A Critical Time

It feels like everyone is vying for the minds and hearts of college students.

For us, it’s not about whether they get involved in Cru – it’s about the people they are and who they will be when they leave this very short time in college. Will they pursue knowing God while in college? Will they be more in love with Christ when they graduate? Statistically, most will not.

• Dawson MacAlister, national youth ministry specialist, remarked that 90% of youth active in high school church programs drop out of church by the time they are sophomores on college.
  
• In a report to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, T.C. Pinkney observed that 70% of teenagers involved in church youth groups stop attending church within two years of their high school graduation.

Barna, George, Revolution (Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, IL, 2005), p. 48-49 Pinkney, T.C., Remarks to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Nashville, Tennessee, September 18, 2001.

Please pray for new students we meet through the outreaches. We literally have hundreds of contacts. Pray that the students who are interested in discussing what it means to follow Christ or joining a Bible study would connect with our Cru students (or other solid campus ministries).

On the campus, for the campus,

Six-year old's perspective

Last night we spent about three hours having dinner and conducting training with our Bible study leaders. They were preparing to help give away over 500 water bottles, Bibles, tote bags, etc. to new students in exchange for a brief survey on their spiritual interests.

During most of this time, our girls camped out in the back of the room watching videos on the portable DVD player and eating yummy "student food." Occasionally Gracie would come up to the meeting part, crawl up on one of our laps and listen in to the training and student responses.

Towards the end of the meeting- the groups (each Bible study has 2 to 3 leaders) gathered together to pray for the outreach and that God would fill their studies with new students.

This morning Pete was talking to Gracie about the day. He asked, "What was your favorite part of the meeting last night?" (amongst the typical answer "the videos," we got an sweet unexpected response).

Gracie replied, "I liked listening to the students pray."

Feeding of the 500

Monday is kick-off at UNCG where we are set to give away 500 hundred books and water bottles. The day after (Tuesday, Aug 24) we have a huge event planned - the largest we've been a part of at UNCG!

Cru leaders have managed to get ***the Quad*** for a free cookout!!! There’s a man in Winston (Nat) who has a heart for using his business to further the gospel. He is providing burgers, dogs and chicken legs for ***500*** students. We're providing veggies, paper goods, etc.

Prayers appreciated for good weather, great conversations and all the parking, campus security, admin etc. to run smoothly.

Ultimately, we want this burger (hot dog or chicken leg) to turn into the soul-satisfying relationship with Christ!

Love, Pete and Carra