Campus and Harvest

I would like to apologize for taking so long to bring you an update on Harvest. Things have been picking up around here...you know how it is with business...

Thank you to all of you that have been praying for this ministry. Just in the past few weeks I can see a significant change in our chapter and how they see each other, and how they see God. As I posted before they are becoming more involved with each other and making plans with each other outside of InterVarsity. I have also noticed that they are taking ministry initiative and doing things without the assistance of Dabney or me. 2 examples:

1) A group of 3-4 students have started to do prayer walks every Thursday at 8:15AM. They have been meeting for the past 2 weeks to walk and pray around campus, and each week they report back excited for what God is doing and refreshed in His spirit.

2) They are discipling and training each other. One of our bible studies is a men's group. They have about 4-5 guys coming weekly to study passages in John. One, Marshall has been attending faithfully and was being discipled by Brian (who's on the leadership team). Without the prodding of me or Dabney, Brian had taken initiative to train Marshall in leading small groups, and then allowed him to lead their group this week. Brian said Marshall did a good job, and there is potential for him to lead his own group next semester.

It is such a thrill to have the opportunity to see God work in people's lives in this way.

Just recently we held our annual fall conference (Harvest) for several chapters in the Tri-State area (PA, OH, WV). The theme for this year was "going all in" for Christ. We had a great speaker (Dave Biskie) come who was ministered through powerful drama's, sharing life experiences, and teaching from Acts. There were also a number of workshops made available to the students that the staff put together. I was assigned to teach on Justice. It was a great hour with the students. The time ended with students wanting to be put in situations where they would see the injustice of the world, and where God would break their hearts for those suffering and be given wisdom and guidence to know how they can help.

Overall Harvest was truly a transforming time for everyone. God revealed himself to many individuals (including a non-christian that came from WVU), and helped them see the vanity of trying to do things on their own, and showing them areas of their lives where they need to surrender to Him. There were tears of pain from God pruning back their branches, and tears of joy as they made great commitments to the kingdom. The Pitt chapter was challenged to be more God focused and putting everything we are doing in His hands.

In the past couple weeks I have seen our students change as individuals, I've seen our Chapter change as a group, and I can't wait to see this campus change for God and faith in Christ.