I have been very bad at updating the last couple weeks, and NSO (New Student Outreach) is the reason why. The last few weeks have been crazy busy with meeting new students, helping our leaders lead and follow-up well with these students, evangelism, Small groups, prayer...lots to do in the beginning weeks of classes. We are all feeling the exhaustion of constant running and meeting people right now, but we wouldn't have it any other way.
We started the semester off great with the leaders returning to Morgantown a few days early to do 3 days worth of training with us. They received training in leading small groups, follow-up, evangelism, NSO, and weekly meeting planning. It was a packed weekend with freshman move-in and an info table squished in their somehow.
The 1st and 2nd week of classes we did evangelism using proxe stations. I'm happy to report that we saw one student make a decision to follow Christ, and were able to get into many good conversations. We also hosted a picnic for students near the towers dorms and gave out free food. There were over 50-80 students that came (hard to keep track as people come and go), and many international students joined us. It was a great evening of meeting many new people and playing volleyball :)
With those 1st 2 weeks alone we met countless students, and got contact information for follow-up with about 50. Our first weekly meeting half of those there were new and most were freshmen! Last week we had more new people come and get connected with students in the chapter. During the 2nd week of classes we began our small groups. We have 5 lined up right now and most doing amazingly well.
There are 2 freshmen SGs, a women's SG, International "Tea Talk" for international students, and we are in the workings of making relationships with black students and beginning a black small group as well. During the 1st week we saw around 50 students attend a small group...the most we've ever had!**Students sharing the Gospel during NSO**
Last year was a wonderful building year for us. Many mistakes were made, and some painful growth happened as we reworked structure and recast IV's vision that has set us up well to flourish this year. God has given us favor with many administrators on the Evansdale campus this semester that we didn't have last year, and we were able to reserve a room for our larger meetings much closer to the dorms and a lot easier to find than in the basement of the ag. sci. building. It's amazing how space and aesthetics really effects the atmosphere and feelings of hospitality of a group.
Students are also grabbing hold of the vision and going out and doing evangelism boldly and being more welcoming to new comers. One area we have grown much in is our value of multi-ethnicity. This is something we've been working on for a long time but never seemed to click. Last year many students were involved in conversation partners, which has now led to a desire to reach out to the international students. This year, in addition, one of our leaders has been leading in multi-ethnicity through worship and it has been wonderful. During our tailgate last week one of the new freshman told me that he loved InterVarsity because we value multi-ethnicity so much. He said churches and other orgs don't emphasize it enough, and he loves that our group is so devoted to it.
That is a lot in a small bag, but that is a taste of what's been going on at WVU the last couple weeks. It's been busy, and still continues to be. PLease be praying for our leaders as classes are now in full swing and they are needing to juggle a lot and still do what they need to for the ministry. Pray for the new students that they will be able to find good connection in IV, and that we would adhere to God's direction for our chapter.
Pray also for us staff. Karla Myers (my coworker) had her baby this week (Hunter...so cute), and she is now on maternity leave for 10 weeks. Pray for her as she and Jeremy figure out this new chapter in their lives with little Hunter.
Pray also for Jesse and Beth who are in the midst of building their new home, and Beth expecting their 3rd little one (due in Oct.)
For Katie as she plants at Fairmont state and working very hard at it.
And for me. My funding is low at the moment and I will need to take time off campus to work on getting it back up. I will be able to spend 4 hours a week on campus, but the majority of my time with be focused on funding. I am grateful that we have such high quality leaders in the chapter right now, who can plan and lead well.
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