I Agree at Boston University

Anthony at BU

Do you agree with Anthony?”

For two weeks, posters, stickers and t-shirts asked this question all over Boston University’s campus.  Yet the real question around campus was, “Who is Anthony?”

By the time Anthony shared what he believed, radio stations, newspapers and online forums were begging for information.

On an urban campus of 30,000 students like Boston University, it is hard to do anything that the entire school notices. Only the hockey team commands that kind of attention and respect.

So it was fitting that after two weeks of advertising, Anthony was revealed to be a Boston University student studying Public Health and a varsity hockey goalie.

His teammates came to support him and his coaches invited every athlete on campus.

He quickly befriended everyone in the room as he shared his experience growing up in church, struggling in friendship, playing hockey for BU and accepting Christ as his Savior.

Anthony was endearing and disarming. Todd, a Cru staff member, sat behind one student who had clearly come to be antagonistic. However, throughout the talk, he heard the student mutter, “Huh, ok, that’s cool.”

Other students responded by comment card.

“Anthony’s talk was incredible and relatable. It was nice to hear from someone who understood coming from a non-Christian viewpoint but urging open-mindedness.”

 “Anthony’s message showed that everyone is truly on a spiritual journey, but through it all we need Jesus in our lives to guide us. His story makes me want to strengthen my spirituality.”

Since Anthony spoke a month ago, six hockey players have joined a Bible study, including two who are new believers. A lacrosse team Bible study has formed and a member of that team has accepted Christ.

You can watch Anthony at: http://tinyurl.com/BUAnthony.

 

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Fall Retreats Change Lives!

WP_20130928_09_21_14_Panorama

The view greeting students at the Upstate NY Fall Retreat.

When do you connect with Jesus? Many times it is easier to experience a special time with Him when you’re away from the normal routine of life. That’s why we have Fall Retreats.

This past weekend, over 200 Cru students on campuses from Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse held a joint Fall Retreat.

Dave*, a student from Buffalo, became a Christian just a few months ago. The retreat helped him realize that God is calling him to a greater purpose.

He exclaimed, “When I woke up this morning, the first thing that went through my mind was, ‘I’m excited to serve God today!’”

He is excited to talk with his mom. He wants to tell her, “I learned so much about myself and Jesus and I want to share that with you!”

Thank you for your role in helping Dave grow closer to Jesus this past weekend. Your partnership enabled Nate to equip these teams .

Please pray for the approximately 700 students attending Fall Retreats in the Northeast over the next three weekends.

Thank you for your partnership. You are changing students in the Northeast!

*not his real name

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Russia and China Meet Jesus in Jersey

2014.08 Wildwood

Over 7,000 international students flood into New Jersey each summer as part of a federal Summer Work Travel Program. Many come to work on the Wildwood boardwalk and experience America.

Cru’s Wildwood Summer Mission Trip is right in the middle of the action. Cru students live on the same block as the international workers. They work in the same boardwalk shops and develop befriend them.

Each week of the summer, the mission trip students host an International Café in the backyard of their housing. Snacks, drinks, conversations and a free bike repair clinic provide generous hospitality.

Katya came for the food and quickly formed friendships with Cru students. When she was invited to a weekly Bible study on Galatians, she was all in. Her new friends even celebrated her birthday.

Katya asked many questions. Her friends explained the gospel using a Russian Four Spiritual Laws. She became a Christian. Katya continues to grow in her new faith as she reads the Russian Bible her Cru friends gave her.

In late June, Jay* and three friends were walking down the street looking for a place to live. They had just arrived in Wildwood and were very hungry. They were shocked when Cru students invited them to eat at the International Café.

Spirituality quickly came up. Jay and his friends are from China. It was clear that Jay had spent some time thinking about spiritual things. He had read some of the Bible for a research project and had many questions and comments.

Imagine Jay’s surprise and glee when one of the Cru staff members pulled a Chinese-English Bible from the summer mission trip supply shelf. He and his friends stayed late into the night asking many questions about Jesus. Jay arranged to meet with Cru students throughout the summer so they could study the book of John together.

Though stories like this frequently happen on the Wildwood Summer Mission Trip, the Cru students continue to be surprised by the openness, curiosity and responsiveness of international students.

Thank you for helping to change lives around the world—even in Jersey.

*name changed

 

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