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Jen (middle) with staff friends Julie and Faye

As we stepped on campus today, we had no idea what was in store and we simply hoped that by the end of the day, we would have surfaced 1 or 2 students who would be interested in starting Impact at Long Beach State.

Amazingly, 23 students showed up to our information meeting to find out about Impact. Many others expressed interest in coming to the meeting but were unable to attend the meeting because of a conflict in their schedule.

What was most incredible to me about this day compared to other events we’ve done, is that after we finished with the “official” program, about 8 students stuck around and continued to ask questions (“tell us more about Impact”, “what is it about?”, “how can we get it going?”, “what do we do?”). I’ve never seen as many students with a genuine interest. After a while, 4 of the students left and there were still 4 remaining students who continued to engage with us. I finally said, “you’ve all been here for a while asking questions about Impact. It seems like you’re really interested. Would you 4 be willing to help get this group started on this campus?” They all said yes!

Those of us who were there until the end were amazed at the turnout and the response. Several students commented on the need for Impact. One student remarked on how he had gone been going to a general Christian ministry and it was awkward at first because he’s a black student and the group is not culturally black. He went to their Fall retreat and that helped it to be less awkward but he said that his friends would not go to that group with him. He sees the need for a group that would be attractive to those who are culturally black.

From Left to Right: Spencer, Liz, Amethyst and Brian
From Left to Right: Spencer, Liz, Amethyst and Brian

Please pray for these 4 students (Spencer, Liz, Amethyst and Brian). Pray that they would be able to coordinate another meeting with other interested students to move forward in getting Impact chartered at Long Beach State.

Pray for the other students who have expressed an interest to get involved.

Pray that we would see several of these students attend our Impact conference in New Orleans this December. Pray that finances would not be an issue.

Thanks for praying for us and please continue to pray!

Click here to download the pdf version of The Lowedown.

Dear Friends,
I want to thank you for praying for us today. We’re very grateful for you and your prayers. They certainly made a difference today.
As we stepped on campus today, we had no idea what was in store and we simply hoped that by the end of the day, we would have surfaced 1 or 2 students who would be interested in starting Impact at Long Beach State.
About 15 of us spread out all over campus initiating with hundreds of students, sharing with them the vision of Impact and inviting them to come to an informational meeting later in the day.
Amazingly, 23 students showed up to find out about Impact, with many others expressing interest but unable to attend the meeting because of a conflict in their schedule.
What was most incredible to me about this day compared to other events we’ve done, is that after we finished with the “official” program, about 8 students stuck around and continued to ask questions (“tell us more about Impact”, “what is it about?”, “how can we get it going?”, “what do we do?”). I’ve never seen as many students with a genuine interest. After a while, 4 of the students left and there were still 4 remaining students who continued to engage with us. I finally said, “you’ve all been here for a while asking questions about Impact. It seems like you’re really interested. Would you 4 be willing to help get this group started on this campus?” They all said yes!
Those of us who were there until the end were amazed at the turnout and the response. Several students commented on the need for Impact. One student remarked on how he had gone been going to a general Christian ministry and it was awkward at first because he’s a black student and the group is not culturally black. He went to their Fall retreat and that helped it to be less awkward but he said that his friends would not go to that group with him. He sees the need for a group that would be attractive to those who are culturally black.
Please pray for these 4 st
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Launching Full Swing into the Fall

Fall is the busiest time of year for our ministry. Our campuses spend an incredible amount of energy reaching out to new students and getting our message out. Most campuses attempt to engage with thousands of students during the first week, inviting them to fill out spiritual interest questionnaires. They then spend the next 6-8 weeks following up on new people and getting small groups up and running. It’s almost like a Greek Rush event that lasts for half of the first term, culminating with their Fall retreat.

UCI Welcome Week
Me and Epic Volunteer Aaron before heading out to engage new students with spiritual interest questionnaires

The Lord is doing some exciting things throughout the Pacific Southwest Region. Read the latest Lowedown to hear some updates of what the Lord is doing in many of our ministries this fall.

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Reflecting on 20 Years of Ministry

It’s hard for me to believe, but this summer marks 20 years that I (Jen) have been on staff with Cru. Wow! Am I really that old? As I reflect back, there are so many memories but for me, my job is all about people.

