Executive & Entrepreneurial Forum (EII)

Imagine an event gathering the sharpest, most ambitious unversity students in America and impacting them with the message of Christ. Picture a room filled with athletic team captains, presidents of entreprerial clubs, mulicultural organizations, Fraternities, Sororieties and more. Last month, just such an event, called the Executive & Entrepreneurial Forum, was held at the UW-Madison. I had the privilege of serving as the cooridator for the 2010 Madison EII Forum, which is an annual event held at universities across the region with the goal of reaching the most influential student leaders on campus.

Literally every seat was full at this dinner Forum as more than 75 students gathered for the event. Three sucessful Christian business excutives partnered with Campus Crusade to sponsor the Forum. Each of these executives addressed the the students, sharing their businesses successes and failures and their faith journey. The last executive to speak also shared the gospel with students, explaining to them how they could know God personally.

As a result of the Forum, 12 students indicated a desire to hear more about how they could know God personally or how they could get involved with Campus Crusade. One student who was impacted powerfully through the event is Jay. Jay and a friend of his had the opportunity to meet with two of our executives the morning after the Forum. As Jay began explaining his current life situation, it became obvious that God had arranged this meeting. One of the exectives pointed this out to Jay, telling him, “You know, God brought you here today.” In response to that statement, tears began streaming down Jay’s face, and he simply replied, “I know.”

The next morning Jay sent an email to one of the executives with this message: “I believe that I 100% was supposed to be right there in that place hearing that message from God and from the type of people God knows I would be attentive to. It is amazing that you all are genuinely compassionate about helping people and it radiates through your personalities and passion about the topic. I genuinely hope I can continue to stay in contact with you and that I may reach out to you as a mentor. I believe I am just beginning my life journey and good people you can talk to are hard to find and I honestly feel God placed you in my life; I will do my part to listen and stay in touch. Thank you, Jay”

There is no telling the tremendous impact that can be made through influential young leaders like Jay as they are transformed by God and equipped to influence the world for Christ. Thanks for your partnership in raising up laborers for Christ!

Capturing the Heart of God

A few weeks ago, I began discipling or mentoring four sophomore girls (pictured in this blog). Already, it has been such a privilege to watch these young women grow in faith and to witness what God is doing through their lives. In my very first meeting with one of these women, Roberta, she told me an incredible story of how God has used her in the life of her roommate, MJ, an international student from South Korea. Throughout the first semester, Roberta developed a friendship with MJ and began looking for opportunities to share the hope of Christ. Roberta quickly discovered that MJ was an atheist and that she struggled with feelings of emptiness. The rest of the story is best described in Roberta’s own words:

“MJ and I were sitting in our room. It was 2 in the morning and I was typing on my computer. As I was working, I become horribly burdened by MJ's emptiness. Even more, I felt convicted by the Spirit to talk with her. I was overwhelmed by a deep sense of urgency, and yet I came up with every reason why I should not talk with her. After all, it was late and I wanted to go to bed. And too, she was sitting on her computer watching television and I did not want to disturb her. I got ready for bed and came back to the room to journal. As I journaled, I felt even more compelled to talk with her, however, and God gave me a burst of courage to timidly stammer: "MJ, do you believe in God?" As I expected, MJ responded with a resolute no, to which I expressed understanding, as I too had questioned the existence of God. I proceeded to share my testimony and explained how it deeply burdens me to see people attempt to fill emptiness with emptiness.

I explained how Jesus fills my heart completely and has changed my life--so much so that I came back to the dorms so I could share Him with others. MJ and I kept talking and the conversation naturally transitioned into the Gospel. I used a "Knowing God Personally" booklet, and when we got to the prayer to accept Christ the conversation drifted… I sat down next to her and asked, "So, MJ, you want to accept Jesus?" She said yes, and I proceeded to pray. After I finished praying she was quite silent. Eventually she spoke up and explained how she had felt something in her heart when I prayed …and as we continued to talk, I saw God's sovereignty further displayed. "You know," MJ said, "It is weird that you asked me about this tonight" "Why MJ?" "Well," MJ responded, "I was actually having all these thoughts about God and wondering how people believe in God." "You mean you weren't actually sitting in your bed watching television" I asked. "No..." "Are those thoughts normal for you MJ?" I asked. "No..." As would be expected, we were both left in deep awe of God, who had clearly orchestrated our entire conversation.

I feel incredibly blessed that God allowed me to partake in His incredible plan to redeem the world, and I rejoice that He uses redeemed sinners to call other sinners to Himself! I rejoice, moreover, that people both support and serve in campus ministries such as Campus Crusade for Christ. I can wholeheartedly say that God has used Campus Crusade in very powerful ways in my life. In fact, without Campus Crusade, I do not believe I would have moved back into the dorms as a sophomore, known how to share my faith with a non-believer, or captured the depth of God’s heart for the lost. God truly uses this ministry to win new believers to the Kingdom, build them to spiritual maturity, and send them to the world!"

I also rejoice, with Roberta, that God has brought each one of you into my life and has enabled you to be a part of my team, to join in this mission of winning, building and sending college students. May we continue together in our pursuit to capture God’s heart, and may we be filled to overflowing with His incredible love!