"God is greater than..."Sitting in a sea of 2,000 college students from around the Midwest, 19-year-old Jackie had no idea how these four words would be the theme not only of her first Cru Indianapolis Winter Conference...but her life as well. Each year, Cru puts on Winter Conferences around the nation during college students' Christmas breaks. It is 4 full days of learning God's Word, worshipping and praying in fellowship, and sharing the Gospel in the community! I attended my first Winter Conference 7 years ago. It changed my life, and I have loved being a part of seeing God impact students year after year through the teaching and life change that happens there. As I sat among those 2,000 college students seven years ago, I felt broken: emotionally broken as my heart ached from a recent breakup (spoiler alert it was Jake...we reconciled and married 4 years later) and physically broken from an injury that would eventually require surgery (long story short...I played a [very] competitive game of musical chairs and dislocated my kneecap). Nursing school was more stressful and challenging than I could have imagined and I began experiencing intense anxiety. Life was challenging and I wasn't sure if God was even listening. Then the conference speakers began teaching. Throughout those four days God used them to teach me about the peace we have in Christ, the infallibility of His Word, and the fierceness in which He keeps His promises. I learned that peace is not a feeling. Peace is a Man, and His name is Jesus. I learned that I will never be able to do enough good things to earn favor from God or earn my way into Heaven, but I am called righteous only through Jesus dying for my sin on the cross. I saw throughout Scripture where the Father keeps His promises time after time after time (my favorite example being Genesis 15). It was at that conference I realized that God is greater than my brokenness, my hopes for a husband and marriage, my anxiety, my grades, my dislocated kneecap, my future, my image in what others think of me, my sin. He is greater than everything. He has my good in mind (even when my definition of good isn't what is actually good for me). He is greater than all of the sin, pain, and brokenness in this world and, during those 4 days, I knew that I wanted to follow Him (through the power of the Holy Spirit) no matter where He may lead me and what others may think. I knew that, from that point on, I wanted to live a life characterized by obedience to the Lord and bold steps of faith. It hasn't been easy, but it has been sweet. And my story is only one out of 2,000 from that year. Attending Winter Conference as 26-year-old Jackie certainly looks different. I'm now on staff and working the conference instead of just attending. I'm married and coming alongside students with my husband. I have a baby in tow (which means I get as little sleep during those 4 days as 19-year-old Jackie did). But despite the ways my life looks different, the impact God has on students' lives does not change. He is still working in mighty ways. He is still changing the trajectories of students' futures. He is still calling people into obedience and love for Him. This year our campus brought nearly 80 students to Cru's Indianapolis Winter Conference. It was a joy to talk with them as God stirred within them a desire to read and know His Word. "I never knew that was even in the Bible!" is a sentence I heard more than once! My heart was full as I had the privilege of listening and processing with them as students prayed about steps of faith God might be asking them to take in their lives. Upperclassmen were able to teach younger students how to have spiritual conversations, and some students even shared the Gospel for the very first time! There were students who accepted Christ into their lives and students who deepened their relationship with God in incredible ways. What a privilege to be a part of this week that was so influential in my own life seven years ago, and to watch as God faithfully impacts lives year after year after year! In Christ, Jake, Jackie, and Elaina Photos by Cru Winter Conference and Noe Vazquez
I was recently looking over our ministry prayer letters from the past few years and was reminded of the incredible work God has allowed us to be a part of since coming to Toledo in 2015. One of my favorite stories happened around this time last year, and thinking about the story still makes me smile...so I thought I'd pull it out and share it with you! Originally written in the fall of 2017 (all names have been changed for privacy): "What do you know about the Holy Spirit?" The question that began all of my discipleship times as we spent time learning about what it looks like to live day-by-day walking in the power of the Spirit. Most of my students had a vague idea of who the Spirit is, but were still unsure about His role and how He impacts our everyday life. I asked this same question to Danielle (a student I met my first year on campus) as we enjoyed the cool fall air while sitting at a picnic table near the dorms. It was unusual for us to be meeting on that day. Normally we met earlier in the week, but this particular week we changed our meeting time and place to work around her class schedule. Before she could answer my question, a young man walked up to our picnic table and confidently sat down: “Hi! I’m Josh. You must be the people I'm supposed to meet with today.” "Hmm, well, who are you looking for?" I replied. He smiled and said, "The Pagan and Wiccan Club, of course.” Rest assured, I don't usually take my students to the Pagan and Wiccan Club for discipleship. But seeing this as an opportunity from the Holy Spirit, I shared with Josh that although we weren’t with the Pagan Wiccan Club, we would still love to hear more about his spiritual background. He agreed to take a spiritual survey, and I pulled out my Perspective Cards (a spiritual card game I like to use to initiate spiritual conversations on campus). Josh grew up going to church, but recently turned his back on God in response to legalistic pressures from his family. When asked about his beliefs, he selected