My first campus assignment was The University of Arizona. It was a challenging time at first. I was a new staff person trying to learn my job. I was also far away from home. Things weren’t familiar. But then I started a bible study and I had the chance to influence so many women to grow in their relationship with the Lord.

Erin now lives in Vermont with her husband Charlie and their 2 daughters
Erin was a student leader in Jen’s Bible Study at the University of Arizona. Erin now lives in Vermont with her husband Charlie and 2 daughters

Erin was one of those women in my study. I saw her take new steps of faith to go on summer missions projects. I loved watching her grow in her faith, and her maturity. Erin is now married to a great guy named Charlie whom Dave discipled. Together, they have two beautiful girls and pastor a church in Vermont. Erin is one of the reasons I keep pressing on, doing my job. It’s all about people, and their lives being transformed.

A few years later, when Dave and I moved to Davis, I was pretty fearful about starting a new ministry. Dave has always been the pioneer while I’m more of a shepherd who loves spending personal time with others and helping them grow in their faith.

My first day on campus we were doing some spiritual interest questionnaires, and the first student I approached was a freshman named Tricia. She filled out the questionnaire, we connected, and she got involved with Cru.

As I look back, I am so grateful for those handful of students who got involved in our little group that started meeting initially in our apartment! Those students must have thought we were a little sketchy…but they stuck around and we saw God do amazing things at Davis. Now, Tricia is married and on staff with Cru, leading our Epic ministry in the South Los Angeles Basin. She is a new mom, and I have loved to see her grow.

Tricia was one of the first students to get involved in Cru when we started it at UC Davis
Tricia was one of the first students to get involved in Cru when we started at UC Davis

Lately I’ve been thinking about what a privilege it’s been to raise Jacob and Joshua while working with Cru. They’ve been surrounded by Godly young men and women who’ve modeled walking with God to them.

And I love getting the opportunity to work with Dave. It is fun and rewarding to work through new challenges in ministry with Dave. Together we are tackling some pretty significant challenges in the campus ministry. With our different skill-sets it has been exciting to work together to complement each other and to see progress in our mission of reaching every student with the message of the gospel.

I’m now a part of a leadership program that has been challenging and stretching for me. I get the chance to be around global leaders of Cru who are building into me to help me be a better leader and follower of Christ.

The research project I’m working on is helping to launch a brand new ministry to 18-29 year olds in the cities. This is been very eye-opening, and has helped me to see the need to be relevant and approachable to this generation. They are the most technologically connected, but also the most lonely. What an incredible opportunity we have to share God’s love to this generation that is looking for deep and meaningful connection.

Thank you to all of you who have partnered with us over the past 20 years. It is truly a privilege to be able to serve God and partner with people who want to see students reached with God’s love. After 20 years with Cru, there still is no other job that I’d rather be doing.

I love getting the chance to help people look at life from at eternal perspective, to help them meet God, begin a relationship with Him, and grow in that relationship. The work is challenging, but incredibly rewarding, all at the same time.

Praise the Lord for what He has done! I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me in the next 20 years!

To read the pdf version of the letter, click here!

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2012 Celebration Video

Each year, at our National Leadership Conference, we pause to acknowledge God’s faithfulness in bringing more students and faculty into his kingdom! Check out this video, which celebrates the good things He has done in 2011 through the campus ministry of Cru.

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Communicating a “Boundless” gospel

David speaking at our San Diego Winter Conference

The spotlight blinded me as I stood before 1000 students and staff who were gathered together for our biggest event of the year – our San Diego Winter Conference. I had just been introduced by one of our former students, who was serving as the MC for the conference.

Read the latest “Lowedown” here.

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Watch our San Diego Winter Conference Live!

The San Diego Town & Country Hotel. Our Winter Conference location for the last 17 years!
The San Diego Town & Country Hotel. Our Winter Conference location for the last 17 years!

Pray for Jen and me this week as we are in San Diego with nearly 1000 students from all over the Pacific Southwest Region.

If you want, you can check out our conference as our evening meetings are live streaming on the internet.

Check it out by going to facebook.com/sdwinterconf. Note, you do not have to have a facebook account to view.

On Friday evening, Dave will be on stage during the last 15 minutes of the meeting. Sometime after 8:30, I’ll be getting on stage to talk a bit about Ethnic Field Ministry.