Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Stats and stories

For those of you who enjoy stats, I have a few details about our Summit weekend and the following week. Out of the 326 students who attended our Summit, 96 of these were first year students! Be in prayer for these 96 first years, that they would feel connected with God but also connected with other students in Campus for Christ and that these next 4 years would be years of huge growth for them in their walks with God.

Also, the week that follows Summit is traditionally a week of evangelism. Students sign up for different time slots and go out onto campus and strike up conversations with students that happen to be sitting around in hopes that they will have an opportunity to share the gospel with them
. At the University of Guelph, there were 53 groups of 2 (we usually go out in pairs - not too big, not too small) that went out during the week and 3 people came to know Christ in a personal way!

As soon as I get the details of these new brothers and sisters, I will post the stories.

Stay tuned for the exciting details!

Friday, October 3, 2008

Nicky's Story

Here is what 4th year Guelph student, Nicky had to say about her final Summit:



Being in my 4th and final year, I'm going through a lot of 'last' experiences, and this past weekend was my last Summit as a student, and perhaps the most powerful. Looking back on it in years to come, I know that what I will remember about this Summit is the impact that the main sessions had on me. The key note speakers really hit home in speaking about idolatry in our lives and how destructive and disobedient it is in our relationship with Christ. Moreso than the message itself, I was compelled by the utter transparency that Eric and Allan spoke with; they didn't pretend to be perfect or have it all figured out, they simply shared with us the reality and danger of this sin, how they're struggling with it, and what the Bible says about it. This has compelled me to be a more transparent leader. In my leading of a 3rd year female leaders DG this year, I have little to work on in the area of creating community and unity because the girls already love each other and have been through a lot together, but the Lord has challenged me to lead them deeper, more vulnerable and 'messy' with each other, and that is going to require me going there first. Eric and Allan's transparency in their talks has given me a great example by which to do this. Through this the Lord is teaching me that he's not looking for perfect people to lead, he just wants surrendered and honest souls willing to admit their struggles and show others the work Christ is doing in that area. Praise the Lord that he redeems!

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Sam's Story

Here is one story from a 3rd year student, Sam Foster of her experience at Summit this year:



I was really looking forward to Summit this year, because last year’s Summit changed my life. God used that time last year to speak me about my faith barrier of sharing to students on campus. I have seen more incredible things that God has done in this past year than in my whole life as a Christian. The most exciting part is that God used me to answer my own prayers of wanting to see students come into a relationship with Christ.

This Summit God had a big challenge for me. I didn’t think much about this faith barrier that I had, but God totally set it before me this past weekend. God has called me to not only make disciples on campus but He has called me to share my faith with my family. My relatives are not believers. My aunts, uncles and cousins do not know Jesus. God has put this burden on my heart for them. When I think about sharing with them, I worry what they will think of me. Will they think of me as the crazy niece/cousin? Will they not want to hear any of it? But Jesus says in John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” So when I think about sharing to them in that perspective I get totally excited to go home and share Jesus with them. Wow. God is Good!