cards sharing he now believes in many gods, humanity is mostly good, Jesus was a spiritual leader (but not God), and that spiritual truth can be found only from within himself. After he shared about his spiritual perspectives, I asked him if I could share about mine. Danielle and I shared with Josh that I know and believe there is only one God, living for Him is where I find true meaning in life, humanity is broken, Jesus is our Creator and Savior, and the Bible is my source of spiritual truth. As I was sharing, a young woman approached our table and sat down with us. "You guys must be with the Pagan and Wiccan Club. I’m Chelsea.” It turns out the Pagan/Wiccan Club meets every Friday at the table Danielle and I ventured to for discipleship that day. While they normally meet at 5, Josh and Chelsea mixed up the time and showed up nearly an hour early...which gave us an entire hour to share the Gospel and have deep conversations with them and their beliefs. Both were open and willing to share their thoughts and ask tough questions about Christianity. While neither accepted Christ in that moment, the seed of the Gospel was planted, and we are continuing to pray that they will turn from the false gods they worship to the one true God. In Christ,
Jake, Jackie, and Elaina The sounds of voices singing worship to the Lord drifted from the warmth of the cozy bonfire, up into the chilly autumn night, and out across the dark lake. This bonfire has become a beloved tradition for students each year at our Fall Retreat. It is a night spent worshipping God in song and testimony- where any of the 100+ students present (more than have ever come to Fall Retreat before!) are welcome to stand and share about how God has been working in their lives over the weekend and semester. Each year at this event, lives are changed and college students come to know Christ personally as they recognize their sin and need for a Savior. For many, it is the first time they have ever really studied the Word or experienced Christian community. I (Jackie) couldn’t help but smile and give God praise as I heard just a few of the stories from students that evening: “I have not been this happy in a long time, and am so thankful. The Scripture we got into this weekend spoke to me and made me want to dig into my Bible. Learning about prayer and community and reading the Bible...it just made sense and I’m really excited!” “I came here knowing only 3 people. When I walked in instantly people were loving on me and wanting to know about me. The amount of love you showed me as an outsider was amazing and something I’ve never seen before in a group of Christians.” “Growing up a pastors kid I feel I know the Bible answers to a lot, but I’ve realized that having a personal relationship with God is different than just knowing the answers. Now in college I have to make these decisions for myself, and I’ve realized that my identity is not found in what other people think about me but what the Father says is true of me.” Fall Retreat is my favorite weekend of the fall semester, and I was so proud of the students who planned, organized, and ran the weekend…it was a truly student-ran event! Every year, lifelong friendships are formed and students have the opportunity to dive into God’s Word. This year, the students decided the theme for the weekend would be “More.” More Jesus. More Biblical community. More worship of a God who is truly More than we can ever fully imagine. For two beautiful fall days, we heard teaching about the importance of studying the Word, spending time in prayer, and pursuing Biblical community. I would imagine for many, it was the first time they have ever had the opportunity to set aside quiet, intentional time to read the Bible and spend time with God. I am confident that God is still at work in the hearts of those who gave up their weekend (time studying, watching football, going home to family etc.) to pursue Him, and I cannot wait to continue sharing their stories as He turns their hearts to Him. In Christ, Jake, Jackie, and Elaina I (Jake) am always taken back by how quickly the year seems to blast off. We are already 4 weeks into the semester and it seems like we just started yesterday. Blue and yellow have flooded the campus with excitement and conversations fill the campus grounds. We know this is the start to something great! Our strategy is simple: connect with students and share the Gospel. We labor intensely the first few days on campus gathering information that allows us to connect one on one throughout the year. So while students began their first day of school going over syllabi and deadlines, we spent our day sweating in the humid Ohio heat, joyfully engaging students with questions like: “How would you describe your religious preference?” “How would you rate your desire to know God personally?” Over the course of two and half days we gathered over 2,000 surveys that we will use to connect and meet students in the dorm, at the Union, and via technology to bring them to the Gospel. I am so encouraged by the steps of faith our students take to engage their peers. It is never easy going up to someone you don’t know and talking with them about the weather; let alone, with the intentions of engaging them with Christ. Yet, these men and women surrendered their pride, their face, and their will to honor and give glory to Christ. I’m thankful they see there is something far greater, more wonderful, more precious than the things of the world. As I have been thinking about this year, I’m thankful of the precious hope we have in Christ Jesus. Our hope is not on earth where moth and rust destroy, or thieves can steal, but is stored for us in Heaven. It is not perishable, it does not depreciate, nor is it flawed in any way. Our hope is found in the person, the Word, and works of Jesus Christ. He alone preserves, sustains, and gives meaning to the hope of our salvation. This hope in Christ Jesus, alone, brings transformation to the broken, downtrodden soul who thrusts this world away and clings onto his precious Jesus. In Christ, Jake, Jackie, and Elaina |
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