Fall semester is filled with transitions: new students leaving home and looking for a place to belong; students returning from summers and trying to bridge the gap between school years; students preparing to transition out of college and soaking in their lasts.
Cru Sac Metro (Cru’s ministry to 5+ campuses in the greater Sacramento area) has spent the last 6 weeks reaching out to these new students, following up with our returning students, seeking to reach new campuses, and providing opportunities for students for students to engage with the Lord personally.
One such opportunity was our annual Fall Retreat (top right). About 40 students joined us for a fun weekend in the Sierras and to hear about being entrusted with the gospel. Students, especially those new to Cru, found community and learned more about how to make the Christian faith their own. One theme talked about at retreat and this semester is daily dependence on the Holy Spirit to help us in our walks with Christ. Our hope is that students will see that no matter the season or transition, their walks with Jesus can be deep and fruitful.
Summer Update
Brielle
In our last update, we asked a few students, including Brielle and Kirsten, about why they wanted to go on a summer mission and what they were excited about. When they got back, we asked them, “What did God do in you this summer?” Here are their responses.
What did God do in you this summer?
Brielle: “[On mission] in Santa Monica, God taught me a lot about surrender. I learned that I often put my value in people or my accomplishments rather than in God alone. I learned that I have to surrender this and other things to God daily to live for Him. Surrendering is not just a one time decision.
God used our mission this summer to help bring 11 people to Christ, plant seeds to start a movement at the local community college, and share love and joy with our coworker’s.
I also learned what a God-centered community looks like and how important fellowship is. We learned what it looks like to serve, lead, and be vulnerable with 60 strangers that became family. “
Kirsten
Kirsten: I struggle with insecurities, depression, and anxiety on a daily basis. God chose to use the darkest points of my life as experience that can help others. So many of my struggles were shared struggles that other women were going through. God used my desire to love people and to listen to work in their lives.
God also gave me the opportunity to have a car on summer mission, which allowed me to [serve] by driving [fellow students] work, stores, events, anywhere.
God worked through me by me a heart for the lost and a burning passion to seek them out.
Prayer Requests
Pray for us and for students to walk in the Spirit every day and that students would be bold to share their faith.
Pray for Cameron and baby GIRL’s (!!) health with this pregnancy. Cam has some joint pain but overall healthy.
Pray for Cameron’s spiritual formation group on evangelism at William Jessup (a Christian university). It turns out that many in the group don’t have a personal relationship with Christ. Pray that they would respond to the gospel.