The Miller Runner

God’s Personal Care Restores

Posted on March 31, 2023 by Nate Miller

Students from around the world gather in prayer and worship.

Physical and spiritual healing can go hand-in-hand in the Bible.

Hima had never heard that God loves Him personally. He grew up Muslim and experienced God as distant and unknowable. In spite of this, he decided to attend a Cru conference for international students.

The first day of the conference, he was intrigued by videos about God revealing Himself in human form through Jesus.

The next day he was eager to learn more, but a severe morning headache and a spike in his blood pressure kept him from joining the meetings.

He approached a Cru staff member to explain why he needed to be absent. The staff member asked God to heal Hima in the name of Jesus. To Hima’s surprise, his headache quickly subsided! He was convinced of God’s personal care for him.

Later that day, he asked Jesus to become his Savior. Hima told his fiancée about his experience, and the next day she also prayed to receive Christ!

By the end of the conference, two more Middle Eastern students had started to follow Jesus, and the hearts of dozens more were softened by His love and forgiveness.

God is moving in the hearts of international students Thank you for being a part of changing the lives of students like Hima and his fiancée. We are grateful for you!

Posted in Bridges, Campus, College Transition, Conference, Evangelism, international | Tagged Campus, evangelism, international, students | Leave a comment

Specific Prayers Answered

Posted on February 27, 2023 by Nate Miller

Cru staff members at Eastern Kentucky University use cookies to connect with students.

Abby was quietly sitting at a table in the Penn State student union sipping her Starbucks and listening to AirPods when a Cru staff member and student greeted her. They had just prayed to be led to a person who wanted to talk about Jesus.

At first, Abby seemed standoffish, but she responded enthusiastically to questions about her worldview. She grew up what she called a “chrester,” someone who goes to church only on Christmas and Easter. However, she started taking Christianity more seriously at the end of high school.

When she got to Penn State, she wanted to prioritize her faith but there were so many distractions she didn’t know where to start. They asked, “Is prioritizing your faith something you want help with?” With a smile on her face, Abby said yes!

Cru staff members in Tallahassee, Florida also saw Jesus answer their specific prayers. They prayed that they would be able to talk about Jesus with someone who had made a New Year’s resolution to know God.

At the end of a day on campus, the staff gathered to share what they experienced. Most of them had long afternoons of “so-so conversations” but two of them were beaming!

A student named Brady had decided to follow Jesus. Guess what opened the door to share the gospel? Brady had made a New Year’s resolution to grow closer to God.

Thank you for partnering with us as our behind-the-scenes service enables Cru staff members to talk with students like Abby and Brady. We are grateful for you!

Posted in Campus, Evangelism | Tagged Campus, conversations, evangelism, share faith, students, training | Leave a comment

Helping Students Grow

Posted on February 1, 2023 by Nate Miller

Students deliver “New Year’s Party Boxes” and invite homeowners to attend local church services.

Cru Winter Conference challenges students in their walk with God as they sit under Biblical teaching alongside a thousand other college students from around the country.

They are also trained to share their faith during a Day of Outreach where Cru partners with local churches. Students conduct neighborhood surveys, engage in spiritual conversations, and seek to share the gospel.

Two students from southern Colorado approached the Day of Outreach from different places. Zach was used to sharing his faith but felt he was going through the motions. Aspasia prayed the morning of the Outreach that God would allow her to see someone place their faith in Christ.

Aspasia said, “I had heard of other people leading someone to faith. I never thought I would experience that myself.”

Together they approached their first house and asked James, a Dallas homeowner, if he would be willing to take a neighborhood survey. He agreed, but at first he was quiet and seemed disinterested. As they continued, they discovered he was spiritually curious and looking for something that would truly satisfy.

Using the GodTools app, Zach and Aspasia shared the hope James could have by trusting Jesus to forgive his sins. After hearing this, he told them that he had been living life without Jesus and that he wanted to change. Immediately, James prayed to receive Jesus!

This moment changed James, Aspasia, and Zach. Thank you for partnering with us as our behind-the-scenes service enables Cru to host conferences and outreaches. We are grateful for you!