Emma, a senior at UC Davis, with a young girl named Sinesipho in a township in South Africa

When Emma entered McDonald’s in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, she never expected to encounter God.

Emma left for Cru’s summer mission trip to South Africa in July uncertain of God’s power and whether He really is in control of everything. Although she had been involved with Cru at UC Davis for 3 years, she continued to have doubts. For instance, she questioned whether the God of the Bible is really who He says He is, and if so, how could she be sure of His power?

Yet, Emma knew that she had entered into a relationship with Jesus and wanted to be a part of giving college students in South Africa the same opportunity. In conversations with the South African students, Emma could see God working in their hearts and lives, but when it came to personally believing that God was all-powerful and in control, she was still struggling.

One afternoon, following a morning of ministry on the college campus in Port Elizabeth, Emma and a friend went to their regular hangout—McDonalds. Sitting in a booth nearby were four men in American military uniforms. Wanting to encourage the service men, Emma approached the table and joked, “Man, you Americans sure love your McDonalds.” Upon hearing her accent, the men laughed and engaged her in conversation.

One of the men, Larry, asked Emma why she was in South Africa. She mentioned her work with Cru. He immediately lit up and shared that he had come to Christ through Cru in the 1980’s, been discipled by a well-known leader in Cru, and had been on several mission trips himself. Excited to hear this, Emma asked what he was doing in South Africa. Larry was on an hour layover in Port Elizabeth. He is an Army chaplain and had just been training 40+ new chaplains in the Congo.

Emma was hit with the reality that this meeting was no coincidence. The orchestration of meeting Larry, a man who knew exactly what she was doing and had been discipled by someone she knew, all while on his hour layover in Port Elizabeth, South Africa while she just “happened to be there,” was divine. That is when Emma understood that God’s power and control are far greater than she could comprehend.

After this event, Emma experienced deep assurance in her faith and a sense of renewal in her desire to walk closely with God. She decided to be baptized and was baptized in the Indian Ocean before leaving South Africa.

Emma has now returned to Davis with fervor for God’s work. She says, “I’d be happy if everyday I’m glorifying God and having conversations about Him.”

Thank you for partnering with us as we see students like Emma grasp the greatness of God!

Prayer Requests

Pray for Emma. Pray that she grows in faith and remembers all God did this summer. Also pray for her as she makes decisions about her future.

Praise God for the 17 South African students who placed their trust in Christ while Emma and her team were in Port Elizabeth.

Pray for the thousands of incoming freshmen and the returning UCD students who are getting ready to start school in two weeks! Pray that they would be receptive to the gospel and want to know more about Jesus.