Guelph Students Pray In Rain, Snow
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May 1, 2012 — A group of students meets for worship every Friday at 7:30 a.m. in a grassy area in the middle of the University of Guelph campus. Though they sometimes have to huddle under a cold rain or shiver in snow showers, they’re there every week. Praying to God and celebrating communion together. “We worship outside because it’s a sacrifice,” says Jamie VanderBerg, campus pastor at the Christian Reformed Home Missions-supported campus ministry at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario. “There is meaning in sacrifice.” VanderBerg has been leading the weekly 45-minute worship gathering for the sleepy-eyed students for the past two years. The group opens with prayer and a time of praise, followed by a litany reading. VanderBerg includes litanies from different Christian traditions because the students come from a range of Christian faith backgrounds. After the litany, the students have a chance for more prayer, followed by VanderBerg leading communion. Students then form small groups for a period of intimate prayer. “Prayer is the foundation of our ministry at Guelph,” he says. “Communion in particular has a real unifying power about it, especially as we’re standing in the cold together.” After worship, they usually goes inside to have breakfast. The Friday gathering, which runs from September to May, attracts up to 35 students every week. “We keep doing this outside because the students want to do it,” VanderBerg remarks. “Snow, rain, or sun, they really prefer it this way. Their dedication has been a wonderful blessing to the ministry.” Guelph Campus Ministry, one of 34 supported by Home Missions, doesn’t limit itself to the campus. VanderBerg and the students also focus on becoming involved in the life and ministry of local Christian Reformed congregations and the city of Guelph. For example, many of the more than 50 university and post-graduate students involved in the campus ministry are also active in an after-school program, a community gardening project, and street outreach in downtown Guelph. —Ben VanHouten, Christian Reformed Home Missions |
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Ask any student and they will tell you, satisfaction is elusive. For some it's trying to find peace of mind. For others it's getting what they deeply covet. But at the core it's really about filling a gap. The legendary Blaise Pascal famously said, "There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus." Believing the Gospel of Jesus is what fills the gap. But, "...how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?" (Romans 10). Telling is what we get to do, and it's an adventure like none other.
In this e-letter we are featuring some great ways to help you introduce students to Jesus.
Life in 6 Words
Tens of thousands of spiritual conversations are being initiated across the country using the powerfully engaging outreach book Life in 6 Words. Through peer-to-peer sharing, teens are interacting with other teens, and lives are being transformed by the good news of Jesus. Youth leaders and campus and youth ministries can receive up to 100 free copies of this book to help students share the good news with friends.
Get your 100 free books by clicking here.
Watch the Life In 6 video, then share it with friends.
My Hope
This month Dr. Billy Graham is encouraging all of us to share the good news of Jesus in our communities and schools. His ministry has produced some powerful videos for sharing the gospel. Use them with friends, campus ministry, in your youth group and church. They are unequaled. You can view them on line:
Defining Moments features NFL player David Tyree and two other compelling stories.
Lose to Gain features pro skate boarder Brian Sumner and more captivating stories.
Also, view Billy Graham's television special Nov. 7-10.
Just launched this month, somethingamazing.net is stirring kids and youth leaders around the nation. Created by partners in the Campus Alliance, the site features a super engaging video that shares the gospel and gives opportunity for the viewer to respond, including what to do next when trusting in Christ.
Helping students figure out what they believe about Jesus is a big decision and this site is a fantastic resource. Spread the word about "something amazing", share it with students on campus.
More Than Winning
For students with a sports interest, FCA has created a great websitethat clearly explains what it means to trust and follow Jesus Christ. Using the coach, athlete and team metaphor, this site walks students through a decision to trust Christ and follow Him.
Connect morethanwinning.com with other FCA resources and you can build a powerful movement at your school.
Spread the word through facebook, twitter and text, encouraging others to adopt their school too! Here is the link to send to friends: http://www.everyschool.com/adopt_map - or text ADOPT to 85005.